Avoiding Child Driveway Backover Accidents

The South Florida Sun Sentinel recently reported that a 1-year-old child died in a tragic accident after a car backed over him in his driveway while he was playing. Authorities said the toddler’s uncle was backing out the driveway when he felt a bump and heard yelling. The driver then got out of the vehicle and discovered the little boy trapped under the passenger side of the car. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later. Authorities have stated that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.

What is a Backover Accident?

A backover accident happens when a vehicle coming out of a driveway or parking space inadvertently backs over a child. These accidents usually occur simply because the driver does not see the child. These scenarios are, unfortunately, not uncommon. They are also especially heartbreaking because it is often the parent who is the driver and their child who is hit when this happens, if not another combination of family members or close friends.

How Common Are These Accidents?

Unfortunately, many children are killed or seriously injured in backover incidents on an annual basis here in the United States. More than 9,000 children are treated in emergency rooms every year for injuries that occurred while they were by themselves in or around motor vehicles. Many of these accidents occur when a vehicle leaving a driveway or parking space inadvertently backs over an unattended child simply because the driver did not see him or her.

Can Drivers Help Prevent a Backover Car Accident?

Importantly, as a driver you need to remember that children can and often do move and behave unpredictably. With that in mind, it is also important for anyone who operates a car to understand that being educated about the ways they can prevent backover accidents can literally save the life of a little one. Safety tips for preventing backover accidents when backing up include:

• Walking around your vehicle and checking behind it before backing up.
• Having children stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so you can see them as you are backing out.
• Actively checking your mirrors while backing up and leaving a window down so you can hear changes you can’t see.
• Relying on your own vision and hearing instead of vehicle detection devices like backup cameras or warning sounds.

We Offer the Help You Need After a Tragedy.

A child being hit in a driveway often produces tragic results. If your child has been hit by someone who was backing up, or if you have sustained injuries due to being backed over, you must fight for your legal rights. It can be extremely difficult to sort through your emotions and you likely don’t know where to turn. In the aftermath of this kind of tragedy, you need the help of an experienced legal team to fight for you. As the South Florida rollover car accident attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez, we sympathize with what you and your family have experienced and we are here to help you hold the responsible parties accountable. You can rest assured that we will diligently advocate for your rights every step of the way. Begin by contacting us today.

Resource:

sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ne-pahokee-child-killed-20191015-x3wolhdfpjetxogfgc477crnxe-story.html

https://www.leiferlaw.com/avoiding-a-rollover-accident/