Simple Tip to Help Avoid Backover Accidents and Injuries
Have you ever been in a parking lot and had to wait while another driver first pulled forward before backing up into a space? Are you one of those drivers? While choosing how to get in and out of parking spaces in office complexes, grocery stores, and shopping plazas may seem like a matter of personal preference, there are important safety issues involved. Pulling directly into a parking space may seem easier and less time consuming, but having to eventually back out could put pedestrians, bicyclists and even other drivers at risk. While car accidents and injuries caused by “backover” accidents are not particularly common, the damage that results when they do occur is often severe. Experts recommend taking the extra time to back into parking spaces as a preventive safety measure.
Backover Accidents and Injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that parking lot crashes, rollaway vehicles, and other non-traffic related accidents account for roughly 1,500 deaths and as many as 90,000 injuries each year in the United States. Even though the driver’s rate of speed is generally low, serious and potentially fatal injuries can still result from backover accidents that occur when drivers are pulling out of parking spaces. Injuries caused by backover accidents may include:
- Broken bones and multiple fractures
- Crushing injuries, with damage to internal organs
- Back and neck injuries, including damage to the spinal cord
- Head and neck injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
In residential settings, part of what makes backover accidents so tragic is that the victim is often someone the driver knows. Neighbors out walking or children playing in driveways and on neighborhood streets can easily go undetected by drivers rushing to get to work or school. Driver blind spots can mistakenly lead a driver to believe the path behind them is clear.
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Ways to Help Prevent Backover Accidents
Many of today’s newer vehicles come equipped with assistive technology that warns drivers of obstacles that may be behind them. While these systems are helpful, they are not fail safe in preventing backover accidents and injuries. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), field testing of rear assistive safety devices reveals that they fail to detect passing motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles in more than 40 percent of cases. Rather than relying on these technologies or the limited view most drivers get through rear view windows, studies conducted by the AAA reveal that backing into parking spaces rather than pulling in headfirst could be a far safer practice. While it may take an extra few minutes and a certain amount of practice to get into the habit of putting on your flashers and calculating how far you need to back into a space, it could be well worth the effort in preventing backover accidents and injuries.
Get Help From a South Carolina Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone you care about is injured as the result of a backover or other non-traffic related accident, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm right away. Our experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys understand how devastating the injuries caused by these accidents can be and can assist you in getting the compensation you need to recover.
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