Back over accidents are serious and can result in life threatening injuries. A back over accident occurs when a person, typically a child, is struck as a vehicle backs out of a driveway or parking spot. In the United States, tragic back over accidents are more prevalent that you think, with nearly 50 occurring each week nationwide. In fact, back over accidents kill more than 100 children per year, the majority of whom are between the ages of 1 and 2.
Just this past October, a Ramona toddler was fatally injured when her mother backed the family’s minivan out of the driveway and struck her. Another child was killed in Normal Heights as his caretaker’s daughter was leaving their home and hit him as he played in the driveway. According to back over accident experts, in about 70% of these types of accidents, the driver is related to a child, and is either a parent or close relative. Moreover, minivans are a common culprit in these types of accidents since their blind spots are larger than other vehicles. Specifically, the average length of a rear view blind spot for the average driver (of 5’8” height) is approximately 12 feet 6 inches for a sedan-sized vehicle, while a driver of a minivan has a blind spot of about 15 feet 4 inches.
The unfortunate part of back over accidents is that all of them could easily have been prevented. With thousands of children being involved in these accidents across the U.S., it is important for parents and others to take certain life-saving precautions. These include:
- Walk around your vehicle and inspect the entire area before getting in. This critical step helps to ensure that nothing, including pets, toys, and children are in the way when you back your vehicle out of the garage/driveway.
- Do not let kids play in your driveway. Driveways are dangerous and as such, are not a proper playground for children. If you do not have sufficient yard space, consider alternatives such as a park or soccer field that is safe and enables your children to more freely move around. If you do have a backyard, instruct your children to play there instead of the road or driveway.
- Talk to your children about driveway safety. Regardless of whether your children play in the driveway or not, it is important for you to advise them of the safety steps they can take to avoid injury. This includes telling them to find a safe spot when someone is either pulling in or out and waiting to resume play until an arriving vehicle has been completely shut off/a departing vehicle is well on its way down the road.
- Hold your kids hands. This is a simple, yet essential step you can take to ensure your kids’ safety. Teach your kids to assume that cars will not always see them, and that is important to hold your hand when around cars, on a sidewalk, and in a parking lot or driveway.
To learn more about child driveway safety, consult the Safe Kids WorldwideTM (SKWW) website. SKWW, an international non-profit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries, has a significant amount of information regarding driveway safety tips, which we recommend that you review. Also, contact an experienced San Diego pedestrian attorney if you or someone you love was injured in a back over accident.
Were You Injured in a Pedestrian Accident? Contact the Skolnick Law Group Now!
If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident, it is important to take legal action now. At the Skolnick Law Group,we will advise you of all your legal options and, help maximize your chances of recovering the money that you deserve for your losses. We serve clients in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos and throughout North County San Diego. Contact us today at (760) 405-4397, or, feel free to visit us online to schedule your free and completely confidential initial consultation. We have evening and weekend appointments available, and will also visit you at home in the event you can’t come to us. We look forward to providing you with superior legal representation.