Back-Over Car Accidents
The Maine personal injury attorneys here at Peter Thompson & Associates have decades of combined experience in successfully pursuing claims on behalf of clients who were injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents. We are familiar with the emotional and financial difficulties presented by these traumatic events. We are dedicated to giving your case the personal and persistent attention that it deserves.
Back-Over Accidents and Young Children
Back-over accidents occur when a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle traveling in reverse. Though these accidents commonly occur at low speed, they can cause extensive injuries if the pedestrian is subsequently run over by the reversing vehicle, whose driver often unaware of the situation until it is too late.
In February of 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a study of back-over accidents throughout the United States. In the 56 back-over cases studied, the majority of them involved children ages 1-3 and a significant percentage involved children ages 4-8. Back-over accidents outside of those ages ranges accounted for only 22% of the cases. The administration also found that 25 of the 56 cases involved sport utility vehicles or vans. Underscoring the potential severity of such accidents, the study determined that half of the accidents analyzed resulted in fatal injuries. Furthermore, 41 of the 56 cases involved pedestrians who approached from the right or left of the vehicle as opposed to those positioned directly behind the vehicle.
As you can appreciate from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s study, the low height and immaturity of young children combined with the significant visual limitations of larger vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles and vans, tends to account for many of the serious back-over accidents in this country. Though many newer vehicles are equipped with technology, such as back-up cameras, that display the area directly behind the vehicle, these cameras are many times ineffective in preventing a back-over accident. Such technology is often insufficient to capture a pedestrian in a dangerous position behind the vehicle, especially in the cases of small children. Additionally, the technology is often underutilized and/or overly relied upon by the driver. These factors may combine to seriously limit the effectiveness of such technology.
Holding the Driver Responsible
If you or a loved one were injured in a back-over accident, you need an attorney who understands the unique complications involved in this type of accident. As an injured victim or family member of a deceased party, you may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. We have handled numerous back-over accidents and successfully recovered significant compensation for those affected by such accidents. By retaining an experienced personal injury attorney you can greatly increase your chances of obtaining full compensation for the damages incurred as a result of an accident. Additionally, you pay nothing unless we are able to secure a recovery for you. We are dedicated to making sure that you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call 1.800.804.2004 today for a confidential consultation.