Every year, thousands of people are injured in backover accidents. These collisions occur when a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck by a vehicle traveling in reverse and can result in severe injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 26% of the people killed in non-traffic crashes in 2021, and 23% of those nonoccupants were struck by vehicles backing up.

SUVs and large pickup trucks are more frequently involved in backover accidents because they have larger blind spots, making it difficult for a driver to see anything that is close behind them. The area directly behind a vehicle can create a rear blind zone, where a pedestrian or bicyclist may be difficult or impossible for a driver to see from the driver’s seat.

As of May 2018, NHTSA requires backup cameras on all new vehicles. However, many older vehicles are still on the road without these cameras. Backup cameras can improve a driver’s view behind the vehicle, but they do not eliminate blind spots or replace the need for drivers to check their surroundings before reversing.

Causes of Backover Accidents

Whether backing out of a parking space or exiting a driveway, drivers have very limited visibility. Pedestrians or bicyclists that are in a driver’s blind spot are in great danger. Some common causes of backover accidents include:

  • Driver failing to turn around and check behind them before reversing
  • Driver failing to watch the backup camera
  • Broken reverse lights on the vehicle resulting in a pedestrian or bicyclist not knowing that a vehicle is about to back up
  • Pedal confusion—when a driver hits the gas instead of the brake
  • Obstructed side view caused by landscaping and other obstacles

Children are frequently the victims of backover accidents because their smaller size makes them more difficult to see when a driver is backing up. Drivers should make sure the area around them is clear before driving in reverse.

Who Is Most at Risk for Backover Accidents?

Children are particularly vulnerable to backover accidents because they may be too small for a driver to see over or around a vehicle. They may also move unexpectedly into the path of a reversing vehicle.

Pedestrians and bicyclists are also at risk, particularly in parking lots, driveways, garages, and other areas where vehicles may be backing up. Older adults and people with mobility limitations may have more difficulty moving out of the way of a reversing vehicle.

Common Backover Accident Injuries

A person struck by a reversing vehicle can suffer serious or life-threatening injuries. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, injuries may include:

  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Head and brain injuries
  • Neck and spinal injuries
  • Internal injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Serious injuries to the legs, arms, or other parts of the body
  • Fatal injuries

The severity of an injury can depend on factors such as the size and speed of the vehicle, where the person was struck, and the person’s age and physical condition.

Where Do Backover Accidents Happen?

Backover accidents can happen anywhere a vehicle is being driven in reverse. Common locations include:

  • Residential driveways
  • Parking lots and parking garages
  • Apartment and condominium parking areas
  • Garages
  • Loading areas
  • Areas around schools and playgrounds
  • Streets and other areas where vehicles are backing into traffic

Drivers should not assume that a driveway or parking lot is safe simply because vehicles are traveling at lower speeds. A person struck by a vehicle can suffer serious injuries even when the vehicle is moving slowly.

Preventing Backover Accidents

You can help prevent backover accidents by taking a few simple precautions before and while reversing. Drivers should make sure the area around the vehicle is clear, check their mirrors and backup camera, and back up slowly and carefully. There are some important steps that people should take that can save lives:

  • Look behind the vehicle before getting in
  • Be sure to back up as slowly and carefully as possible
  • Teach children not to stand or play behind vehicles
  • Make sure children are in full view
  • Be aware of your vehicle’s blind spot
  • Ensure the landscaping around your driveway is adequately trimmed back so that your vision is not obstructed

Drivers should continue checking their surroundings while backing up rather than relying only on a backup camera or other safety technology.

Backover Accident Safety Tips

Parents and caregivers can take additional precautions to help keep children safe around vehicles. Some backover accident safety tips include:

  • Teach children to stay away from vehicles when they are being started or moved.
  • Teach children that driveways and areas around parked vehicles are not places to play.
  • Keep toys, bicycles, balls, and other objects away from driveways and parked vehicles so children are not tempted to retrieve them while a vehicle is moving.
  • Know where children are before starting a vehicle and make sure they are in a safe location before backing up.
  • Keep children in full view when moving a vehicle.
  • Trim trees, bushes, and other landscaping around driveways so they do not obstruct the driver’s view.
  • Keep vehicles, trailers, and other objects from blocking the driver’s view of the driveway or surrounding area.
  • When possible, park vehicles so you can drive forward when leaving rather than backing out of a driveway.

Consider an Aftermarket Backup Camera

If your vehicle does not have a backup camera, you may be able to have an aftermarket system installed. Many older cars, trucks, and SUVs can be equipped with a backup camera even if one was not included when the vehicle was manufactured.

An aftermarket backup camera can give drivers a better view of the area directly behind the vehicle and may help them see pedestrians, bicyclists, children, or objects that are difficult to see from the driver’s seat. However, drivers should still check their surroundings, mirrors, and rear blind zone before and while backing up.

If you are looking for backup camera installation in the Tampa Bay area, some local automotive electronics shops that offer these services include:

  • Sound Express in Tampa
  • Auto Solutions in Tampa
  • OTS Audio in Oldsmar

Before scheduling an installation, ask whether the system is compatible with your vehicle and whether the shop provides both the camera and installation.

What Should You Do After a Backover Accident?

If you or someone you love has been injured in a backover accident, getting medical attention should be the first priority. Even when an injury does not appear serious immediately after an accident, some injuries may not become apparent until later.

After a backover accident, you should also:

  • Call 911 if someone has been injured
  • Report the accident to the appropriate authorities
  • Get the driver’s name and insurance information
  • Take photographs of the accident scene, vehicle, and visible injuries
  • Get contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident
  • Keep records of medical treatment and other accident-related expenses
  • Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney if you suffered serious injuries

Who Is Responsible for a Backover Accident?

A driver may be held responsible for injuries caused by a backover accident if the driver failed to use reasonable care while reversing. For example, a driver who failed to check behind the vehicle, was distracted, or accelerated instead of braking may have acted negligently.

However, determining who is responsible for a backover accident depends on the specific circumstances. Other factors, such as an obstructed view, defective vehicle equipment, or dangerous property conditions, may also need to be considered.

If you were injured in a backover accident, an attorney can review the circumstances of the accident and help determine whether you may have a claim for compensation.

Contact an Experienced Backover Accident Attorney Near You

If you or your child has been injured in a backover accident, a backover accident attorney at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your injuries. The firm’s experienced personal injury attorneys have been helping injured Floridians for over 35 years. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Backover Accidents

How common are backover accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 263 people are killed and about 10,000 people are injured in backover accidents each year.

What is a rear blind zone?

A rear blind zone is the area directly behind a vehicle that may be difficult or impossible for a driver to see from the driver’s seat. The size of the blind zone can vary depending on the vehicle.

Can a backup camera prevent a backover accident?

Backup cameras can give drivers a better view of the area directly behind their vehicles, but they do not eliminate blind spots or replace the need to check mirrors and look around the vehicle before reversing.

What should I do if I am hit by a vehicle backing up?

Seek medical attention, report the accident, document the scene if possible, and collect information from the driver and any witnesses. If you suffered injuries, you may also want to speak with a personal injury attorney about your legal options.

Who can be held responsible for a backover accident?

The reversing driver may be responsible if their negligence caused the accident. Depending on the circumstances, other factors may also affect liability. A Florida backover accident attorney can review the facts of the accident and determine whether you may have a claim.

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