Backover Accidents

Many children and elderly individuals live in or visit South Florida, which has a high incident rate of backover accidents. These kinds of collisions may occur in crowded parking lots, driveways, and other places where views are obstructed and where many pedestrians are present. Backover crashes may cause serious injuries, especially to a very young or elderly victim. If you or a loved one has been hurt in the Miami area by a careless driver, the car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled. Our firm helps victims explore their options and assert their legal rights against any party that may be responsible for their harm.

Nationally, backover car accidents result in hundreds of deaths each year, as well as thousands of injuries. Forty-four percent of victims in these accidents are children under the age of five, since often a child is struck playing behind a car in a driveway. One-third of backover accident victims are over 70 years old. Besides incidents in driveways, many of these accidents occur in crowded parking lots.

Backover accidents mostly occur on private property, rather than public roadways. As a result, more than one individual or entity may be responsible, and determining which parties should be sued for compensation may be complicated. Many times, these accidents involve a careless driver backing over a pedestrian. For a victim to hold a driver liable, he or she usually must prove negligence by showing that:

• The driver owed him or her a duty of reasonable care;
• That duty was breached by the driver’s actions;
• The breach caused the victim’s injuries; and
• The victim sustained damages as a result.

For instance, if a driver fails to check his or her rearview mirrors before backing up, or reverses at a high speed, he or she may be found to have acted unreasonably given the circumstances.

In some cases, the owner of the property where an accident occurred may also be held liable for injuries through a premises liability claim, such as in situations where there are obstructed views creating hazards on the property and making a driveway or parking lot unsafe. Damages available in these types of accidents may include past and future medical expenses, loss of income or earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Long-term rehabilitation or medical treatment may be necessary, especially since children are often the victims of a backover accident, and their injuries may be more complicated due to the stages of their growth and development. If your child, or another relative, has been hurt in this type of collision, it is important to consult a knowledgeable attorney who can help you determine what steps are necessary to make sure their legal rights are preserved.

Residents of Miami and the surrounding cities can contact the motor vehicle collisions at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon for assistance with navigating the legal process. We are committed to trying to hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm that they cause. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your claim. We also represent accident victims in the Miami area and throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties.