Driveway backovers are every parent and driver’s greatest fear, as both adults and children can be hurt in a reversing mishap. In most cases, the driver who rear-ends the other car, an item, or a person is to blame for the collision. Always be on the lookout for pedestrians and other cars in your path by using your rearview mirrors and remaining vigilant while driving.
A nationwide charity group devoted to protecting children’s lives states that “every year, thousands of children are killed or gravely injured because a car backing up didn’t see them. Usually, as a car is backing out of a driveway or parking space, a back-over event occurs. The organization says:
- In the United States, at least fifty kids are run over by vehicles every week.
- The victims’ average age ranges from 12 to 23 months.
- Larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks account for about 60% of backovers.
The most frequent locations for backover collisions are parking lots and driveways, particularly those at schools and assisted care facilities.
All vehicles are now required to be equipped with backup cameras, which is helping to potentially stop these accidents and injuries from occurring. Rearview video systems are not a substitute for mirrors or turning around to look; rather, they are an additional safety tool for highlighting hidden threats, as the NHTSA reminds us. The driver is still in charge of making sure before leaving a driveway or parking space.
What the data reveals
According to a 2016 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study, the usage of cameras decreased accidents by 16%, while drivers over the age of 70 benefited the most from their use. In actuality, rear-view cameras decreased rear-end collisions by 40% in older drivers but only by 15% in younger drivers. Older drivers who may have difficulty twisting their heads to gaze over their shoulders may find these rear-view cameras to be more beneficial.
Backup cameras assist in preventing parking accidents in addition to pedestrian mishaps. The cameras assist drivers in parallel parking, taking the guessing out of this challenging task and reducing collisions when parallel parking in confined areas.
Federal law mandates that all passenger cars, trucks, vans, and vehicles under 10,000 pounds have rear-view monitoring systems as of May 2018. Before the implementation of this regulation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) calculated that automobile backing over people resulted in 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries annually.
Why using backup cameras alone can be dangerous
Today, backup cameras that enable a driver to view straight behind their car are needed for all new automobiles weighing less than 10,000 pounds. Relying solely on their rearview cameras, as opposed to checking their mirrors and windows, drivers run the risk of missing a pedestrian, another vehicle, or an object on the road, which could result in an accident. Additionally, it exposes them to civil liability if someone is hurt. Drivers are in charge of their behavior.
However, in some situations, manufacturers might also be held accountable. To know more consult a car accident lawyer in New York City. Consider a scenario where the backup camera malfunctions and there is a two-second delay. A driver notices that it is clear behind him after checking his mirrors and windows. He looks at his camera, which captures the identical scene, but a child can be seen walking behind the automobile in that brief two-second span. The manufacturer might be held partially accountable in such a situation.
Keep this in Mind
If you were hurt in a backup accident, you need to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in New York because this kind of personal injury claim could be challenging for the typical consumer.
Siler & Ingber LLP has defended people hurt in auto accidents. Through a car accident lawyer in New York, we offer forceful legal counsel to our accident victims. We will ascertain this information and hold the responsible parties liable if the involved vehicle had faulty rear-view camera equipment. Call us to arrange a consultation if you were hurt in an accident involving a malfunctioning rear-view camera.