Each year many people are killed and thousands are injured when a driver fails to see them when backing up. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) most victims of back-over accidents are over 70 years old or under 5 years old. Even though most back-over accidents occur at low speeds, victims of this type of car accident often suffer serious injuries. For example, it is not uncommon for a back-over car accident victim to suffer a brain injury, broke bones, contusion, abrasions, a neck injury, or a spinal cord injury. These types of injuries may involve long recovery times, requiring the victim to miss a significant amount of work. However, under New York law victims of vehicle accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a loved one was injured in a back-over car accident it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Queens Back-Over Car Accident Lawyer who will review your case and explain to you your options for seeking compensation for the losses you suffered as a result of the accident. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries your doctor commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your car accident injuries may be required to compensate you for the medical malpractice injury as well.
Common causes of back-over accidentsOne of the most common causes of back-over accidents is a driver failing to see someone because the person is in the driver's "blind spot." The blind spot is that area behind a vehicle that a driver cannot see when looking in the rearview mirror, side mirrors, or through the back window. Larger vehicles have larger blindspots. Because there is always a blindspot when driving in reverse, drivers must take care to proceed cautiously when backing up.
Other causes of back-over accidents include failing to look to make sure that no one is behind the car. In parking lots there is often a lot of pedestrian traffic walking behind cars, directly in the path of drivers who are attempting to back up. As a result many parking lot accidents are back-over accidents. Drivers must look before and while driving in reverse, and must proceed cautiously in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian or another vehicle.
Most back-over accidents occur in parking lots and residential driveways. In addition to pedestrians, bicyclists are also frequent victims of back-over accidents.
Consequences of back-over car accidentsBack-over car accidents often leave victims with serious injuries such as crushed bones, head injuries, and damages to the spinal cord. Such serious injuries require extensive costly treatment and rehabilitation. Through a personal injury claim there are several types of damages that you may be able to recover from the person responsible for the accident. You may be entitled to receive compensation to cover your medical bills- past and future. If you missed worked while recovering from your injuries, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the wages you lost as well as loss of future earning capacity. Furthermore, you may be entitled to compensation for personal property that may have been destroyed or damaged in the accident such as your car or valuable items that were in your car. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. In special cases punitive damages may be available as well.
Queens Back-Over Car Accident LawyerBack-over car accidents can have serious consequences. Under New York law you can pursue compensation from the party responsible for your injuries. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with vehicle accidents. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in back-over car accidents, hit and run accidents, rollover accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswipe accidents well as other types of vehicle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.