Backover Car Accidents In Bradenton: Know The Risks And Your Rights In Filing A Claim
Learning how to safely reverse a vehicle is something motorists learn early in their driving careers. It is a skill most rely on every day, whether parking on side streets, pulling out of driveways, or navigating local parking lots. Newer cars are equipped with backup cameras to make reversing safer, but mistakes can still happen.
Our Bradenton auto accident lawyer represents victims of backover accidents in Manatee County. They happen when a driver reverses and, rather than striking another vehicle, hits a pedestrian or bicyclist. As a recent tragedy illustrates, backover accident injuries often prove life-threatening. Find out about the risks and your rights in filing a claim.
Terra Ceia Man Killed In Manatee County Backover Accident
Going in reverse is something most drivers do less than one percent of their time behind the wheel. However, the Health and Safety Institute (HSI) reports that one out of every four auto accidents occur while a vehicle is backing up.
Backover car accidents happen in parking lots, driveways, or anywhere motorists are going in reverse. They can cause severe, life-threatening injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists nearby. Sadly, children are among the most common victims, but a recent backover car accident in Manatee County illustrates how it can happen to anyone and at any age.
According to an August 27, 2024 My SunCoast news report, a 77-year-old man from Terra Ceia was the victim of a tragic backover accident near Bradenton. It happened just after 7:00 a.m. as he was taking the garbage out. A Jeep, reportedly driven by his 17-year-old granddaughter, was reversing out of the driveway at the same time and struck the older man. He was rushed to Manatee Memorial Hospital but did not survive his injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol Traffic is continuing to investigate the case.
Protecting Yourself Against Bradenton Backover Auto Accidents
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) warns that whether your car has a backup camera or you rely on your rearview mirror, use extreme caution anytime you are backing up your vehicle:
- Before getting into your car, walk around the outside area:
- Make sure no children, bicyclists, or anyone else is in or near your path;
- When pulling out of parking lot spaces, go extra slow and be alert for passersby;
- When parallel parking on side streets, watch for cyclists in bike lanes and pedestrians stepping off the curb.
Backup accidents leave everyone involved devastated. However, drivers have a legal duty to use caution behind the wheel. If you or someone you love is hurt due to a backover auto accident in Bradenton, you have the right to hold the driver liable for your losses in a claim.
Contact Our Bradenton Auto Accident Lawyer Today
Backover accidents can cause devastating injuries. The Law Office of Steven G. Lavely represents victims and their families in these often tragic cases, helping them get compensation in a claim. Contact our Bradenton auto accident lawyer and request a consultation today.
Sources:
mysuncoast.com/2024/08/27/elderly-man-killed-after-being-struck-by-car-driveway/
hsi.com/blog/vehicle-backing-safety
flhsmv.gov/safety-center/child-safety/car-driveway-safety/