Backover Accidents. More common than you think.

Picture this familiar rush of the morning: “Mom, I can’t find my other shoe!” “Dad, did you sign my note?” “Sally’s hogging the bathroom!” “I don’t want to get up!” Sometimes you don’t know where one child begins, and you end. You’re grabbing your keys, someone’s math book, your phone, holding back the dog as you open the front door, then you’re locking the door, jumping into the car, yes you have your keys, you check the back of your vehicle and your rambunctious kids seem to all be present, you check your blind spots and reverse. But it’s on the mornings like these where the worst kind of accidents can happen.

Back over, accidents occur more frequently than one would think. According to kidsandcars.org, at least 50 children a week are injured or killed by a car running them over while in reverse. These accidents happen most often at home, by a family member, with children most at risk due to their small size. When they stand behind the car, children are right in your blind spot. Even with the advent of the backup camera, these accidents still happen as the camera image is not always reliable, depending on the lighting. Fewer drivers are checking their blind spots, usually waiting for that crisp, annoying beeping from the collision detector signaling an object, but as many people know, the detector beeps at everything from curbs to cars and cannot solely be relied upon.

When we become too dependent on technology that is helpful, but flawed, we put everyone around us at risk. With school starting and bringing the hustle and bustle back to mornings, here are five recommendations to avoid backover accidents:

1. Every morning before you even put your keys in the ignition walk behind the back of the car. It is a pain but will save you heartache and headache later on. Maybe you didn’t see Bobby left his scooter behind your vehicle. What this extra 35 second affords you is the peace of mind that nothing and no one is behind your car as you back out.
2. Make sure all your kids are in your car. Create a count off “Sound of Music” style if you must. This comes in handy everywhere, so you know you haven’t left your child at Kings Dominion or in a gas station staring at the candy section when you’re on the way to school in the morning. Always double-check that everyone is in the car.
3. Always set your emergency brake. Again, a pain, but technology fails, and often when it does, there are disastrous results.
4. Remind your children that cars are not toys and should never be played in or around, especially at night. The next time they want to play manhunt, direct them to your backyard instead of your front yard, where cars pose excellent hiding spots.
5. Finally, consider installing cross-view mirrors, collision detectors, and rearview cameras. Anything to increase your visibility is going to help save lives. However, with this recommendation, remember that technology is addictive and flawed. Never simply rely on technology, and if you install these gadgets to help, don’t forget to still check behind the car yourself.

This school year, let’s try to decrease the number of backover accidents and increase our awareness around cars. If you ever have questions or concerns regarding an accident, do not hesitate to contact Curcio Law.