While the loss of any life in a Car Accident is tragic, such an incident is that much more difficult to handle when the person killed is a child. While these accidents may involve other vehicles, in some cases children are struck and killed when cars run over them while backing up in driveways or parking lots. These types of accidents may happen when the person behind the wheel fails to see the much smaller child behind the car.
All would likely agree that these accidents occur too frequently. Government statistics indicate that an average of 15,000 injuries occur each year as a result of backup accidents. An average of 210 deaths are attributed to these types of accidents annually. In addition, 31% of the time the person who dies is a child who is under the age of five.
In an effort to reduce the number of these types of accidents that occur, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a final rule requiring that certain vehicles be equipped with rearview technology. The vehicles covered by the rule are some light trucks and all new cars. The rule impacts vehicles that are made beginning 1 May 2018.
When a child, or person of any age for that matter, dies as a result of someone backing up over them, there is nothing that can bring them back. In some cases however, the loved ones of the deceased may decide to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. Though often a difficult process, in addition to financial compensation it could provide a sense of closure.
If you have been injured or lost someone close to you in a car accident, call the Pittsburgh personal injury attorneys at Dugan & Associates for a free consultation at 412-353-3572.
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