Backover Accidents

It goes without saying that a driver backing up a vehicle is required to check to ensure that no one is behind the vehicle. Unfortunately, sometimes when drivers are in a rush and fail to pay attention, they back up without checking behind them and strike someone standing behind the car. Backover accidents can be very serious and are unfortunately often fatal. If you or a loved one was injured in a backover accident, you may be able to recover damages for the consequences of the accident. The attorneys at Peter Thompson and Associates have over 60 years of combined experience helping New Hampshire residents injured in car accidents due to someone else’s negligence recover the compensation that they are rightfully owed. Our New Hampshire car accident lawyers can aggressively advocate on your behalf to help you obtain a favorable outcome.

Backover accidents unfortunately usually involve two of society’s most vulnerable groups, young children and the elderly. If a child is small, the driver may not be able to see the child behind the vehicle if they do not check thoroughly. Backover accidents often result in traumatic brain injuries, fractures, contusions, and lacerations. In many cases, the victim of the accident will not be able to recover from the injuries sustained in the accident and will die from the injuries.

The injuries sustained in a backover accident are often devastating and require extensive medical treatment. In some cases, a victim may need lifelong care. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a backover accident, the driver who caused the accident should bear the cost of any expenses incurred due to your injuries. The majority of backover accident cases allege that the driver drove negligently. To successfully prove that a driver’s negligence caused an accident under New Hampshire law, you must show that the driver owed you a duty of care, the duty was breached, and the breach caused the accident and your subsequent harm. Negligence must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. Regarding proving negligence in a backover accident, the New Hampshire motor vehicle code explicitly states that drivers cannot back up their vehicles unless they can do so in a safe manner. As a result, there is a strong basis for an argument that a driver’s failure to ensure that a vehicle could be backed up safely breached a duty owed to pedestrians.

Any lawsuit to recover damages for injuries sustained in a backover accident must be filed within three years of the date that the accident occurred. If your loved one was killed in a backover accident, and you are pursuing a wrongful death claim, your lawsuit must be filed within three years of the date of the death. If your claim is successful, you should be able to recover the costs of all reasonable past and future medical treatment, including any physical or occupational therapy, and the costs of any prescriptions or adaptive devices. If you could not work due to the accident, you may be entitled to damages for lost wages and loss of future earnings as well. Many times, a considerable amount of damages is awarded for pain and suffering.

Backover accidents often result in devastating injuries and in most cases are entirely avoidable. If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a backover accident, you should meet with a knowledgeable car accident attorney to determine the damages that you may be entitled to recover. At Peter Thompson and Associates, we can fight aggressively on your behalf to help you recover the damages to which you are entitled. We have the knowledge and skills needed to formulate a strong case that will establish a defendant’s liability and help you obtain a favorable result. Our skilled advocacy has allowed us to achieve a long record of favorable verdicts. We have offices in Bedford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester and represent injured people throughout New Hampshire. Contact us at 800.804.2004 or use our online form to set up a free consultation.