Flower Mound Improper Backing Up Truck Accident Lawyer
An improper backing up accident involving a truck can be a minor inconvenience or a major, life-threatening collision. These truck accidents occur when a driver reverses into another car, an object, or a pedestrian. Victims may suffer severe injuries or even death.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), most adults spend less than 1% of their total driving time in reverse. Yet 25% of all collisions occur while at least one driver is backing up. Among commercial truck drivers, this number increases. Improper backing up truck accidents account for 50% of all on-the-job accidents among fleet drivers.
Although these truck collisions tend to occur at lower speeds, it’s estimated that improper backing up accidents cause 200 fatalities and over 12,000 injuries each year. Even a moderate fender-bender in a parking lot can total your vehicle, or send you or your passengers to the hospital.
Call (469) 998-4069 today if you were in an improper backing up accident involving a truck near Flower Mound, TX. Our accident lawyers can help you. We’ll determine if you’re eligible for compensation, then fight to help you receive it. Consultations are 100% free and confidential. You won’t pay a dime unless we take your case and help you win.
Improper Backing Up Truck Accident Causes
Most improper backing up accidents occur in parking lots, driveways, or narrow alleys. Also known as a backup collision, these crashes happen when there’s another vehicle, object, or person in the truck driver’s rear blind spots.
Factors that lead to improper backing up truck accidents include, but are not limited to:
Distracted Driving
A majority of improper backing up accidents happen because truck drivers aren’t paying attention. This is common in crowded parking lots with lots of traffic and pedestrians. Truckers can also become easily distracted if they’re using their phone without a hand’s free device, talking to a passenger, adjusting the radio, or eating.
A distracted truck driver can cause an improper backing up accident by backing out of a parking space or driveway too quickly. If the distracted driver isn’t looking, their truck may collide with another vehicle. When backing out of a driveway onto a street, drivers must yield to cross traffic. If they become distracted, they may fail to observe another vehicle in close proximity to their truck.
Blind Spots
Blind spots also play a role in improper backing up accidents involving trucks. Although many vehicles are equipped with backup cameras for added safety, the area directly behind a car or truck is often known as the “kill zone.” Sadly, many animals and young children are killed because they’re too short for a truck driver to see them.
It’s important to be aware of your car’s blind zones to avoid an improper backing up accident involving a truck. According to Consumer Reports, larger vehicles like trucks have the largest rear blind zones. However, the driver’s height also plays a role in visibility. In a small sedan, an adult driver of average height cannot see 12 feet directly behind their car. For short drivers, this blind zone doubles to 24 feet.
If your car or truck is equipped with a blind-spot warning system or a backup camera, always make sure it’s turned on when you’re backing up. You can also reduce backup accidents by driving more slowly.
In any type of crash, the speed of your vehicle increases impact force. Hopefully, you’ll never cause an improper backing up accident with a truck or any other vehicle. However, in case you do, it’s better if you’re driving more slowly because you’ll inflict less damage.
Reduced Visibility
Any factor that affects a truck driver’s visibility can also lead to improper backing up accidents. For example, if a driver’s truck is filled with cargo that blocks their rear window, they won’t have a complete view of the back of their truck.
Additionally, poor weather conditions can increase the likelihood of an improper backing up accident. Weather elements like snow, rain, or heavy fog can decrease a truck driver’s overall visibility. This makes it more difficult to see as you backup.
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue also contributes to improper backing up accidents among truckers. When a driver hasn’t had enough sleep, they can become severely impaired. In fact, driving while tired has been shown to be just as dangerous as driving with a 0.08% blood alcohol level.
Fatigue causes a truck driver to experience slower reaction times, reduced physical coordination, and impaired judgment. Even if a drowsy driver doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel, they can still cause an accident. A driver who is tired may not remember to check their truck’s blind spots properly when they back up. This can result in a backup collision.
Reckless Driving
Many improper backing up accidents involving trucks are also caused by reckless or negligent driving. Speeding is a common cause of these accidents. A driver who is in a hurry may back out of a parking space or driveway at high speeds and fail to check the road behind them.
If there’s a car, object, or pedestrian in their way, a truck driver who is speeding won’t have time to react properly. A high-speed collision can also inflict more physical damage. If an improper backing up accident occurs because a truck driver was speeding, victims are more likely to suffer grave injuries.
Improper Backing Up Accident Injuries
Improper backing up accident injuries vary. You may be able to walk away from one of these accidents with mild whiplash, or suffer severe injuries requiring hospitalization. The severity of your injuries will depend on the speed of the truck at the moment of impact, as well as the vehicle’s size. If you get hit by a large truck like a semi, you’ll suffer worse damage.
Common injuries from improper backing up accidents include:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck and spinal cord injuries, including partial or full paralysis
- Cuts, burns, bruises, and broken bones
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- PTSD or other psychological trauma
If you’re injured in an improper backing up accident involving a truck, contact our Flower Mound, TX accident lawyers today. We can help you receive compensation to pay medical bills and get your life back on track. Dial (469) 998-4069 for your free consultation.
