Car Accident Attorney Provides Tips for Backing Up Your Car

Backing up a car is one of the most dangerous ways we operate a vehicle. Vehicle damage can happen from hitting poles, curbs, shopping carts, and other cars. Property damage can happen from backing into low porches, items in the garage, or garage doors and openings. The worst form of damage is when a person gets hit by a reversing car, called a backover. Children are the most often hit in their own driveways by parents or grandparents. Their small size makes them difficult to see.

Back up car accidents are one of the most common type of motor vehicle accidents. Being a defensive and responsible driver can help prevent many accidents if you follow these tips:

• Know Your Blind Spots – Every vehicle has areas that you can't see. Most common is obviously right behind your car. Put a two foot tall object behind your car and then pull forward until you can see that object in your rear view mirror. The space between where the object is and where you can see it is your blind spot, and can be many feet long.
• Keep Visibility at a Maximum – Align your mirrors each time you get into your vehicle. Keep windows clear and free of stickers, dark tint, and sun shades. Also, when loading items into the car, be sure to keep the rear window clear. Make two trips if everything can't fit.
• Do a Physical Check – Walk around your vehicle and look for obstructions. Children's toys and bikes, trash cans, and lawn equipment are low and not easily seen. Shopping carts and curbs are also hard to spot. Most important, know where all children are before backing up – either in the car with you, or in a safe area to the front of the car rather then the rear.
• Practice Parking – Reversing into or out of a parking space can easily cause an accident. Practice so you are aware of the proper distances and turning angles. Go slowly, back out a little at a time and make sure other vehicles stop before you proceed.

New York, NY Car Accident Attorney