In the United States, an average of 50 children are injured each week when they are backed over by a vehicle. The majority of these children are around 23-months-old on average, according to Kids and Cars. A total of 48 generally receive treatment in a hospital as a result of being backed over by a vehicle. The remaining two children lose their lives.

A personal injury lawyer knows there are steps that can reduce the risk of a back-over accident occurring. One of the best options available may involve installing an after-market rear-view camera system or purchasing a vehicle that has such a system installed as an option available from the manufacturer of the vehicle.

Rear View Cameras Can Prevent Back-over Crashes and Save Lives

According to the Auto Channel, a vehicle with a rear view camera provides significantly more visibility in the rear than a vehicle with no back-over camera. A study from AAA demonstrates the extent to which visibility can be improved. AAA tested rear visibility in 17 different vehicles made by 11 different car manufacturers. Some of the vehicles had rear view camera systems installed by the manufacturer and others had systems installed by the drivers after-the-fact.

The research revealed in hatchback cars, there was a 75 percent improvement in rear visibility when a camera was in place. In smaller cars such as sedans, there was a 36 percent improvement in rear visibility after the installation of a rear view camera.

Cameras were especially helpful in making it easier for drivers to see the area 10 feet immediately behind the vehicle. This is the most dangerous location in terms of children being injured in back-over accidents.

Unfortunately, statistics reveal that around 70 percent of situations where a child is the victim of a back-over crash, the driver of the vehicle is a parent or a close relative of the child. This means parents can significantly improve their own children’s safety by making the decision to install a rear view camera.

Of course, while cameras can make a big difference, they are not 100 percent perfect. AAA still advises drivers should walk behind the rear of a car before getting into the vehicle to make sure the exit path is clear and no children or obstacles are in the way of the car backing up. When walking behind to do the pre-check, it is also a good idea to clear off the camera if it has debris on it that could impede visibility. Drivers should also be aware bad weather can create a fuzzy picture and make back-over cameras slightly less effective.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has imposed a requirement that all vehicles be equipped by back-over cameras by 2016. Until this time, drivers may wish to invest in a vehicle that has one installed when looking for a car to buy. Alternatively, they may wish to install an after-market system on their own.

Contact a San Antonio accident lawyer at the Herrera Law Firm. Call 800-455-1054 or visit http://www.herreralaw.com for a free case consultation. Serving San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, and Terrell Hills.

Parents of teen drivers frequently try to set rules to reduce the chances of their sons or daughters getting hurt in a motor vehicle accident. A teen driving is a frightening thing for a parent, especially since the statistics show collisions are the No. 1 cause of death among young people.

Unfortunately, sometimes parents are not aware of the greatest risks that their children face behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to draw attention to high risk teen driving behaviors during National Teen Driver Safety Week, which took place at the end of October 2014. A part of this campaign urged parents to talk to their teens about a different driver safety issue on each of the five days. While the teen driver safety week is over for the year, a personal injury lawyer knows there is never a bad time for parents to begin a conversation about staying safe behind the wheel.

Parents Can Make a Big Impact on Preventing Collisions

According to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are a number of different ways in which parents are involved in setting the conditions for teen drivers. For example, parents control:

• When their children are able to get a driver’s license.
• The access their kids have to a vehicle.
• The rules the family sets for driving, as well as punishments for breaking the rules.
• The vehicle that a teen uses to drive.
• When and how they teach their children to drive and the extent of supervision of teen drivers.
• How their own behavior behind the wheel serves as a role model for their kids.

Many parents set rules related to when children can drive, where they can go and what time they should be home. Unfortunately, parents often don’t spend a lot of time talking about dangerous driving conditions and some parents are unaware of the biggest hazards their kids face. For example, parents often don’t talk to their children about the risk of driving with numerous teen passengers. However, the NHTSA indicates having just one teen passenger in the car more than doubles the risk of dangerous teen driving behavior. Meanwhile, having multiple teen passengers in the car results in three times the risk of dangerous behaviors.

To help parents know exactly what subjects they should raise with their kids, the NHTSA listed five key issues in the “5 to Drive” campaign. Parents are urged to talk to their kids about:

• Not using cell phones or texting while driving.
• Not having extra passengers in the car with them while driving.
• Not speeding.
• Not consuming alcohol before driving
• Not driving or riding in a car without having a seat belt on.

In 2012, there were 1,875 young people between the ages of 15 and 20 killed in fatal car accidents and teens of this age group were involved in a total of 4,283 crashes. Parents should do everything possible to talk to their kids so they can reduce the chances that a collision will occur.

Contact a San Antonio accident lawyer at the Herrera Law Firm. Call 800-455-1054 or visit http://www.herreralaw.com for a free case consultation. Serving San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, and Terrell Hills.