Backing-Up & Parking Lot Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Not all pedestrian accidents happen on busy roads or at intersections. A significant number of serious pedestrian injuries occur in parking lots, driveways, and other low-speed environments where vehicles are backing up or maneuvering. While these crashes may seem minor because of the low speeds involved, the reality is that pedestrians — especially young children and elderly individuals — suffer serious and sometimes fatal injuries. The non-profit Kids and Cars organization reports that at least 50 children are backed over by vehicles every week in the United States.
At Roden Law, our pedestrian accident lawyers represent individuals and families injured in parking lot and backing-up crashes throughout Georgia and South Carolina. We understand the liability complexities of these cases and pursue full compensation from negligent drivers and, where applicable, property owners.
Common Backing-Up and Parking Lot Crash Scenarios
Our attorneys handle a wide range of parking lot and backing-up pedestrian cases:
- Backover accidents: A driver reverses out of a parking space or driveway without checking behind the vehicle, striking a pedestrian — particularly children who fall below the rear sight line. Backover crashes near schools are also a concern in school zone pedestrian accidents.
- Parking lot crossings: Pedestrians walking through parking lot travel lanes struck by vehicles looking for spaces or exiting quickly
- Drive-aisle crashes: Vehicles speeding through parking lot aisles where pedestrians are loading groceries or walking to stores
- Delivery and loading zones: Commercial vehicles backing up to loading docks without spotters, striking pedestrians in the area
- Drive-through lanes: Pedestrians struck in or near restaurant or business drive-through lanes
- Parking garage incidents: Low visibility, tight turns, and steep ramps in parking structures create dangerous pedestrian conditions
Liability in Parking Lot Pedestrian Cases
Parking lot accidents may involve multiple liable parties:
- The driver: Every driver has a duty to check mirrors, use backup cameras, and physically look behind them before reversing. Failure to do so is negligence.
- The property owner: Shopping centers, businesses, and parking lot owners have a duty to maintain safe premises, including adequate lighting, clear sight lines, speed bumps, pedestrian walkways, and proper signage
- The vehicle manufacturer: If a backup camera, rear cross-traffic alert, or automatic emergency braking system failed or was not included when required by federal regulation
- Employers: For commercial vehicles, the driver’s employer may be vicariously liable, and employers who fail to provide spotters for backing maneuvers may be directly negligent
Georgia premises liability law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1) and South Carolina law hold property owners to a duty of ordinary care to protect invitees from foreseeable hazards. A parking lot with known pedestrian traffic and no safety measures may be liable for resulting injuries.
Backup Camera Regulations
Since May 2018, federal regulation (FMVSS 111) requires all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds to have rear visibility technology (backup cameras). If a vehicle equipped with this technology had a malfunctioning camera that contributed to a backover crash, a product liability claim against the manufacturer may apply.