“I didn’t know there was somebody behind me!” is NOT a valid excuse for running somebody over. “
I think it can be. You enter your garage from your house, back up slowly, looking in your rear view and over your shoulder -
if you can’t see a person lying there I don’t think that is your fault. Standing there, yes, it’s your fault.
This happened to my brother years ago. He got in his car after leaving the bar. The car parked in front of him backed out, and he pulled forward to drive through the now open parking spot.
Trouble was, some other college kid had passed out in between the two cars, and my brother drove over his leg or something. (Luckily he had a small car). My brother called an ambulance, etc. I imagine my brother’s insurance covered the medical bills. The passed-out kid tried to sue my brother for pain and suffering, etc., but nothing came of it.