Child Pedestrian Injuries
Child pedestrian injuries and deaths due to motor vehicle-related incidents nationwide average 20,000 incidents each year. The majority of child pedestrian injuries and deaths occur at non-intersection locations.When a child suffers an injury or is killed in an auto accident, parents and other family members are often left with many unanswered questions. It is understandable to feel overwhelmed, but help is available to get you through this. If the crash was the result of negligence, such as a distracted driver, a dangerous roadway, or a faulty vehicle part, the injured child or the family members of the deceased child have a legitimate claim for damages.
The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert's personal injury attorneys and staff are sympathetic to and resourceful for those affected by a serious car collision involving a child. For years, we have fought to protect the rights of our clients, assisting them in their pursuit of justice for compensation. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation with a board-certified personal injury attorney. We will listen to what happened, we will explain all of your legal rights, and we will fight to protect those rights. There is no fee or case expenses unless we recover in your case.
While these accidents are tragic and most often the fault of careless drivers and not the fault of the child or child's parents, the following are tips can at least help reduce the risk of being hit by a careless driver.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS
Teach Kids How to Walk Safely
- Teach kids at an early age to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across.
- It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Teach kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Children under 10 need to cross the street with an adult. Every child is different, but developmentally, most kids are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until age 10.
- Encourage kids to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up.
- Teach kids not to run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- If kids are walking when it’s dark out, teach them to be especially alert and make sure they are visible to drivers. Have them wear light- or brightly-colored clothing and reflective gear.
Take Action Against Distraction
- Teach kids to put phones, headphones, and devices down when crossing the street. It is particularly important to reinforce the message with teenagers.
- Pull headphones down or turn off the volume before crossing the street.
- Be aware of others who may be distracted and speak up when you see someone who is in danger.
- If kids need to use a cell phone, teach them to stop walking and find a safe area to talk.
Types of Injuries in Accidents Involving Pedestrians
Pedestrians have no protection from injury in a collision with a motor vehicle, and the injuries they suffer are often serious, catastrophic, or even fatal. Common injuries include:- Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Spinal cord injury.
- Limb loss and traumatic amputation.
- Internal injuries.
- Disfigurement.
- Fractures, such as a broken leg, arm, rib, or pelvis.
- Neck and back injuries.
- Sprained or torn ligaments.
- Contusions, lacerations, and abrasions.