Child Pedestrian Injury Rate High during the Year’s Final Quarter

The last quarter of the year is usually a joyous time due to fall festivities and holiday activities. However, it's these same happenings that make it one of the most dangerous parts of the year for kids as well. A mixture of cool weather, that encourages kids to head outside to play, walking to school, and Halloween traditions, set more children out on foot and increases their risk of pedestrian injury as the result of a car accident. Stats All Caregivers Should Know There's a common misconception that October 31 is safer for kids, because drivers expect to see them. Sadly, this is not true. SafeKids.org reports that children are two-times more likely to be involved in a fatal pedestrian accident on that night than any other night of the year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added in one study that children ages 14 and under are at a higher risk for fatality between 4-8pm. For teens, three-quarters of all pedestrian fatalities happen between the hours of 7pm-7am. Kids are more likely to be hurt while darting into the road, heading to or from a school bus, and while crossing the road, especially if cars are parked in the street and blocking visibility. Child pedestrian injuries tend to be more traumatic than those involving adults, due to the victim's size. Additionally, children under the age of 10 are not generally developmentally capable of accurately judging the speed of an oncoming vehicle, which puts them at high risk when crossing the street. It's also worth noting that when a child is hurt or killed by a driver, it's important to hire an attorney who can help examine evidence, as children are often unable to recall events as they occurred. Keeping Kids Safe Because they may not be able to tell how fast a car is driving, children under the age of 10 should not cross the street without supervision. Kids should be taught traffic safety starting at an early age. This should include explaining the importance of stopping and checking for traffic before proceeding past parked vehicles. Bright and reflective clothes are advisable, as are lights, when out at dusk. When children wear costumes, such as on Halloween, care must be taken that the child can see clearly and be easily spotted by motorists.

Charleston Pedestrian Injury Attorney

If your child has been injured or killed by an unobservant or reckless driver, you may be entitled to compensation. This could include payment for pain and suffering, present medical bills, as well as estimated costs for ongoing medical care. When a child is involved, it's especially important to consider long-term health issues and necessary lifestyle modifications that are a result of the driver's negligence. Let us review the evidence and present your case to help ensure your child receives justice. Our online form is available for you to tell us about your case, or you can speak to one of our attorneys by calling 1(800)610-2546.