The road is not a safe place, especially for children. In the year 2016, more than 5,000 pedestrians died in vehicular crashes in the United States. In the same year, one in every five children below 15 years old who died in vehicular accidents were pedestrians. The injuries and trauma that car accidents bring on both children and the family are unfathomable. A child’s inability to make calculations and to evaluate the safety of the situation, make him vulnerable to pedestrian accidents.
High-Risk Places for Child Pedestrians
Child-friendly places are actually places where pedestrian accidents involving children commonly occur. The higher the concentration of children in one place, the more it is likely for a pedestrian accident involving a child to occur.
- Parks
According to a study, child pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur in parks. Most parks lack traffic safety measures. There are no special pedestrian lanes in parks, and no reduced speed limits are implemented.
- Home Driveways
Sometimes, in the most heartbreaking of events, a family member can cause child injuries or even death. Someone, a complacent parent, or a relative may be backing out of the garage to go to work or to do some errands. Before the driver can fully assess his or her environment, she bumped into something, or worse, ran over something.
The complacency of being at home, the reduced lighting of the garage, can make you drop your focus and be less attentive. A split second of misjudgment can lead to the most devastating tragedy ever. Get someone to help you while you back up your garage. If you have poor visibility, seek assistance from other people. It is also good to check that you can see all the children in your home before you shift your car to drive.
- Schools
Though studies show that parks are generally much more dangerous for child pedestrians, accidents can still occur near schools. The busy traffic flow and the traffic rules near schools can confuse motorists and children.
Some drivers also fail to reduce their speeds in school zones, which puts children pedestrians at risk. Many children, as well as adults, do not understand the road and traffic rules that are applied when loading and unloading a school bus. Careless drivers who overtake the bus at the wrong time can cause road accidents, which may involve students getting off the bus.
Most schools employ crossing guards to assist children when crossing the street. It aims to make school zones a safer place for everyone. However, some reckless drivers do not respect the authority of crossing guards and fail to follow their commands.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents Involving Children
There are many factors and reasons why a child may be hit by a running car. Negligence of the driver is always the top reason. Poor road or poor driving conditions may also cause vehicular crashes. Habitual aggressive and distracted driving also increases the risk of pedestrian accidents. All of these can lead the driver not to notice an unknowing child pedestrian.
- Most Children Walk for Transport
A child cannot drive himself to school or the park. Most children walk for transport. It is practical, it is cheap, and is actually a form of exercise. To get where they need to go, these walking children share the street with rushing cars. It puts them at a disadvantage and more prone to vehicular crash injuries.
- Small children are not always visible.
Small children, especially toddlers, are at more risk of being a victim of vehicular crashes because of poor visibility. Their size does not make them easy to see from the driver’s line of sight. A driver backing out of a parking spot can easily miss a running toddler.
Older children are more at risk for another reason: they go out during night time. Young adolescents may not take precautions such as wearing bright clothes, which can lead a driver not to see them.
- Children are less familiar with road and pedestrian safety practices.
Children cannot accurately judge how fast a vehicle is running towards them. Children are also not as familiar with road safety. A wandering child can easily get distracted and not pay attention to the rushing cars nearby.
Child Pedestrian Accidents Can Be Prevented
Pedestrian accidents, both for children and adults, can be prevented. The public should be aware of the problem that surrounds child pedestrian safety. Drivers and pedestrians alike should also be more responsible and mindful of their actions. Policies and ordinances can also create to foster pedestrian safety for everyone.
Contact The Clark Law Office for Pedestrian Related Accidents
Accidents, no matter how heartbreaking, can happen. If your child has been involved in a car crash, call a trusted and reputable lawyer immediately. We at The Clark Law Office will help you seek the justice and compensation that you deserve. An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you every step of the way of your legal battle during this hard time.
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