Pedestrian Accidents Involving Children | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

According to national statistics, 6,227 pedestrians were killed last year, an increase of 250 more victims from 2017. Overall, pedestrian accident fatalities have increased by 40 percent since 2008 an account for almost 20 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Although anyone is at risk of becoming a victim of a pedestrian accident, children who are between the ages of five and nine have the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities and injuries. In fact, on average, one in every five children under the age of 15 killed in crashes each year are victims of pedestrian accidents.

 

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One of the reasons that many children are killed in pedestrian accidents is because of their small size compared to the weight of a motor vehicle. This makes them particularly vulnerable to fatal injuries. They also do not have the experience or sense of reasoning to understand how dangerous being around cars and other vehicles can be.

Another reason why children are often victims of pedestrian accidents is their lack of physical development. For example, a child has one-third less peripheral vision than an adult does, which can make it difficult for them an oncoming vehicle. A child’s hearing is also not as developed as an adult, so they do not always hear oncoming traffic. And young children lack the comprehension skills to understand what it would mean to be struck by a vehicle and how painful the injuries could be. The lack of fully developed senses and cognitive skills can put a child in harm’s way.

Child Pedestrian Accident Liability

Although a child may fail to keep themselves safe when they are around vehicles and traffic, it is still the responsibilities of drivers to watch out for children on or near the road. When a person is driving in areas where there may be children, such as near schools, parks, residential neighborhoods, or around school buses, they need to take extra care. Failure to do could result in a child being struck by their vehicle and the driver may be held responsible for injuries the child sustains from the accident.

Have You Been a Victim of a Pedestrian Accident?

If your child has been injured in a pedestrian or any other type of vehicle accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, contact a North Carolina accident attorney to find out what legal options you may have for your family’s pain and loss. Injury cases involving children can be more complex and having a knowledgeable personal injury attorney advocating for your family can make all the difference in how successful the case is. Our Carolinas personal injury firm has more than three decades of experience fighting for victims in obtaining the compensation they deserved and will use all available resources to get you the best possible outcome.