Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reported that each year there are over 600 child pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrian injuries are one of the leading causes of injury related deaths for children in the United States.
Children under 2 years of age suffer the highest number of injuries as pedestrians. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for those ages 5 to 24. Boys are twice as likely to be involved in child pedestrian casualties as girls. Boys age 13 have the highest rate of child pedestrian casualties.
Children do not appreciate traffic risks and rules. Children are small, fast, and easily distracted. They find it difficult to judge the direction of sounds, and the distance and speed of vehicles.
Risk factors also include reduced visibility for drivers and children, streets with higher speed limits, streets with parked cars, and streets without crosswalk signals. High vehicle speeds increase the likelihood of pedestrian injuries and the severity of injuries.
Adults can be good road crossing and road safety teachers. Prevention practices also include teaching children not to cross streets by themselves, modeling behavior by crossing at street corners and following traffic signals, and teaching children to look left, right and to continue looking while crossing a street. Children need adults to provide guidance and supervision.
A recent study found that child pedestrian fatalities are up to twice as likely around parks as they are in school areas. Reduced speed limits and pedestrian crossings in school zones have lowered child pedestrian injury rates, these added measures around parks may have similar results.
Adult drivers also need to be more alert, particularly in residential neighborhoods, and near parks and school zones. School crosswalks are sometimes in poor condition or not present, drivers may not slow down or pay proper attention. Unfortunately, a child may see a driver, however the driver may not see the child, the driver may be distracted.
Distracted driving, including reaching for and use of a cell phone, is dangerous, all too common, and greatly increases the risk of getting into a crash. Texting is especially dangerous, because it requires visual manual and cognitive attention by the driver.
A skilled Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer can help you and your loved ones if they’ve been injured in this kind of accident. Especially in the case of a child, these cases can be traumatic and the help of an experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from the Law Office of Paul Englander, PLC for their insight to child pedestrian accidents.
