Getting the Facts About Child Pedestrian Injuries

Children are at a higher risk of incurring pedestrian accident injuries than people of other ages. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20% of kids under the age of 15 who were killed in motor vehicle collisions were pedestrians at the time of the crash. Safe Kids Worldwide reports that more than 15,000 nonfatal child pedestrian injuries occur every year, and more than 350 children are killed in pedestrian collisions. The majority of the kids who are seriously or fatally injured in pedestrian accidents are between the ages of 12 and 19, and a majority of the accidents occur at non-intersections.

How Kids Can Stay Safe While Walking

What kinds of behaviors can parents encourage so that kids can avoid pedestrian injuries? Safe Kids recommends the following safety tips:

• Follow all road rules, and only cross when you have a “walk” signal;
• Always walk on the sidewalk when one is available;
• Walk against traffic when there is no sidewalk;
• Do not listen to music while walking;
• Only walk and cross streets in well-lit areas if walking at dawn or dusk is necessary;
• Do not assume a driver sees you;
• Wear brightly colored and reflective clothing;
• Be aware of bus accident risks when standing and waiting for the bus, and remain away from the road; and
• Never cross behind or immediately in front of a school bus.

Was Your Child Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

If your child was injured in a pedestrian accident, it is critical to hold the at-fault driver accountable and to seek compensation for your child’s injuries. Most personal injury claims in Poway must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, according to California law, but you will likely want to get started on your case as soon as possible. One of our experienced Poway personal injury attorneys can speak with you about the case and discuss your options for pursuing compensation.

Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Poway

Pedestrian accidents and injuries can be devastating under any circumstances, but they are especially catastrophic when a child is injured. Our Poway pedestrian accident attorneys know how important it is to hold responsible drivers accountable for the harm they have caused. We can assess your case today and provide you with more information about the options available to you. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: Distracted Driving Problems May Be Bigger Than You Think Touch-Free Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety in the Age of Coronavirus

Learning More About Child Bicycle Accidents and Injuries

Child injuries in bicycle accidents are much too common. The following are some statistics from Stanford Children’s Health, Nationwide Children’s, and Safe Kids Worldwide:

• Every year, an average of 100 children suffer fatal injuries in bicycle accidents and approximately 254,000 kids suffer nonfatal injuries in these accidents;
• Bicycle-related accidents and injuries result in 25 children in the U.S. requiring treatment in an emergency department every hour, which is about 608 cases every day on average;
• Between 2006 and 2015, more than 2.2 million kids between the ages of 5 to 17 received treatment in U.S. emergency departments for injuries sustained in bicycle accidents;
• Child bicycle accident injuries happen most frequently in streets, with accidents at home (such as in driveways) being the second-leading site of child bicycle accidents;
• Kids under the age of 14 are at greater risk of injuries in a bicycle accident, with children between the ages of 10 to 14 at greatest risk;
• Male children account for a much high rate of bicycle accident injuries (anywhere from 70% to 83% of all report fatal and nonfatal bicycle accident injuries);
• Head injuries are the leading cause of death in child bicycle accidents, accounting for approximately 60% of all fatal injuries;
• Bicycle accidents involving a collision with a motor vehicle are responsible for about 90% of all child deaths in bike crashes; and
• Helmets are the best way to prevent a serious or fatal brain injury, yet only about 40% of all kids wear helmets while riding bikes and only about 35% of those kids who do wear helmets actually wear them properly.

Preventing Serious Bicycle Accident Injuries Among Children

What can parents and caregivers do to prevent serious bicycle accident injuries? According to Safe Kids Worldwide, it is critical for parents to require their kids to wear helmets and to ensure that their children are wearing the helmets properly. In addition, parents and caregivers should teach their children to ride safely, which often means avoiding busy roads with heavy traffic, riding recklessly, listening to music on headphones while bicycling, and other actions that can put the bicyclist at risk of serious harm.

Contact a Poway Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If your child was injured in a bicycle accident caused by a motorist or another party, you should seek advice from our Poway personal injury attorneys about filing a claim for compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: Valley Center Bicycle Accidents in the New Year City of San Diego Bicycle Accident Results in $4.8 Million Settlement