Let’s consider the leading causes of child-pedestrian accidents and tips to help prevent these accidents.
While the frequency of child-pedestrian accidents has decreased over the years, pedestrian injuries are still a leading cause of injury-related death among children in the US. According to the CDC, nearly 20% of 15 years and below children killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 were pedestrians. And as it turns out, these deaths could have been prevented.
Let’s consider the leading causes of child-pedestrian accidents and tips to help prevent these accidents.
Common Causes of Child-Pedestrian Accidents
A vast majority of child-pedestrian accidents revolve around a driver’s negligence. We are talking about everything from distracted driving, impatient drivers, impaired drivers, failure to yield the right-of-way, rolling stops, and failure to slow down in school zones. Child-pedestrian accidents can also be caused by reduced visibility, such as bright lights shining in a child’s eyes, objects or cars on the side of the road, or poor weather conditions.
In other instances, the child can contribute to the risk of pedestrian accidents. Children are often impulsive and playful, which can lead to poor decisions while walking near traffic. In addition, children have limited side (peripheral) vision, which means they may have trouble seeing movement to the side, increasing their risk for accidents. At times, children can become so caught up in the destination that they forget to pay attention to the world around them.
What You Can Do to Prevent Child-Pedestrian Accidents
Parental guidance is the number one safeguard against child-pedestrian injuries and deaths. Here are ways parents and caretakers can help prevent child-pedestrian accidents:
- Teach your child to look left, right, and left again, and look out for traffic.
- Young children learn by watching adults. So don’t let your child pick up bad road habits from you. Instead, set a good example by obeying traffic laws and signals and crossing at intersections only.
- Insist that your children put away phones and other distractions when in traffic.
- Teach your child to always walk on the sidewalk.
Holding Negligent Parties Accountable
All drivers have a duty to share the road with pedestrians and use reasonable care to avoid hitting any pedestrians. If a driver breaches this duty and hits a child pedestrian, the driver may be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries.
However, as with any other injury claim, you’ll be required to provide evidence that proves beyond reasonable doubt that the driver was negligent and their action caused your child’s injuries. This is where an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney will benefit your case greatly. Your attorney can help you collect evidence and prove your claim has merit.
St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Car injuries can have long-term consequences for a child, as well as their loved ones. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer.