Pedestrian accidents are an ongoing problem in this country, with the NHTSA estimating that roughly 5,000 people are killed and 64,000 people injured in traffic accidents each year outside a vehicle. The problem grows more common in urban areas and more deadly in rural areas, owing to the high speeds associated with more open spaces. But statistics such as these barely scratch the surface of the most at-risk population: children and the elderly are by far the most vulnerable to pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian Accidents: Who's At Risk
It isn't hard to understand why these two populations in particular suffer a disproportionate number of injuries and deaths from pedestrian accidents. Elderly people tend to be slower and less aware of their surroundings, and may also succumb to a degree of confusion as they age. Children are often mobile and impulsive, and the classic "chasing a ball' scenario continues apace with each successive generation. That's why experts estimate that in 2003, nearly one-fifth of all traffic fatalities involving children under 16 were pedestrian accidents, as well as a quarter of all fatalities for children between 5 and 9.
What To Do After A Pedestrian Accident
What can you do if your child was injured in a pedestrian accident? The first thing is to seek medical care immediately, of course, but you also want to get the information of everyone nearby for your records. Lawsuits involving pedestrian accidents often are determined by eyewitness testimony, so it is important that you maintain a record of what occurred, what were the circumstances and how the collision played out. The sad fact about children in pedestrian accidents is that they tend to suffer more serious injuries than adults, including spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation and even death, so you want to retain an expert attorney to help you through this process.
Experienced Childhood Injury Attorneys
Experienced child injury attorneys, such as the lawyers at The Law Offices of Joseph Klest, can help you understand what factors may have been involved in your child's pedestrian injury. Although driver negligence is usually to blame, hazardous road conditions, poor signage, defective automobile parts, and even premises liability may all enter the picture. If you are looking to recover the sort of funds you may need to combat months or years of medical care, you simply need to work with professionals. Please contact us at 888-694-0245 or use the contact form, and remember: we never take any money unless we win you a settlement.
