Why Child Pedestrians Are at Risk

 Posted on February 12, 2024 in Car Accidents

Nearly every parent whose child walks to school or plays outside worries about the danger traffic can pose to children. Inattentive or unsafe drivers can seriously injure children faster than a parent or caregiver can react. Even if you have taught your child well about staying on the sidewalk and looking both ways before crossing the street, there is little you can do if a driver fails to observe basic pedestrian safety rules. While some pedestrian accidents are caused by children abruptly running into the road before a car has time to stop, most are caused by careless drivers. If your child is involved in an accident, it is important to get them prompt medical care and to contact a Metro New York Area pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as you can. The sooner a lawyer can begin investigating, the more evidence they may be able to find. 

Reasons Negligent Drivers are Particularly Dangerous to Children

Children are in greater danger of being hit by a car than most adults are. Some reasons why careless drivers are especially dangerous to kids include:

• Visibility - Adults are easier to see than small children, especially when the driver is not watching the road carefully. Children may be harder to spot when they are passing behind a row of hedges or a garbage can, making their appearance seem sudden to inattentive drivers. 
• Vulnerability - A light hit from a car that had begun braking may leave an adult with only fairly minor injuries, like broken ribs where the hood of the car impacted the adult. Children, being shorter and less able to withstand an impact, may be severely injured in the exact same scenario. 
• School rush hour - When children are walking to school or home from school, many parents are trying to drop off or pick up their children by car. This creates heavy traffic - and impatient drivers - around school zones during the school rush hours. 
• Lack of experience - While most adults are able to understand the laws explaining when pedestrians have the right of way or should yield, children may not have the life experience needed to always come to the right conclusion. Children may also lack the judgment to determine whether a driver is going to stop and let them cross or to notice whether a driver has seen them. This is why drivers must be especially careful in areas where children are present. 

It is important to act quickly if your child is struck by a careless driver by seeking immediate medical attention and contacting an attorney.

Contact a Greenwich, CT, Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC is experienced in helping families whose children have been hit by cars recover compensation and hold the driver accountable. Our skilled team of Metro New York Area pedestrian accident lawyers will do all we can to help you ensure that your child gets the compensation they need to make the best recovery possible. Contact us at 203-661-6000 for a complimentary consultation.