South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
In a recent pedestrian accident in Lake Worth, a 3-year-old girl was killed while walking along Kirk Road with her babysitter when she was struck by a passing pickup truck. According to The Palm Beach Post, the pickup driver lost control of his vehicle, drove through a residential parking lot and slammed into the young child. The vehicle then continues through shrubs, a fence and another parking lot before coming to a complete stop. Officials are still trying to determine if the driver suffered a medical episode before the accident.
Our Lake Worth accident lawyers understand that some accidents are just that — accidents. That’s why it’s important to be ready at all times. Still, the state of Florida continues to be one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrian collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 500 pedestrians who were killed in the state in 2011. During that year, we were ranked as the second most dangerous in the country, only following behind the state of California.
Children are some of the most vulnerable in these kinds of accidents. They don’t always understand the workings of traffic and are not able to predict and identify dangers. Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. Teenagers are now at greatest risk. Teens have a death rate twice that of younger children and account for half of all child pedestrian deaths.
Today’s the day! Talk with your young ones about pedestrian safety and make sure they’re equipped with the knowledge they need to be safe on the road.
Child Pedestrian Safety Tips:
-Always use a sidewalk when there is one available.
-Only cross the street where there is a crosswalk and a traffic signal. Pedestrians are most often hit by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections.
-Teach children early to put down the electronics and pay attention while outside walking.
-Before crossing the street, look left, right and left again before crossing the road.
-Make sure you’re setting a good example when you’re out walking with them. You are a bigger influence on their habits that you may know.
-You should always make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road. You want to make sure you’re seen.
-Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing retro-reflective clothing.
-If a toy or pet goes out into the street, ask an adult for help getting it back.
-Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets.
-Make sure that you’re always listening for approaching traffic that you can’t yet see.
Adults should supervise children when crossing streets. Smaller children may be difficult for drivers to see and young children may not be able to judge whether it is safe to cross a street.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian or a bicycle accident, contact Freeman Injury Law for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Florida Pedestrian Safety a Summer Concern, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, April 17, 2013
Broward Traffic Safety Watch: Focus on Intoxicated Pedestrians, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 10, 2013