Car accidents affect thousands of pedestrians across the United States every single year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 4,000 people died in pedestrian accidents during 2011. Nearly 30 percent of those accidents involved children under the age of 14, and in many cases, the crash occurred due to negligent driving.
Should I contact a personal-injury lawyer?
If you or your children are suffering from injuries sustained in an accident, it is important to seek medical attention and treat your concerns as soon as possible. An experienced Greenville accident attorney may be able to recover medical expenses through a specialized accident claim following your care.
At the Churdar Law Firm, we have achieved successful outcomes in a variety of injury cases, and we are ready to help you, too. Call us today at 864-233-0203 to schedule an appointment.
Here are three ways to keep your children safe in traffic:
1. Keep Children under Your Control When Walking
Young children are unpredictable, and until they can comprehend the dangers of traffic, you must keep them under your control. Data from the United States Department of Transportation reveals that most children who are pedestrian accident victims are under the age of 14, and a sizeable portion are between 4 and 7 years old.
Be sure to supervise your children at all times, and hold their hands if necessary. Use every opportunity you have to teach them about road and pedestrian safety. Children will learn from your habits, and experts encourage parents to lead by example when it comes to abiding by the rules of the road.
2. Choose Safe Walking Routes
Certain routes are safer than others for pedestrians, and if you intend on walking in busy areas, it is sensible to opt for safe zones. SafeKids.org recommends parents and caretakers look for routes with sidewalks and traffic calming zones.
If your children are walking home from school or a friend’s house unsupervised, make sure you map out a clear, safe route for them to follow. Only allow your children to walk home unsupervised once you are confident they will follow the route, as well as the rules of the road.
3. Dress Children in Brightly Colored Clothes
A large percentage of crashes occur because motorists do not see pedestrians until it is too late. SafeKids.org recommends parent dress their children in bright clothes to increase their visibility, regardless of the time of day. If they are walking at dusk or dawn, a reflective vest will add to visibility and help approaching motorists see them well before they pass.
You can take certain measures to avoid serious injuries, but when the circumstances are out of your control, a personal-injury lawyer may be able to help. At Upstate Lawyer, we can assess your case and determine if you have a legitimate claim.
If the accident was severe, we may even be able to help recover costs associated with medical expenses and lost wages. Call us today at 864-233-0203 to schedule an appointment with a qualifed accident attorney in Greenville.