California Pedestrian Injury Lawyer

Children and Seniors Most at Risk for California Pedestrian Accidents

The greatest risk of pedestrian injury or pedestrian fatality from a pedestrian accident is to young children and the elderly. Last year, 4,000 elder Americans were injured in pedestrian accidents, resulting in more than 700 pedestrian fatalities. Children under age 15 made up 39 percent of pedestrians injured by cars and trucks. Eight percent of pedestrian accidents involving children resulted in pedestrian fatalities.

If you, your child or an elderly loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, you should consult promptly with a California pedestrian injury lawyer to discuss and protect your rights. You may schedule a free initial legal consultation about your pedestrian accident by contacting an attorney at The Reeves Law Group today at: (800) 644-8000.

Children are Victims of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents involving children are caused both by driver neglect and by the carelessness of the child pedestrian.

Half of pedestrian accidents involving young children occur just after school, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The risk of pedestrian injury is particularly great for children who walk to and from school, cautions the U.S. Department of Health. Because of their small size, children on the street or in a crosswalk may be difficult to see for drivers of large SUVs or trucks. Pedestrian accidents may result.

Even at play, children face danger. A child in pursuit of a ball or a pet may dart out into the street in front of a moving car and become the victim of a pedestrian accident. To make matters worse, a parent may run after the child, also disregarding traffic, and cause or contribute to a pedestrian accident. Parked cars along a street pose particular hazards for children. Drivers cannot see children about to emerge from between parked cars and often the children cannot see approaching vehicles.

A child's lack of judgment adds to the danger. Children lack the ability to judge the speed and distance of an oncoming car. They may think they have time to cross when they do not. Young children also may not understand traffic signals. Children may simply be too trusting. They may assume that drivers will automatically yield to them on the street or in the crosswalk and unwittingly contribute to a pedestrian accident.

Of all days, Halloween may be most dangerous for the child pedestrian. Many pedestrian accidents involve trick-or-treaters in black costumes out on Halloween at dusk or in the dark. Parents should make sure that young children are accompanied by an adult, wear costumes that are visible to drivers in the dark and carry flashlights. Parents should urge children to take every precaution to check for traffic on streets and obey all pedestrian traffic laws to avoid pedestrian accidents.

Seniors at High Risk for Pedestrians Accidents

The Federal Highway Administration advises that the elderly face a high risk of pedestrian injury or pedestrian fatality. Generally, older individuals have slower reflexes and a slower gait. Older pedestrians need more time to cross the street. Their perception and eyesight are diminished. Curved roads pose a hazard to older pedestrians by allowing them less time to see oncoming cars. When injured in a pedestrian accident, elderly individuals are slower to heal. Their pedestrian injuries may worsen, becoming critical or causing fatality.

Seniors are also at a greater risk of pedestrian injury during inclement weather in colder climates. When a winter snowfall limits access to sidewalks, seniors may have no choice but to walk in the plowed street. Winter's hazardous walking conditions expose them to greater risk of pedestrian accidents. Even in warmer weather, rainfall or running water can make sidewalks and streets slippery. A senior may slip and fall into the path of an oncoming car and become the victim of a pedestrian accident.