Children Pedestrian Accident Lawyer : Chicago, Illinois

A pedestrian is no match for a motor vehicle, especially when that pedestrian is only a child. Too many young children are injured or lost due to negligent drivers, many speeding, intoxicated or distracted while behind the wheel. These senseless accidents can alter a child and their family’s lives forever, causing physical, financial, and emotional damage.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is committed to protecting the legal rights of child-pedestrians injured in the greater Chicagoland area. Our office appreciates the concern parents have when their child is injured in an accident with a negligently operated vehicle. We invite you to contact our office for a free review of your child-pedestrian accident case. Our office is headquartered in Chicago, but we regularly represent clients from all areas of Illinois.

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2017, there were 1135 children and young teen pedestrians killed pedestrian accidents. There were 145 Children under fourteen who lost their lives in pedestrian accidents in Illinois in 2017. Pedestrian accidents remain the fifth most significant cause of childhood deaths for ages 5-19. These statistics represent lives that were taken much too young. All these tragic deaths were preventable.

Keeping Child Pedestrians Safe From Vehicles When Crossing The Street

Everyone has a responsibility to keep children safe, from parents and teachers to drivers on the road. Young children should be educated on safe roadway habits taught by parents and siblings that lead by example. The child should be taught to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. All children must be told not to play in the street and learn to take special precautions when getting off school buses.

That said, the most significant contributing factor to most child pedestrian accidents is not just teaching kids about distracted walking. All motorists must be trained to follow the rules of the road and not drive distracted.

It is hard to keep a child or teenager’s attention focused in the best of circumstances. Many children walk while listening to their mobile device, playing a hand-held game, or texting on their phone. During this time, the chance that they are paying attention to the world around them is unlikely.

Distracted walking has become a genuine danger for children, especially teens. It is the responsibility of teachers and parents to discourage the practice of distracted walking by discussing it with their children at every age. Adults can lead by example and not talked or text on their phones while walking and driving.

Drivers Need To Lookout For Children Who May Be In The Street

When a child is hit by a vehicle, the responsibility is almost always on the driver. Regardless of the child’s behavior, it is the adult behind the wheel that must be paying attention to their surroundings. Most child pedestrian accidents happen in areas where children are expected to be. These areas include near schools, a school crossing zone, residential areas, near parks, getting on and off a school bus, in parking lots, crossing traffic lights, etc. Motorists should be on the lookout for children, driving slowly and keeping their eyes on the road.

Distracted driving has become one of the most significant factors in bicycle accidents and car accidents resulting in serious injury. The Chicago area, including Lake County and Cook County, can be an even more dangerous environment for child pedestrian accidents.

It is crucial to teach children not to walk distracted, and motorists should already know to keep their attention on driving. In the few seconds that it takes to read an email or text on the phone, a child may have begun crossing the road half a block away. By the time a driver looks up to see them, it would be too late to stop. The injured party might suffer from:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones
• Lacerations and bruises
• Mental and emotional distress
• Life-threatening severe injuries

Statistics by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reveal that in 2017, 20% of all children killed in a motor vehicle accident were pedestrians.

When a child is injured in a pedestrian accident in Chicago due to a negligent driver, Illinois law allows the parents of the injured child to file a claim. The lawsuit can recover compensation for their child’s medical expenses, pain, and long-term disability.  While pedestrians, in general, are usually considered to have the right-of-way, many pedestrian accident cases involving children are not clear cut from a liability perspective. A child may not be crossing in a marked crosswalk, or they may enter the street unexpectedly. A personal injury lawyer can provide immediate legal advice and handle every aspect of your case.

Learn more about child pedestrian safety:

• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811748.pdf
• http://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/pedestrian_safety_tips.pdf
• http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/Pedestrian_Safety/factsheet.html