A 15 year old boy was hit by a car while crossing Parsons Avenue in Brandon, Florida on his way to school. The accident happened at about 7 a.m. on October 10, 2013 which just happened to be "National Walk to School Day.” At about the same time the boy was being taken to the hospital, about 400 Westchase Elementary school students were walking to school with their parents on a day dedicated to teaching children how to stay safe while crossing the streets. The accident is another reminder of how important it is to teach kids about pedestrian safety. The most recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had Florida rated as the state with the highest rate of pedestrian deaths per capita.
Keeping children safe
There are many things both parents and motorists can do to lessen the number of pedestrian accidents involving children. Parents should emphasize the importance of always crossing in the crosswalk, never darting into traffic and looking out for oncoming traffic when riding a bicycle. Young children should not be playing on the sidewalk anywhere near a roadway unless supervised by an adult. Motorists need to pay close attention when driving around schools, watch for pedestrians before turning and avoid speeding.
Proving liability in pedestrian knockdown cases involving children
When a child is struck by a car or other motor vehicle, the child is often either too injured or too young to explain what happened. There are also tragic accidents when the child is killed. An accident reconstruction expert may be able to analyze the evidence and determine how the accident occurred. While every situation is different, there are signs that can point to whether the driver should have been able to avoid the accident:
- The statements of those who witnessed the accident
- The location of the damage to the vehicle’s front fender and windshield
- The location of the injuries suffered by the child
- Skid marks left by the vehicle
All parents want their children to remain safe and protected. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and drivers rarely admit they were at fault. If your child has been hit by a car, you need a skilled Florida car accident attorney with the resources and experience to determine what really happened.