A six-year-old boy is dead after he was hit by a passing car in Putnam County in early March. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said the boy died at the scene of the accident. Family members were in the front yard where other children were playing on that fateful March day. Witnesses say that the young boy was trying to cross the street when he was struck by a car.
The pedestrian accident is a sad reminder of the dangers that children face when they are near Florida roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 42,093 people have been killed in pedestrian accidents since 2001. While children represent a large number of pedestrian accident fatalities, adults can fall victim to these accidents too.
The Insurance Institute Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that pedestrian accidents commonly occur to pedestrians of all ages who are on crosswalks, sidewalks, medians and other traffic islands. It follows that if pedestrians are properly using sidewalks and crosswalks to travel on roads, many pedestrian accidents are caused by the car drivers.
While roads, sidewalks and crosswalks are dangerous for children, school bus stops present an additional hazard. The School Bus Information Clearinghouse reports that approximately 29 children have been killed in school bus-related pedestrian accident in each of the past 10 years.
Extra Care and Caution Required While Driving Near Children
Many drivers fail to recognize the safety concerns that are present when driving near children. Whether kids are at the side of the road waiting for a school bus, are playing in a front yard near the street or are standing at an intersection, drivers have an obligation to slow down and stay alert. Drivers who forget their duty to drive more carefully around children and who are involved in a pedestrian accident as a result can be held liable for their negligence.
After a pedestrian and car accident involving a child or adult, it's important to quickly involve a Florida personal injury attorney at Feldman, Fox & Morgado who can investigate the accident. Being able to extract important evidence from the scene of a child pedestrian accident may be critical to preserve the strength of a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. A lawsuit may allow the pedestrian accident victim and his or her family to obtain compensation for medical bills and future medical care.
The skilled Florida lawyers at Feldman, Fox & Morgado handle pedestrian accidents for victims throughout the state in Tampa, Ocala, Miami, Naples, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Contact Feldman, Fox & Morgado after a pedestrian accident.
