Their smaller frames and minimal walking experience make child pedestrians some of the most vulnerable users of our roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), auto accidents contribute to one out of every five fatalities involving children between the ages of one and 14 in the United States.
Pedestrians account for approximately 25 percent of those fatalities. Read on to learn more about pedestrian accidents involving children and some tips to prevent them.
In many cases, when it comes to pedestrian accidents in Dallas, the motorist is often at fault. There is a widely accepted belief that pedestrians always have the right of way, and while this is often true, there are cases where the pedestrian may be at fault or may share in the fault for the accident.
The laws are designed to look at negligence when determining fault in a traffic accident, and it is the duty of both pedestrians and motorists to exercise reasonable care when using public roadways.
One of the duties of a pedestrian or motorist is to obey traffic rules and signals. When a pedestrian is hit by a car but not in a crosswalk, several factors may affect the outcome of a personal injury claim.
On any given night you may find numerous individuals walking the streets of Dallas. Unfortunately, nighttime is not always the best time to be a pedestrian. Accident data in 2010 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides that 68 percent of pedestrian deaths happened at night, as visibility is the worst at this time.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to stay safe when walking at night is by increasing visibility. The following provides some pedestrian safety tips on walking after dark so drivers can better see you.
One of the most injuries to sustain from a pedestrian accident is a spinal cord injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number one cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents. In fact, 46 percent of spinal injuries occur from crashes. They also report that in 25 percent of the cases, alcohol is a major factor.
Texas had a pedestrian fatality rate of 1.64 per 100,000 population in 2011, which was tied for number 12 in highest for the country. It had the third-highest number of pedestrian fatalities overall.
Pedestrian accidents can lead to a variety of back injuries with different degrees of severity. The victims of these accidents, however, have legal rights that they can exercise to achieve financial compensation for their damages from an at-fault driver, such as one in violation of Texas’s pedestrian right-of-way laws.
Drivers need to be aware of Texas pedestrian laws in order to reduce the risk of accidents and injury, as well as to avoid legal ramifications and lessen potential liability.
Two common aspects of the law that come into play regarding pedestrians and drivers are right-of-way and exercising care. Far too many pedestrians are seriously injured with broken bones, head trauma, or even killed each year because they failed to abide by the simple rules of the road. Many devastating accidents can be avoided if people simply were to adhere to traffic laws and pay attention to their surroundings.
One of the more common types of injuries to sustain in a pedestrian accident is broken bones. Certain parts of the body have a higher incidence of fractures, with a variety of factors that can impact the severity of those injuries.
Injuries from pedestrian accidents can be devastating. Broken bones, head trauma, and damage to internal organs are examples. But some might also experience disfigurement, which can impact victims physically and emotionally.
There are several situations in which you’ll need a lawyer after a pedestrian accident, such as when there are catastrophic injuries or disputes over fault. However, to ensure claims are handled fairly and expediently, it’s always a good idea to at least run your case by an attorney and determine your legal options and whether you could benefit from legal help.