Pedestrian Safety For Children In Buffalo, New York

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016, 20% of children aged 14 and younger who suffered fatalities resulting from traffic accidents were pedestrians. In 2016 alone, children aged 14 and younger suffered 490 pedestrian fatalities. Children aged 10 to 14 suffered 22% of all pedestrian deaths, which is the highest percentage of pedestrian deaths out of all age groups. These figures illustrate the high number of young and innocent lives that were tragically taken in what could have been mostly preventable accidents.

Children can find themselves faced with the dangers of cars, trucks and SUVs on a regular basis. Whether the child is walking to school, playing in the yard by the street or walking through a parking lot to a store, they are faced with a serious risk of suffering injuries from an accident caused by a driver who did not see them. Every year, far too many children are seriously injured or even killed by negligent drivers. These catastrophic pedestrian accidents often drastically change the lives of the injured child, as well as their families, and often result in extreme physical, emotional and monetary damages.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. understands the distress, worry and anxiety that parents may experience after their child is hurt in a pedestrian accident. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s compassionate team of Buffalo, New York child pedestrian accident lawyers have seen the effects that the terrible injuries suffered by child pedestrian accident victims can have on them, and ultimately their loved ones. After an accident, the parents or guardians of the child should make taking care of the child their number one priority, and our team is here to help with the rest. Pursuing a personal injury claim against the driver that was responsible for the accident may be the only way to begin to recover.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of child pedestrian accident attorneys in Buffalo, New York are highly experienced, aggressive, tenacious and hardworking. Every day, Jed Dietrich, Esq. is determined, disciplined and dedicated to obtaining the best possible results for injured child pedestrians. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will fight to obtain the best result possible for your child who was seriously injured by a vehicle. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

It does not take much of an impact to severely injure or even kill a child. When a driver is speeding or backing up quickly without looking, the vehicle could completely run the child over. In cases where the child is thrown onto the hood of the car, they could be tossed onto the pavement after the driver applies his or her brakes.

Due to the size of small children, even non-fatal injuries resulting from pedestrian accidents can be disheartening. Some common injuries resulting from child-vehicle pedestrian accidents include:

1. Cuts and lacerations;
2. Road rash;
3. Fractured and broken bones;
4. Internal injuries or organ damage;
5. Crushing injuries;
6. Traumatic brain injuries;
7. Whiplash;
8. Neck, back or spine injuries;
9. Total paralysis;
10. Severe disfigurements;
11. Permanent disabilities;
12. Facial and craniofacial injuries; and
13. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

The injuries that a child pedestrian may suffer as a result of an accident can be life-changing and leave the poor child agonizing from permanent disfigurement or disabilities. Most of the above injuries require emergency medical care and necessitate additional treatment such as specialized treatment, surgery or rehabilitative physical therapy to recover.

If your child was injured in a pedestrian accident in Buffalo, New York; Rochester, New York; Niagara Falls, New York or throughout New York State, you want the best Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyer to handle your child’s claim. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of child pedestrian accident attorneys in Buffalo, New York are dedicated to safeguarding the legal rights of child pedestrians that suffer serious injuries. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will treat you with respect and compassion, and we are here to help you through this difficult time. Contact us today at 716-839-3939.

Children suffer a disproportionate number of serious injuries and deaths in pedestrian accidents for several reasons. Children may be more likely to ignore traffic signs and may misjudge the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle when crossing the street. Children can also be impulsive and run into the middle of the street, without a second thought, to chase after a ball. Additionally, children are usually much smaller than most adults, making it difficult for a driver to see them in their mirrors.

Everyone has an obligation to protect small children, this includes parents, babysitters, caregivers, teachers and anyone operating a motor vehicle. It is important to lead by example and teach children safe walking practices from a young age so that they can remain safe around vehicles. It is always a good idea to remind your child of the following safe walking practices:

1. Look both ways before crossing the street;
2. Never run into the street without looking first;
3. Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing so that drivers can see you;
4. Walk on a sidewalk or, when there is none, walk facing traffic;
5. Always walk in the crosswalk and wait until the crosswalk sign indicates that it is safe to cross the street;
6. Stop and wait for vehicles that are backing out and may not see you; and
7. Do not play around cars.

Nevertheless, one of the biggest factors in child pedestrian crashes is not children being unaware of the rules, but rather the child being distracted or failing to pay attention. When a child is walking around while playing a game, listening to music or texting on a smartphone, their attention is not fully on their surroundings and the dangers around them. Parents should discuss the dangers of walking while distracted with their children and encourage them to always be alert.

Often in cases where a child was struck by a vehicle, the driver was distracted or failed to keep a proper lookout. A driver has a duty to pay attention to his or her surroundings, including watching out for children who might run out into a street or be walking behind their vehicle while they are backing out. Children are often small in size, making them difficult to see in the first place, and the split second a driver takes to check a text message can result in a disastrous accident.

When you combine a child’s impulsive nature with the dangerous behaviors of negligent drivers, such as speeding, drinking and driving, being on a cell phone or running stop lights, it is easy to understand why so many child pedestrian accidents occur. According to the National Safety Council, a majority of child pedestrian crashes occur in areas where kids are likely to be, including close to schools, housing areas, playgrounds and parks. In areas known to have child pedestrians, drivers should always be on the watch, drive slower than usual and pay attention.

Child victims of pedestrian accidents caused by someone else’s negligence may be entitled to monetary compensation for their injuries. The parents or legal guardian of a minor can pursue a personal injury lawsuit on the child’s behalf to recover damages for the child’s injuries. This may include compensation for pain and suffering, accident-related medical expenses and missed time from school or work. If a family lost a child in a pedestrian accident, although nothing can erase the pain of losing a child, the parents may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. team possesses the knowledge and skill necessary to diligently investigate your child’s accident and make certain that your child is in a position to obtain the highest possible recovery for their injuries. Our highly experienced, aggressive, tenacious and hardworking team will thoroughly investigate your child’s claim to gather evidence to prove that:

1. The driver owed a duty of care to your child;
2. The driver breached that duty of care by acting negligently;
3. The breach of the duty of care caused your child’s injury; and
4. Your child suffered actual damages as a result.

If your child suffered a serious injury in a pedestrian accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York child pedestrian accident injury lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for a free consultation. Our team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form. We are the aggressive, tenacious and hardworking Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyers who are ready to fight for the compensation that you deserve!

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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