Whether They Are Riding Their Bicycle, Playing Ball, or Chasing Their Friends, Children Love to Play Out On The Street. But What Happens When They Become Too Distracted and Don't Pay Attention To Cars Coming Their Way?
In San Diego, summertime means going out and playing under the sun. For most children who are out of school, they like to play in the street, ride their bikes, play ball with their friends, and many other outdoor activities. However, when kids are busy playing, they are often too distracted to pay attention to cars on the street.
In California, "every intersection where streets meet at right angles has a crosswalk for pedestrians to cross the street." Pedestrians have the right of way. However, legally, they cannot just cross whenever they want. They MUST wait for a safe time to cross.
Yet, because of a child's small size, it makes it more difficult for drivers to see them. In addition, many kids are still unaware of the dangers of cars and are unable to judge distance and speeds when crossing the street. As a result, child pedestrian are at a much higher risk for injuries than adults. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one out of every five children (ages 5 to 9) who died traffic-related accidents were pedestrians. Hence, as a driver, most of the responsibility falls on us to exercise due care by maintaining safe distances, speeds, and be aware of children in or near the street.
How Do You Exercise Due Care?
- Slow down.
- Look ahead.
- Sound a horn if a child does not see you.
- Move over to give extra room.
- Stop until the child sees you if they are close Be aware of your surroundings.
- Check behind your car before backing up.
By following these safety tips, we can better ensure the health and well-being of our children and other kids in the San Diego County.
Contact a CA Child Injury Lawyer
A child pedestrian accident can be emotionally and physically traumatizing. In some cases, children may never recover from the injuries they sustained because of reckless and negligent drivers.
If your child has been injured in a car accident in San Diego, seek the advice of a child pedestrian accident attorney immediately. Any accident involving a child is serious and needs to be addressed before it causes serious physical or emotional damage. In addition, medical bills can add up and be very costly. The personal injury lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group will get you the coverage you need for your child. Call our law office at 888-233-5020.
The Jurewitz Law Group is located in San Diego, has offices in Carlsbad, California, and serves all of San Diego County including the following cities and towns:
San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, El Cajon, Carlsbad, Poway, Encinitas, La Mesa, Santee, National City, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Coronado.
