Child Pedestrian Accident Statistics

 Posted on November 25,2019 in Uncategorized

Regardless of where you are in Illinois, whether in a city or a rural part of the state, you are likely to see children in and around the roadway. Whether they are playing or getting to and from their destination, children are vulnerable to injuries from accidents by motor vehicles. If your child, or the child of a loved one has been the victim of a motor vehicle accident in Illinois, contact our office to schedule a free consultation today. We can help guide you towards your best legal options.

How common are pedestrian accidents?

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common in Illinois. During the latest reporting year in the state, there were 4,940 total pedestrian accidents in Illinois. Out of those, there were:

• 148 total pedestrian crash fatalities
• 4,663 total pedestrian crash injuries

When you look at those statistics, you can see that a high percentage of the reported accidents resulted in an injury or fatality. Digging into the numbers, we can see that there were many children injured in these incidents:

• 4 years of age or younger: 103 injuries and 1 death
• Aged 5 to 9: 199 injuries and 2 deaths
• Aged 10 to 14: 316 injuries and 4 deaths
• Aged 15 to 19: 452 injuries and 2 deaths

Pedestrians, particularly children, are highly likely to sustain serious injuries in the event of an accident. The human body has virtually no protection from the force of a vehicle slamming into it. It is not uncommon to see the following child pedestrian accident injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries/head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
• Internal organ damage/internal bleeding
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or amputations

What about children and bicycles?

Children love to use their bikes to get from place to place or just to enjoy some recreational riding. During the latest reporting year in Illinois, there were 2,696 people injured in bicycle crashes and 26 people killed. There were 883 people under the age of 18 injured in these incidents. To learn more about bicycle accidents in Springfield, visit our practice page.

How much compensation is available?

If a child is injured in a pedestrian accident, they could be entitled to various types of compensation if the crash was caused by another driver’s careless or negligent actions. The following may be available through an insurance settlement or through a personal injury lawsuit verdict:

• Coverage of medical expenses
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Punitive damages against the negligent party

The amount of money a child pedestrian accident victim is awarded will be based on various factors, including the severity of the injury, who was liable, and more.

There is generally a two-year statute of limitations in place for these cases. This means that an injured victim has two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if a victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the crash, they have two years from the day they turn 18 to file a lawsuit.

Make sure your kids are safe

If your kids are going to regularly be in and around the roadway, make sure you teach them the best pedestrian safety practices.

• When available, make sure they use all marked crosswalks and pedestrian lights.
• Teach kids to look both ways before crossing the road.
• Make sure they know that the roadway is not a safe place to play.
• Make sure your kids wear brightly colored clothing when they are biking or near the roadway, particularly in the evening and at night.