Keeping Kids Safe While Walking and Playing Outside
According to Local 10 News, the search remains on for the driver of a pickup truck who was captured on video hitting a 12-year-old boy at the end of March in Miami. Authorities have asserted that the boy was playing in the street when the westbound vehicle struck him and continued to drive without stopping. The child was transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition and, unfortunately, the driver has not yet been identified.
The Risk That Comes With Walking and Playing Outside
The older that our children get, the more likely they are to be walking or playing outside by themselves which is an important step toward independence. However, this also means that the risk of them being exposed to traffic also increases. For example, in one survey based on the self-reporting of teens, approximately 40 percent of those surveyed asserted that they have been hit or nearly hit by a car, bike or motorcycle while walking. Fortunately, you can undertake efforts as a parent to help prevent your child from being injured while walking or playing outside.
Safety Tips for Keeping Kids Safe While Walking and Playing Outside
There are a number of important things that every parent should teach and exercise when it comes to their children and pedestrian safety. These include:
- Make sure your child has a safe route before allowing him or her to walk, and that you know the destination.
- Stress that playing in driveways, parking lots or unfenced yards by the street is never a good idea.
- Emphasize the importance of putting away phones and headphones while walking near vehicles or crossing the street.
- Instruct them about crossing the street at marked crossings and obeying all traffic signs and signals.
- Tell them that that should always walk and never run across the street, and that they should always look both ways before doing so
- Ensure that they wear bright clothing or reflectors when walking or playing outside at night.
We Offer Compassion and Support During this Trying Time
No matter how careful a parent is, it is impossible for children to be completely protected from risk and accidents unfortunately happen. In many circumstances, a driver whose vehicle collided with a child will be held at fault for the accident. If your child was injured in a child pedestrian accident, you should contact an experienced legal team today to find out how to recover compensation for your child’s medical bills and pain and suffering. As the experienced Jacksonville personal injury attorneys of the Pendas Law Firm, our goal is to help you obtain fair and full compensation for the ordeal you and your young loved one have experienced in such a way that it costs you nothing out of pocket whether your claim succeeds or fails. Contact us today for an initial meeting that comes without obligation and at no charge.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
local10.com/news/local/2020/04/02/cops-seek-driver-who-hit-12-year-old-with-a-truck-and-kept-going/
