Parents of young children take extreme precautions to protect against pedestrian accidents by keeping them in the stroller, holding their hands, and watching like a hawk around Miami traffic. As the children get older and appreciate the risks of being hurt, you probably believe that these safety measures become less urgent. This is tragically not the case, and the statistics may come as a shock: According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from accidents, the death rate for teens in pedestrian accidents is double that of younger kids.
Sadly, these incidents are preventable and typically only occur because of motorist negligence. If your child was hurt, a Miami pedestrian accidents lawyer can explain your legal options. However, there are numerous safety tips that can reduce the threat, and they are most effective when both parents and teens are on board. Some additional statistics are informative on how these tragedies occur.
Data Reveals the Dangers of Teen Pedestrian Accidents
Safe Kids reports that a teen is hit by a car or involved in a traffic collision every hour in the US, leading to an average of 285 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries each year. In addition:
- Over half of teenagers surveyed admitted that they cross the street while using a mobile device, an activity that can be just as risky as distracted driving.
- Of the teens in pedestrian accidents or near-miss incidents, 47% were listening to music, 18% were texting, and 20% were having a phone conversation.
- Three-quarters of teen pedestrian fatalities occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., a mostly dark time period
- Teenagers on foot were more likely to be hit while jaywalking or running across the street in the middle of a block.
- Among teens that were struck or almost hit by a car, almost 25% reported that the motorist was driving too fast. Another 10% blamed the incident on driver inattention.
Safety Tips for Parents and Teens
The tips parents and teenagers discuss are obviously different from those discussed with younger kids, and success will typically require adults to teach by example. From the above, you can see the correlation between teen pedestrian accidents and use of mobile devices. Therefore, some recommendations for parents and teenagers include:
- Never use a cell phone when walking around traffic.
- Always use crosswalks, sidewalks, and footpaths when present.
- Only cross at intersections and comply with traffic signals.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front.
- Pay close attention to cars that are turning or reversing.
Consult With Our Miami Pedestrian Accidents Attorneys About Your Legal Options
Even with these safety tips in mind, individuals of all ages are at risk when motorists do not exercise reasonable care when driving. Our team at Gerson & Schwartz, PA can explain your remedies after a pedestrian accident, so please contact us to learn more. We can set up a no-cost case analysis at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL.