According to “Walking Safely, A Report to the Nation,” teenagers are now the most at risk group for becoming involved in a pedestrian accident. The study, from FedEx and Safe Kids Worldwide, looks at the trends in US child pedestrian fatalities and injuries over the last 15 years.
Per the report, while child pedestrian safety has improved overall-child pedestrian deaths have declined 53% and injuries by 44% since 1995-over 61 kids are still injured seriously enough in pedestrian accidents daily to warrant medical help. More than 500 child pedestrian deaths continue to happen each year. Also, while in 1995, the kids belonging to the the ages 5-9 group were the ones most likely to sustain pedestrian injuries, in 2012, it is teenagers, with the fatality rate among older teen pedestrians now double that of their younger counterparts. However, kids of all age continue to be at risk of serious injuries and death in a pedestrian accident. In Massachusetts, contact the Boston injury law firm of Altman & Altman, LLP today if your child was injured in any type of Massachusetts traffic crash.
Teen Pedestrian Accidents
The Safe Kids study found that there has been a 25% increase in older teen pedestrian injuries in the past 5 years. Also, now, teens belonging to the ages 14-19 group make up 50% of child pedestrian injuries. According to Safe Kids Worldwide CEO and President Kate Carr, distracted driving, especially cell phone use among both pedestrians and motorists, is the suspected cause of this rise.
Halloween & Child Pedestrian Accidents
With Halloween just a day away, our Boston car accident law firm wants to remind you that October 31 is considered the deadliest day of the year for Massachusetts child pedestrians. Drivers must exercise extra caution to make sure that they look out for kids suddenly running into the street as they go Trick-or-treating. With visibility generally poorer at night, tomorrow evening some child pedestrians might be even more difficult to see if they are wearing dark colored-costumes or ones that cover up their bodies. Halloween is not the time to drive while under the influence, talk on the cell phone, or multi-task while operating your vehicle.
Walking Safely, A Report to the Nation, Safe Kids (PDF)
‘The real danger on Halloween’: Kids Hit by Cars , USA Today, October 28, 2012
More Blog Posts:
At Least 137 Fatal Drownings and168 Near Drownings Involving Kids in Pools and Spas Have Already Occurred This Summer, Says Media, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 15, 2012
58 Massachusetts Pedestrian Accident Deaths Reported in 2010, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 9, 2012
Car Accident Lands Boy, 6, in Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 8, 2008