What Can I Do If My Child was Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reported that over 1,200 children ages 14 years and younger were killed due to car-related injuries. 20 percent of these deaths occurred when a child pedestrian was involved in an accident. Even if a child is hit by a car and survives, they are still at risk of sustaining severe injuries that can affect their growth and development for the rest of their lives.

Was your child hit by a car? If so, call the Ohio motor vehicle accident lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick. Our team understands how terrifying it is when another person’s negligent actions hurt your child. We will fight to help ensure your son or daughter has the compensation needed to make a quick, full recovery.

Contact us at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a no-cost case evaluation.

Younger Children Present a Greater Duty of Care

In Ohio, much like other states, drivers owe a greater duty of care to child pedestrians than they do adults. This is because children are much smaller and more difficult to see, which puts them at greater risk of being hit by a car. Children may also simply be unaware of the dangers of playing near a busy road or crossing the street somewhere other than a designated area.

Drivers must also be more vigilant when they are traveling past a school. Kids often walk to school, after-school activities, and sports practice. School buses also frequently stop by schools to drop off or pick up children.

School zones are often marked with signs and flashers so drivers know they need to obey the state-mandated 20 miles per hour speed limit. Motorists will often just ignore the school zone laws if they are in a hurry or don’t want to wait for a school bus to get out of their way.

If your child was hit by a car and is suffering from injuries as a result, you should reach out to a pedestrian accident lawyer for help right away. The sooner you speak to a lawyer at Kisling, Nestico & Redick, the sooner we can help build a case against a negligent driver who caused your child harm.

How Can I Get Compensated for My Child’s Injury?

Drivers who do not exercise a duty of care can be held liable for the injuries they cause. The state of Ohio has the following mandatory minimum insurance requirements:

• A minimum of $25,000 for the injury or death of one person
• A minimum of $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more people
• A minimum of $25,000 for property damage

When a driver causes you injuries or damages your car, you will likely file a third-party claim with their insurance company. It is a good idea to contact a lawyer for help with this process since insurance companies will do all they can to place blame elsewhere

Sometimes, a child injured in a pedestrian accident forgot to look both ways when crossing the street, or they took off after a lost ball without thinking. Even though a driver is required to have a heightened duty of care for children, it can be difficult to stop in time when a child darts out in front of the car. That doesn’t mean, however, that you have to shoulder all the medical bills on your own. Ohio follows the law of comparative negligence. This means the injured party can still recover damages even if they were in some way responsible for the accident.