Who Do I Contact If My Child Has Been Injured In A Pedestrian Accident?

Sadly, pedestrians are one of the few groups that continue to see an increase in fatalities each year. In 2011 alone, there were 4,432 pedestrian deaths. Since summer is winding down and kids are heading back to school there's no better time than now to teach your child to be a vigilant pedestrian.

If your child walks to school, make sure you know the route they take and affirm that it is a safe, well lit, pedestrian friendly route. Teach your children the basics such as looking both ways before crossing but also implement a few other safety steps such as:

• Always walk on the sidewalk. If there isn't a sidewalk and you must walk in the road, walk FACING traffic. 
• Wear brightly colored clothes, if possible. This makes it easier for drivers to see you.
• When crossing the road, always stop at the curb or edge of the road if there isn't a curb.
• Look left, then right, then left again before stepping into the street.
• If a car is coming, wait. Then start the process over until it's safe to cross.
• Continue to check left and right while crossing the street. 

It's important to teach children to not simply assume cars will see them and stop when walking in a crosswalk. While it is good practice to use a crosswalk when crossing the street, crosswalks can provide a false sense of safety. Scanning the road while simultaneously crossing should not stop just because of painted white or yellow lines on the street.

If your child has been injured, or worse, in a pedestrian accident, contact Orlando Pedestrian Attorney Jeffrey Sexton at 888-293-1144 immediately.