Seven Year-Old Dies in Collision with Dump Truck

On Monday, May 20, 2013, a seven year old boy was killed by a dump truck in Westfield, Massachusetts. The accident occurred around 3:30 PM when the young boy was riding his bicycle with his mother. The area is known for children and teens hanging out and riding their bikes. One witness said that the driver kept honking at the little boy, but he continued to pedal to cross faster. Unfortunately, the young boy was struck by the large truck.

Another witness said that they always see trucks speed by and that no one follows the speed limit. The witness continued to report that this isn’t the first time you see trucks moving up and down at that speed. Police officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.  

Speeding as a Dangerous Factor

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines a collision as being related to speed if the driver was traveling at speeds higher than the legal limit or too fast for conditions. Unfortunately, speed is a dangerous factor, especially in areas populated by many young pedestrians. Many people often speed because:

•          They’re rushing to get somewhere
•          They’re not paying attention
•          They are not obeying the rules of the road
•          They do not take traffic laws seriously
•          They don’t believe their driving to be dangerous
•          They don’t think they are going to get caught

Unfortunately, this dangerous driving practice leads to numerous deaths every year. According to the National Safety Council, over 13,000 people die every year due to speeding. Speeding is also a factor in work zone crashes and fatalities. Speed was a factor in about 27 percent of fatal crashes in construction and maintenance zones in 2005.

Personal Injury Attorneys

If you or a family member were injured by a speeding driver, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. A personal injury attorney from the Rawa Law Group will work zealously to earn you the monetary compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering caused by a negligent driver. Contact us today. 

SUV Strikes and Kills 5 Year-Old Boy

On the afternoon of April 5, 2013, a sports utility vehicle crashed into a 5 year-old Azusa boy. The collision occurred near Arrow Highway around 1:30 PM. The 5 year-old boy was walking with his father and 3 year-old sister who was in a stroller. According to the police sergeant, the boy darted into the street.

Unfortunately, a driver in a Jeep Cherokee failed to see the boy and swerved. However, the driver was unable to avoid him and hit him. The jeep then collided into a curb. The boy was thrown several feet due to the impact. Neither the father nor sister was injured. The boy was taken to a nearby medical center by helicopter in critical condition. He later died at the hospital due to his injuries. 

Contributing Factors and Causes

Every day, numerous pedestrians are injured due to traffic accidents. Pedestrian injuries can take place as a result of numerous factors such as:

•          Location type: if you are walking in a busier and crowded street
•          Time of occurrence: if you are walking at night time and it is difficult to see crossing pedestrians
•          Driving under the influence: if a driver is impaired due to alcohol or drugs and injures a pedestrian as a result
•          Rate of speed: if the driver of the vehicle is unable to stop quickly enough due to accelerating at high speeds

Pedestrian Statistics

Read the following statistics to understand the gravity and harm that pedestrians face today:

•          According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,280 pedestrians died in car accidents in 2010- this is a 4% increase from the number of deaths reported in 2009.
•          It is estimated that in 2010 alone, about 70,000 pedestrians were injured. Of those, about 14,000 were children age 14 and younger.

Pedestrians suffer injury frequently due to car accidents. As pedestrians, we must remember to always be conscious of nearby vehicles and look both ways before crossing the street. Drivers should also remember to refrain from texting while driving or being inattentive to the road as this may also cause accidents injuring pedestrians.

Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know suffered a pedestrian injury due to another driver, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. A personal injury attorney will work to earn you monetary compensation for your pain and suffering. 

Pedestrians are at Serious Risk of Pedestrian Accidents

When you renew your license at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), they like to remind you that driving your automobile is a privilege, not a right.  They also like to remind you that you need to be diligent in order to prevent auto accidents.  In order to prevent accidents, we place the blame squarely on drivers who are operating these machines that weigh tons. But do pedestrians have a duty to take certain steps to protect themselves from accidents as well?

Every year, there are thousands of auto accidents across the United States.  Of those, when a car tangles with a pedestrian, it can cause devastation for a pedestrian.  Pedestrian accidents can be horrific, life altering, and even fatal.  Despite this harsh reality, many pedestrians take a cavalier attitude about their safety, assuming that they won't experience a pedestrian accident.  Unfortunately, the reality is that they could potentially experience a pedestrian accident at any moment that could end their life. 

The Danger of Pedestrian Accidents

As pedestrians, we often stride confidently into intersections, secure in the knowledge that we have the right of way.  But ask yourself if having that right of way will save your life and protect you from a pedestrian accident.  We do not live in a protective bubble and cannot protect ourselves adequately from distracted drivers who may run a light, gun their car, lose control of the vehicle, or worse. When pedestrians experience an accident with a vehicle, they could experience the following injuries:

• back and neck injury
• spinal cord and disc injuries
• severe burns
• amputation
• internal organ damage
• internal bleeding
• broken bones, fractures
• paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia
• death

Pedestrian accidents can be horrific.  Often, these injuries could grow worse over time as well. In order to protect oneself, pedestrians are encouraged to be smart and try to protect themselves by not taking unnecessary risks, to watch where you're walking, wear light clothing at night, and to follow the rules of the road. 

If you have suffered a pedestrian accident, your entire life could have been forever altered.  Your injuries could be severe and lasting. You should seek immediate medical care and talk to a skilled personal injury attorney.  When you consult with a personal injury attorney, you can trust that your pedestrian accident will be treated with the sensitivity and care that it deserves. Obtain the relief you need from your pedestrian accident. 

Child Injury Highest in September

A recent study published by Safe Kids Worldwide and Fedex has revealed that child pedestrian injuries are highest in September.

The greater risk for child injuries during this month is due to the start of the school year. Most kids returning to school are never given proper safety warnings about crossing the street and walking safely.

The study shows teenagers are the most at risk for pedestrian injury. 

Safe Kids Worldwide is an organization dedicated to prevent unintentional childhood injury. Its study is conducted once in a fifteen year period. This year, the study was sponsored by Fedex. The two have worked closely since 2000.

In the last five years, children and teens 16-19 years of age are more likely to get hit by a car than. 14-19 year olds account for 50 percent of child pedestrian injuries.

Infants are also at risk

After teens, walkers ages one through two are most susceptible to pedestrian accidents and deaths.

The cause of pedestrian injuries

Distractions play a huge factor in increased teen injuries. Cell phones and texting are a leading cause of car accidents in the United States. Whether a person is driving or walking on the sidewalk, digital devices should be kept away and attention should be paid to the road.

However, this is proving to be a difficult advice to follow. Pedestrian and car accidents are still one of the highest causes of deaths and serious injury.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident and are suffering serious harm, contact a pedestrian accident attorney and seek legal advice. If the accident was caused by a distraction like cell phone usage or texting, you deserve to be paid for your suffering. There is no reason you should endure the injustice alone. 

Facts About Pedestrians Accidents

In California pedestrians using walking as transportation is more common than other states. Never the less, California placed in 16th place for pedestrians  accidents. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration most of the pedestrian's accidents are against an auto. You may be surprise to know that over 4,000 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. Also, in California pedestrians accidents happen to higher in urban areas and the Hispanic community is at a higher risk of getting in to pedestrian accidents.

A pedestrian being hit by an auto; the pedestrian has a big disadvantage in the car accident. An auto has its own shield and the pedestrian has nothing to protect a hideous auto accident.  Most of us believe or think that pedestrian accidents happen at intersections or cross walks, however, fact is that they tend to happen in the middle of the street where the pedestrian attempts to cross the street. This does not indicate that the pedestrian is at fault for the accident; the fact is that at all times the driver must have full control of their vehicle and be cautious of pedestrians.

Accidents happen constantly, however  if an auto driver is negligent or is a reckless driver when the accident occurs; the injured victim can seek compensation. The type of compensation that a pedestrian in an accident would be entitled are lost wages, pain & suffering, medical treatment and in certain circumstances property damage. When the accident is auto versus pedestrian the result can be shattering and lead to bodily, head, neck injuries.

Pedestrian accidents are constant and therefore we recommend that when you or a love one has suffered an accident and you are a pedestrian you consult with California Pedestrian Accident Attorneys. Our  highly trained team will help you recover from your emotional and mental injuries that the accident has caused.