Was Your Child Hit by a Car? Our Rhode Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help
Pedestrian accidents cause devastating injuries and pose unique legal challenges. With our long history of fighting for accident victims in and around Warwick, Rhode Island, the experienced pedestrian accident attorney team at Kirshenbaum & Kirshenbaum can help get your family through this ordeal.
A child getting hit by a car is every parent’s worst nightmare.
You’re trying to be strong for your child, all the while puzzling over unfamiliar diagnoses and daunting treatment options. Between your child’s injuries and the financial hardships this accident has caused your family, it can be difficult to imagine life ever getting back to normal. However, you are not alone. Our Rhode Island pedestrian accident lawyers will protect your child’s legal rights and pursue the compensation they deserve to help your family get back to the way things were before the accident.
How Common Are Child Pedestrian Accidents?
Unfortunately, children are overrepresented among pedestrians hit by cars.
Children who are too young to understand the dangers of darting into traffic and too small for drivers to see when backing out of parking spots have a higher rate of pedestrian accident deaths. As pre-teens and teenagers begin to travel without adult supervision, their pedestrian death rate also increases, researchers concluded in a 2023 article published in the journal Pediatrics.
Driver distraction, impairment, and carelessness often contribute to pedestrian accidents.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hurt in a Pedestrian Accident
In the aftermath of a car accident, it’s difficult for even the most level-headed parent to stay calm. Here’s what you need to do when your child has been hit by a car.
1. Call 911
This is an emergency, and you’re not overreacting by calling 911. Report the crash to the police and ask for emergency medical personnel to examine your child.
2. Document Everything
Once you have made sure your child isn’t at risk of further harm, start documenting everything, especially the identifying information of the car and driver that hit your child. Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents are alarmingly common.
Take photos of the scene. Record every detail you remember. Ask witnesses for their contact information and an immediate account of what happened.
3. Get Your Child Medical Care Right Away
Your child needs a thorough medical examination as soon as possible. Take them to the hospital, an urgent care facility, or their pediatrician’s office.
4. Consult a Lawyer.
An injury sustained in a pedestrian accident is a legal issue. Our attorneys can navigate the pedestrian accident claim process for you and seek the full amount of money your child is entitled to.
