Most car accidents are traumatic, but no experience can match the devastation of losing a child. Unfortunately, this scenario is more common than many people realize. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 1,200 children aged 14 or younger died in pedestrian crashes in 2013.

Children walking together

If you are a parent, these three tips can reduce your child’s risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident:

Plan the safest routes;
Wear brightly colored clothing;
And teach your children essential safety rules.

If the worst happens and your child is hit by a negligent driver, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates. A personal injury attorney in Detroit will evaluate your case, interview witnesses, structure your claim and help you pursue the highest possible settlement. If your case goes to trial, our car accident lawyers have the litigation experience to represent your interests in court.

Call 1-800-961-8477 today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Here are three tips to help your kids avoid pedestrian collisions:

Plan the Safest Routes

The safest route is not always the shortest one. If your children bike or walk to school or around the neighborhood, they should know the safest ways to reach their destinations.

Choose routes that bypass heavy traffic and do not have dangerous intersections. Try to find a path that has a sidewalk.

Parents can also rally together to create walking groups. This is particularly helpful for taking kids to school. Groups of people are far easier to see than one or two children walking unsupervised.

Wear Brightly Colored Clothing

Kids are more visible when dressed in bright clothes. Reflective clothing is even more visible, especially at sunrise and sunset. If your children walk in the dark, make sure they carry a flashlight.

Teach Your Children Essential Safety Rules

Small kids do not understand how traffic works, and they have short attention spans. This is why children aged 7 and younger account for a large portion of pedestrian fatalities, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

As such, you should teach your child how traffic works at a young age. Combine that lesson with strategies for navigating the roads safely.

Your child should know to look left, right, and left again before crossing. He or she should only cross at designated crosswalks, and even then, your child should not expect other drivers to be paying attention.

If a reckless motorist hits your child in Michigan, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates. A Detroit car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for medical bills and noneconomic damages.

We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800-961-8477 today to schedule a free case evaluation.