This means that on any given day nearly 700 children are harmed due to accidents on our roadways. Of the 250,000 kids injured each year, approximately 2,000 die from their injuries. Children make up about 5% of total fatalities due to car accidents. In fact, for children between the ages of 2 and 14, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death.
Car accidents are also the leading cause of acquired disability (e.g., brain injury, paralysis, etc.) for children nationwide. And approximately 20% of the children who die in a car accident each year are killed in accidents involving a driver who is legally intoxicated. Nearly half of these children were killed while riding as passengers in an automobile driven by an intoxicated driver.
The failure to wear a seat belt or use a child safety seat is a contributing factor in more than half of the cases involving children who die in car accidents. Not only is an unrestrained child a potential distraction to the driver of the vehicle, but also the failure to wear a seat belt dramatically increases the chance that a child will suffer much more serious injury and death.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 72% of the 3,500 observed child vehicle safety restraints were being used incorrectly. When that happens, the risk that the child will suffer an injury or more severe injury rises even more. NHTSA estimates that a properly installed and used child safety seat lowers a child's risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4.
Every state requires the use of approved child safety seats for children under the age of 5. According to NCSA there is only a 90% compliance rate with respect to using approved safety seats for children under this age. Notably, a recent study found that a key factor influencing the increased risk of harm to children in accidents is when the child is prematurely moved from a child restraint system up to an adult seat and then allowed to sit in the front seat too soon (source: Partners for Child Passenger Safety Fact and Trend Report, 2006.)
Once in an accident, the injured party would be left with a reminder of what had happened to him. It could be either a physical impairment or a financial burden that he must carry throughout his life.
Factors Contributing to Car Accidents
Even a cautious driver may fall victim of a collision as there are lots of factors that can contribute to car accidents. Here are some of these factors:
?Weather - Some roads are slippery when it is raining and so the grip of the break may sometimes not be enough to stop the vehicle.
Poor visibility because of bad weather condition can also attribute to car accidents.
?Defective automobiles - The usual cause of car crashes that does not involve human error is the defect of his vehicle.
Aside from breaks and clutches that the driver may regularly check, there are parts of the car that may malfunction at any given time. When this occurs, the people responsible for the accident are the manufacturers of the car.
?Lack of road signs and traffic lights - There are roads that do not have proper signage that would indicate the condition of the road or where the driver should or should not turn.
Damaged roads or roads that are under construction might have holes in it that does not have appropriate signage that would warn the drivers.
There are also roads that do not have proper traffic lights, which would cause driver confusion on who has the right of way.
The above factors do not involve human errors which is the usual cause of most car accidents.
Things to Do In a Car Accident
Car crashes are devastating especially because it could lead to permanent injuries, damage to properties or even death.
But, once a person finds himself in a car accident, he must have an alert mind and be rational on his decisions and actions as these may affect the result of the case that might be filed by him or against him.
Here are some of the important things to do after an accident:
?Check for injuries - Make sure that injuries are treated and if there are no bruising or apparent injuries, one must still have himself checked for there may be internal injuries that need immediate treatment.
?Exchange contact details with the other party
?Document the accident - Take photos of the damages and injuries. Secure proofs that would prove innocence.
?Take note of witnesses? contact details - Statements of witnesses might be needed by your lawyer so it is important to know how to reach them.
?Ask for a copy of police report.
?Keep receipts and medical bills - Secure receipts of repairs of properties damaged in the accident.
Receipts and medical bills may be used as evidence to prove the severity of the car crash.
In cases of lawsuits, there are Los Angeles car accident lawyers that offer free consultation and can help you to get the best deal possible.
It is not unusual to have car crashes but it is traumatic for a person to experience car crashes especially when a lot is lost.
Both Christopher Davis & Ivonne Jade Agustin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Christopher Davis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Marketing and Wrongful Death. Christopher M. Davis is a focusing on personal injury and car accident cases. He is known for his special focus on cases involving children and has. Christopher Davis's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.