Pedestrians are in jeopardy of being injured and losing their lives in an auto accident at any time, but the most vulnerable people face the highest risk. Children are among them. While the law seeks to keep children safe in areas where they are known to congregate, drivers will still engage in a variety of risky acts that place children and others in danger. This is a concern not just in specific areas, but in other locations as well. Distracted drivers, drivers who go at excessive speeds, drivers under the influence, fatigued drivers and more can cause pedestrian accidents.
The Department of Transportation is about to have greater vigilance in one area where a child had been hit by a vehicle last June and is known to have drivers drive at excessive speeds. This is an issue in every school zone and those who have children should be cognizant of it. In this area in Stapleton, there will be a reduction in maximum driving speed to 20-mph. On a recent afternoon, three vehicles were found to be driving 10 mph above the speed limit in that area.
The speed limit in the area is 25 mph. During one half-hour from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., a vehicle registered 36 mph. Two others were going 39 mph. The child in the above-mentioned accident was hit by a taxi at shortly before 3 p.m. Parents stated their concerns because of speeding drivers. Complicating matters in the area is the opening of a new medical clinic. This is expected to increase traffic and make it even more treacherous. It is not yet known when the new speed limit will be put in effect.
Since pedestrian accidents happen for many reasons, it is important for people to be alert and aware of their surroundings. This is vital near schools where it is not unusual for drivers to flout the law and ignore the possibility of hitting a child pedestrian. A pedestrian accident can cause broken bones, head injuries, back injuries and even lead to a fatality. Those who have been in a pedestrian accident should remember their rights can call a law firm that can investigate the crash and help in moving forward with a legal filing for medical costs, pain and suffering and more.
