Pedestrian accidents are a leading cause of injury in Plantation and other South Florida communities. Whether you live in Miami, Homestead, Plantation, or any other city or town, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents—especially if you’re a parent.
Children are unfortunately especially at risk of pedestrian accidents. They may walk to school, for example, and may be less visible to drivers because they are smaller. Kids can also forget about the rules of road safety when they’re excited about getting somewhere and may accidentally dart into the street.
If you’re a parent, there are several things you can do to teach your children pedestrian safety:
- Start earlier than you think: Even children who are learning to walk and learning their colors can learn the difference between red lights, green lights, and yellow lights.
- Explain the importance of always crossing at crosswalks: Show your children different types of crosswalks where they can cross and have your kids point out the crosswalks they see where people on foot can cross. This helps children learn and reinforce the idea of where they should cross.
- Make it a game: Rather than just explaining, play games with very young children to teach them rules. For example, play red light, green light indoors. In this game, children start running or walking forward in a room when someone says “green light.” They slow down at “yellow light” and stop completely at “red light.” Another good game to play is to get kids to make eye contract with drivers. You can make it a game by having kids notice one thing about each driver. You can also try online games.
- Supervise closely: All young children need to be supervised closely when they’re walking to school, playing in a park or yard near a street, or crossing the road. Kids can easily forget the rules when they’re learning them, especially when they’re engaged in a game. Until the age of at least 10, it can be hard for children to estimate the distance of cars, too, so close supervision is needed until then and sometimes beyond that, as well.
- Remind your kids often: When you’re teaching your children about pedestrian safety, go over the rules every time you approach a sidewalk (“first, we stop and then we look around. . .”). Ask your children what they need to do next and if they remember and get it right, remember to praise them for learning.
- Set a good example: As a pedestrian, be a good role model. Always look both ways and only cross on green lights.
If you or your child have been injured in a pedestrian accident anywhere in South Florida, the consequences can be severe. In addition to the fear and pain of a serious injury, pedestrian injuries can include head injuries, fractures, and other injuries. These can result in high medical bills, lost wages if you need to stay home from work, and other losses.
If your injuries or your child’s injuries were caused by a negligent or reckless driver, Florida law allows you to seek compensation for your injuries. If you’re interested in seeking financial recovery or would like to know whether you have a claim, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. With more than 60 years of combined experience and over $100 million recovered on behalf of our clients, our legal team ready to help.