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Hilton Head Children at Greatest Risk of Death From Car Accidents

Hilton Head auto accident attorneysChildren face many risks in their daily lives. The greatest danger, however, is sitting in the family driveway.

Research has consistently demonstrated that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motor vehicle crashes are responsible for 25 percent of all unintentional injury deaths among children under 13. And the World Health Organization reports that traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in persons between the ages of 10 and 19. Claims for wrongful death in South Carolina have a statute of limitations of three years, per S.C. Code § 15-3-530(6).

 

The good news is that the research has also identified specific measures parents can take to reduce the risk of being involved in a collision, and reduce the severity of injuries that are sustained when a car accident occurs.

The Risk Factors For Child Car Accidents - And What Parents Can Do About Them

One of the most important safety measures a parent can take is the use of an appropriate car or booster seat which is properly fit to the child's size and weight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over two hundred children were saved in 2015 alone by use of a proper car seat. It is critical that parents both find the appropriate car seat for their child and ensure that it is properly installed. Follow the NHTSA recommendations for appropriately-sized car and booster seats.

According to the National Safety Council, more children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location. Heavy traffic and impulsive children can make it difficult to know where to go once school is in session, and it is therefore important for parents to familiarize themselves with drop off and pickup procedures at their child's school before the school year starts. Do not double park or otherwise block visibility. In crowded conditions, it is especially important that drivers be able to see around other vehicles. It is also important that children learn not to make impulsive or unexpected movements. In a crowded parking lot, other drivers will often have no space nor time to react to your movements. Drivers should signal movements well in advance, and execute movements slowly to ensure that the path is, indeed, clear.

According to AAA, new teen drivers aged sixteen to seventeen are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic accident than adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American teenagers. In 2015, a total of 2,333 teens aged sixteen to nineteen were killed in motor vehicle accidents. That means that six teens died every day as a result of motor vehicle injuries. These studies corroborate decades of previous data which has established just how dangerous teen drivers can be. Parents should spend ample time supervising their teen driver during the permit period. Supervision should not end the day a teen obtains an unrestricted license. Continue supervising your teen's driving habits - especially those pertaining to cell phone use while driving. Consider the use of apps and functions which limit the phone's functions while driving.

If your child has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, contact an experienced Hilton Head car accident attorney as soon as possible. He or she will ensure that your child receives the compensation to which all accident victims are entitled by law.

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