New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that children continue to be at high risk for Chicago car accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.
Traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Last year, 1,314 kids were killed and 179,000 were injured in traffic accidents nationwide. An average of 4 children are killed and 490 were injured in car accidents every day last year.Our Chicago accident lawyers frequently report on the common causes of serious and fatal car accidents, including speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving. When it comes to children, obeying car seat and booster seat laws, and ensuring that your child is properly seat belted, can go a long way to ensuring their safety in the event of an accident. The government reports that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries to infants by 71 percent and to toddlers by 54 percent.
-Children also face significant risk of being seriously injured or killed in a Chicago pedestrian accident. Nationwide last year, 244 children under the age of 14 were killed in pedestrian accidents and more than 13,000 were injured.
-And, while the popularity of cycling has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of serious and fatal injuries involving middle-aged men, young children have always faced significant risk. Last year, 74 were killed in bicycle accidents and more than 8,000 were injured.
-Tragically, drunk driving accidents killed 181 kids last year and in half of those cases the children were passengers in the vehicle with the intoxicated driver.
-Illinois car accidents killed 34 children last year, including one victim under the age of 1 and 18 victims who were 1 to 7 years old.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call the Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-924-7575 or contact us online.