Bicycle Accidents Can Lead to Major Injuries Affecting Your Child
Here at Chanfrau & Chanfrau, we believe that all injury victims need strong legal representation. That includes victims of all ages throughout Daytona Beach, which is why we make time for injuries that affect minors as well as injuries and harm that befalls our elderly community. We look out for those who who are vulnerable no matter what.
Over the years, we have helped countless parents with lawsuits over child injuries, which can be the result of numerous things. Bike accidents involving children can be especially serious, so we want to cover some safety tips as well as potential causes of harm that can warrant a legal action by an injured child's parents.
Children on Bicycles Should Wear Protective Gear
When a child is just starting to ride a bicycle, it's of the utmost importance that the child be wearing proper protective gear. This means, at the very least, a bicycle helmet. Wearing elbow and knee pads is also very important in these cases since they can prevent joint injuries as well as lacerations and abrasions. Safety when starting out is key, but there's more that parents can do.
Parents Should Accompany Children on Their Bikes
Always try to be with your child when they are beginning to ride their bicycle. This will allow you to teach your son or daughter the proper rules of the road, hand signals for turning and stopping, and to look both ways before they cross the street. This is imperative, and a great way to prevent your son or daughter from injury while riding their bike.
Young Bicyclists Should Stay on Sidewalks When Possible
We cannot stress this enough. Young bicyclists should stick to riding on sidewalks rather than in the street. Even when there are marked bike lanes, young bicyclists are inexperienced and vulnerable to harm. They also tend to move slower than others on their bikes. By sticking to the sidewalk first, and also sticking to low-traffic and residential streets, the possibility of injury goes down significantly.
Riding at Day and Being Safe at Night
Children should bike by day as much as possible rather than at night. If a child does go biking at night, it's important that they be accompanied by an adult, wear light-colored and/or reflective clothing, and having reflectors on their bikes so that they are visible at all times.
Serious Injuries from Motor Vehicles
One of the potential causes of child bicyclist injuries is collisions with motor vehicles. Cars and trucks may not see your child on their bit at intersections, which makes potential collisions possible. These accidents can even occur as a car is pulling into or pulling out of a driveway. It's important to instill awareness and safety in your child so they can do their part to avoid harm.
Harm Also Possible from Poor Street and Sidewalk Maintenance
Even when vehicles aren't involved in an injury, it's possible for children to fall off their bikes and sustain serious injury due to poor maintenance of the sidewalk. Cracks in the sidewalk or upraised pavement can lead to a number of serious injuries and accidents, which is why they must be accounted for at all times, and why property owners should be held accountable for these accident occurring.
Dog Bites and Attacks
One of the other potential causes of child injury while they are on their bike is dog bites or dog attacks. A dog may be out in the front yard of someone's home without a leash or a gate. That dog may chase down a bicyclist who's passed by on the sidewalk. It's irresponsible for dog owners to leave their dogs unattended and unleashed in the front of their premises, especially if the dog is of a particularly aggressive breed.
Speak with the Lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau
For more information about your legal rights after your child has been seriously injured in an accident, be sure to contact our personal injury law firm today. The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau and here to help you achieve justice.