According to recent reports, a small silver sedan struck a seven-year-old child along Peach Avenue in El Cajon, sending the victim to the hospital. Medics transported the boy to Rady Children’s Hospital. Neither authorities nor medical personnel have disclosed the severity of the child’s injuries.
The motorist whose vehicle struck the child stopped the car after the accident and cooperated with police. Police cordoned off a block-long section of the street to enable investigators to gather evidence. An investigation is ongoing.
Very low-speed collisions between two cars often result in no injuries to motorists. However, people on foot or on a bicycle are particularly susceptible to injury during an accident involving a motor vehicle, even if the car is traveling at a slow speed. The automobile’s size and safety features such as seat belts offer occupants much greater protection in a collision than pedestrians or those riding bikes.
According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, or PBIC:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, further reports that:
Pedestrians and bicyclists suffer greater likelihood of serious injury from a collision than those driving or riding in a car due to the much greater level of exposure. Some of the more common injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians in car crashes are:
Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI – Serious injury to the brain due to severe trauma to the head. This is one of the most common causes of death in both bicycle and pedestrian crashes.
Neck injury – Can cause paralysis; bicyclists may suffer increased risk due to falling at an “odd” angle after being struck and diving into the street. Helmets offer little protection against neck injury.
Other types of injuries – A pedestrian or cyclist can suffer considerable injury to legs or abdomen when struck directly by the front of a vehicle.
If a motorist injured you while you were walking, riding a bike or standing by a street, you may be legally entitled to compensation. Dan Gilleon, a San Diego personal injury attorney, will fight for your rights and help you recover damages.