Child Injured in Pedestrian Accident in Turlock
Officials reported that a child was injured in a recent pedestrian accident in Turlock. The incident occurred on Pioneer Avenue around 6:15 p.m. and involved a 2-year-old boy, according to the Turlock Police Department (Turlock PD).
Details on the Pedestrian Accident in Turlock That Left a 2-Year-Old Child Injured
A preliminary report by Turlock PD revealed that friends of the child’s family were getting inside their vehicle when the boy was hit by an oncoming vehicle. The 27-year-old man driving the vehicle involved in the crash was the sole occupant of the car and remained at the scene to cooperate with officials. Officials said that drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a role in the incident.
A battalion chief and two engines from the Turlock Fire Department (Turlock Fire) arrived at the scene to provide assistance to the injured child. The boy received treatment at the scene with a crew from American Medical Response (AMR) that later took him to Dutcher Middle School. From there, crews awaited an air ambulance to transport the boy to UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento for treatment of life-threatening injuries. An update regarding his condition was not immediately available.
Who is Responsible for Injuries to a Child in a Pedestrian Accident?
Children face a great risk of being involved in a car vs. pedestrian accident and suffering traumatic injuries. California law recognizes this, and drivers are expected to exercise a higher duty of care in areas where children are likely to be present such as school zones, parks, and neighborhoods. If a motorist fails to do so and causes a pedestrian accident involving a minor child, they may be held liable for resulting injuries and damages. The process generally involves the parent or legal guardian of the minor child bringing a bodily injury claim with the insurance company representing the at-fault party.
There are some situations where the driver responsible for the incident may carry insufficient bodily injury liability coverage to pay for losses incurred. In other situations, the negligent motorist may not have auto insurance at all. In either of these situations, the parent or legal guardian of the injured child may seek recourse through their car insurance policy if they have uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. This type of coverage helps pay for accident-related damages caused by a driver with little to no liability coverage. It may also extend to other members of a household, such as a minor child of the policyholder if they were injured in a crash as a passenger, pedestrian, and cyclist.
A pedestrian injury to a child may be extensive and expensive, to say the least. In such cases, financial recovery of economic and non-economic damages may be sought. While no amount of compensation may undo the pain of accident-related injuries or the trauma from the incident, it may help provide the family of the injured child with a sense of justice, knowing that the at-fault party has been held liable for the harm their actions have caused them. For details on how to find the best accident attorney to represent your family, watch this video.
Is There a Time Limit on Personal Injury Cases Involving Minors?
Under the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, the filing deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the accident date. In a case arising from a pedestrian accident involving bodily injury to a minor child, the statute of limitations may be tolled or extended. Under these circumstances, the filing deadline generally starts two years from the date of the minor child’s 18th birthday.
A lawsuit must be filed in civil court within the specified deadline, or the claimant may lose the right to recovery of compensatory damages. Since there are unique filing criteria and time limits that may apply to these injury cases, it is essential to retain legal counsel to ensure that all aspects of the claim are properly handled.
Personal Injury Attorney in Turlock
I’m Ed Smith, a Turlock personal injury attorney. While there is a wide array of precautions a parent or legal guardian may take to minimize the risk of their child being involved in a pedestrian accident, a family has no control over the negligent actions of a driver or entity. If your child has been injured in an accident as a pedestrian, our law firm can help your family through this difficult time and handle all aspects of your case so you all can focus on rebuilding your lives. Give us a call today to learn more and receive free, friendly case advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
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Our law firm has successfully represented parties injured in all types of motor vehicle collisions since 1982. We have worked hard to obtain the results our clients need and deserve to rebuild their lives. See some of the case outcomes we have secured by heading over to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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