A 10-year-old girl sustained serious injuries after being struck by an SUV on a Douglasville roadway in early September. She was airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Georgia State Patrol is investigating the collision.
How the Crash Happened
The collision occurred shortly after 5:45 p.m. on W. Stewarts Mill Road, according to WSB-TV. A group of teenagers had been walking along the south shoulder of the road when a dog ran toward them. The 10-year-old ran into the roadway and was struck by a Nissan Murano traveling eastbound.
The child was airlifted from the scene with serious injuries. No charges have been publicly announced against the driver. The Georgia State Patrol is handling the investigation.
Driver Responsibility Around Children
Georgia law requires drivers to exercise reasonable care at all times, and that duty increases when children are present or reasonably expected to be nearby. Residential roads and neighborhood streets, where children are more likely to be on foot, demand particular vigilance.
Courts have long recognized that children do not assess danger the way adults do. A child may dart into traffic, chase an animal, or misjudge the speed of an approaching vehicle. When accidents injure children, the legal analysis often centers on whether the driver had adequate time and visibility to react, whether the speed was appropriate, and whether the driver was paying full attention.
What a Pedestrian Accident Claim Involves
In a case involving a minor, the parent or legal guardian files the injury claim on the child’s behalf. Georgia law allows recovery for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. Injuries from a pedestrian accident involving a vehicle often include fractures, head trauma, and internal damage that requires extended treatment.
When a child suffers a head injury, the full scope of the harm may not be apparent for months or even years. Families dealing with traumatic brain injuries face ongoing costs for therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and potential changes to the child’s education plan. These are all compensable damages under Georgia law.
The Financial Impact on Families
Serious pediatric injuries generate expenses that can extend well into adulthood. Life care planning is often necessary to project the cost of future medical treatment, therapy, and assistive care. A Douglasville personal injury lawyer can help build a case that accounts for both immediate and long-term damages, including:
- Emergency transport and hospitalization
- Surgical procedures and follow-up care
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Future medical treatment and monitoring
- Pain and suffering
Following basic pedestrian safety tips can reduce risk for children and adults alike, but when an accident happens, the family’s financial recovery depends on thorough documentation of how the injuries will affect the child’s life going forward.
Protecting Your Child’s Future
Goldberg Injury Lawyers has more than four decades of experience representing families through serious injury cases, including those involving injured children.
If your child has been hurt in a traffic-related collision, speaking with a Douglasville, GA personal injury lawyer families trust is the right step toward protecting your child’s future and pursuing the compensation your family needs.
