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NHTSA Reports That 22 Children, Age 14 and Under, Died in Maryland Traffic Fatalities in 2007

By Jack Lebowitz, Esq. and Vadim Mzhen, Esq.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,670 of the 41,059 traffic fatalities that occurred in the United States in 2007 were child victims, age 14 and younger. 22 of those fatalities occurred in Maryland. 3 of the child traffic deaths occurred in Washington DC.

The National Center for Health Statistics says that auto crashes are the number one cause of death for children ages 8 to 14 and 3 to 6. Last year, 385 child vehicle occupants, age 4 and under, died in motor vehicle crashes.

More 2007 NHTSA Traffic Accident Statistics About Children, Age 14 and Under:

? 245 of the 1,670 child motor vehicle deaths involved at least one drunk driver.
? 130 of the 245 children that died in drunk driving accidents were riding with a drunk driver.
? Children, age 14 and under, made up 306 of the 4,654 pedestrian deaths last year.
? Drunk drivers killed 29 of these child pedestrians.
? 14,000 child pedestrians sustained injuries in traffic accidents.
? Young pedestrians were most likely to sustain fatal injuries between 4 and 8pm and noon and 4pm.
? 80% of pedestrian deaths involving this age group took place at non-intersections.
? 91 child pedalcyclists died last year.
? 10,000 child pedalcyclists were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
? Each day last year, 5 children in this age group were killed in traffic accidents, with 548 others injured.

Children are prone to catastrophic injuries anytime they are involved in a serious auto collision. While there are steps that parents can take to protect their young children from the impact of colliding with a motor vehicle?whether as an auto occupant, a pedestrian, or a pedalcyclist?accidents caused by negligent drivers or because an auto manufacturer designed a defective car or motor vehicle part do happen.

Children, 2007 Data Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:

Preventing Injuries to Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes, Safe Kids Worldwide

Kids and Cars.org

Contact our Washington DC and Maryland motor vehicle crash lawyers today. Lebowitz & Mzhen handles auto crash cases involving injuries to minors.

Full post as published by Maryland Accident Law Blog on October 24, 2008 (boomark / email).