A 11-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle and airlifted to Tampa General Hospital on November 9, 2009
According to the Lakeland Ledger, The boy, whose name is not known, was hit near Lake Mattie Road and Flint Drive in Auburndale, FL, around 7:30 p.m., according to Polk County Public Safety Officials.
Details on his condition weren't available Monday night. Florida Highway Patrol troopers were investigating.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States during 2005, 1,335 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 184,000 were injured. That's an average of 4 deaths and 504 injuries each day in the United States.
Motor vehicle related injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1-34, and nearly 5 million people sustain injuries that require an emergency department visit. The economic impact is also notable: motor vehicle crashes cost around $230 billion in 2000.
According to Safe Kids USA, from 2001-2003 approximately 2,500 children per year between the ages 1-14, reported to emergency rooms in the United States and an average of 229 children per year died after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway or parking area in the United States. Close to half of children injured in these incidents were between the ages of 1-4 in the United States.
Safe Kids USA addresses the three ways children can be injured in non-traffic related incidents in and around cars. While the majority of deaths to children involving motor vehicles are traffic related, approximately ten percent of deaths are reported as non-traffic related.
As a personal injury attorney, practicing in Polk County, FL, I am not shocked by these numbers. In my practice, I have handled wrongful death cases involving the tragic death of young children and adolescents. Sometimes, the victim's failure to wear a seat belt or car seat restraint was the leading cause of death. This is so unfortunate, especially since research clearly supports how seat belts can save lives. So please, BUCKLE UP! You'll be glad you did.
