Crossing Guard Injuries Underline Pedestrian Risks

Crossing guards have a lot of safety advantages that ordinary pedestrians do not. Armed with stop signs and bright safety vests, and usually manning clearly marked crosswalks during school hours, crossing guards expect that most drivers will be going approximately 15 miles per hour and will be on the lookout for people crossing the street.

Despite these advantages, crossing guards are still at risk of being hit by a driver who just isn’t paying attention, or who are impaired in some way. Two crossing guards were hit on the morning of September 12th, 2017, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. One required extensive surgery and the long-term prognosis of his injuries is unknown.

The driver of the car, who had just dropped her daughter off at school, must have been well aware of the crosswalk, and of the students, the crossing guards helped across the street each day. Despite this knowledge, she sped through the school zone, placing the lives and safety of dozens of children at risk.

Pedestrians are always at risk of being hit by a car, and when it happens, the risk of injury is extremely high. Even when the car is going 15 miles per hour in a school zone, significant damage can be done to a human body due to the sheer mass of the automobile. Protecting pedestrians should be a priority for every municipality. If even crossing guards aren’t safe, no pedestrian is.

If you or someone you love has been injured after being struck by a car or other vehicle as a pedestrian, you likely suffered significant injuries. Affording healthcare and getting your life back on track physically, emotionally and psychologically can be difficult. Please, retain a qualified attorney to help you make your case against the driver who hit you.