With the winter finally behind us and HRM bike week here, it is a good time for you and your kids to get out on your bikes. It is also a good time to talk to your children about the importance of proper helmet safety.
According to the IWK’s Child Safety Link, cycling is the leading cause of unintentional injury hospitalization in Canadian children under the age of 14. It goes without saying that one of the best ways to prevent potential cycling injuries is by wearing a properly fitted helmet. The IWK’s Child Safety Link’s web site (childsafetylink.ca) is an excellent resource that provides very useful helmet safety tips, including how to properly fit a helmet so that your child has protection in case they are in an accident.
Obviously, a child being in a bicycle accident is something we hope never happens, however, bike accidents are a reality and can be a terrifying ordeal. A number of different accidents can occur while riding a bike, including: falling off, hitting someone, biking into something, and being struck by a motor vehicle. If your child is struck by a motor vehicle while riding their bicycle you should know that there are laws in place to protect children.
It is useful to know that for children the usual three year limitation period for starting a law suit does not begin until the child’s nineteenth birthday. That being said, it is important to obtain legal advice soon after the collision so that a lawyer can advise you and your child of their legal rights, collect the appropriate medical evidence, and assess if the other driver is responsible.
If your child is injured in a bicycle accident the following immediate steps should take place:
- Collect and record the names and numbers of witnesses to the accident;
- Record the insurance information from the driver that struck your child along with their license plate number;
- Report the accident to the police and the other driver’s insurance company;
- Do not give any statements to insurance companies until you have had a chance to speak with a lawyer.
We all want our children to have fun this summer on their bikes. A parent making sure that their child has a properly fitted helmet goes a long way in helping to prevent serious injuries.
Connect with a member of our team today to schedule your free consultation. To contact a member of our Personal Injury team call us at 902-469-9500 or 1-866-339-3400.