If you’re a motorist, it is always important to remember to share the road with cyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians. As the days get shorter in the upcoming Pennsylvania winter months, it will be getting darker much earlier. Therefore, it is crucial that drivers keep a watchful eye out for others using the road, especially during the dawn and dusk hours.
Earlier this week a woman from Upper Darby struck a 16-year-old skateboarder at an intersection. The teen was diagnosed with a head injury and is in critical condition after being taken to a Philadelphia-area hospital immediately following the accident.
Several witnesses were present at the crash site the evening it occurred, all of whom reported the skateboarder was weaving in and out of traffic in the moments leading up to the collision.
According to police reports, the driver of the vehicle was passing through a green light during the accident, hitting the skateboarder as he ran a red light. The woman voluntarily gave blood for testing and no alcohol or drugs are believed to have been involved. She is not expected to be charged.
While in this particular instance no charges were pressed and no real blame was assigned to either party, there are plenty of cases in which motorists aren’t looking out for bikers, skateboarders and pedestrians. It cannot be stressed enough to all people on the road that personal awareness, of your speed and in-car distractions, is just as important as being aware of your surroundings. Should you find yourself in this situation, as a pedestrian who has been struck by a motorist, you’ll want to consult an experienced personal injury attorney.
Source : The Times Herald, “Area boy, 16, hit by car in skateboarding accident,” Linda Reilly, Oct. 21, 2012
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