A 15-year-old boy was tragically killed after being hit by a tractor trailer Tuesday night, May 7, 2019. According to 6ABC, the boy was riding a scooter along Tacony Street near the 5400 block when he was struck by a tractor trailer.
Police say that the truck driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with police. It’s unsure whether their will be any charges filed as police are still investigating the incident.
We are deeply saddened to hear of this devastating crash.
When Children are Hit While Playing in the Street
One of the worst fears for a parent is to hear that their child has been hit by a vehicle and injured—or worse—when they were outside playing or riding their bike. When this happens, the community grieves and our hearts go out to those who lost a loved one.
Drivers Have a Duty of Care
When a child is hit by a car, many people wonder if the driver is automatically at fault. The law doesn’t automatically make someone guilty of negligence when they are unfortunately in an accident where they hit a child. However, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicle with the care that’s due under the circumstances.
While we don’t know the complete circumstances in the above tragedy, we can say that when any vehicle is traveling down any street, then they must use the appropriate level of caution. This is going to be different on a street in an industrial area versus a neighborhood.
The law is going to look at the street and the surroundings. They will look at whether it’s in a neighborhood, if kids usually ride or play on it, if there are parks and playgrounds nearby and anything that might give drivers notice that children could be around. If a court decides that the driver didn’t use the appropriate level of care, then the driver will be responsible for all damages and losses incurred by the child or those left behind if the worst happens.
Contact a Children’s Injury Lawyer
In a perfect world, no one would need to contact an attorney regarding the injury or loss of a child. But if that does happen, you can talk to Edith Pearce and The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. She is well-respected in the community and known for her compassion and understanding when working in sensitive cases.
Sometimes called Philadelphia’s Children’s Attorney, Edith Pearce is experienced in representing the interest of children and their families who are seeking justice for their child. With Edith, you can come and talk, ask questions and then decide what’s best for you without worrying about making a commitment or paying a consultation fee. She knows that where children and family are concerned, the parents want only what’s best for their child and their family, and she will work hard to do just that.
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