When a child is the victim of a preventable accident, even individuals who do not know the child personally can feel emotionally affected by the incident. It is often unimaginable what parents of a victim go through knowing that their child’s life is hanging in the balance. Unfortunately, one family in Colorado is currently facing such a harrowing ordeal after a recent bicycle accident.
According to reports, an 11-year-old boy was riding his bicycle on a sidewalk when he attempted to cross a street at a crosswalk. At that time, the driver of an SUV heading west failed to yield the right of way and struck the child. The driver continued moving, dragging the child and his bicycle some distance before coming to a stop. It was reported that bystanders lifted the vehicle off of the child and pulled him out from underneath it.
The boy was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the SUV was taken into custody and is currently facing the following charges:
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Vehicular assault
- DUI
- Driving on a suspended license
The family of the young boy are undoubtedly reeling from this event, and all hope is that the child will pull through. While their focus should certainly be on ensuring that their child receives the best care possible, the parents may, in the near future, want to consider filing a personal injury claim against the driver considered at fault. This type of civil lawsuit could allow them to seek compensation for damages resulting from the bicycle accident that are permitted under Colorado law.