Child Struck by a Vehicle

We Help Small Kids in Big Cases.  Child Injury Lawyer in Hamilton, Serving Ontario since 2003.

Free Consultations Provincewide. Call 905-333-8888 or Send us a Message Today.

When a child is hit by a car, life can change in an instant. What begins as an ordinary day can suddenly become a medical emergency, followed by fear, uncertainty, and questions no parent should have to face.

Children are especially vulnerable as pedestrians. They are smaller, harder for drivers to see, and still developing the judgment and awareness needed to navigate traffic safely. As a result, pedestrian accidents involving children often cause serious injuries with consequences that extend far beyond the initial trauma.

These injuries can affect a child’s physical development, emotional well-being, education, and future independence. They also place enormous strain on parents and caregivers who must make urgent decisions about medical care, rehabilitation, schooling, and long-term support. In these moments, families are not only trying to protect their child — they are trying to understand what comes next.

 This is where experienced child injury lawyers matter. Pediatric injury cases are not simply smaller versions of adult claims. They require a deep understanding of childhood development, future care needs, and the lifelong impact an injury may have on a child and their family. Our role is to shoulder the legal burden so parents can focus on what matters most: their child’s recovery and well-being.

If your child was struck by a car or any motor vehicle, you do not have to navigate this process alone. Our child injury lawyers are based in Hamilton and represent families across Ontario whose children have been seriously injured due to the negligence of others. We take the time to listen, answer your questions, and explain your options clearly and compassionately. You can meet with us in person, by Zoom, or speak with us confidentially by phone. Call 1-844-LALANDE or 905-333-8888 to speak with our team, or contact us through our website to arrange an appointment.

If your Child was Hit by a Car – Call our Child Injury Lawyers Today

When a child is injured as a pedestrian, important decisions and deadlines arise almost immediately. Medical records must be preserved, witness information can be lost, and insurance companies often begin assessing claims before families fully understand the long-term impact of a child’s injuries. Delays can affect both the strength of a claim and the support available to your child in the future.

Speaking with a child injury lawyer early allows families to understand their rights, protect critical evidence, and plan for both short-term recovery and long-term needs. Pediatric injury cases often involve future care costs, educational impacts, and developmental considerations that are not always apparent in the early stages. Early legal guidance helps ensure these issues are properly identified and addressed.

An experienced Hamilton child injury lawyer can also take over communication with insurers and opposing parties, reducing stress on families while ensuring the focus remains on the child’s health and well-being. The goal is not to rush legal action, but to make informed decisions from the outset.

If your child has been hit by a car or seriously injured as a pedestrian, speaking with a lawyer does not obligate you to take legal action. It gives you clarity, answers, and the ability to move forward with confidence during an incredibly difficult time.

How do I find the Best Child Injury Lawyer near me?

Finding the best lawyer for your child’s injuries, especially if you’ve never hired a lawyer before, can be a daunting task. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

1. Research and Referrals: Start by asking for referrals from friends, family, or colleagues who might have had similar experiences. You can also consult other lawyers you know, even if they don’t specialize in personal injury or pediatric cases; they can often refer you to someone who does. Online research is also invaluable. Look for lawyers or law firms that specialize in pediatric injury, such as Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers.
2. Check Credentials and Experience: Once you have a list of potential child injury lawyers, check their credentials. Look for their educational background, certifications, and professional associations. Most importantly, ensure they have experience in handling pediatric cases like yours. Lawyers who specialize in child injury cases will better understand the nuances involved in such cases.
3. Read Reviews: Look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients. This can provide insight into the lawyer’s success rate, their way of handling cases, and their interaction with clients. We are proud to say that our Hamilton Child Injury lawyers have over 200 5-star reviews.
4. Schedule Consultations: Most injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. Schedule meetings with two or three lawyers. This will allow you to discuss your case, understand their approach, and see if you’re comfortable with their style and personality.
5. Ask the Right Questions: During consultations, ask about their experience with pediatric injury cases, their approach to cases like yours, their fee structure, and any other concerns you might have. Understand how they communicate with clients and how involved they expect you to be.
6. Consider their Likability: The lawyer’s approach must align with your expectations. Also, consider if you feel comfortable with them personally, as you’ll work closely with them. This is of the utmost importance. In our experience, it’s all about likability.
7. Ask about the Fee Structure: Understand how your pediatric injury lawyer charges for their services. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they get paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict. Make sure you are clear about any out-of-pocket costs you might be responsible for.
8. Trust Your Instincts: Finally, trust your instincts. Choose a lawyer who genuinely cares about your child’s welfare and is committed to getting the best possible outcome for your case.

Remember, the right lawyer for someone else might not be the right lawyer for you. Take the time to do thorough research and choose someone who you feel confident will represent your child’s best interests.

Do I need to Hire a Lawyer who Specializes in Pediatric Injuries?

No, you do not. Any licensed personal injury lawyer can, in theory, handle a child injury claim. That said, our experience has shown that families are almost always better served by a lawyer who regularly represents injured children.

Child injury cases are fundamentally different from adult claims. Over the years, we have seen that they involve unique legal rules, longer timelines, court approval requirements, and a careful assessment of how an injury may affect a child’s physical development, education, emotional well-being, and future independence. These issues are often underestimated early on, particularly by lawyers who do not focus on pediatric cases.

Our practice involves representing children and families in serious injury claims, which means we understand how to properly assess future care costs, long-term treatment needs, and the impact an injury may have decades into the future. We regularly work with medical specialists, rehabilitation professionals, educators, and life-care planners to ensure a child’s claim reflects their long-term needs, not just their immediate injuries.

While specialization is not required, experience matters. From our perspective, focusing on pediatric injury cases allows us to approach these claims with the level of care, foresight, and diligence necessary to protect a child’s future and support the family through every stage of the process.

Can I Speak with a Hamilton, Ontario Child Injury Lawyers Free?

Yes. Speaking with Hamilton personal injury lawyer Matt Lalande is free and completely confidential. Initial consultations are designed to give families the opportunity to ask questions, understand their legal options, and learn how a potential claim may affect their child’s future — without any cost or obligation.

During a free consultation, our child injury lawyers can review the circumstances of the accident, explain how child injury claims work in Ontario, and discuss what compensation may be available for medical care, rehabilitation, education support, and long-term needs. Families can also use this time to understand timelines, next steps, and whether legal action makes sense in their situation.

If a case moves forward, child injury claims are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. This means legal fees are only paid if compensation is recovered for the child, and families do not pay out-of-pocket legal fees upfront. The purpose of a free consultation is to provide clarity and reassurance at a time when families are already facing enough uncertainty.

How Much does it Cost to Hire a Child Injury in Hamilton, Ontario?

Parents often worry that speaking to a lawyer after their child has been injured will create another financial burden at an already difficult time. In reality, hiring a child injury lawyer does not require any upfront legal fees. Our firm represents injured children on a contingency fee basis, which means we are only paid if we successfully recover compensation for your child. If there is no recovery, there is no legal fee. This allows families to get experienced legal help without having to worry about hourly billing or paying out of pocket while they focus on their child’s care.

We also believe families deserve clear, straightforward answers about costs from the very beginning. Serious child injury cases often involve medical records, expert assessments, and long-term care planning, and those expenses are typically advanced by our firm as the case moves forward. We explain how this works before anything begins, in plain language, and we answer questions as they arise. For many parents, the first conversation is simply about understanding options and next steps. Our role is to remove uncertainty where we can, so families can make informed decisions without added pressure.

Behind the Numbers: Child Pedestrian Accidents

Child pedestrian accidents are a pressing concern. Their frequency and severity underline the vulnerability of children on our roads. The reality is that they can happen anywhere, anytime, changing lives forever.

According to CDC reports, one in every five kids under 15 killed in traffic crashes was a pedestrian. That’s not just numbers; it’s about young lives abruptly cut short or drastically altered by severe injuries. In addition, in 2022, the number of fatalities and injuries among children in Canada due to traffic collisions were as follows were on the rise:

• Age 0-4: 15 fatalities, 70 serious injuries, and 1,248 total injuries.
• Age 5-14: 42 fatalities, 236 serious injuries, and 4,055 total injuries.

Schools and neighbourhoods seem like places where our little ones should be safe from vehicular harm. But these very spaces hold unseen dangers. In Canada alone, around 30% of child-pedestrian collisions occur within school zones according to a study by Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF). These alarming stats show that even familiar surroundings aren’t as benign as we believe.

Kids hit by Cars: Common Locations

Understanding these high-risk zones is crucial to implementing effective safety measures and reducing the alarming frequency of child-pedestrian accidents. Some of the more common places seen by our child injury lawyers are listed below:

Urban vs Rural Areas

Urban areas are more prone to child pedestrian accidents compared to rural areas due to a combination of factors.

Firstly, urban environments generally have higher traffic volumes and denser road networks, increasing the likelihood of interactions between vehicles and pedestrians.

Secondly, urban areas often have more complex street layouts with multiple intersections and frequent stops, leading to more situations where drivers and pedestrians must make quick decisions.

Additionally, urban settings usually exhibit a faster pace of life, leading to more hurried and sometimes distracted behaviour from both drivers and pedestrians.

This can particularly affect children, who may be less aware of road safety rules or less visible to drivers. The presence of schools, parks, and recreational areas in urban settings also contributes to a higher concentration of children on the streets.

Lastly, rural areas typically have less pedestrian infrastructure, such as sidewalks or crosswalks, which might ironically result in fewer child pedestrian accidents since children in these areas are less likely to be near roadways

Parks and Play Areas

Research shows that vehicles moving near parks and play areas where children congregate frequently put young pedestrians at risk. A sudden ball rolling onto the street could prompt a kid into action without considering the potential danger from incoming traffic.

Driveways Or Residential Areas with Parked Cars

The area near driveways poses a significant hazard for children due to the risk of cars backing out. This risk is amplified by the limited visibility drivers often have when reversing or backing out of their driveways, making it challenging to spot small kids who may be playing or walking behind the vehicle.

Children, due to their shorter stature and often unpredictable movements, can easily find themselves in a driver’s blind spot. Moreover, young kids may not yet fully grasp the danger of moving vehicles or may assume that the driver can see them. This combination of limited driver visibility and the natural unpredictability of children’s behavior near driveways creates a perilous situation, contributing to the unfortunate frequency of accidents in these areas.

Parking Lots

Parking lots present a significant hazard for small children, particularly concerning vehicles backing out. The layout of parking lots, often crowded and bustling, creates numerous blind spots for drivers. Small children, due to their height, can easily go unnoticed behind a reversing vehicle, especially if the driver is focused on navigating around other cars or pedestrians.

With their limited understanding of traffic safety and tendency to move unpredictably, children may inadvertently end up in dangerous situations.

They might play between parked cars or suddenly dart across the driving lane, increasing the risk of not being seen in time by drivers. This combination of crowded spaces, limited visibility, and the unpredictable behaviour of young children make parking lots a hotspot for potential accidents involving children.

School Zones

School zones are ironically common sites for child pedestrian accidents due to several factors. During peak hours, such as the beginning and end of the school day, these areas experience high traffic congestion with a mix of vehicles and young pedestrians.

The frequent stopping and starting of buses, cars, and children crossing streets or getting on and off buses create a chaotic environment.

Children, often excited or distracted when leaving school, may not always adhere to safety rules or be fully aware of their surroundings. Additionally, despite being in a school zone, drivers may sometimes be inattentive or in a hurry, leading to dangerous situations.

The presence of newly licensed teen drivers around high schools further increases the risk. These factors combine to make school zones particularly hazardous for child pedestrians.

Crosswalks Without Signals

Marked crosswalks without pedestrian signals can be deceptively dangerous for children. While a painted crosswalk may suggest safety, drivers do not always stop or yield as required. Children may assume that vehicles will stop automatically, even when drivers are distracted, speeding, or failing to notice the crosswalk in time. This false sense of security increases the risk of serious collisions, particularly on multi-lane roads.

Bus Stops and School Bus Loading Areas

Areas around bus stops and school bus loading zones present unique risks for children. Children may cross in front of or behind buses, where visibility is limited, or run toward a bus without checking for traffic. Drivers who fail to obey school bus stop laws further compound the danger. These environments often involve hurried movement, distraction, and multiple vehicles converging at once.

Residential Streets Used as Shortcuts

Residential streets that function as shortcuts for commuters pose heightened risks to children. Drivers may travel at excessive speeds through neighbourhoods not designed for heavy traffic. Children playing, biking, or crossing the street in familiar residential settings may not anticipate fast-moving vehicles, while drivers may underestimate the presence of children altogether.

Multi-Lane Roads and Arterial Streets

Wide roads with multiple lanes significantly increase the danger to child pedestrians. Children may misjudge the speed or distance of oncoming vehicles, particularly when traffic is moving in opposite directions. Even if one vehicle stops, another lane may still pose an unseen threat. These roads often lack adequate pedestrian protections despite carrying heavy traffic volumes.

Construction Zones and Temporary Detours

Construction areas can create unpredictable and hazardous conditions for children. Sidewalk closures, detours, temporary crossings, and altered traffic patterns may force children to walk closer to active roadways. Drivers navigating construction zones may be distracted or focused on signage rather than pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents.

Commercial Areas and Strip Plazas

Plazas, convenience stores, and commercial parking areas often experience frequent vehicle movement and limited pedestrian visibility. Children entering or exiting vehicles, walking between stores, or crossing drive lanes may not be seen by drivers focused on parking or merging into traffic. The constant stop-and-go movement creates a high-risk environment for children.

Non-Intersection Locations

One key risk area for child pedestrian accidents is non-intersection locations, which are places on the road away from formal crosswalks or intersections.

Children are particularly vulnerable in these areas for several reasons. Firstly, drivers are less likely to anticipate pedestrians crossing the road outside of designated crosswalks or intersections, leading to slower reaction times.

Due to their smaller size and less predictable nature, children can be especially hard to spot and may enter the road suddenly, such as running out from between parked cars or other visual obstructions.

Additionally, these non-intersection areas often lack safety features like pedestrian crossing signals, marked crosswalks, or traffic calming measures, further increasing the risk. This problem is compounded in residential areas or near schools where children are more likely to be present. The combination of lower driver vigilance, lack of safety infrastructure, and children’s impulsive and unpredictable behaviour makes non-intersection locations particularly hazardous for young pedestrians.

Peak Traffic Times

Peak traffic times, such as morning and evening rush hours, significantly increase the risk of child pedestrian accidents. During these periods, roads and streets are often congested with vehicles, and drivers may be in a hurry or distracted, reducing their attention to pedestrian safety. At the same time, these peak hours often coincide with when children are most likely to be outdoors – walking to or from school, playing, or engaging in after-school activities.

The convergence of high vehicle traffic and increased pedestrian activity, particularly involving children who may not always be aware of road safety rules, creates a heightened-risk environment. Moreover, during these busy times, drivers might be more stressed or impatient, potentially leading to riskier driving behaviours such as speeding or not yielding to pedestrians, further elevating the danger for child pedestrians.

How do Most Child-Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

In our experience as child injury lawyers, most accidents involving children getting hit by cars are as follows:

School Zones: A Risky Territory

As mentioned above, school zones are particularly critical areas for child pedestrian safety, yet they remain common sites for accidents. One primary reason is the high concentration of children congregating and moving about, often during specific and busy times of the day – mainly before and after school. In these zones, children frequently cross streets, get on and off buses, and are dropped off or picked up by parents, creating a complex and dynamic traffic environment. Despite reduced speed limits and increased signage, drivers may still inadvertently overlook these precautions due to distractions, rushing to meet time commitments, or underestimating the unpredictability of child behavior.

Kids, on their part, may not always be attentive to traffic rules or the dangers posed by vehicles. They are often focused on socializing with peers or may lack the maturity to consistently practice safe crossing habits. This combination of high vehicle presence, concentrated pedestrian activity, and potential lapses in driver and pedestrian vigilance make school zones notable hotspots for accidents involving child pedestrians.

Car Backing out of Driveways

A significant number of incidents involve drivers backing out of driveways and not seeing a small child behind their vehicle. These accidents are particularly common in residential areas and often involve very young children.

In Parking Lots

Pedestrian accidents involving kids in busy parking lots are not uncommon. Drivers navigating parking lots are often distracted, looking for parking spaces or exiting the lot, and may not notice small children. Children, on the other hand, may not be aware of the dangers of moving vehicles and can unpredictably dart out from between parked cars, where they are difficult for drivers to see. The combination of limited visibility, driver distraction, and the unpredictable movements of children makes parking lots particularly hazardous for young pedestrians children.

Drunk Drivers

Drunk driving remains a persistent issue contributing significantly to fatal pedestrian accidents involving children. Despite legal penalties and public awareness campaigns against it, alcohol-impaired driving continues to be an alarming problem on our roads today.

Distracted Driving

With smartphone use’s rise, driver and pedestrian distractions contribute to accidents. Children may be distracted by electronic devices and not pay attention to their surroundings when crossing streets.

The Impact of Time-of-Day

Most child-pedestrian collisions occur during peak traffic hours—early morning when kids are heading to school and late afternoon when they’re returning home. Lower visibility during dusk and dawn, coupled with increased traffic, amplifies the risk.

Parents and community members need to stay vigilant about the factors contributing to child-pedestrian accidents. Comprehending these risks is critical to avoiding such occurrences in our communities.