Children are some of the most vulnerable pedestrians on the street, for a variety of reasons. Their movements can be unpredictable and they tend not to be as careful about looking out for cars when they cross a street. They are also more prone to serious injury or death in a car accident because their bodies are smaller -- they can be harder for drivers to see, and they may not hold up as well if they're hit by a vehicle.

A new report suggests that low-income children are at even greater risk. A transportation advocacy group released the report, which found that crashes occur at a much higher rate in low-income neighborhoods, particularly at intersections near public housing. The report says a pedestrian or bicycle crash victim in East Harlem, for example, is more than three times more likely to be a child than on the Upper East Side.

What causes this disproportionate rate of accidents involving children? The report says that motorists very often speed on streets near public housing. Also, because of the layout of the projects, there's much more mid-block crossing instead of walking across at intersections with crosswalks. There's also simply a greater proportion of children in low-income housing developments than in other areas of the city.

Unfortunately, low-income children and their families are also at a disadvantage when it comes to the aftermath of these accidents. They will likely have a much harder time paying for a child's medical expenses (or, in the case of a fatal accident, burial and funeral costs). In many cases, they may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, though no monetary award can compensate for a permanent injury or the loss of life.

The advocacy group that released the report is working with a city council member and a neighborhood group to raise awareness of the problem and to compel the city to better patrol low-income areas. These actions could be helpful for low-income families, who shouldn't have to live with a greater risk of their children being seriously hurt or killed.

Source: Village Voice, "Vehicle Crashes Disproportionately Hit Children in Low-Income Areas: Report," Sam Levin, Jan. 20, 2012