Colleton County, SC – An 11-year-old boy was severely injured Saturday afternoon in a devastating moped accident involving a passenger vehicle. According to Colleton County Fire-Rescue, the child was operating a moped when he was struck in the side at the intersection of Foxfield Road and Fourth Street around 3:58 p.m.
Following the impact, the boy was thrown nearly 30 feet into a nearby ditch, suffering multiple traumatic injuries. Witnesses at the scene reported that the child was unconscious after the collision. Emergency crews, including firefighter-paramedics, responded quickly, administered treatment at the scene, and called for a medical helicopter. He was airlifted to the Pediatric Trauma Center at MUSC’s Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in Charleston.
When a Child Is Injured in a Moped or Vehicle Crash
While mopeds are often viewed as a low-speed, low-risk mode of transportation, crashes involving minors are extremely serious. Children are more vulnerable to traumatic injuries, especially when struck by full-sized vehicles. South Carolina law generally does not allow children under 15 to operate mopeds, and when collisions occur, multiple legal and medical issues arise.
This tragic accident raises serious concerns about:
- Whether proper supervision and legal moped use was in place
- The visibility of the child rider to the driver
- The speed and attentiveness of the vehicle operator
- Whether local traffic conditions or infrastructure contributed to the crash
Traumatic Injuries in Child Moped Accidents
Moped riders, especially children, are unprotected in a crash. A side impact at any speed can cause:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractures and crush injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ trauma
- Unconsciousness or coma
In this case, emergency responders quickly recognized the severity of the child’s injuries and coordinated an airlift to the state’s leading pediatric trauma center. Timely intervention like this can make the difference between life and death, but long-term recovery remains uncertain in such serious accidents.
Legal Questions That Often Follow These Crashes
In the aftermath of a child moped crash, families often face overwhelming decisions. Beyond immediate medical care, they may be unsure of their rights or responsibilities. Key questions typically include:
- Can we pursue compensation if the driver was negligent?
- Who is responsible for the child operating a moped?
- Will insurance cover the child’s treatment, transportation, and long-term care?
- What happens if the moped should not have been on the road?
At Ted Law Firm, we help families navigate these painful situations. We work with accident investigators, trauma doctors, and insurance adjusters to pursue justice and ensure your child receives the support they need.
What Parents Should Do After a Serious Crash Involving a Minor
If your child has been injured in a crash whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, or moped rider take the following steps:
- Seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
- Preserve evidence by photographing the scene, collecting contact information from witnesses, and saving any damaged clothing or gear.
- Request the official police report.
- Do not accept a settlement or sign paperwork from an insurance company until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer with experience handling serious child injury claims.
We’re Here to Help Families After Tragedy
At Ted Law Firm, we proudly serve clients across all of South Carolina and Georgia including Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Atlanta, and beyond, we offer trusted, compassionate representation with no fees unless we win your case. If your child has been hurt in a vehicle or moped crash, we’ll help you understand your rights and fight for the care and compensation they deserve.
Call us today for a free, compassionate consultation.
