Long Beach School Zone Car Accident Attorneys
Was Your Child Injured in an Accident Near School in Long Beach?
Traveling to and from school can be a risky time for your child. Children may be hurt while waiting for a bus, traveling by car, riding their bicycle, or walking to school.
According to CBS news, 100 children are killed and over 25,000 are injured every year while walking to school or walking home. One of the most dangerous places for kids is by the street in school zone.
If your child has been injured in a school zone accident, both the school district and the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident may be liable. An experienced Long Beach school zone accident lawyer will investigate the incident to determine whose negligence caused your child’s injuries.
To receive compensation from a negligent school district, you must file a claim within six months of the accident. To learn more, call The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV at (562) 901-0840 today for a FREE consultation.
Why Are School Zones So Dangerous for Kids?
A School Safety Zone is any area within 1,000 feet of a school and any area within 100 feet of a designated but stop. There’s a lot going in a school zone, especially just before and after school when cars and busses are unloading passengers and kids are arriving at school on foot or on their bicycles. But school zone accidents can also happen during school hours or before, during, and after a school activity.
The adults in a school zone have a special responsibility to makes sure kids are safe. This includes crossing guards, safety patrols, bus drivers, and parents who are dropping off or picking up their kids.
To protect children, the speed limit within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school zone is 25mph, and it may even be set as low as 15mph. Even at low speeds, a car may take up to 30 feet to stop, so it’s essential for everyone driving in a school zone to use extra care and pay attention at all times. When drivers surpass the school speed limits, the chances of seriously hurting a child go up astronomically.
To keep children safe, everyone driving in a school zone should:
- Eliminate distractions
- Be ready to stop at any time
- Always stop behind a school bus when its red lights are flashing
- Come to a complete stop at intersections
- Watch for balls and other toys
- Obey all traffic laws
- Never pass a school bus
- Use designated drop off and pick up locations
- Instruct your children to only cross the street at intersections
Who Is Liable for School Zone Accidents?
If your child was harmed in a Long Beach school zone accident caused by another person’s negligent behavior, you will want to speak with an experienced car accident personal injury attorney right away. Your attorney will go over the police report, interview witnesses, examine school personnel files, and review photos and surveillance camera footage to determine who is responsible for your child’s injuries.
It’s possible that both the driver of the vehicle that hit your child and the school district share liability for the accident. The district may be responsible for negligent supervision that caused an accident in a school zone. There are also cases where the school district fails to perform the necessary background check before hiring an employee, and this may be cause for negligence.
Was Someone You Love Hurt by a Negligent Driver in a School Zone?
Long Beach auto accident lawyer Joseph H. Low IV has recovered millions of dollars in settlements for people who were harmed in automobile accidents. You shouldn’t have to pay for your own medical expenses if another person’s negligence hurt you or someone you love.
Call The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV today at (562) 901-0840. Mr. Low has a history of success, and we aren’t afraid to take on the big insurance companies.