Every morning throughout the school year, kids all across America wake up to beeping alarms and make their way to school. Kids go by car, school bus, on foot, or on a bicycle. Near every school, special speed limits during times when children are coming and going are posted and strictly enforced to help keep kids as safe as possible. Violations inside a school zone can net drivers a hefty fine.
Even so, accidents are not uncommon. Keep reading to learn more about school zone accidents, and if you or a loved one has been injured in a crash inside of a school zone, contact a Chicago car crash attorney today to discuss your case.
Every year, around hundreds of children are killed while walking to or from school. Close to 25,000 more are injured. These tragedies are preventable, and you can do your part to keep kids safe by following posted regulations and safe and responsible driving habits in and outside of school zones. During school hours, speed limits in a school zone are lowered.
The slower cars are traveling; the more time they have to react if a kid unexpectedly walks or falls into the roadway. No matter what the speed limit is, however, motorists who aren’t paying attention are a danger to everyone around them. Even at 20 miles an hour, drivers need approximately 23 feet in order to come to a complete stop. In order to keep children, other pedestrians, and drivers in a school zone as safe as possible, make sure your eyes are on the road. Limit distractions by keeping your cell phone on silent or vibrate, don’t take calls without a hands-free device, and never text and drive.
Young children especially can behave erratically, and you must keep your eyes on the road so you can stop or avoid a pedestrian accident involving a child who crosses without warning.
In addition to limiting distractions and focusing on the road, it’s important to actually follow school zone regulations in order to decrease the risk of school zone accidents. According to a report published by Safe Kids Worldwide about how often people violate stop signs in school zones “forty-five percent don’t come to a complete stop, 37 percent roll through the stop sign, and seven percent don’t slow down.”
Another survey found that two-thirds of drivers go faster than the posted speed limit in school zones in the 30 minutes before and after school. Shockingly, an automated photo enforcement measure showed that 82% of drivers illegally pass school buses despite the deployment of affixed stop signs and flashing lights.
Lowered speed limits, stop signs, and regulations regarding stopping for school buses are all designed to keep children safe as they go to and from school. However, none of these regulations can serve their purpose when drivers refuse to follow them.
If you or your child has been injured in a school zone accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney today. Your child is entitled to be safe while he or she is coming or going from school, and no school zone injury should be accepted or tolerated. Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. The dedicated professionals at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. are ready to fight for you and your family. Call us today at (312) 236-2900 to schedule your free consultation.
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
