Submitted by Kanoski Bresney Law Firm
Nearly every parent wants their child to be safe on their way to and from school. Whether your children get to school by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot, there are some risks inherent to traveling through school zones. A parent only needs to sit in a car line before school once to understand how chaotic pick-up and drop-off hours can be. Traffic can become extremely congested during the periods just before and after school as hundreds of children are arriving and leaving all at once. One may think that because traffic in school zones is typically slow-moving it might be safer. Unfortunately, even the slow pace of traffic is not enough to create the level of safety most parents hope for. Many drivers are distracted, tired, and in a hurry. These common causes of car accidents create some degree of risk for children, parents, school staff, and passersby.
Top 5 Reasons for Car Accidents Near Schools
Following are some of the most common driving habits that contribute to accidents near schools.
Rushing: Parents and high school students who drive may be in a rush. Parents may be struggling to drop off their children and still make it to work on time, while teenagers may be in a hurry to get to school on time. This may lead to careless actions like speeding or running lights that have just turned red.
Driver fatigue: Many people are not at their best very early in the morning during school arrival time or late in the afternoon during pick-up time. Both parents and teenagers may have just woken up within the past hour and may not be fully alert yet. It is easy for a fatigued driver to make a mistake that leads to an accident.
Inadequate traffic control: Traffic patterns at the school should be carefully managed. If there is a need for someone to be guiding traffic at a confusing or chaotic spot and no one is there, the odds of an accident increase.
Inexperience: Many high school students drive themselves and friends to school. A high school student has little experience driving and may not be equipped to make the best possible decisions.
Distraction: Parents or students may be distracted by others in the car, eating, thinking about where they need to be or what they need to do that day, or by their cell phones. It may seem safe to text while waiting in a slow-moving line, but that is not true.
If you or your child has sustained an injury while arriving at or leaving school, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
For more information on any type of personal injury or to schedule a free consultation, contact Kanoski Bresney law firm at 888-826-8682. They are the largest personal injury law firm located within central Illinois and they have the resources to handle any type of injury claim anywhere in the state including McLean County, Sangamon County, Adams County, Champaign County, Schuyler County, Peoria County, Macomb, Macon County, Quincy, Bloomington, Tazewell County, Champaign, Decatur, McDonough County, Pekin, Springfield, Peoria, and Rushville. Their experience helps ensure that their clients get the respect, response, and results® they deserve. They will evaluate your case and work to determine what your next steps should be moving forward.