Each year, many children are injured in accidents on their way to and from school. These incidents can occur while boarding or exiting a school bus, walking through a school zone, or traveling near schools. If your child is injured due to a driver’s carelessness, you may be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced car accident lawyer can help protect your child’s rights and fight for fair compensation.
Safety Around School Buses
New Jersey law requires drivers to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus with its stop arm extended when traveling on an undivided highway. Even with a median, drivers must pass school buses at 10 miles per hour or less.
These laws exist to protect children entering or exiting school buses. Drivers who fail to follow them can face criminal charges, fines, and increased civil liability if their actions cause an accident. Violating these traffic laws can also serve as evidence of negligence per se in personal injury claims.
Safety in School Zones
School zones are high-risk areas due to heavy pedestrian traffic, children’s unpredictable behavior, and congestion during drop-off and pick-up times. Parents and other drivers must exercise heightened caution by:
- Observing posted speed limits at all times.
- Stopping at crosswalks when children or pedestrians are present.
- Following instructions from school crossing guards.
- Remaining alert for children who may dart into the roadway unexpectedly.
In New Jersey, speeding in a school zone carries enhanced penalties. Fines are doubled, and motorists exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour may face even higher fines and additional consequences.
Patience and vigilance are critical. Impatience or distracted driving in school zones is a leading cause of accidents involving children.
Liability in School Zone Accidents
If your child is injured near a school or on a school bus due to another driver’s negligence, that driver may be legally responsible for your child’s medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Liability is often determined by:
- Whether the driver violated traffic laws (e.g., failing to stop for a school bus, speeding, or failing to yield to pedestrians).
- Evidence of negligent behavior, such as distracted or reckless driving.
- Witness statements, traffic camera footage, or other documentation of the incident.
An experienced car accident lawyer can help gather and preserve this evidence to build a strong case on your child’s behalf.
Contact the Linwood Car Accident Lawyers at D’Amato Law Firm
The D’Amato Law Firm provides aggressive and tenacious legal representation for families whose children have been injured in school zone or school bus accidents. We fight to ensure crash victims receive the full amount of compensation they deserve. You can schedule a free consultation with a Linwood car accident lawyer by calling 609-926-3300 or filling out our online contact form. Our office is located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. There are no legal fees unless we win your case.