Back To School Safety in Monterey: How To Reduce Your Child’s Personal Injury Risks

The summer months pass quickly in Monterey. In addition to shopping and other tasks to help get your children ready for back to school, take some time to focus on personal safety. Our Monterey personal injury lawyers explain common ways in which accidents can happen and how to reduce the risks.

Transportation Accidents Among Children Heading Back To School

Personal injuries are common among children once they head back to school and one of the ways in which they happen is via transportation accidents. Whether they walk, take the bus, or get driven to school, it is important to be aware of potential hazards.

School Bus Accidents

The National Safety Council (NSC) advises that while school buses are one of the safest ways for children to travel, it is still important to be aware of the risks and to make them aware of ways to protect themselves.

• When walking to bus stops, use sidewalks and only cross at designated intersections;
• Keep at least three feet away from the curb when waiting at bus stops;
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before attempting to enter or exit the bus;
• Stay seated and avoid behavior that could distract the bus driver;
• Never attempt to cross the street in front of a bus or automatically assume a driver sees you.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents pose major risks to children and are common during the school year. To protect them, parents are encouraged to follow these tips:

• Review school pick-up and drop-off instructions at the start of the school year;
• Never attempt to drop your child off other at designated locations;
• Avoid distractions when driving children to or from school;
• Be mindful of other parents and avoid aggressive behavior that could put children at risk.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents

Children who bike or walk to school need to take precautions as well. These include:

• Review travel plans with parents in advance;
• Avoid areas of heavy traffic;
• Choose routes that have crossing guards at intersections;
• Be mindful of drivers and pay attention to what is going on around you at all times.

Avoiding Other School-Related Injury Risks

In the Monterey Peninsula School District, classes are set to start August 1, 2023. However, many students have already begun engaging in extracurricular activities. To reduce personal injury risks, parents are encouraged to do the following:

• Monitor all activities your child engages in;
• Meet trainers, staff, and coaches in advance;
• Make sure children have any protective equipment they need;
• Inform program staff and administrators that you are to be notified immediately if accidents or injuries occur.

Get Trusted Legal Guidance From Our Monterey Personal Injury Lawyer

When back to school accidents happen, you can count on the Allen Law Firm to provide the trusted legal guidance you need in holding those at fault accountable. Let us help you get the compensation your child needs to recover. To request a consultation, contact our Monterey personal injury lawyer today.

Sources:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/school-bus/#:~:text=School%20bus%2Drelated%20crashes%20killed,Traffic%20Safety%20Administration%20(NHTSA).

mpusd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1012914&type=d&pREC_ID=2402463