Juvenile Injured in Pedestrian Accident
A juvenile pedestrian accident in Arden Arcade on December 16, 2019, seriously injured a child near Whitney Elementary School. It occurred at 2:58 p.m. adjacent to the facility at the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Whitney Avenue. According to a witness, a black sedan struck the juvenile, causing a major lower extremity injury. When the California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrived, the minor was lying in the roadway due to the leg injury. Rescue personnel from Sacramento Fire were called to the scene to evaluate the minor’s injuries. The CHP is actively investigating the crash to determine why it occurred. The juvenile pedestrian accident blocked the turn lane on Eastern Avenue for some time while emergency personnel administered to the child, and the investigation proceeded.
Driving Near a School
When driving near a school, it is necessary for drivers to focus on the road and the surrounding area, especially at dismissal and arrival times. Some things drivers should do are:
- Obey speed limits and traffic laws near the school.
- Be careful and slow down in neighborhoods around the school as children are hurrying home.
- Be ready to stop for a school bus flashing yellow lights even if the bus is still moving.
- Stop if the school bus’s flashing red lights are on. Don’t start moving again until the bus begins to move, and the red lights stop flashing.
- Keep watch for children congregating at a school bus stop. Be aware of a child running to catch the bus.
- Be aware of children walking or cycling near the school.
Parental Responsibility
Parents taking children to school or picking them up have additional responsibilities:
- Parents must comply with procedures for drop off and pick up of students.
- Caregivers should never double park or stop on a crosswalk to drop children off at school. Doing this will make it difficult for motorists to see other children.
- Rain and fog limits visibility. Be more careful in inclement weather.
- Do not load and unload children across the street from the school. To reach the school, children must cross the street in the middle of the block and lack the protection of a crosswalk.
School Zone Pedestrian Accidents
Approximately 25,000 children are injured in school zones, and 100 are killed in juvenile pedestrian accidents annually. Distracted driving is the most common reason school zone accidents occur. In various studies, distracted drivers were found to be more dangerous to roadway safety than drunk drivers. Some errors typically associated with distracted driving in school zones are:
- Distracted drivers may be unaware of the decreased speed in a school zone and fail to proceed carefully.
- The reaction time of a distracted driver is similar to that of a drunk or fatigued motorist. This means the driver will be unable to stop in time if a child runs into their path.
- Distracted drivers fail to focus on the road and have a higher risk of not seeing a child crossing the street.
California Law to Prevent Juvenile Pedestrian Accidents
Due to the need for increased safety in school zones, California enacted rules for drivers in such areas:
- When children are outside or crossing the street in a school zone, drivers within 500 to 1,000 feet must slow down to 25 mph. In some areas, the speed is lower. Obey posted speed limits.
- Always obey directions given by school crossing guards. Never start moving until the crossing guard has reached the side of the street.
How an Attorney Can Help
Our firm believes that children must be protected from juvenile pedestrian accidents. We work endlessly to protect the rights of children to stay safe and help take a negligent motorist to task for endangering them. We start by sending our investigators to the accident location to gather evidence that will be used in the case. They speak to witnesses and obtain video footage of the accident from security and traffic surveillance cameras. Our investigators also review police reports for errors or omissions and check and record traffic signals near the school alerting drivers to speed reductions. Once all evidence is gathered, we release it to our legal team to use in building a strong case against the negligent motorist. This compensation is used to cover expenses such as medical care now and in the future, as well as the pain and suffering the accident inflicted.
Car Accident Lawyer in Arden Arcade
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Arden Arcade. We have successfully represented juveniles and adults injured by a negligent driver. To receive free and friendly advice, call me at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400. You can also contact me online.
I’ve helped many clients in Arden Arcade receive the compensation that is fair in car and pedestrian accidents and wrongful deaths.
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/schoolbus-vehicle-bus-girl-school-81717/
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