Going
back to school can be an exciting time for children and their
parents, but it can also be a dangerous time. During the
back-to-school months, emergency departments experience drastic
spikes in pedestrian and school bus-related injuries as 22 million
students head back to class. Nearly all child-pedestrian accidents
are preventable if safety guidelines are followed, and children,
parents, and motorist are informed.
1.
Children Are the Most Vulnerable Pedestrians
We
all know that children tend to be the most vulnerable to injuries and
it is because they are exposed to dangers that are beyond their
cognitive and sensory development. Children, in general, are
impulsive and have not developed crucial judgment skills to estimate
how far away a car is and how quickly it is approaching. Children
usually do not fully develop and master these skills until they are
at least 10 years old.
2.
There Really Is Safety In Numbers
It
is much easier for motorists to see a group of children than a single
child. It is important that we always remind our children to walk
with at least one other school mate if they are going to be walking
to or from school. Anytime that we can walk our children to the bus
stop, to school or from school ourselves decreases the chance of a
serious accident even further
3.
Safety and Reflective Gear Are A Must
Certain
clothing and gear can help children be spotted quicker, easier, and
from further away. Bright orange, yellow, and white clothes are
helpful and make a child easier to see. If your child stands at a bus
stop in hours of poor light, during early morning or late in the day,
wearing some sort of reflective gear will decrease the chance of an
accident. Many jackets, shoes, book bags, and hats can be found
with reflective tape already included. This reflective tape is
extremely helpful to motorists. What is interesting is that a
vehicle’s headlights can pick up reflective clothing and gear from
as far as 500 feet away.
4.
Waiting Can Be Very Dangerous
When
waiting for the bus to arrive, have your children stand in a safe
place away from the street, and not approach the bus until it has
come to a complete stop. This is something we all teach our children,
though bus accidents still occur occasionally. To help your child
remember these safety rules, it might be beneficial to scope out
where your child will be waiting for the bus before school starts and
designate a spot for your child to stand.
If
the unthinkable does happen and your child is injured, hiring the
right lawyer can be one of the most important decisions a person
makes. But before you hire a lawyer, speak to an insurance adjuster
or sign any papers, you owe it to yourself to read The Truth About
Lawyers: An Insider's Guide to Hiring the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
for Your Case. This helpful guide was written by Houston personal
injury attorney John Neese, and contains the vital information a
person needs to find and hire the best injury lawyer for their case.
Plus, this guide contains The 5 Trick Questions You Should Ask Any
Houston Personal Injury Attorney Before Hiring Them. Visit
www.johnneeselaw.com or
www.thetruthaboutlawyers.com to
order your free copy of The Truth About Lawyers.