Louisiana Back to School Safety Tips

Louisiana back to school time is just around the corner. Students of all ages will soon flood the streets as they walk and ride their bikes to school, as well as wait for the bus. It is our responsibility as adult drivers to keep the roads safe for children, tweens, and teens. If you, your child, or another family member are hurt and suspect another party played even a minor role in causing your pain, contact our New Orleans personal injury lawyers. We will fiercely advocate for justice in the form of financial compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.

Five Crucial Louisiana Back to School Safety Tips

Our New Orleans personal injury attorneys have represented children that have been hurt in accidents because of drivers that were negligent or reckless around school zones. While it’s unfortunate that these students suffered these injuries, it’s important to note that most New Orleans school accidents are highly preventable through proper safety habits. Here are five essential tips our lawyers have learned from our clients.

How to Share the Road With Youngsters

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports the majority of children who perish in bus-related accidents are struck when walking. Most of the victims are between the ages of four and seven. These unfortunate youngsters are often struck by a motorist attempting to illegally pass a stopped bus or the bus itself. It is a mistake to try to pass a bus. Unless the bus is in the right-hand lane and moving at a decent rate of speed. Further, if you are irritated when traveling behind a bus, do not honk your horn, gesture, or rev your engine.If your daily commute passes through bus routes or school zones, plan ahead. Your best course of action is to find an alternate route or simply leave 10 minutes early to give yourself extra time. If a vehicle ahead of you stops, do not assume it is because he or she is not paying attention to the road. Always assume a stopped vehicle has come to a halt to let students and other pedestrians cross safely. If you attempt to pass a stopped car, you might hit an innocent youngster on his way to school and cause a pedestrian accident.

Be Alert When Driving Near Schools

Louisiana back to school time means that you’ll have to reacquaint yourself with school time traffic patterns. Be mindful of school zones, crossing guards, school patrol officers, and kids. If a vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a student, slow your speed and look both ways before proceeding. If the school zone flashers are operating, slow your speed to the posted speed limit. Additionally, if students are waiting to cross a crosswalk, come to a complete stop and let them pass with ample space.

Never block the crosswalk. Students, crossing guards, and parents escorting their little ones should not have to walk around your vehicle. If you block a crosswalk, the chances of a car accident dramatically increase as youngsters will have to walk in front of or behind your vehicle to reach the other side of the street.

Stop Your Vehicle Far Away From the Street

If a situation arises in which you must stop your car, do not veer off just a bit to the side. Pull over to the side of the road. If possible, pull over on a side street or even wait until you reach a parking lot. This way, other vehicles will have sufficient space and time to avoid a potentially catastrophic accident involving youngsters, bicyclists, and other vehicles.

Mind Those Designated Crossing Spaces

Your hard-earned tax dollars pay for the designated crossing areas throughout New Orleans. Make use of these spaces when appropriate to ensure your child’s safety. If you walk your little one to school or have a youngster who walks on his or her own, use crosswalks and other crossing spaces as often as possible. Such designated pedestrian crossing areas feature traffic control devices to maximize safety. Walking in these spaces is much safer than walking on the road.

How to Share the Road With Buses and Bicyclists

This is the time of the year when buses and bicyclists line the streets. School is in session, the weather is spectacular, and people are looking for an opportunity to get outside. Adhering to the speed limit is the most important thing you can do to avoid causing a bicycle accident, bus accident, or pedestrian accident. Additionally, be sure to give bicyclists, pedestrians, and buses plenty of space.

If a bus in your vicinity turns on its yellow or red lights or its stop sign extends, provide even more space. Come to a full stop far behind the bus. Kids need as much space as possible to walk behind or in front of the bus. Furthermore, some youngsters are overly energetic, easily confused, or too nervous to notice incoming traffic. Every adult driver should expect kids to act erratically when getting off the bus. Exercise the utmost caution and you will have done your part to keep the roads safe.

Every Louisiana driver should know motorcycle riders and bicyclists have the same rights as automobile drivers. The problem is bikes are difficult to see. Kids riding bicycles are especially dangerous as they are diminutive in stature and take risks.

If you would like to pass a bicyclist, make sure there is at least three feet between them and your vehicle. Always let bicyclists traveling in the opposite direction pass before executing a left turn. 

Alternatively, if you plan on turning right and a bicyclist is traveling behind your vehicle on the right, let him or her proceed through the intersection ahead of your vehicle.

Louisiana Back to School Safety Starts Now

Mike Brandner Law hopes that Louisiana back to school time is exciting, fun, and safe for your family. Unfortunately, accidents can happen no matter how safe you’re being. An injury to your child, another loved one or yourself should not go uncompensated. If another party’s carelessness contributed to your injury in any way, you have legal footing for a lawsuit. Our New Orleans personal injury lawyers will advocate on your behalf in and out of a court. When you work with Mike Brandner Law, you can be sure of having a steadfast legal advocate by your side that will handle all of your legal matters so that your family can focus on recovery.