Pedestrian Accidents in School Zones

School zone speed limits and restrictions exist for a very important reason – to protect the safety of children, as well as teachers, parents, and other pedestrians, from cars at times when there is a high percentage of foot traffic. Unfortunately, many motorists fail to adhere to safety laws in school zones, leading to accidents and significant injuries to pedestrians, especially children. If your child has been injured by a vehicle driving dangerously in a school zone, Miami pedestrian accident lawyer Robert Dixon can help you explore your legal options. Our team at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon is dedicated to holding reckless drivers accountable for the harm caused by their actions. We assist clients throughout South Florida including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties in personal injury and wrongful death claims arising out of pedestrian accidents. If you or someone you love has been affected by a pedestrian accident in a school zone, please contact our office to speak with an experienced attorney and schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights.

The main cause of pedestrian accidents involving children is vehicles failing to adhere to stop signs. Distraction also plays a significant role in school zone accidents. In a survey, almost seven out of ten drivers said they had participated in distracted driving practices, such as answering a phone call, text message, or otherwise using an electronic device. When a driver is distracted, he or she is often unaware of the surroundings, and may not even know they are entering a school zone until it is too late. These drivers also may not know the reduced speed limit and therefore drive at dangerous speeds when children are present. Although many school zone pedestrian accidents may be unavoidable due to negligent drivers, it is also important to educate children on how to maintain their own safety while walking near roads and through crosswalks. Some simple examples include making sure they know to look both ways as well as to cross streets with the aid of crossing guards and during appropriate times. However, despite best efforts, over 25,000 children are injured in school zone pedestrian accidents each year nationwide, some of them fatally. When a negligent driver is to blame for these devastating injuries or deaths, he or she should be held accountable under the law.

School zone pedestrian accidents are usually caused by a driver’s negligent behavior. Negligence exists when an individual breaches his or her duty to act like a reasonable and prudent person would under the same or similar circumstances, causing another’s injuries and resulting damages. A driver who strikes someone in a school zone because he or she is distracted by a text message would likely be seen as behaving unreasonably or negligently. Under the theory of negligence per se, a victim only needs to show that a defendant violated a law designed to protect a certain class of people. For instance, a driver speeding above the school zone speed limit, a regulation passed to protect pedestrian children during certain hours, and causing an accident, is generally negligent per se, or as a matter of law. Once negligence is shown, plaintiffs can receive compensation for past and future medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering and other related costs of a victim’s injuries.

When a child is injured in a school zone pedestrian accident, the effects of that injury can be long-lasting, or even permanent. When a child is killed by a driver’s negligence, parents are left grief-stricken and feeling hopeless. Although of course no amount of money can make up for this kind of loss, it is still important to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Attorney Robert Dixon and his associates at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assist clients throughout the entire duration of their personal injury or wrongful death cases. If you need legal assistance following a pedestrian accident that occurred in a school zone, please call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no obligation consultation. We serve clients in communities including Miami, and West Palm Beach.