Car Accidents in School Zones

Car accidents in school zones can be devastating. As a parent, you trust that when you send your child to school, they’ll be safe. Unfortunately, the area surrounding your child’s school can be a danger zone.

School zones are typically streets or crosswalks near schools or parks with more young pedestrians. These zones also have reduced speed limits set during specific times of the day, generally when school is in session. In Chicago, the Children’s Safety Zone Program defines safety zones as those within 1/8 of a mile of schools and parks.

Although programs in Illinois seek to decrease the number of school zone crashes, pedestrian accidents are still a significant concern. School zone collision statistics from The Chicago Tribune suggest that between 2007 and 2011, nearly 1,700 young people were hit by drivers in Chicago within a block of a school. The City of Chicago’s Transportation Department estimates that Chicago sees nearly 3,000 pedestrian crashes annually — with 16 percent of those collisions involving children.

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your child safe. Unfortunately, motorists not paying attention to their surroundings in school zones can cause devastating consequences for you and your family. The Chicago personal injury lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are committed to recovering compensation for those injured in a school zone accident.

For a free consultation, contact our Chicago office today. We can advise you of school zone laws and your rights to seek compensation for your child’s injuries.

How Working with Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

When your child is injured in a school zone crash caused by inattention, your first reaction is to spring into action to look out for your child. Yet, who is looking out for you?

Collisions in school zones can cause traumatic physical injuries and send you and your family spiraling into financial uncertainty because of the associated medical bills. While you protect your child and help them recover, an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney can look out for you and your entire family.

A skilled school zone accident lawyer can:

• Investigate the cause of the school zone accident
• Identify liable parties
• Manage communication between you and the insurer
• Collect and preserve vital evidence
• Build a solid compensation claim
• Negotiate aggressively on behalf of your family
• Prepare a case for court when necessary

A Chicago-based attorney understands school zone laws and how to navigate the complex Illinois legal system to pursue the compensation your family needs after a school zone accident. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have secured over $2.5 billion in settlements and verdicts. Our law firm has an extensive track record of helping families like yours achieve the most favorable results possible for their situation. We’ll use our knowledge and extensive resources to help you and your family move forward.

Common Causes of Accidents in School Zones

It is a driver’s responsibility to drive safely and protect the people around them. Unfortunately, the most common cause of accidents in school zones is careless driving, such as not paying attention to a driver’s surroundings. The City of Chicago estimates nearly 90 percent of traffic deaths in the city involve reckless behavior behind the wheel.

Careless actions that lead to most school zone crashes include:

• Distracted driving, such as texting while driving
• Impaired driving
• Speeding
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Failing to obey traffic signs and signals
• Failing to obey school bus signs and signals

Inexperienced drivers are another source of school zone crashes. Young drivers, especially high school-aged drivers, who are not as familiar with the rules of the road and are more prone to being distracted, can cause significant school zone collisions.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 have the highest rates of crash involvement, injuries to themselves and others, and deaths of others involved in the crash than any other age group. Accidents involving young and inexperienced drivers are common in school zones, especially near high schools.

Chicago Laws and Regulations for School Zones

In Illinois, motorists are required to drive no more than 20 miles per hour when passing a school zone or traveling on a road of any kind where children pass going to and from school on a school day when children are present. Recent laws passed in Chicago add a community

service penalty for anyone who fails to stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading children or for speeding in a school zone.

Legal Rights and Options Following a Chicago School Zone Accident

You and your family have legal rights following an accident in a school zone. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney means you have someone who can advocate for you and explain your rights.

An attorney can also review the specifics of your situation and outline all your options for pursuing compensation for your or your child’s injuries and financial losses. Accepting a quick settlement from an insurance company may not always be the best way to recover the money your family needs. Sometimes, filing a personal injury lawsuit is in your best interest. An attorney can walk you through your options and help you navigate the compensation recovery process.

A Chicago auto accident attorney can also help identify who is responsible for a school zone accident. While it is easy to point the finger at a careless motorist, others may be liable for making you whole again. The driver, car parts manufacturer, or government entity may bear partial or complete responsibility for causing a school zone accident. An investigation into the cause of the accident by your attorney can identify liable parties and gather evidence to support your claim.

Getting an attorney on your side as soon as possible is essential. In Illinois, you only have two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. You have even less time to file a claim against the state of Illinois or a government entity, typically only one year from the injury date. A skilled Chicago attorney can help you manage strict legal deadlines so you don’t miss the opportunity to seek the money you need.

The value of a school zone accident case depends on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of an individual’s injuries, among other factors. However, you may be able to seek compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

A Chicago personal injury lawyer can calculate your losses and give you a clearer picture of the value of your case.

Contact Our Experienced Legal Team Today

If you are ready to pursue the compensation you and your family deserve after a school zone accident, the legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is here to help. Our seasoned Chicago personal injury lawyers have the skills, resources, and reputation to fight for you.

Contact our law firm today to arrange a free and confidential legal consultation.