Now that summer is behind us, many children are already back in school. Along with the cooler fall weather that this time of year brings, this also means that more and more school buses and parents will be back on the roads bringing their kids to and from school. To protect your children from injury, it is important you keep safety in mind by being aware of the potential dangers they face and reinforcing proper car and bus safety behaviors.
If your child will be riding the bus to school, be sure to adhere to the following safety tips:
- Stay alert at all times. Do not listen to music, play smartphone games, or send text messages while walking to the bus stop.
- Follow all traffic signals and laws. Only cross the street at designated crosswalks and never run into the street without looking.
- Arrive to the bus stop early. Never let your child run across the street to catch the bus as it pulls away from the stop.
- Stand at least 10 feet away from the curb when waiting for the bus and avoid the driver’s blind spots, such as the sides, immediate front, and back. Always be in a spot where the driver can see you.
- Do not enter or exit the bus until it has come to a full stop and the driver has indicated that it is safe to do so. Be careful that your clothing or backpack straps do not catch on handrails or doors.
Likewise, if you child is traveling by car to school, instill the following safe behaviors:
- Always wear a seatbelt, and never share a seatbelt with another person.
- If your child us under 13 years old, be sure they ride in the back seat.
- Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness until they reach the top weight or height allowed for the seat, at which time they may transition to a booster seat.
- Many collisions occur when novice teen drivers are traveling to and from school. If your teen is driving themselves to school, make sure they always wear a seatbelt and implement strict rules against distractions such as cell phone use, eating, or teen passengers. Likewise, do not let your teen drive during poor weather or at night until they have at least one year of driving experience.
Child Injury Attorney in Wichita
While these tips can help reduce your child’s risk of injury, accidents can still happen. If your child has been injured in a collision caused by another person’s negligence, contact our Wichita personal injury lawyers at Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC today. Having recovered more than $200 million in verdicts and settlements on our clients’ behalf, we have what it takes to protect your rights and maximize your potential compensation.
Call (316) 688-1166or schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today to review your case.