Was your child hit by a car in a school zone? Were you involved in a car crash near a school? Car accidents in school zones can cause severe injuries and emotional trauma to children and their families.
People who have been hurt in school zone car crashes could be entitled to significant compensation from the motorist at fault for the collision. Our Greensboro car accident lawyers are ready to review your situation and explore your options for pursuing the money you need and deserve.
Contact Ward Black Law at (336) 333-2244 to arrange a free consultation and discuss your legal options with an experienced school zone accident lawyer in Greensboro.
How Our Greensboro Car Accident Lawyers Can Help with School Zone Accidents
The days and weeks after a school zone accident can be stressful and confusing. The award-winning child pedestrian accident lawyers in Greensboro at Ward Black Law understand how frightening it is when a child gets hurt.
Our legal team will work to protect your family’s interests from the start. We can review what happened and explain your possible next steps. While your family focuses on healing, our team will handle everything, including gathering evidence, communicating with insurance companies, and preparing your claim for settlement or trial.
What to Do After a School Zone Car Accident in Greensboro
Take the following steps after a school zone car accident in NC:
- Call 911 so police and emergency medical responders can come to the scene.
- Get medical care for your child, even if they do not show immediate symptoms of an injury.
- Take photos of the vehicles, any visible injuries, and any school zone signs, crosswalks, or traffic signals.
- Ask for contact information from any drivers, school staff, or crossing guards who witnessed the accident.
- Avoid discussing fault with other parties, police, or insurers before speaking with our Greensboro car accident lawyers.
What Makes Greensboro School Zone Car Accidents Different?
Pedestrian accidents in a school zone in NC often involve some combination of children, heavy traffic, buses, pedestrians, and drivers who may be distracted or in a hurry.
School zone accident cases can raise questions about speed limits, signage, crosswalks, supervision, and whether a driver acted with proper caution around a school. When an accident happens in a school zone, the facts need close review because children face such vulnerability to serious harm.
Who Can Be Liable for a School Zone Car Accident in Greensboro?
When a child gets hit by a car in a school zone in Greensboro, liability depends on what caused the crash and who failed to use reasonable care. Potentially responsible parties may include:
- A motorist who failed to obey school bus signs, or was speeding, distracted, impaired, or otherwise careless
- A school bus driver, the school district, or a school transportation company
- A school employee, crossing guard, or supervising adult
- A government entity responsible for road design, signs, or signals
- A vehicle owner, employer, or maintenance provider
- A manufacturer, if defective parts contributed to the accident
Our skilled school zone accident attorneys are ready to review the facts of your unique situation to identify liable parties and sources of insurance coverage.
North Carolina Laws for School Zones and School Buses
North Carolina school zone laws allow local authorities to enforce lower speed limits in marked school zones near public, private, or parochial schools. The lower speed limits apply when proper traffic signs indicate the school zone, speed limit, and effective times.
State law also requires drivers to stop for a properly marked school bus when its red lights or stop arm are activated while children are boarding or exiting. Your lawyer can use evidence of violations of regulations for school zones to help show that a driver failed to use reasonable care.
What Happens If a Child Is Injured in a School Zone Accident?
When a child gets hurt in a school zone accident, parents may have to make quick decisions about their medical care and whether they can attend school. These cases can also require added attention because a child may not be able to fully describe their pain, fear, or symptoms right away. A school zone accident lawyer from Ward Black Law can help your family understand what steps to take next.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a School Zone Accident?
The compensation you and your child may be entitled to depends on their injuries, the available insurance coverage, and how the accident affects your family. Successful personal injury claims may involve money for:
- Medical bills, including those for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits
- Physical therapy, counseling, and future medical needs
- Pain, suffering, fear, and emotional distress
- Scarring, disability, or reduced quality of life
- Parents’ lost wages while caring for the child
- Transportation costs and other related out-of-pocket expenses
Evidence That Can Strengthen Your School Zone Accident Claim
You need strong evidence to show how the crash happened, who was involved, and how the injury has affected your child. Helpful evidence may include:
- The police crash report and officer observations from the scene
- Photos or videos of the vehicles, roadway, signs, crosswalks, and injuries
- Witness statements from parents, teachers, school staff, or crossing guards
- School bus, traffic camera, or dashcam footage
- Medical records, bills, and provider notes
- School attendance records after the accident
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in North Carolina?
Under North Carolina law, minors have until three (3) years from the date of their 18th birthday to file an injury claim. However, a parent’s related claim may not follow the same timeline as the child’s claim. Because missed deadlines can jeopardize your case, speak with our experienced car accident attorneys in Greensboro as soon as possible.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in School Zones
School zones require extra care because children, buses, and family vehicles have to navigate the same area simultaneously. Some typical causes of school zone accidents include:
- Speeding or failing to slow down near a school
- Distracted driving, including texting or looking away from the road
- Failing to yield at crosswalks
- Passing stopped school buses
- Ignoring signs, signals, or crossing guards
- Unsafe drop-off or pickup behavior
- Backing up without checking for children
Common Injuries in School Zone Car Accidents
Because their bodies are smaller and still developing, children are susceptible to devastating consequences in school zone accidents that can affect their health, comfort, development, and daily routine. Some examples of potential injuries include broken bones, head injuries, concussions, cuts, bruises, back and neck injuries, internal injuries, and emotional trauma.
Keep in mind that some symptoms may not appear right away, so it is important to get your child prompt medical care after any crash.
Speak With a Greensboro School Zone Car Accident Lawyer Today
If your child was injured in a pedestrian accident or car accident in a school zone, the Greensboro car accident lawyers at Ward Black Law are ready to support your family in seeking the justice and compensation you deserve. Our law firm’s experienced personal injury attorneys have a successful track record of results and a strong reputation among our satisfied clients.
To learn more about how our award-winning lawyers for the seriously injured can help your family fight back after a school zone crash, get in touch today at (336) 333-2244 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.