August 8, 2018 | Children's Injuries
With August here and the end of the summer around the corner, many parents in the Indianapolis area are preparing to send their children back to school. A new academic year brings with it new friends, new teachers, new opportunities, and sometimes even e new school. Unfortunately, going back to school also exposes kids to a significant risk of injury. Below is some information about some of the accidents in which children could be involved during the school year. For more information or if your child has already been hurt in an accident, call the Fountain Law Firm today at 1-888-242-HURT (4878).
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), riding the school bus is the safest way for children to get to school. While this may be true, it is also true that a significant number of children are injured in school bus accidents every year. Bus drivers, other motorists, the manufacturer of the bus, or even the school district responsible for operating the bus can cause serious school bus accidents. Regardless of who causes a bus accident, however, if the accident was the result of negligence, injured children will likely be entitled to compensation for their injuries and other losses. In addition, parents will probably be able to recover compensation for their child’s medical expenses.
For many children, going back to school also involves being a pedestrian for at least part of their commute every school day. Whether they are walking to the bus stop, to a friend’s house to catch a ride, or all the way to school, anytime a kid is walking around traffic, he or she is at risk of involvement in a pedestrian accident. In fact, children are at a particularly high risk for pedestrian accidents, as their size makes them more difficult for drivers to spot and they are much more likely to make sudden, expected moves (like running out into the street).
When school is in session, young children typically play on a playground on a daily basis. Playgrounds inherently expose kids to a risk of injury, despite the significant safety advancements schools and equipment manufacturers have made since today’s parents were children. Of course, not every playground injury is legally actionable—those that are a result of risks associated with normal play will typically not entitle kids to compensation. And, most schools have special legal protections under the Indiana Tort Claims Act. However, if your child was seriously injured in an accident as the result of negligent supervision or defective playground equipment it may be an actionable personal injury claim.
Indianapolis personal injury lawyer Merry Fountain is a skilled injury advocate. If your child is hurt in the greater Indy area—Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, Brownsburg, Avon, Kokomo, Lebanon—she’s here to help. Call her anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878), or simply click Tell Us About Your Case for a free consultation.