While the COVID-19 crisis has caused this year’s back-to-school season to look unlike any other, many South Carolina students are still attending school in-person this fall. This means that more cars will be on the road during the drop-off and pick-up commute times, which means that more accidents will occur.
Parents (and non-parents) need to be aware of the increased risk of auto accidents during the fall and winter months, and they also need to know what to do if they are involved in a serious collision. Here are some resources from our South Carolina auto accident attorneys, as well as some tips for staying safe from the National Safety Council (NSC):
1. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST RISKS ON THE ROAD?
The statistics on auto accidents in South Carolina are alarming. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SC DPS), someone is injured in an accident in the state every 8.7 minutes. While numerous factors can cause and contribute to serious accidents, some are far more common than others.
Learn more: South Carolina Auto Accident Statistics: What Are the Biggest Risks on the Road?
2. WHAT ARE THE CAR ACCIDENT LAWS IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
Do you know the rules of the road in South Carolina? Do you know what insurance drivers are required to carry, and do you know what you are required to do in the event of an accident? South Carolina has many laws that apply in the case of a car accident, and having at least a basic understanding of these laws can be important to protecting your family’s legal rights.
Learn more: What are the Car Accident Laws in South Carolina?
3. WHAT ARE YOUR FAMILY’S LEGAL RIGHTS AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?
Speaking of your family’s legal rights, do you know what they are? As a general rule, families who suffer losses in a car accident are entitled to recover financial compensation for all of the losses they incur. These losses will be substantial in many cases, and it will be important to work with an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer to calculate the amount your family is entitled to recover.
Learn more: What are Your Family’s Legal Rights After a Car Accident in South Carolina?
4. UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOUTH CAROLINA CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM
If your family or child is involved in a car accident during the back-to-school season, you may encounter several unfamiliar terms as you pursue your compensation claim. To help you, we have prepared a glossary of 12 key terms.
Learn more: 12 Key Terms for Understanding Your South Carolina Car Accident Claim
5. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IF YOUR CHILD IS INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT
The process for recovering financial compensation after an accident in which your child is injured is similar to seeking financial compensation when you are injured as an adult, but there are some unique considerations involved. This is true whether your child was riding in a car seat or your teen was injured while driving to or from school.
Learn more: What Do Parents Need to Know about Auto Accidents Involving Injuries to Children in South Carolina?
6. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE CLAIMS
When seeking to recover financial compensation after a car accident in which your child was injured, it is important to separate myth from reality. There are many misconceptions about the insurance claim process, and if you rely on these misconceptions, your family could end up recovering less than it deserves.
Learn more: 10 Myths about Car Accident Insurance Claims in South Carolina
7. BACK-TO-SCHOOL SAFE DRIVING TIPS FROM THE NSC
During the school year, all drivers need to especially careful to avoid causing car, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. This is true not only in school zones but on all roads where increased congestion and pedestrian traffic increase the risk of serious collisions. The NSC offers these tips for drivers to protect themselves and others during the back-to-school season:
During Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups
- Avoid double-parking, as this blocks visibility and can limit the space available to moving vehicles. Instead, be patient and wait for a space to come available.
- Avoid dropping children off and waiting for children across the street from a school, particularly when there is no crosswalk. The increased traffic during drop-off and pick-up hours can increase the risk of an accident.
When Driving Near Pedestrians
- Always stop at crosswalks, and never block crosswalks such that children are forced to walk in the road.
- Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and use extra caution when crossing sign flashers are blinking in a school zone.
- Do not speed, accelerate suddenly, honk unnecessarily, or try to get pedestrians or other drivers’ attention.
- Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian, and never try to pass closely in front of or behind a pedestrian, even one who has the right of way.
When Driving Near Bicyclists
- Treat bicycles on the road the same way you would treat other vehicles. Always pass on the left (when it is safe to do so) and leave at least three buffer feet.
- Always look for bicycle riders in and near school zones, and never turn in front of an approaching bicycle rider.
When Driving Near a School Bus
- Never pass a school bus from behind if it is stopped to load or unload children.
- Never pass a school bus from the opposite direction on an undivided road if it stopped to load or unload children.
- Be alert for children in the vicinity of where a school bus is preparing to stop to load children or where a school bus has recently stopped to unload children.
CONTACT US 24/7 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION WITH OUR CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS ABOUT YOUR CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM IN ROCK HILL, SC
At Lewis Law Firm LLC, we help families throughout South Carolina recover financial compensation after car accidents and other vehicle collisions. If you need help and would like to speak with our car accident lawyers, please call (803) 327-1103 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.