There are plenty of things to think about as the new school year arrives. And if your children will be biking to school, one of the most important things on your to-do list should be creating a safety plan. While there are several advantages to riding a bike, it’s vital to recognize that many children are injured in bicycle accidents every day across the country. To minimize the risk of a tragedy involving a bike accident, consider these three tips:
- Map out your children’s route and ride it ahead of time.
One of the best things you can do is map out the route your children will be taking to school and familiarize them with it ahead of time. Look for the safest streets between your residence and the school grounds. Take into consideration high traffic areas, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Once you’ve figured it out, take your children on a bike ride along the same route a few times before the first day of school so they can get used to it. This way, you’ll also know where they are as they ride home, and if you need to find them, you should be able to do so.
- Make sure your children are visible.
You also want to make sure your children are visible to drivers at all times, especially as it begins to get darker earlier in the evening. Encourage them to wear light clothing when possible and place reflective stickers on their backpacks, helmets, or shoes to make them stand out. In addition, they should have front and rear lights on their bike, as well as a bell for extra safety.
- Talk to your children about traffic safety and the rules of the road.
Take the time to sit down with your children and go over traffic safety and the basic rules of the road. This should include aspects like how to properly cross the street with a bike, riding with traffic and not against it, how to share the road with cars if there aren’t bike lanes or sidewalks, riding single file, and signaling before turning.
Despite your best efforts to keep your children safe from harm at all times, the negligence of motor vehicle drivers can create devastating situations. At Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., our New Jersey personal injury lawyers have vast experience working on bike accident cases involving minors. Should you need legal assistance under these circumstances, we will thoroughly review the incident and advise you on your rights to seek compensation. Contact us at (609) 240-0040 to schedule a free consultation.
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
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