It’s that time again – summer is winding down, family vacations are winding up and people are starting to think about going back to school. In most parts of the country, August is when schools open for the academic year. Parents are starting to make sure that their young ones have all of the clothing and supplies they will need. Young people need are starting to prepare for another year of work and learning. According to the National Safety Council, that means that we should reexamine our awareness levels of certain dangers young people face, as August is National Back to School Month. Children’s safety becomes an issue when school starts, and the children’s rights lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys want to provide some information to help parents and children understand how to best keep themselves from harm.
This year, more than 50 million kids are going to be attending schools between pre-kindergarten and the 12th grade in the United States. While this is an exciting time for kids, it can also become a scary time for those who endure bullying. According to Pacer.org, the following statistics relate to school bullying in the United States:
As parents, you should watch for signs of bullying in your children. If your child seems withdrawn, loses his or her appetite, stops sleeping well or exhibits any other type of change, act on your instincts and look into it. If there is no anti-bullying program, ask for one.
As schools open, streets will suddenly be filled with school buses, cars and of course people walking to and from school. Drivers need to be aware of this and exercise more caution. According to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, there is risk in walking and bicycling to school:
These statistics should alert parents to do a few things, including:
Nothing will ever prevent every single traffic accident, but a few preventative steps could make an enormous difference.
With a new school year will come time on playgrounds for most children. While exercise is obviously important for any growing child, playground injuries are also a serious problem. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
If you’re concerned about the safety of the playground at your child’s school, speak to administrators to make sure that proper monitoring is in place during playtimes. Do not give up if you do not get the answers you need.
Children’s rights lawyers have all heard horrible stories about children who were injured or worse on their way to or from school. We provided the statistics above, but motorists who drive near schools during the school year need to take extra precautions, including:
Every split second matters while behind the wheel, so take that miniscule amount of time to give yourself and others the best chance to avoid something tragic.
The children’s rights lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys hope that everyone has a safe and fulfilling school year. Unfortunately, the statistics above indicate that some people will be harmed. If this happens to one of your children, contact the firm immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.
John Gomez founded the firm alone in 2005. Today, John acts as President and Lead Trial Attorney. He has been voted by his peers as a top ten San Diego litigator in three separate fields: Personal Injury, Insurance and Corporate Litigation. Since 2000, he has recovered over $800 million in settlements and verdicts for his clients with more than 160 separate recoveries of one million dollars or more. A prolific trial lawyer, John has tried to jury verdict more than 60 separate cases.
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