School zones are designed to protect children from dangerous drivers, but unfortunately, they don’t prevent 100% of accidents. When Garden Grove school zone pedestrian injuries do occur, it can be difficult to determine who’s responsible. In most cases, motor vehicle operators are at least partially to blame.

Because pedestrian claims in school zones fall under California personal injury law, consulting a dedicated personal injury lawyer ensures all negligent parties are identified. However, the situation can quickly become more complicated if the school or school district also acted negligently. However, the situation can quickly become more complicated if the school or school district also acted negligently.

Why School Zones in Garden Grove Are High-Risk Areas

There are good reasons that speed limits are so low in school zones. Passersby and even parents who are picking up or dropping off their kids at school can easily get distracted. Some of the most common causes of school zone accidents are listed below:

  • Heavy foot traffic. Garden Grove Unified School District schools see high student enrollment across all campuses. Especially large schools, like Bolsa Grande High School, experience heavy morning and afternoon traffic during pickup and drop-off hours. These are the times when school zones see the heaviest foot traffic. Most of the pedestrian traffic consists of children, who aren’t always aware of their surroundings.
  • Distracted driving. Parents dropping off or picking up students may be using their cell phones to communicate with family or putting coordinates into GPS units while they drive, which can create added risk to children. Garden Grove High School, located on Stanford Avenue, is one of the busiest campuses in the district, and as a result, there are a lot of distracted drivers here during high-trafficked times.
  • Failure to yield. When drivers don’t yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, it can cause serious accidents.
  • Poor signage. A lack of signage or faded crosswalk markings can contribute to accident risk. In these cases, liability may be shared with the Garden Grove Unified School District or the City of Garden Grove Public Works Department.
  • Unpredictable behavior. Children often behave unpredictably without regard for their safety. They may run into the street or in front of cars. They are not considered liable for these actions in the same way that adults are.

Driver negligence, infrastructural failures, and other factors can all play a role in contributing to accident risk in school zones. Pedestrian accident laws allow the parents of injured children or adults injured in school zones to hold all parties accountable who are determined to be fully or partially at fault for an accident.

California’s Comparative Negligence Laws

According to California pedestrian accident laws, pedestrians can still recover damages after accidents in school zones, even if they were determined to be partially liable for the crashes that caused their injuries. California Civil Code Section 1714 indicates that the state relies on a system of pure comparative negligence, which means that even victims who are determined to be more than 50% at fault can still recover compensation.

You can recover compensation in California even if you were 99% at fault for an accident. However, your final settlement amount could be reduced by the percentage of fault you are assigned. If you were 99% at fault for an accident that would have paid out a $100,000 settlement, in the event that you held no liability, you would only receive $1,000.

How Common Are School Zone Accidents?

An average of 111 school transportation-related fatalities occur each year in the United States, and there are an average of five teen pedestrian deaths per week in US school zones. In 2022, 38% of the children killed in school transportation-related crashes were pedestrian accident cases.

While these numbers may not sound excessively high, they account for only the most serious, fatal crashes. Many more students are injured each year in California and across the country in school zone accidents.

Why Choose Us?

If you’re looking for an experienced Garden Grove pedestrian accident attorney, look no further than Easton & Easton. Our team of skilled lawyers has handled countless complex pedestrian accident cases, including those involving school zones. We’re known as a high-settlement firm thanks to our proven process and measurable results. One out of three of our settlements is worth $100,000 or more, and we’ve helped our clients recover over $2 billion in damages.*

FAQs

Q: Am I Always at Fault if I Hit a Pedestrian?

A: No, you are not always at fault if you hit a pedestrian. Drivers owe a duty of care to pedestrians, but people walking on or near the roads must also follow traffic laws. Your attorney can help you determine whether you are at fault for hitting a pedestrian by investigating who acted negligently. In many cases, the liability for pedestrian accidents is shared between motorists and people on foot.

Q: Who Is Responsible if a Child Gets Hit by a Car at School?

A: Who is responsible if a child gets hit by a car at school varies. In most cases, it’s the driver who hit the child who is found primarily at fault for the accident. However, the school or school district may also bear a portion of the blame if the incident occurred due to a lack of supervision, inadequate crosswalk access, or a failure to enforce safe drop-off and pickup procedures.

Q: How Much Compensation on Average Do Pedestrians Get if They’re Hit by Cars?

A: How much compensation on average pedestrians get if they’re hit by cars depends on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the pedestrian’s injuries. While motor vehicle operators are typically assigned primary liability for pedestrian accidents, the pedestrians themselves may also hold some portion of the blame, in which case their settlements could be reduced.

Q: How Long Does a Pedestrian Accident Settlement Take?

A: How long a pedestrian accident settlement takes depends on the case. Simple, straightforward cases in which liability and the extent of the pedestrian’s damages are clear can typically be resolved quickly via negotiations. If there are any questions as to liability or the extent of injuries, it can take longer to settle the case. Going to court instead of resolving the issue in negotiations can extend the timeline for getting a settlement even more.

Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer From a Local Garden Grove Law Firm

If you or your child has been injured in a school zone, it’s time to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer. Your attorney can help you with every aspect of your case, from determining liability to collecting evidence, negotiating a settlement, and, if necessary, taking the liable party to court to get you fairly compensated. Contact the office of Easton & Easton to schedule an initial consultation regarding your case.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.