Does Your Child Bike to School?

September 19, 2017 | Bicycle Accidents

With school starting for children across the state, many parents are likely busy with back-to-school shopping, organizing school supplies, getting the calendar set, and similar tasks. One important thing you should stop and consider is how your child is going to get to and from school on a daily basis. There are several options, all of which have risks of accidents. You should choose the one that makes the most sense for your family.

While the number of children who ride their bicycles to school has gone down in the past few decades, many children still ride a bike as their primary form of school transportation—especially if they live in close proximity to their school. Having your children ride their bikes to school can save you time and money while keeping them active at the same time. However, it is essential that you consider the risks of biking and review basic safety tips with your child as part of your back-to-school preparations. The following are some steps you can take before the first day of school.

• Talk about helmet use – Indiana does not have a law that requires bicyclists to wear helmets; however, you should always stress to your children how important it is to protect themselves from head injuries by always keeping their helmets on and fastened. Teach your children that safety is “cooler” than exposing themselves to unnecessary injury by ditching their helmets to fit in with others.

• Plan the route – Your children should have a specific route to bike to school with the least amount of traffic possible. If they do have to pass through intersections or ride alongside cars, make sure they fully understand the rules of sharing the road and who has the right-of-way at what time.

• Maintain their bike – Even if your children are safe bicycle riders, they can easily be injured if the brakes, gears, or tires suddenly malfunction. While some parts may be inherently defective, it is often possible to avoid malfunction by performing regular inspections and maintenance on the bicycle.

Even the most careful and educated child can still be hit by a negligent driver who is impatient or simply not paying attention. In such a situation, always ensure your child undergoes a full medical evaluation and receives the proper diagnosis and treatment for all injuries. Your next step should be to contact an experienced bicycle accident injury law firm that can help you hold the negligent driver accountable for injuring your child.

Contact an Indianapolis Bicycle Accident Attorney for Help Today

At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., we have successfully helped many bicycle accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries and related losses. To make sure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to have an experienced bicycle accident attorney handling your case. Attorney Merry Fountain can help you today by meeting in her office or in your home. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.