A crash near a school can turn an ordinary morning into a frightening medical and financial crisis. If a vehicle struck your child while they were walking or you suffered injuries in a collision, identifying who caused the harm is one of the first steps toward protecting your family.
School zone accidents in Denver often involve a negligent driver, but liability can extend beyond the driver. At The Wilhite Law Firm, we help injured families investigate what happened and pursue compensation from every responsible party.
Driver Duties in a School Zone
Drivers must use heightened care around schools. State law provides increased penalties for moving traffic violations in designated school zones under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-615. Drivers must obey the reduced speed limits, yield to pedestrians and crossing guards, and avoid unsafe passing and stay off their phones.
When a driver speeds or ignores a crossing guard, that conduct can be strong evidence of negligence. In many Denver school-zone crashes that result in injuries, the driver who violated traffic rules is the primary responsible party.
Who Else Can Share Liability?
In Denver, some crashes in a school zone involve more than one responsible party. A government entity responsible for traffic signs or roadway conditions can share liability when a dangerous condition contributes to the crash. An employer can also be liable when an employee causes a crash while working.
The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act governs claims against public entities. Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-10-101 and the sections that follow, you generally must give written notice within 182 days after you discover the injury, as set out in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-10-109. Missing the deadline can bar the claim, so it is important to act promptly.
How State Fault Rules Affect Compensation
Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-111, Colorado reduces your compensation by your share of fault and bars recovery once your fault reaches 50 percent. For parents, that means the evidence surrounding the crash matters from the start. The available video and the school-zone signage can help establish what the driver and other parties were doing before the accident.
Call Us To Understand Liability After a Denver School Zone Accident
For school zone accidents in Denver, you need clear answers and swift action to establish liability. Our personal injury attorneys will investigate the crash and identify the available insurance coverage while building a claim focused on your child’s injuries and your family’s losses.
“Wilhite Wins” means we will fight to advance your case. Contact us at The Wilhite Law Firm now or reach our team today to discuss next steps.
