Child Pedestrian Accidents in Texas: School Zones and Pickup/Drop-Off

Children are harder to see and often make unexpected moves near crosswalks, parked cars, driveways, and busy school entrances.

Because of this, drivers must exercise extra care when driving near areas where children are likely to present. This is especially important in active school zones.

However, drivers are not always careful. In 2023, 171 children age 14 and younger were killed while walking in traffic crashes nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.¹

Pedestrian accidents consistently rank as the fifth leading cause of death for children nationwide.

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Key Takeaway

A negligent driver may be responsible when they injure a child in a school zone or pickup area. Depending on what caused the accident, a school, city, crossing-guard contractor, or another party may also share liability.

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A child can be hurt in a matter of seconds while walking to school, using a crosswalk, or getting out of a car during pickup or drop-off. After the immediate emergency, parents may have questions about medical bills, insurance calls, and whether someone may be responsible for what happened.

This article explains what parents should know about school-zone and school pickup/drop-off pedestrian accidents in Texas. For a broader overview of child injury claims, visit our Complete Guide to Child Injury Claims in Texas.

When a Driver May Be Responsible

In Texas, driver may be responsible for a child’s injuries if their neglience caused or contributed to the accident.

Negliegent actions can include (but are not limited to) actions like:

• Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions
• Distracted by a phone or another activity
• Failing to yield at a crosswalk or intersection
• Ignoring a stop sign, traffic signal, or school-zone traffic control
• Backing up without checking carefully for children nearby
• Failing to watch for children in a school pickup or drop-off area

Is it not enough that the driver was negligent. To file a claim, you must prove:

• The driver owed your child a duty of care
• The driver breached that duty (was negligent)
• That negligence directly caused the accident to happen
• And your child suffered losses as a result

A child injury lawyer can look at the specifics of your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim.

When a School, City, or Contractor May Be Involved

Not every accident near a school means the school is responsible. However, it may be important to investigate whether an unsafe condition or another person’s conduct contributed to the injury.

For example, relevant issues may include:

• poor visibility,
• blocked crosswalks,
• missing or confusing signs,
• unsafe traffic controls,
• or a crossing guard who failed to follow required safety procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, a potentially responsible party could include the individual driver, a city responsible for the roadway, a school district, a private school, or a company contracted to provide crossing-guard or traffic-management services.

Whether the school is public or private matters. Public school districts and cities have legal protections that can limit when they may be held responsible, and special notice rules may apply. Private schools generally operate under different rules, but responsibility still depends on whether the school or its employees failed to use reasonable care.

Learn more in our guide to suing a public school vs. private school in Texas.

What If a School Bus Was Involved?

Different issues may apply when a child is injured while riding, boarding, or leaving a school bus. The driver of another vehicle may be responsible, but the school district, bus company, or other parties may also need to be considered depending on how the accident happened.

For more information, read our guide to Texas school-bus injury claims.

What Should Parents Do After a School-Zone Accident?

Your child’s health comes first. Call 9-1-1 if your child is injured or the scene is unsafe, and follow the advice of the emergency responders.

If possible, preserve information about the accident:

• Take photos of the vehicle, roadway, signs, crosswalks, and visible injuries, or ask someone to take them for you.
• Get the driver’s contact and insurance information.
• Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers.
• Note nearby homes, businesses, or school cameras that may have recorded the accident.
• Keep medical records, bills, and information about missed school or follow-up care.

Injured in a School-Zone Pedestrian Accident? Call Shaw.

A parent should never have to face a child’s injury alone. If your child was hurt in a school-zone or pickup-area pedestrian accident in Texas, you may be able to seek compensation for:

• Emergency and hospital care
• Follow-up treatment and rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages, when applicable

We’ll help you find out for free.

Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to schedule a consultation with an experienced child injury lawyer in Texas. No fees, no pressure—just straightforward legal guidance when you need it the most.

We put our clients first because we care.

We look forward to serving you.

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¹National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2023 Children Traffic Safety Facts