Texas Accident & Injury News
Children are especially vulnerable at school pickup and drop-off.
Child Accidentally Hit by Vehicle During Drop-Off at a West-Side Elementary School
According to a News4SanAntonio report, a child was taken to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle during morning drop-off at a West Side elementary school.¹
Police reported the accident happened at around 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 7th, at Collins Garden Elementary School near South Calaveras Street and Obregon Street on San Antonio’s West Side.
A young girl was reportedly struck in the leg by a vehicle during drop-off and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. SAPD, district police, and EMS responded to care for the student and investigate the accident.
In a statement, Principal Jennifer Ruiz said, “The well-being of our students is a top priority in SAISD schools.”
Ruiz also acknowledged that witnessing the accident may have upset some students and thanked families for their understanding and support.
The circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation.
Did You Know?
According to TxDOT data, 1,518 crashes across Texas in 2024 involved a driver failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian.²
Preventing Accidents During School Pickup and Drop-Off
School pickup and drop-off can be some of the busiest few minutes of the day.
Parents are trying to get children to class on time, drivers are pulling in and out of parking spaces, and young students may be walking between cars or crossing the roadway.
That combination can make even a small driving mistake dangerous.
Many of these accidents are preventable when drivers slow down, stay alert, and remember that children do not always behave as predictably as adult pedestrians.
Expect Children to Appear Between Parked Cars
One of the biggest challenges around elementary schools is visibility.
Children can be completely hidden behind parked cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. A driver may not see them until they step into the roadway.
Young children may also act suddenly. They might run toward a parent, drop something and turn back for it, or cross wherever the school entrance appears closest.
Drivers should move slowly enough that they can stop if a child unexpectedly appears.
Parents can help by teaching children to stay on sidewalks and use designated crossings instead of walking between parked vehicles.
Take Extra Care When Backing Up
A crowded school parking lot is a difficult place to reverse.
Even vehicles equipped with backup cameras and sensors can have blind spots, particularly when a small child is standing close to the vehicle.
Before backing up:
- Check mirrors and the backup camera
- Look over your shoulders
- Scan both sides of the vehicle
- Move slowly enough to stop immediately
Most importantly, don’t assume a child will notice that your vehicle is moving.
Children may be focused on friends, backpacks, parents, or the school entrance rather than the cars around them.
Follow the School’s Drop-Off Pattern
Drop-off procedures can feel inconvenient when the line is moving slowly, but they usually exist to separate children from moving traffic as much as possible.
Drivers should avoid:
- Stopping in crosswalks
- Letting children out into active traffic lanes
- Double-parking
- Making sudden U-turns
- Cutting across parking spaces to bypass the line
- Blocking the view of pedestrians or other drivers
The safest route may take an extra minute or two. That is a worthwhile tradeoff when young children are walking nearby.
Put Away Distractions Before You Enter the School Zone
Phones are an obvious distraction, but they aren’t the only one.
During drop-off, a driver may also be:
- Talking to children in the back seat
- Looking for a parking space
- Checking the clock
- Reaching for a backpack or lunchbox
- Watching for a particular child or teacher
Try to handle those tasks before entering the busiest part of the pickup or drop-off area.
School zones require your full attention because hazards can appear quickly and from almost any direction.
Teach Children What to Do Around Moving Cars
Parents can also reduce risk by giving children a few consistent rules.
Teach them to:
- Wait until the vehicle is fully stopped before opening the door
- Exit on the sidewalk side whenever possible
- Walk instead of running through parking areas
- Use crosswalks and designated walkways
- Look for moving vehicles before stepping into a roadway
- Make sure a driver has stopped before crossing in front of a car
Younger children may need an adult to walk them from the vehicle to the entrance rather than navigating a busy parking area alone.
Who Is Responsible If a Child Is Hit During School Drop-Off?
When a child is struck by a vehicle during pickup or drop-off, liability depends on what caused the accident.
A driver may be responsible if they:
- Failed to keep a proper lookout
- Backed up without checking for pedestrians
- Drove too fast for the crowded conditions
- Failed to yield
- Became distracted
In some cases, other factors may also matter, such as an unsafe traffic pattern, poor visibility, or inadequate supervision.
However, a school is not automatically responsible simply because the accident happened on school property.
Claims involving public schools can be especially complicated because governmental immunity may limit when a school district can be held liable, and special notice requirements may apply.
Parents can learn more about those issues in our guide to school-zone and child pedestrian accidents in Texas.
An Attorney Can Help Determine Who Is Responsible
School pickup accidents can involve more than one potential source of evidence and more than one potentially responsible party.
An attorney can help obtain:
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Police and district reports
- Vehicle and insurance information
- Photographs of the drop-off area
- School traffic procedures
- Other evidence showing how the accident occurred
That can be especially important when the child is young, the facts are disputed, or there are questions about whether the driver, school, contractor, or another party contributed to the accident.
Child Injured in a School-Zone Accident? Call Shaw.
When a child is injured during school pickup or drop-off, families may suddenly be dealing with medical care, insurance questions, and uncertainty about who was responsible.
An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, deal with insurance companies, and help determine whether your family has a claim.
If your child was injured because of another party’s negligence, your family could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical Expenses
- Future Medical Treatment
- Pain and Suffering
- Rehabilitation and Therapy
- Other Accident-Related Losses
- And More
We’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to learn more about your family’s legal options. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just clear, compassionate legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.