Texas Accident & Injury News
School pick-up and drop-off are high-risk times for pedestrian accidents.
66-Year-Old Raba Elementary Staff Member Dies at Hospital Following a Pedestrian Accident
According to a report from News4SanAntonio, a woman died in the hospital shortly after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning.
Police say the accident happened at around 7:14 a.m. on April 22nd in the 9700 block of Raba Drive near Village Parkway. A woman identified by Raba Elementary as 66-year-old Donna Wisniewski-Balinsat was hit by a personal vehicle that was turning left while attempting to park.
Authorities reported she was struck by both the front and rear tires of the vehicle. She was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The 32-year-old driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Did You Know?
1,518 accidents across Texas in 2024 were caused by a driver failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, according to TxDOT data.
School Pick-Up and Drop-Off: A Peak Time for Accidents
School zones are designed to be safe—but during pick-up and drop-off hours, they often become some of the most congested and unpredictable areas on the road.
Cars are pulling in and out. Drivers are scanning for children. Pedestrians are moving between vehicles. All of this happens at the same time, in tight spaces with limited visibility.
That combination leaves very little room for error.
Why These Areas Are High Risk
Unlike standard roadways, school zones combine vehicle traffic with heavy pedestrian movement.
Drivers are often:
- Turning into parking spots
- Backing out of tight spaces
- Watching for children instead of other pedestrians
- Trying to move through congestion quickly
This creates blind spots, divided attention, and reduced reaction time—all of which increase the risk of a crash.
Left Turns and Low-Speed Collisions
Many pedestrian accidents in school zones happen during low-speed turns.
A driver may believe the path is clear, but fail to see someone walking nearby, especially when focusing on parking or traffic flow.
These crashes often occur when a driver:
- Focuses on a parking space instead of the walkway
- Misjudges a pedestrian’s position or movement
- Fails to check blind spots before turning
Even at low speeds, being knocked down and run over can cause catastrophic injuries.
Why Pedestrians Are So Vulnerable
Pedestrians have no physical protection in a collision. In parking lots and school zones, where vehicles are constantly stopping and starting, the risk of being struck and run over increases significantly.
These accidents often result in:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal trauma
- Fatal injuries in severe cases
Older adults and children are especially vulnerable due to slower reaction times, lack of awareness, and increased injury severity.
How Drivers Can Help Prevent These Accidents
Despite the chaotic environment of a school pick-up or drop zone, drivers still have a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle with reasonable care.
That means:
- Slowing down in all school zones and parking areas
- Checking carefully before turning or parking
- Looking in all directions—not just for children
- Eliminating distractions behind the wheel
- And yielding to pedestrians
A few extra seconds of caution can prevent a life-changing accident. When drivers are careless or reckless and someone is killed in an accident as a result, the surving family may have legal options.
What Families Should Know After a Fatal Pedestrian Accident
If the crash was caused by a driver’s failure to yield, inattention, or any other form of negligence, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas law.
Wrongful death claims can be brought by immediate family members of the deceased, and are designed to provide financial compensation to those they left behind.
These claims are not automatic. They depend on whether the driver failed to use reasonable care and whether that failure caused the accident.
A proper investigation is critical to determining what happened and whether legal action is appropriate.
Lost a Loved One in a Pedestrian Accident? Call Shaw.
If your family lost someone in a pedestrian accident, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and financial support
- And more
At Carabin Shaw, we’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to speak to an experienced wrongful death attorney in San Antonio. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure—just compassionate legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.