Child Pedestrian Safety Tips for Drivers and Kids in Texas

Back to school is almost here for many districts in Texas, and that means increased child pedestrian traffic across the state.

Nothing is more precious than the lives of our children. Before the season kicks off, let’s review safety tips for drivers around child pedestrians, as well as tips for children when crossing the street.

Child Pedestrian Safety for Drivers: A Review

Children are especially vulnerable to injury and death in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian injury is the leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14 in the United States.

Here’s a review of safe driving practices when sharing the road with child pedestrians:

• Heads Up, Phones Down — Be extra cautious to guard against distraction. Don’t use your phone at all while driving, especially not when driving through school zones, neighborhoods, or parking lots.
• Don’t Block a Crosswalk — Ensure you aren’t blocking a crosswalk when you stop. This puts children in the path of traffic, increasing their risk of an accident.
• Back-Up with Caution — Children are incredibly hard to see from the back of a vehicle. Do a head check, roll your window down, and turn the music off before backing out of a driveway or parking spot.
• Expect Random Behavior — Children often walk distracted and make unexpected movements. Keep a close eye on child pedestrians, and be prepared for sudden movements, falls, and crossing where there is no crosswalk.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Texas kids safe this school year.

Child Pedestrian Safety for Kids

The best thing you can do to protect your child from a pedestrian accident is to teach them how to be a safe pedestrian!

Don’t rely on drivers to follow the rules perfectly. Teach your kids these safety tips:

• Cross at Crosswalks — Children are most often injured in areas with lots of cars parked along the street. Avoid accidents in these areas by teaching your kids to use street corners and crosswalks whenever possible.
• Make Eye Contact — Children should make eye contact with the driver before crossing, even at a crosswalk. This is to make sure that the driver is not distracted and sees the child.
• Earbuds Out, Phones Down — Children should stay alert when walking near vehicles. Phones are distracting, and earbuds make it difficult to hear approaching cars.
• Look Twice — Look left and right twice before crossing the street, and never assume a driver will give you the right of way.

Children learn best by doing. Practice pedestrian safety with your kids before school starts, and model the ideal behavior for them.

What to Do If Your Child Is Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

A quick, decisive response after an accident could save your child’s life. If your child is hurt in a pedestrian accident, follow these steps:

• Call 9-1-1 — Immediately seek medical attention for the child, even if they don’t appear to be that hurt. If anyone is injured in an accident, you are required to report it to the police. Call 9-1-1 immediately, report the accident, and request EMS.
• Document the Scene — Take photos or videos of the accident scene and any visible injuries. If there are nearby cameras that may have caught the accident, take note of them.
• Exchange Information — Get the contact and insurance info of the driver. If there were any witnesses, get their names and phone numbers.
• Watch for Additional Symptoms — If your child exhibits symptoms such as excessive crying, bleeding from nose/mouth/ears, fainting, vomiting, breathing issues, or general lack of strength in the days after the accident, contact your medical professional.
• Call Shaw

You will likely be contacted by the driver’s insurance company after the accident. Don’t talk to them without a lawyer. They are trained to get you to say something that will diminish the value of your claim.

Was Your Child Hit by a Car in Texas? Call Shaw.

A parent should never have to witness an injury to their child.

If your child was hurt or killed in a pedestrian accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for things like:

• Ambulance Costs,
• ER Bills,
• Surgeries,
• Ongoing Medical Care,
• Pain and Suffering,
• Trauma/PTSD,
• Disfigurement,
• Wrongful Death,
• And more.

We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.

Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our child injury attorneys today. No fees, no obligations, just expert legal advice.

We look forward to serving you.

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¹Texas Children’s Hospital on Child Pedestrian Safety