Back-to-School Safety in Las Vegas: How Parents Can Help Protect Their Children From Accidents

As summer comes to an end and children across Las Vegas head back to school, families are busy buying school supplies, adjusting sleep schedules, meeting teachers, and preparing for another school year. But back-to-school season also brings an increase in traffic around school zones, crosswalks, bus stops, parking lots, and residential neighborhoods.

For parents, back-to-school safety is about more than backpacks and school supplies. Drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, school buses, and parents dropping off and picking up children all share the roads. A moment of distraction can result in a serious accident.

At Banda Law Group, we know that accidents involving children can be especially frightening for families. Understanding common back-to-school safety risks in Las Vegas can help parents, students, and drivers take steps to prevent avoidable injuries.

Back-to-School Safety Tips for Las Vegas Families

Whether your child walks to school, rides the bus, bikes, or is driven by a parent, taking a few precautions can help reduce the risk of an accident.

1. Slow Down in School Zones

One of the most important back-to-school safety tips for drivers is simple: slow down in school zones.

School zones can become congested quickly, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. Children may cross streets unexpectedly, walk between parked vehicles, or move quickly through parking lots.

Drivers should:

• Obey posted school-zone speed limits.

• Watch carefully for children near crosswalks.

• Stop when required for pedestrians.

• Avoid passing vehicles that have stopped for pedestrians.

• Put away phones and other distractions.

• Leave additional stopping distance.

• Pay attention to crossing guards and school staff.

• Expect increased traffic during school arrival and dismissal.

A few extra seconds of caution can make a significant difference.

2. Teach Children How to Safely Cross the Street

Children should understand basic pedestrian safety before walking to school or crossing streets without an adult.

Teach children to:

• Use marked crosswalks whenever possible.

• Stop before entering the street.

• Look left, right, and left again before crossing.

• Continue watching for vehicles while crossing.

• Make eye contact with drivers when possible.

• Avoid running into the street.

• Never assume a vehicle will stop.

• Stay alert rather than using a phone while crossing.

Parents should also walk the route with younger children before allowing them to travel to school independently.

3. Watch for Children in School Parking Lots

Parking lots can be particularly dangerous because drivers and pedestrians are moving in multiple directions.

Children can be difficult to see when they are walking behind or between vehicles. Drivers should carefully check their surroundings before backing up or pulling away from a parking space.

Parents should also remind children to:

• Stay close to an adult when possible.

• Walk rather than run through parking lots.

• Avoid walking behind vehicles.

• Pay attention to moving cars.

• Use designated pedestrian areas.

4. Talk to Your Children About School Bus Safety

School buses are one of the most common ways children travel to and from school.

Children should understand basic school bus safety rules, including:

• Stand away from the roadway while waiting for the bus.

• Wait until the bus has completely stopped before approaching it.

• Use handrails when entering and exiting.

• Remain seated while the bus is moving.

• Keep hands, arms, and objects inside the bus.

• Follow the driver's instructions.

• Never walk behind a school bus.

• Look carefully for approaching vehicles when crossing the street after leaving the bus.

Parents should also explain the dangers of walking into traffic after getting off a bus.

5. Drivers Must Pay Attention Around School Buses

Drivers have an important responsibility when sharing the road with school buses.

Never assume that a child will see your vehicle or that a bus will move out of the way.

When approaching a stopped school bus, drivers should carefully observe applicable traffic laws and posted signals. Never attempt to pass a school bus when children are entering or exiting and traffic laws require you to stop.

Drivers should also remember that children may cross the street unexpectedly after getting off a bus.

6. Put the Phone Away in School Zones

Distracted driving is a serious safety issue, particularly around schools. A driver looking at a text message, adjusting a navigation app, or reaching for something in the vehicle may fail to notice a child entering a crosswalk.

When driving through a school zone:

Put the phone down. Slow down. Look up.

Even a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from seeing a pedestrian, bicyclist, crossing guard, or stopped school bus.

7. Make Sure Children Wear Helmets When Riding Bikes

Many children ride bicycles or scooters to school or around their neighborhoods. Parents should make sure children wear properly fitted helmets and understand basic bicycle safety.

Children should know to:

• Wear a properly fitted helmet.

• Obey traffic signals and signs.

• Ride in designated bicycle areas when available.

• Watch for vehicles entering and exiting driveways.

• Use appropriate lights or reflective equipment when visibility is limited.

• Avoid using phones or headphones that prevent them from hearing traffic.

• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing intersections.

8. Be Extra Careful Around Crosswalks

Crosswalks are designed to provide pedestrians with a safer place to cross the road, but a crosswalk cannot eliminate the risk posed by an inattentive or speeding driver. Drivers approaching a crosswalk should slow down and watch for pedestrians.

Pedestrians should also avoid assuming that a vehicle will stop simply because they have entered a crosswalk.

Common Back-to-School Accidents in Las Vegas

Back-to-school traffic can create several different types of accidents.

Pedestrian Accidents

Children walking to or from school can be injured when drivers fail to yield, speed through school zones, ignore traffic signals, or become distracted.

A pedestrian accident can result in serious injuries, including:

• Broken bones

• Head injuries

• Traumatic brain injuries

• Spinal injuries

• Internal injuries

• Road rash and other soft-tissue injuries

• Permanent disabilities

School Bus Accidents

School bus accidents can involve the bus itself, another vehicle, or a child being struck while entering or leaving the bus.

Determining responsibility may require an investigation into the actions of the bus driver, other motorists, the school district, transportation company, or other potentially responsible parties.

Bicycle and Scooter Accidents

Children riding bicycles and scooters can suffer serious injuries in collisions with vehicles or falls caused by dangerous roadway conditions.

School Parking Lot Accidents

Drop-off and pickup areas can become extremely congested. Drivers may be distracted, backing out of parking spaces, or attempting to navigate around other vehicles and pedestrians.

Car Accidents Involving Student Passengers

Teen drivers returning to school can also increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents.

Inexperienced drivers may be more likely to speed, become distracted by passengers or cell phones, or make unsafe decisions behind the wheel.

Parents of teenage drivers should have conversations about safe driving before the school year begins.

What Should You Do If Your Child Is Injured in a School-Related Accident?

If your child is injured in a school-zone accident, pedestrian accident, school bus accident, or other incident, your first priority should always be obtaining appropriate medical care.

After addressing your child's immediate medical needs, consider taking the following steps.

Seek Medical Treatment

Have your child evaluated by an appropriate medical professional. Some injuries may not be immediately obvious, particularly after a head injury or other significant accident.

Keep records of medical appointments, diagnoses, prescriptions, therapy, and other treatment.

Report the Accident

Depending on where and how the accident occurred, notify the appropriate school officials, law enforcement agency, property owner, transportation provider, or other responsible entity. Ask how to obtain a copy of any incident or accident report.

Document What Happened

Write down what your child remembers about the accident as soon as possible.

Preserve:

• Photographs

• Videos

• Witness information

• Medical records

• Medical bills

• School records

• Accident reports

• Insurance correspondence

• Other documents related to the incident

Do Not Assume Someone Else Is Handling the Matter

When a child is injured at or around school, parents may assume that the school, school district, bus company, or insurance company will automatically take care of everything.

That is not always the case.

Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may have legal responsibilities, and different laws and deadlines may apply.

What If My Child Is Injured at School?

An injury occurring at school does not automatically mean that the school or school district is legally responsible. Determining liability can depend on how the injury occurred and who was responsible for the condition or conduct that caused it.

Potentially relevant circumstances can include:

• Dangerous property conditions

• Inadequate supervision

• Playground injuries

• School bus accidents

• Negligent maintenance

• Unsafe premises

• Defective equipment

• Third-party contractors

• Vehicle accidents occurring on school property

Claims involving public entities can involve special legal requirements and deadlines. If your child has suffered a serious injury at a public school or while participating in a school-related activity, obtaining legal advice promptly can be important.

When Should I Contact a Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer?

Not every childhood injury requires a personal injury attorney. However, you should consider speaking with an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer if your child has suffered a serious injury or if there are questions about who is responsible.

Consider contacting an attorney if:

• Your child suffered a significant or permanent injury.

• Your child was hit by a vehicle.

• Your child was injured in a school bus accident.

• Your child suffered a head or brain injury.

• Your child required hospitalization or surgery.

• Your child requires ongoing medical treatment.

• The insurance company is disputing the claim.

• Someone is blaming your child for the accident.

• Multiple parties may be responsible.

• The accident involved a public school or governmental entity.

• You are unsure what your legal rights are.

An attorney can investigate the circumstances, identify potentially responsible parties, evaluate insurance coverage, and explain your options.

Back-to-School Safety Checklist for Las Vegas Parents

Before the school year begins, take a few minutes to review this checklist with your children:

☐ Identify the safest route to and from school.

☐ Practice crossing streets and using crosswalks.

☐ Review school bus safety rules.

☐ Teach your child to stay away from moving vehicles.

☐ Make sure bicycles and scooters are properly equipped.

☐ Make sure your child has a properly fitted helmet.

☐ Discuss stranger and traffic safety.

☐ Remind children never to assume a vehicle will stop.

☐ Talk to teenage drivers about distracted driving.

☐ Establish a family rule that phones stay away while driving.

☐ Know your school's drop-off and pickup procedures.

☐ Save emergency contact information in an accessible location.

Back-to-School Safety Starts With All of Us

The beginning of a new school year should be exciting, not a time for families to deal with preventable injuries.

Drivers can help by slowing down, eliminating distractions, and watching carefully for children. Parents can help by teaching children pedestrian, bicycle, and school bus safety. Children can help by staying alert and following basic safety rules.

Unfortunately, even the most careful family cannot control the actions of a negligent driver or prevent every accident.

If your child has been injured in a pedestrian accident, school bus accident, bicycle accident, car accident, or other school-related incident in Las Vegas, you may have questions about your family's legal rights.

Injured in a Las Vegas School-Related Accident?

Banda Law Group helps injured individuals and families understand their legal options after serious accidents in Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada.

If your child has been injured because of another person's negligence, contact Banda Law Group to discuss what happened and learn whether you may have a personal injury claim.

Do not wait to get answers. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and certain injury claims may have strict legal deadlines. Contact Banda Law Group to schedule a consultation about your potential personal injury claim.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Nothing on this site should be construed as an attorney-client relationship or as a substitute for legal counsel. For advice regarding your specific situation, please contact a licensed attorney.