‍Published by Brooker Law, PLLC — Dallas, Texas | Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Last Updated: November 10, 2025

TL;DR

Dallas school-zone and neighborhood streets are among the city’s most dangerous places for children. Brooker Law, a Dallas-based wrongful-death and catastrophic-injury firm, explains why child pedestrian crashes continue to rise, how driver negligence and street design contribute, and what legal rights families have under Texas law after a tragedy. Contact Brooker Law for a free, confidential consultation.

The Smallest Pedestrians Face the Biggest Risks

In 2024, Texas ranked among the top states for child pedestrian fatalities. In Dallas, the danger often hides in plain sight -- outside schools, apartment complexes, and suburban intersections where speed limits may be low but driver attention is often lower.

Vision Zero Dallas data show that pedestrian crashes cluster near schools, parks, and bus stops where vehicle speed, driver distraction, and limited visibility intersect. Children under 14 are particularly vulnerable because they are smaller, harder to see, and less able to judge distance and a vehicle's closing speed.

Every September, as classes resume, emergency rooms across North Texas brace for an uptick in school-zone injuries -- many caused by drivers who simply fail to slow down.

Where and How Child Pedestrian Crashes Happen in Dallas

1. School Zones and Pick-Up Areas

Morning congestion around Dallas ISD schools creates a perfect storm with hurried parents, double-parked vehicles, and distracted drivers juggling drop-offs and phones. Even with flashing lights and crossing guards, one distracted glance risks ending a childhood.

2. Neighborhood and Apartment Streets

Residential roads like Hampton Road, Buckner Boulevard, and Camp Wisdom often lack consistent sidewalks or signage. Children walking to friends’ houses or school buses must share space with delivery vans, company vehicles, and speeding commuters.

3. Parking Lots and Driveways

Nearly 20 percent of Texas child pedestrian injuries occur in parking lots and driveways, i.e., low-speed zones where visibility is poor and drivers back up without noticing small figures behind them.

Speed and Visibility Matter Most

At 20 mph, a driver needs about 65 feet to stop. But at 35 mph, it takes more than 120 feet to stop. A child’s smaller stature means head and torso injuries are more severe even at low speeds. When you combine a SUV's height with driver distraction, the results are catastrophic.

Poor lighting in early morning hours, inconsistent crossing guards, and missing sidewalks and crosswalks around Dallas schools amplify risk. The problem isn’t children being reckless -- it’s that the streets around their homes and schools aren’t built for pedestrians.

Legal Accountability in Child Pedestrian Cases

When a child is struck by a vehicle, the law treats fault and damages differently than for adult victims.

  1. Drivers owe a heightened duty of care. Texas courts recognize that children are less predictable than adults. Drivers must anticipate that a child might enter the road unexpectedly.
  2. Comparative fault is limited. A child under the age of five cannot legally be found negligent. Older children are judged by a “child standard of care” for their age and experience.
  3. Damages reflect long-term loss. Claims may include future medical care, rehabilitation, psychological treatment, and loss of earning capacity, and if the injury is catastrophic the life care plan may have to account for decades and decades of future medical care.
  4. Next Friend Lawsuits. Parents or guardians typically bring claims on behalf of minors as their "next friends." In fatal cases, the family may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving parents and a survival claim on behalf of the minor child's estate.

At Brooker Law, we work with accident-reconstruction experts to prove speed, sight distance, and driver inattention. Even when a driver says “I never saw them,” we show why they should have.

What If My Child Was Outside the Crosswalk?

Texas law does not require children to use a marked crosswalk to be protected. Drivers must still exercise ordinary care to avoid a collision anywhere a child might reasonably be present, especially near schools, parks, and residential areas.

If a police report blames your child for the classic “darting into traffic” excuse, get legal help before accepting that conclusion. Video, lighting, and vehicle data often reveal that the driver had ample time to react and avoid the collision.

How Brooker Law Helps Families

Our firm handles child pedestrian cases with the same trial discipline we bring to catastrophic injury and wrongful-death litigation:

  • Immediate investigation to secure video and witness accounts before they’re lost.
  • Speed and visibility analysis using engineers and 3-D mapping of the scene.
  • Medical and economic evaluation to project lifetime needs and loss of earnings.
  • Compassionate family support through insurance claims and court proceedings.

We see these cases as more than lawsuits. They’re opportunities to force change and protect other Dallas children from the same danger.

What Parents Can Do Today

  1. Slow down in school zones. Even 5 mph over the limit can double the risk of a fatal injury.
  2. Teach eye contact. Make sure children look directly at drivers before crossing.
  3. Use sidewalks and crossing guards whenever available.
  4. Report missing signs or damaged flashing beacons to Dallas 311.
  5. Document everything if a collision occurs—photos, names, road conditions, and time of day.

Simple habits save lives, but accountability saves an unknown number more.

FAQ: Child Pedestrian Injuries in Dallas

Do school-zone speed limits apply when lights aren’t flashing?
Not necessarily, but drivers must still travel at a reasonable speed for the conditions and watch for children before and after school hours. A reasonably prudent driver would anticipate that children will be at or near a school even before or after school hours.

Who can file a claim for a minor injured in a pedestrian crash?
A parent or legal guardian may file on the child’s behalf as his or her "next friend." Any settlement obtained on behalf of the minor child must receive court approval to ensure it is in the child's best interest and that the net settlement amount is protected until maturity.

What if the driver was a school employee or commercial vehicle?
Different liability rules apply. Our firm has handled cases involving school district vehicles and company drivers with insurance layers and notice deadlines. Some school districts employ private companies to drive school buses.

Contact Brooker Law

Brooker Law, PLLC represents victims and families in Dallas pedestrian accidents, school-zone collisions, and wrongful-death cases throughout Texas. Our mission is to make Dallas streets safer for children by holding negligent drivers and companies accountable. Contact Brooker Law today for a free, confidential consultation.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, contact Brooker Law, PLLC.