Las Vegas, NV (November 5th, 2025) – The safety of children traveling to and from school has become an increasingly urgent safety concern in Las Vegas. Recent reports from Sunrise Trauma Center reveal a troubling trend: injuries involving children in crosswalks and school zones are climbing at an alarming rate, with severe consequences for young victims and their families.
If your child has been injured in a school zone accident, understanding your legal rights is essential to protecting their future and holding negligent parties accountable. Contact our Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices today to discuss your case. Call 702-388-2005.
The Growing Crisis: Statistics Paint a Disturbing Picture
According to the vice president of Sunrise Trauma Center, the medical facility has witnessed a significant increase in children involved in auto-pedestrian and e-bike collisions throughout Las Vegas. Between January and October of this year, the trauma center treated between 150 and 170 patients involved in e-bike and e-scooter accidents alone. Approximately 30% of victims in such accidents are minors under the age of 18-years-old.
The trauma center’s vice president noted that the facility frequently treats children for traumatic head injuries, broken limbs, and internal organ damage. The severity of these injuries often requires extensive medical treatment, lengthy rehabilitation, and can result in permanent impairment that affects a child’s quality of life for years to come. Many young victims face spinal cord injuries and long-term disabilities that fundamentally alter their development and future opportunities.
Understanding Legal Liability in School Zones
When a child is injured in a crosswalk near a school, determining liability is crucial for securing compensation. Nevada law establishes specific duties for drivers in school zones and crosswalks, and violations of these duties can form the basis of a personal injury claim.
Driver Responsibilities in School Zones
Nevada state law imposes heightened responsibilities on motorists operating vehicles near school zones. Drivers must reduce speed to posted school zone limits, which typically range from 15 to 25 mph depending on the location. They are required to come to a complete stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and exercise extreme caution during school arrival and dismissal times. The law demands that drivers yield the right-of-way to children crossing streets and avoid distracted driving, including cell phone use.
When drivers fail to meet these obligations and a child suffers injury as a result, they may be held legally responsible for damages. Due to the heightened duty of care in school zones, even minor lapses in attention or judgment can constitute negligence when a child is harmed.
Municipal Liability for Unsafe Conditions
In some cases, government entities may share liability for crosswalk accidents. The Clark County School District and local municipalities have a duty to maintain safe conditions around schools. To this end, they should take steps, including ensuring properly marked crosswalks with visible signage, adequate lighting for morning and afternoon travel, and traffic control devices such as crossing guards or signals. Municipalities must also maintain well-kept roadways that are free from hazards and implement appropriate traffic-calming measures in high-risk areas.
When adequate infrastructure or poor maintenance contributes to a child’s injury, claims may be pursued against the responsible government agency, though special procedures and shorter deadlines apply to claims against public entities in Nevada.
Recent Tragedy Highlights the Need for Change
A recent fatal collision near Lied Academy in Las Vegas has galvanized parents to demand better enforcement of traffic laws and improved safety measures. Parents have expressed frustration over inconsistent police presence near schools, noting that officers appear briefly after incidents but fail to maintain regular enforcement. This pattern of reactive instead of proactive safety measures leaves children vulnerable to negligent drivers who prioritize convenience over caution.
One concerned parent described the chaos during drop-off times, stating that drivers rushing to get to work show little regard for the safety of other people’s children. This sentiment reflects a broader community concern about the lack of accountability for dangerous driving behaviors in school zones.
E-Bikes and E-Scooters: An Emerging Danger
The rise of electric bikes and scooters has introduced new risks for young people. These devices allow children to travel at higher speeds than traditional bicycles, often without adequate safety training or protective equipment.
Legal Considerations for E-Bike Accidents
When children are injured while riding e-bikes or e-scooters, liability may extend beyond the motorist involved. Potential defendants in these cases can include drivers who fail to yield or exercise caution, as well as parents who allow children to operate devices without proper supervision. In some situations, manufacturers of defective e-bikes or scooters may bear responsibility, particularly when mechanical failures contribute to accidents. Property owners who maintain unsafe riding conditions on their premises may also face liability claims.
Compensation Available for Injured Children
Children injured in crosswalk accidents may be entitled to comprehensive compensation that addresses both their immediate and long-term needs.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial losses resulting from the injury. Such losses include all medical expenses, from emergency care and surgery to hospitalization and ongoing treatment. Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs can accumulate over months or years as children work to recover their abilities. Courts also consider future medical treatment needs, which may include multiple surgeries, specialized therapies, or lifetime care for permanent injuries. Adaptive equipment and assistive devices necessary for daily functioning are compensable, as is lost earning capacity when injuries cause permanent disability that will affect the child’s future employment prospects.
Non-Economic Damages
Beyond financial losses, children and their families experience profound emotional and psychological harm. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering endured by the child, as well as emotional distress and trauma that may persist long after physical injuries heal. Courts recognize loss of enjoyment of life when injuries prevent children from participating in activities they once loved. Disfigurement and scarring can be particularly traumatic for young people, affecting their self-esteem and social development. The loss of normal childhood experiences, from playing sports to attending school events, represents a significant harm that deserves compensation.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving particularly reckless or egregious conduct, Nevada law permits punitive damages designed to punish wrongdoers and deter similar behavior. These damages go beyond compensating the victim and serve a broader societal purpose of discouraging dangerous conduct near schools.
Moving Forward: Advocating for Safer Schools
While legal compensation helps families recover from the financial impact of serious injuries, preventing these tragedies in the first place requires collective action. Parents, school officials, law enforcement, and community members must work together to demand consistent traffic enforcement near schools, improved infrastructure and traffic-calming measures, comprehensive safety education for children and drivers, and accountability for negligent motorists.
Medical professionals emphasize the importance of educating children about traffic laws and safe practices. Parents must take responsibility for teaching children how to navigate streets safely, while also demanding that drivers prioritize the safety of young pedestrians over convenience. The community response should include both prevention efforts and accountability for those who endanger children.
Protecting Your Child’s Future After a School Zone Accident
The rising number of crosswalk injuries near Las Vegas schools represents a public health crisis that demands immediate attention. For families already impacted by these preventable tragedies, understanding legal rights and options provides a path toward accountability and recovery. When negligence causes a child to suffer serious injuries, the responsible parties must be held accountable through the legal system.
Every child deserves to travel safely to and from school without fear of serious injury or death. If your child has been injured in a school zone or crosswalk accident anywhere in Nevada, don’t wait to seek legal guidance. Time-sensitive deadlines can affect your ability to recover compensation, and early legal intervention makes a significant difference in case outcomes. Contact our experienced Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and learn how we can help your family secure the compensation and justice your child deserves. Call 702-388-2005.
