Tips to Help Your Kids Stay Safe This School Year 

As Corpus Christi accident lawyers who represent families throughout the Coastal Bend and across Texas, we understand that the back-to-school season brings excitement and a fresh routine, as well as new safety risks. Our mission at Bandas Law Firm, P.C. is to help you prevent injuries before they happen and to be there for your family if negligence causes harm.

We have spent decades standing up for the “little guy,” holding negligent parties accountable, and guiding clients through some of the most stressful moments of their lives. From our office in downtown Corpus Christi, we serve clients in Nueces County and statewide in matters that include car and truck crashes, school bus and pedestrian incidents, and child injury claims. 

Below you will find practical, Texas-specific guidance you can use right now. We pair day-to-day safety tips with clear explanations of relevant laws so you can teach your child good habits, set family rules, and know what to do if someone else’s carelessness leads to an injury.

Start with the School Commute: Smart, Lawful, and Distraction-Free

For Drivers in School Zones

Texas law prohibits drivers from using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle in a school crossing zone unless the vehicle is stopped or the device is used hands-free.

The rule also applies to school bus drivers carrying minor passengers. Violations can lead to citations and fines. Make it a household policy to silence and stow phones before you enter any posted school zone. 

Texas also requires drivers to stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children while red lights are flashing or the stop arm is extended. You must remain stopped until the bus moves, the driver signals that you may proceed, or the signal stops flashing. The only exception is when you are on the opposite side of a divided roadway. 

Even when you follow every rule, distracted or impatient drivers can put kids at risk. If your child is hurt near a campus or bus stop, our Corpus Christi injury lawyer team knows how to investigate school-zone crashes, preserve evidence, and press insurers for full and fair compensation. 

For Students on Campus

A new Texas law, House Bill 1481, requires every public school district and open-enrollment charter school to adopt and enforce a policy that prohibits student use of personal communication devices during the school day. Districts must have compliant policies in place for the 2025–26 school year.

Talk with your child about your district’s specific rules, storage expectations, and exceptions covered by individualized plans or medical needs. Reducing device use during the day can also minimize distractions during pick-up and drop-off, when situational awareness is most crucial. 

Car Line Checklist for Families

• Buckle everyone, every time. Texas child passenger rules require a car seat or booster for children younger than 8 years unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches, and all kids should ride restrained adequately according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Put phones away in school zones and during loading and unloading. Model the behavior you expect from your teen driver and your child. 
• Avoid double parking and never block crosswalks. Yield to crossing guards promptly. TxDOT consistently warns that inattention and speeding in school zones are the top crash factors.

Help Bus Riders “Play It SAFE”

School buses are among the safest ways to get to class, but most injuries occur outside the bus in the 10-foot danger zone around it. Teach kids NHTSA’s “SAFE” points:

• Stay at least ten feet from the curb
• Always wait for the driver’s signal before boarding
• Face forward and stay seated
• Exit only after the bus stops and it is safe to cross. 

Drivers must do their part too: follow at a safe distance because buses make frequent stops, and never pass a stopped bus with red lights flashing. If a driver ignores these rules and harms your child, our auto accident attorney in Corpus Christi can move quickly to secure camera footage and witness statements before they disappear. 

Make Walking and Biking Safer

Walking

• Choose the most direct route with the fewest street crossings, even if it adds a minute.
• Practice crossing skills with younger children. Look left, right, then left again, and continue scanning while crossing.
• Use crossings staffed by guards whenever possible and obey their directions.

Biking

Texas has no statewide bicycle helmet law for children, but some cities require helmets for minors. Helmets are still one of the simplest ways to reduce head injury risk. Check your local ordinance and make a helmet nonnegotiable in your family. 

Pro Tips for Riders

• Wear bright clothing and add a front white light and rear red reflector if riding in low light.
• Ride with traffic, not against it, and signal turns clearly.
• Assign a buddy when possible and establish a check-in routine with a trusted adult.

Right-Size Backpack to Protect Growing Bodies

Heavy packs can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as poor posture. Pediatric experts recommend keeping a backpack at 5 to 10 percent of a child’s body weight, with some guidance allowing up to 15 percent for older students.

Choose a pack with wide, padded straps, wear both straps, and use compartments to distribute weight. If your child has to lean forward to support the pack, it is too heavy. 

Teen Drivers: Know Texas Graduated Driver License Rules

If your family includes a new driver, review the Texas Graduated Driver License program together. A provisional license allows independent driving but comes with restrictions designed to lower risk while teens gain experience:

• No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member.
• No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless for work, school activities, or an emergency.
• No use of wireless communication devices while driving, even hands-free, except in an emergency.

The Texas Department of Public Safety enforces these restrictions and help reduce the deadly mix of night driving, peer passengers, and distraction. Parents should set stricter rules if your teen needs more time to build safe habits.

If another motorist injures your teen driver, a personal injury attorney in Corpus Christi, TX can help pursue claims for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and can manage communications with insurers that may try to minimize your family’s losses. 

Sports and Marching Band: Beat Texas Heat

Early fall in South Texas is hot. Heat and humidity raise the risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, especially in equipment-heavy sports like football. The CDC advises athletes to hydrate before, during, and after activity, rest in the shade or air conditioning, and stop immediately if they feel faint or weak. Parents should be aware of the red flags: confusion, dizziness, nausea, headache, or cessation of sweating can signal a medical emergency. 

The University Interscholastic League now recommends using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to guide outdoor practices and marching sessions statewide, with specific thresholds for modifying or canceling activities and requirements for rapid cooling resources on site.

Ask your coach or band director what WBGT thresholds your program uses, where cold-water immersion equipment is located, and how they handle acclimatization during the first two weeks of practice. 

Hydration is critical. Water is typically sufficient for most practices; plan regular breaks and start the day well hydrated. If a coach or league ignores basic heat protocols and your child suffers heat illness, you may have legal options to hold the responsible organization accountable for negligent safety practices.

Our Corpus Christi injury lawyer team can evaluate the facts and advise you on the next steps.

Bullying and Cyberbullying: Know Your Rights Under Texas Law

Texas Education Code § 37.0832 requires every district to implement bullying prevention policies and procedures. The law defines bullying broadly to include a single significant act or a pattern of acts that exploit a power imbalance and cause harm, create an abusive educational environment, substantially disrupt school operations, or infringe on the victim’s rights.

Cyberbullying is expressly included. Schools must take reports seriously and follow state minimum standards for prevention and intervention.

Action Steps for Families

• Review your district’s code of conduct and reporting channels. Save screenshots or messages that show cyberbullying.
• Report concerns promptly to campus administration, and follow the district’s procedure for formal complaints.
• If bullying contributes to an injury or a school fails to follow required procedures, speak with counsel about your options to protect your child and secure appropriate remedies. 

The new student device restrictions under HB 1481 may also reduce some online conflicts during the school day, but after-school supervision and open communication at home remain essential. 

Special Focus for Younger Children

Elementary students are still learning hazard awareness. A few small habits can dramatically cut risk:

• Hand-off routine: At drop off, unbuckle and exit curbside. Never let children step into traffic to reach a door or backpack.
• Visibility: Attach a small ID tag inside the backpack and teach your child to find a uniformed adult or teacher if separated.
• Car seats and boosters: Check fit after every growth spurt and keep kids in the back seat through at least age 12. When in doubt, consult a certified technician at a local safety seat clinic. Texas public health agencies provide guidance and events for inspections. 

If your child is injured due to unsafe play equipment, inadequate supervision, or defective products, our child injury lawyer in Texas can investigate potential claims against the responsible school, contractor, or manufacturer. We regularly help families secure resources for medical care and long-term support after serious injuries. 

What to Do if an Injury Happens

Even the best planning cannot eliminate all risk. If your child is hurt on the way to school, on campus, or at a school activity, take these steps to protect their health and your legal rights:

1. Get medical care immediately. Follow through with all recommended diagnostics and keep copies of discharge instructions, imaging, and prescriptions.
2. Report the incident in writing. Notify the school or supervising organization and ask for an incident report. For bus or traffic incidents, request the police report number.
3. Document everything. Photograph the scene, the hazard, and the injuries. Save receipts and track missed work.
4. Do not sign broad releases or give recorded statements to insurers before you understand your rights. Insurers often push for quick statements and medical authorizations that can limit your recovery. Our team regularly manages these communications to protect families. 
5. Speak with an attorney early. Evidence in school and traffic cases can be time sensitive, from bus camera footage to maintenance logs. A prompt investigation can make the difference in proving negligence and securing full compensation.

As a personal injury attorney in Corpus Christi, TX, we handle car, bus, pedestrian, premises, and product cases. We know how to navigate school district procedures and notice requirements, identify all liable parties, and build the strongest case possible for your family. 

Build a family Safety Plan You Will Use

Weekly safety reset: Choose one evening each week to revisit plans for bus stops, car lines, and after-school activities.

Shared calendar: Put pickup times, practice locations, and emergency contacts in a shared calendar with location alerts.

Practice drills: Walk or bike the route with younger children the weekend before school starts, and redo the route if construction or traffic patterns change midyear.

Device expectations: Align your home rules with district policy for the new statewide device restrictions, and prepare your child with a plan for emergencies that does not rely on texting during the school day. 

How Bandas Law Firm Can Help

When the worst happens, you deserve an advocate who will fight for accountability and the resources your child needs to heal. At Bandas Law Firm, P.C.:

• We represent injured Texans on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you
• Our team has extensive experience in motor vehicle, commercial vehicle, and complex injury cases, including claims involving children.
• We are committed to keeping clients informed and empowered throughout the process.

If you need a Corpus Christi accident lawyer, we are ready to listen and help you understand your options. Our work includes car and bus crashes, unsafe school-zone incidents, dangerous products and equipment, and serious birth and pediatric injuries. 

Quick-reference checklist for families

• Obey school-zone phone restrictions and stop for school buses. Teach kids the bus “SAFE” rules. 
• Keep backpacks light and well fitted. Aim for 5 to 10 percent of body weight.
• Require helmets for biking even if not mandated in your city.
• Review teen driver limits on passengers, curfew, and device use. 
• Ask coaches and band directors about WBGT thresholds, cooling plans, and hydration breaks.
• Know your district’s bullying reporting process and keep records.

Protect Your Kids This School Year

Safety is a team effort. Families, schools, and drivers all share responsibility for protecting students in classrooms, on sidewalks, at bus stops, and on practice fields. We hope these tips help your family start the school year with confidence. If someone’s negligence causes harm, our Corpus Christi injury lawyer team is prepared to investigate, hold wrongdoers accountable, and fight for the compensation your child deserves.

If you have questions about a specific incident or want to discuss a potential claim, contact Bandas Law Firm, P.C. We are here to help.