School zones carry enhanced legal protections in Arizona: reduced speed limits, required stops for pedestrians, and elevated driver duties. The legislature recognized that children near schools deserve extra safeguards. When a driver violates those duties and strikes a child or adult in a school zone, the legal case for negligence is strong.
What Arizona law requires in school zones
Under A.R.S. § 28-797, school speed limits apply when children are present going to or from school, typically 15 mph in designated zones, often with flashing yellow signals. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in school crosswalks. Failure to observe reduced speed limits or to yield in a school crossing is a statutory violation that constitutes direct evidence of negligence.
Who can be liable
The driver who struck the pedestrian is the primary defendant. If poor school zone design, inadequate signage, poorly marked crossings, missing traffic controls, contributed to the crash, the government entity responsible for the road (city, county, or state) may share liability. Claims against government entities require a Notice of Claim within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, much shorter than the standard personal injury deadline. If a school district's own traffic plan contributed to the hazardous condition, that's a separate potential defendant.
What a school zone pedestrian accident claim can recover
Medical expenses past and future, lost wages or, for a child, future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are all recoverable. For child victims, the lifetime impact of a serious injury produced during formative years adds significant weight to the non-economic damages.
The filing deadline
Two years from the date of injury for most personal injury claims (A.R.S. § 12-542). One hundred eighty days for government entity claims. See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys handle school zone claims throughout Arizona on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.