New to College in the Rio Grande Valley? A Safety Guide for UTRGV Students

Starting college is exciting. For many students, it is also the first time they are responsible for navigating a new city, driving to campus, living away from home, managing a schedule, and making decisions without a parent standing nearby asking where they are going.

For students attending The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, that can mean learning to navigate the Edinburg campus, busy roads around University Drive and Sugar Road, off-campus apartments, crowded parking lots, rideshares, parties, and unfamiliar situations throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

College should be a time to make new friends and build your future. But knowing what to do when something goes wrong is just as important as knowing where your classes are.

Whether you are walking across campus, driving to class, living in an apartment, going out with friends, or attending an event in McAllen or Edinburg, understanding basic safety steps can help you protect yourself and know where to turn if you are injured or in trouble.

Know Who to Call When You Need Help

One of the first things new UTRGV students should do is save important emergency numbers in their phones.

UTRGV Police can be reached at (956) 882-7777, while the UTRGV campus emergency number is (956) 882-4911. For an emergency requiring immediate assistance, call 911. 

Students should also familiarize themselves with the university’s emergency alert system and safety resources before they actually need them.

The university’s CampusShield app includes features such as an emergency button, anonymous reporting, FriendWatch, and Safe Walk.

In other words, don’t wait until you’re standing in a dark parking lot with 3% battery to discover which safety app your university uses. Civilization has provided us with phones. We might as well use them.

Walking Around UTRGV: Pay Attention to Traffic

One of the biggest safety concerns for students around a university campus is pedestrian traffic.

Students regularly walk between classrooms, parking lots, housing, restaurants, and businesses around campus. In the UTRGV Edinburg area, roads such as University Drive, Sugar Road, and Schunior Street can have significant vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Pedestrian accidents can happen when:

• A driver fails to yield to a pedestrian
• A driver is distracted by a phone
• A vehicle speeds through an intersection
• A pedestrian crosses outside a designated area
• Drivers fail to notice someone in a crosswalk
• Poor lighting affects visibility
• Drivers are unfamiliar with the area
• Students are distracted while walking

A previous Brasure Law article specifically examined pedestrian accidents near UTRGV and the factors that can affect responsibility in these collisions.

Students should use designated crosswalks, obey pedestrian signals, remain aware of traffic, and avoid assuming that a driver sees them simply because they are crossing legally.

What If You Are Hit by a Car?

If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, your first priority should be getting medical attention.

If you are able to do so safely:

1. Call 911 or have someone call for you.
2. Get medical attention.
3. Take photographs of the scene and your injuries.
4. Get the driver’s information.
5. Get contact information from witnesses.
6. Document the location of the accident.
7. Report the accident to the appropriate authorities.
8. Keep records of medical treatment and expenses.
9. Avoid posting details about the accident on social media.
10. Consider speaking with a personal injury attorney if you were seriously injured.

A pedestrian has significantly less physical protection than someone inside a vehicle, so even a seemingly minor collision can result in serious injuries.

Be Careful in Parking Lots

Parking lots may not seem particularly dangerous, but they can become chaotic around college campuses.

Students are often:

• Backing out of parking spaces
• Looking for open spaces
• Walking between cars
• Driving while distracted
• Rushing to class
• Carrying bags or backpacks
• Driving unfamiliar vehicles
• Navigating crowded event parking

Large events can make these risks even greater.

Brasure Law has previously addressed parking lot accidents at large events in the Rio Grande Valley, including situations involving UTRGV graduation events in Edinburg.

If you are involved in a parking lot collision, don’t automatically assume that because the vehicles were moving slowly, nobody could be seriously injured.

Document the accident just as you would a roadway collision.

Be Careful When Getting Into Someone Else’s Car

College students spend a lot of time riding with friends. But being a passenger does not mean you have no rights if you are injured in a crash.

Texas passengers may be able to pursue a personal injury claim after a collision depending on the circumstances. The responsible party could potentially include the driver of the vehicle you were riding in, another driver, or multiple parties.

If you are injured as a passenger:

• Seek medical attention.
• Report the accident when appropriate.
• Document your injuries.
• Get information from the drivers involved.
• Take photographs if you can safely do so.
• Keep medical records and bills.
• Don’t assume that you cannot make a claim simply because you were not driving.

Don’t Drive Distracted Because You’re Late to Class

College schedules can be chaotic.

You oversleep. Your professor starts class in 12 minutes. Your parking spot is nowhere to be found. Your phone starts buzzing.

None of that makes texting while driving legal or safe.

Distracted driving can include:

• Texting
• Looking at social media
• Changing music
• Using a navigation app
• Eating while driving
• Talking with passengers
• Looking away from the road

The RGV already experiences heavy traffic, and roads surrounding UTRGV can become particularly busy during peak campus activity. Brasure Law has highlighted distracted driving and congestion as accident risks throughout McAllen, Edinburg, and the surrounding Valley.

Being five minutes late to class is inconvenient.

Being five minutes late because you caused a crash is considerably worse.

Be Smart About Parties and Alcohol

College social events are part of the experience for many students, but alcohol can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

Never drive after drinking.

Instead:

• Designate a sober driver.
• Use a rideshare service.
• Stay with trusted friends.
• Don’t get into a vehicle with an impaired driver.
• Keep an eye on your belongings.
• Don’t leave a friend alone if they are seriously intoxicated or experiencing a medical emergency.

Students should also remember that alcohol can affect their ability to recognize dangerous situations and make decisions.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What If You Are Assaulted or Become the Victim of a Crime?

Your safety comes first.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

UTRGV also provides victim services to students, faculty, and staff. Its Victim Services Specialist can provide information about resources, reporting options, protective orders, crime victim compensation, transportation needs, housing accommodations, and other available support.

UTRGV’s Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention and Title IX resources may also be available depending on the circumstances.

You do not have to figure out every available resource immediately.

Start by getting somewhere safe and contacting the appropriate emergency or support service.

What If You Are Injured Because Someone Else Was Negligent?

This is where knowing your legal options becomes important.

Not every accident results in a lawsuit. But if another person’s negligence causes you to suffer an injury, you may have a personal injury claim.

Situations could include:

• Car accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Rideshare accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Unsafe property conditions
• Serious injuries caused by negligent conduct

Brasure Law handles personal injury matters involving accidents and injuries throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

What Should You Do After an Injury?

If you are injured, don’t assume the insurance company will simply take care of everything.

Start by taking care of yourself.

1. Get Medical Attention

Some injuries are not immediately obvious.

Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and keep documentation of your treatment.

2. Document What Happened

Write down what you remember while the details are fresh.

Include:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• What happened
• People involved
• Witnesses
• Weather or lighting conditions
• Photos or videos
• Police involvement

3. Preserve Evidence

Don’t delete photographs, videos, messages, rideshare information, or other records related to the accident.

If you were injured because of a dangerous property condition, photograph the condition if possible.

4. Be Careful With Social Media

After an accident, you may want to tell your friends what happened.

Think twice before posting.

Photographs, videos, comments, or statements about your accident or injuries can potentially become relevant to an insurance claim or legal case.

It’s usually better to discuss the details of your situation privately with your attorney.

5. Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies

An insurance adjuster may contact you after an accident.

Before providing a recorded statement or agreeing to a settlement, make sure you understand what you are being asked and what the consequences could be.

Brasure Law has previously discussed why accident victims should understand their rights before giving a recorded statement to an insurance company.

How Chris Brasure Can Help an Injured College Student

For a college student dealing with an injury, the legal process can feel especially overwhelming.

You may be trying to balance:

• Classes
• Exams
• Work
• Medical appointments
• Transportation
• Rent
• Medical bills
• Insurance paperwork

An attorney can help take some of that burden off your shoulders.

Chris Brasure of Brasure Law PLLC can help investigate what happened, identify potentially responsible parties, gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, evaluate damages, and help you understand your legal options.

This can be particularly important when an injury affects your ability to attend class, work, drive, or participate in normal activities.

You Don’t Have to Know Everything When Something Goes Wrong

Being a new college student means learning a lot of things for the first time.

You don’t need to know exactly how insurance claims work.

You don’t need to know how liability is determined.

You don’t need to know what evidence will eventually matter.

And you certainly don’t need to become a part-time lawyer between chemistry and your 2 p.m. lecture.

What you do need to know is how to get help.

For UTRGV students, that starts with knowing campus resources, understanding basic safety precautions, documenting serious incidents, getting medical attention when necessary, and knowing when an attorney may be appropriate.

Brasure Law PLLC Serves UTRGV Students and the Rio Grande Valley

For students living and studying in the RGV, an accident can affect far more than your vehicle or your physical health. An injury can interfere with your education, employment, finances, and plans for the future.

If you are a UTRGV student in McAllen, Edinburg, or another Rio Grande Valley community and you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, contact Brasure Law PLLC to help you understand your legal options.

If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911 first. Legal questions can wait. Your safety cannot.