While most children would rather play outside or spend their days on the Internet, going to school is an inescapable responsibility.
But, your problems could one day shift from trying to get your child to get up in the morning to mending an injury they received on the school’s campus. These could range from a simple slip and fall to a full-on assault by another student.
Luckily, there’s action you can take.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about how to handle an injury at school.
What Types of Injuries Can Occur?
While there are countless situations in which your child could get harmed while on school, there is only a handful that you can hold the school legally responsible for.
Let’s briefly go over a few.
Slip and Fall
This could be caused by a wet floor without an appropriate warning sign or an icy sidewalk that wasn’t properly tended to.
Loose handrails could also result in an injury that the school could be held liable for.
School Bus Accident
A negligent or poorly trained driver could get into an accident that leaves student passengers injured. Or, defective equipment (windows, seatbelts, etc.) could cause injury.
Playground Injury
This includes injuries from the broken equipment, altercations with other students, etc. A lack of teacher supervision could also be a factor.
So, How Do I Hold The School Liable?
This depends on if the school is a public or private institution.
If your child was injured at a private school, you can file a personal injury lawsuit as you normally would against a store, venue, etc.
If the school is public, however, it’s considered a government entity and has special protections against lawsuits. Therefore, you must follow specific procedures in order to make a claim against it.
You can find out more about what you need to do here.
Regardless of what type of institution the school is, you’ll still also have to prove that it was their negligence that caused the injury.
How Do I Prove Liability?
You can accomplish this in the same way as any other personal injury incident. Security camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and other situational evidence can all be used to prove that negligence was the cause of injury.
Afterward, you’ll want to contact a reputable personal injury firm like Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP for guidance on making your next step.
Knowing What to Do About an Injury at School Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about your child getting an injury at school in mind, you’ll be well on your way to making sure everything is handled appropriately.
Want to learn more about how to handle situations your kids may get in? Make sure to check out the rest of our blog!