School-Related Personal Injuries

As summer comes to an end, children are returning to school and will once again be at risk for various types of school-related accidents and injuries. Though parents should be able to trust that teachers and other school staff will keep their children safe from harm, approximately 2.2 million children will suffer injuries at school every year in the United States. If an injury occurs because another party was negligent, you and your child deserve full compensation for any losses you suffered.

Common Types of School Injuries

 Once they leave the house in the morning, children are exposed to numerous risks until the moment they get home at night. There are three main categories of school-related injuries: injuries suffered on the way to or from school, injuries suffered during school hours, and sports-related injuries.

No matter what mode of transportation you choose for your child to get to and from school, there will inevitably be risks of accidents. If your child walks or rides a bicycle, he or she is at risk of getting hit by a car, especially if a driver fails to observe yield and school zone laws. If your child carpools with another student, they are at risk of an auto accident caused by a negligent driver. Finally, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that school buses are the safest form of student transportation, thousands of children will still suffer school bus-related injuries on an annual basis.

Once your child arrives at school, there are a completely separate set of risks of injuries. Some of these risks include the following:

• Slip and fall accidents in hallways;
• Falls down stairs;
• Food poisoning from the cafeteria;
• Assaults by other students due to inadequate security;
• Accidents involving desks, chairs, or other equipment; and
• Playground accidents.

A school has a duty to keep the premises properly maintained and free from dangerous hazards. However, many schools do not thoroughly inspect or maintain the premises due to budget limitations, deficiency of staff, or other concerns. If your child suffers injury because a school did not correct a dangerous condition, the school should be held liable for its negligence.

Finally, millions of children play school-sponsored sports before or after school. Every sport comes with the risk of injuries, and not every sports-related injury is caused by negligence. Some injuries, such as sprains or other soft tissue damage, are simply part of the risk of playing a particular sport, and are likely not recoverable. If your child suffers injury due to someone’s negligence, however, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. For example, a coach may be held liable if he or she instructs a child to participate beyond their skill level, fails to provide proper safety equipment, or fails to provide medical attention to potentially injured players.

If a teacher, coach, or other school employee acts negligently and causes injury to your child, the experienced personal injury lawyers at the Boca Raton office of Lavalle Brown & Ronan, P.A. can help you hold the proper party responsible and recover for your family’s injury-related losses.

Posted in Slip and Fall | Comments Off on School-Related Personal Injuries