Accidental bumps and scrapes are a normal part of childhood. However, if your child is injured at school, you may wonder about the liability of the teachers and administrators. The following guide will help you understand more about personal injury issues that arise on school property.

A School’s Duty

All schools must adhere to a legal duty of care, which means that they are required to do everything within their power to protect students from foreseeable harm, personal injury, or death. This includes providing adequate supervision on school grounds, on buses, and during school-sponsored activities.

They must also keep the school grounds safe and well-maintained. For example, if a swing set on a school playground is in obvious need of repairs and a child is harmed because of it, the school will likely be liable because it failed to take measures to repair the swing or prevent its students from using it.

Also, school officials — such as teachers, administrators, coaches, and bus drivers — are legally bound to act responsibly at all times. If their actions endanger the safety of the children, their behavior can be classified as negligent and result in liability.  

Common Causes of Personal Injury at School

While the circumstances that lead to personal injuries will vary, some common examples include:

• Playground Injuries: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 75% of injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds, most often at a place of recreation or at school.
• Slip and Fall: These types of accidents are common in schools. They often occur due to ice and snow, slippery gym floors, and broken handrails on stairs.
• Sports Injuries: While team sports are excellent extracurricular activities for kids, they also come with an added risk of personal injury. While many sports injuries are unavoidable, if a child is injured due to a lack of adult supervision or because of poorly maintained equipment, the school may be liable.

If your child has been injured and you think their school might be at fault, contact Vincent Criscuolo & Associates. This Rochester, NY-based law firm is highly experienced in a wide variety of personal injury scenarios, in addition to worker’s compensation and social security disability cases. Visit their website to learn more about the firm, and call (585) 232-3240 to set up a consultation with a personal injury attorney today.