Parents never expect their child to get hurt at school. So when it happens, you might question who is responsible and what legal actions you have available to you. A school-related injury often leads to more than the initial medical bills. Depending on the details of the injury, your child might also experience pain and suffering.
Common School Injuries
Children spend a lot of time at school, so there is always the risk of an injury occurring. These are a few of the most common school injuries:
- Broken bones
- Slip and falls
- Overheating or dehydration
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Dislocated joints
- Internal injuries
- Sprains or strains
A lot of school injuries occur on the playground. Children may fall while running, or they may fall off of the playground equipment. Other injuries can occur during physical education classes or on a slippery hallway. Not all school injuries are severe, but some situations can lead to an accident, and ultimately, an injury.
Important Steps Following a School Injury
It is normal to feel anxious and overwhelmed receiving a phone call from your child’s school that your child has been injured. When the panic sets in, it can be difficult to be logical with your next steps. If your child ever experiences an injury at school, follow these important steps:
- Ask questions: It is a good idea to quickly gather as much information as possible. Find out if it is an emergency and if you need to rush to the school or if you will meet your child at the local hospital.
- Monitor your child’s medical care: Of course, getting your child the medical care that they need is a priority. It is always a good idea to receive a medical checkup, even if the injuries do not appear to be serious.
- Follow-up for more information: Chances are, you were not able to ask every question that you wanted. Once you have ensured that your child is safe, then you will want to gather more information. Ask your child’s teacher, your child, and any witnesses who might have been at the scene of the accident, for more information.
- Determine who is responsible: Depending on your child’s injury, it might be immediately clear who is responsible. Decide whether negligence or intentional harm led to their injury. If you believe that negligence was present, then you might begin collecting evidence, like medical records or images of the injury.
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Some injuries will be minor and the result of a simple mistake. However, if your child requires medical attention and someone was negligent in their care, then that person should cover their medical bills. Getting injured at school can also be a traumatic experience for children. If you believe that the school was negligent when supervising or caring for your child, then you will want to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can evaluate the details of your case and provide you with guidance on the next best steps to take.
While it is expected that you will focus on your child’s recovery first, it is important to discuss your legal options with a lawyer as soon as possible. There are time limits on how long you can file and failing to meet these strict time limits can make you ineligible to collect any compensation, even if you and your family deserve it.
Contact a Weston Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Child’s Injury in Florida
Did your child sustain serious injuries due to an accident at school in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured because of a school-related accident in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Weston, Plantation, and throughout Florida. Call (754) 226-1474 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach, FL.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.