School Accidents
You send your children to school expecting them to be cared for and protected. Unfortunately, educators, faculty maintenance and other caretakers are sometimes negligent. No wrongful act or accident should occur at school to your child. If you or your child has suffered because of a school accident, then it is vital that you contact an accident attorney.
Negligence and carelessness can happen in a school, and it can result in an accident. Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children due to school accident-related injuries. Any person injured at a school should seek legal counsel to see if they are eligible to file a claim.
Los Angeles Lawyer for School Accidents, CA
Any educative program should put priority over the student’s safety first. A faculty member’s recklessness can lead to an accident-related injury. If a person has been injured due to a school employee’s negligence, it is essential they get in contact with an attorney at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC.
A parent should never have to worry about their child’s safety when they go to school. School officials are obligated to have safety measures in place for your children. There is no reason you should pay medical costs for the mistakes of someone else. Our attorneys handle cases throughout the greater Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area and surrounding areas including Burbank, Visalia, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, Pasadena, and Long Beach.
Call (818) 459-4999 for a qualified school accident attorney today.
Overview of School Accidents in Los Angeles County
Common Causes for School Accidents
School-related injuries can occur in many ways. Some common causes in which a child may be injured at school include:
- Playground injuries
- School science lab accidents and explosions
- Gym class injuries
- Falling objects
- Sports team injuries
- Bleacher collapse
- Cafeteria food poisoning
- Slip and falls on school grounds
- Lack of security
- Lack of supervision
- Injuries due to negligent supervision
- School bus injuries
- Faulty electric hazards
- School construction site injuries
- Sexual assault and rape
- School fights
- Defective and unmaintained desks
- Defective doors
- School crossing injuries
- Field trip accidents
- Bullying injuries
Filing a Lawsuit against a School District
A public or private school is responsible for maintaining the premises in a manner that is safe for faculty and students. Additionally, a school is expected to provide appropriate training for teachers and staff. Schools must also implement policies that are designed to maintain a safe environment.
Private school claims are treated like standard negligence personal injury cases. A private school is an independent business, so the school is the only defendant. A private school claim may still be difficult, but it is still more straightforward to file than public school.
A public school district is considered a government entity. School districts are considered “political subdivisions,” and any kind of political subdivision enjoys something called “sovereign immunity.”
Sovereign immunity is when a government entity and its employees are immune from lawsuits except under specific circumstances. However, this does not make all school districts immune to legal disputes. If a school’s negligence is the reason for an injury, a claim can be filed for compensation.
Some factors that will impact the determination as to the school district’s liability include:
- Whether the injury occurred during school hours or in an extracurricular setting
- Whether the injury was the result of negligence or an intentional act
- Whether or not the injury occurred on school grounds
- Whether the activity during which the injury occurred was mandatory or voluntary
There are certain procedures that must be followed before you can file a lawsuit in court. In California, you must give written notice of your claim to the school district within six months of the date of injury. A district can reject or accept the claim. If the claim is rejected you can file a lawsuit in the state’s civil courts.
An experienced school accident attorney is the best resource for determining whether and to what degree a public school district may be responsible for injury to your child. An experienced personal injury attorney can file a claim even if the school district claims immunity.
Damages in School Accident Cases
Damages in a school accident case will vary depending on the specifics of the injury. Some damages that often include compensation include:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Compensation for anticipated continuing medical costs
- Costs of rehabilitation or therapy
- Costs of tutors or other necessary accommodations
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Additional Resources
Playground Injuries – Visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and read statistics and data regarding playground injuries. See a list of school accidents, common injuries at school, and how to prevent accidents in school.
Accident Prevention – Visit the Los Angeles Unified School District’s website and read their take on accident prevention in school. Read the school procedures on accident investigations, employee injury, and the Safety and Health Accident Reduction Plan’s regulation for safety and risk management.
Contact an Experienced School Accident Lawyer
When your child attends school, you want to believe that the school or district administration will do the right thing for your child. However, faculty negligence and carelessness can lead to accident-related injuries.
If you or your child has suffered from an injury due to a school accident, it is best that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Teachers and school faculty should have your child’s safety as their top priority. When a school does not uphold their regulations, the district should be held liable. The attorneys at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC have handled many successful school accident cases. We are familiar with the insurance companies that government entities hire and understand personal injury law.
Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC attorneys have handled cases throughout the greater Los Angeles County and Tulare County area including surrounding cities such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, Visalia, Irvine, Riverside, Long Beach, Burbank, and Fresno. We are prepared to file a claim against any Californian school district including the Beverly Hills School District, the Long Beach School District, the San Bernardino School District, the Visalia School District, the Riverside School District, the Burbank School District, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Irvine Unified School District, and the Santa Monica Unified School District.
Give your child the protection he or she needs. Getting started is as easy as requesting a free consultation right now. Dial (818) 459-4999 or schedule an online appointment today.
