When we send our children off to school, we trust that the school employees will keep them safe. In New York, schools are responsible for acting “in the place of the parent” when children are in their care. You never want to get that phone call that your child has been injured at school. Whether on a playground or in a classroom, children get injured and sometimes the school or a school employee is responsible for that injury.
Premises Liability
Schools have a responsibility to keep their facilities reasonably free from any dangers. Sometimes schools don’t maintain their premises adequately, and students get injured. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year approximately 200,000 children are treated in emergency departments for playground-related injuries. Playgrounds that are not adequately maintained can be extremely dangerous for children. Other conditions in the school that can be dangerous for children include:
- Torn carpeting
- Snow and ice
- Debris left in walkways
- Broken staircases
- Loose floorboards
- Broken gym equipment
- Broken fire alarms
Negligent Supervision
One of the most common causes of injury to children at school is negligent supervision. Teachers and other school employees have an obligation to properly supervise children at all times to ensure that they don’t get injured or injure other students. Anyone who has ever cared for a child knows that even the slightest lapse in attention can lead to disaster. If a child is negligently supervised, they can become the victim of:
- Assaults by another student
- Sports injuries
- Injuries on field trips
- Abuse from other adults
- Student leaving campus
- Inadequate campus security policies
- Failure to seek medical treatment
Public School Injuries
School accident claims can be complicated due to the potential parties involved. In order to hold a New York City public school liable for injuries your child has sustained, a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days of the injury. Therefore it is very important to act as quickly as possible if your child has been injured at school.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If your child has been injured at school, you should have an experienced personal injury attorney evaluated your case. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured children. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.