SCHOOL & PLAYGROUND ACCIDENTS

Every year there are more than 200,000 accidents at schools and playgrounds across the nation. In fact, schools and playgrounds carry a higher rate of injuries than auto accidents. A list of the most typical school and playground accidents would include:
  • Cuts and Scratches
  • Bruises
  • Head injuries
  • Dislocated joints
  • Broken bones
  • Internal injuries

The Main Causes of School & Playground Accidents

Children are not as aware of their limitations and do not perceive risk as well as adults. Therefore, an appropriate amount of adult supervision is required in schools and on playgrounds whenever children are present. Generally, school and playground accidents are caused by one or more of the following:
  • Lack of supervision
  • Poor maintenance
  • Faulty design of the school or playground equipment

Lack of Supervision

Children are not as aware of their limitations and do not perceive risk as well as adults. Therefore, an appropriate amount of adult supervision is required in schools and on playgrounds whenever children are present.
The actual amount of supervision that ought to be provided will depend on a number of factors, such as the childrens ages, the amount of risk associated the activities they are engaged in, and the nature of the school or playground equipment they are using.
Lack of supervision by school administrators and playground supervisors can give rise to a personal injury claim or lawsuit if your child is injured.

Poor Maintenance

Playgrounds and schoolyards are most often outside and exposed to the elements. Wind, rain, and snow can erode playground equipment, making them more fragile and expose jagged edges, nails, and screws.
Those who are responsible for maintaining schools and playgrounds have a legal duty to perform adequate maintenance and to remove or repair any known or reasonably knowable hazards.
When your child is injured due to inadequate maintenance of a school or playground, you are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for operating and maintaining the facility.

Faulty Design

Those who design, manufacture or construct school or playground equipment have a legal duty to ensure that the equipment is safe for children to use.
Lack of adequate maintenance or the faulty design of school or playground equipment can give rise to a personal injury claim or lawsuit if they lead to your child being injured.

Who is Liable for School & Playground Accidents

Liability for school and playground accidents will generally depend on what exactly caused the injury––lack of supervision or hazardous equipment––but may rest with either of the following entities, or both:
  • School administrators and playground operators. For public schools and playgrounds, this means the local municipality i.e. the city, county, state, or in the case of playgrounds located in federal parks, the federal government. If the school or playground is owned or operated privately or is located on private property, the liable entity will usually be the owner, enterprise, church, or non-profit organization that operates the school or playground.
  • The manufacturer, builder, or designer. When a design issue or an equipment manufacturing defect leads to a child being injured at school or on the playground, those who manufactured, built, or designed the equipment can be held liable. This is the essence of product liability and will give rise to a personal injury lawsuit against any or all of the above.

SCHOOL & PLAYGROUND ACCIDENTS

Every year there are more than 200,000 accidents at schools and playgrounds across the nation. In fact, schools and playgrounds carry a higher rate of injuries than auto accidents. A list of the most typical school and playground accidents would include:
  • Cuts and Scratches
  • Bruises
  • Broken bones
  • Head injuries
  • Dislocated joints
  • Internal injuries

The Main Causes of School & Playground Accidents

Generally, school and playground accidents are caused by one or more of the following:
  • Lack of supervision
  • Poor maintenance
  • Faulty design of the school or playground equipment

Lack of Supervision

Children are not as aware of their limitations and do not perceive risk as well as adults. Therefore, an appropriate amount of adult supervision is required in schools and on playgrounds whenever children are present.
The actual amount of supervision that ought to be provided will depend on a number of factors, such as the childrens ages, the amount of risk associated the activities they are engaged in, and the nature of the school or playground equipment they are using.
Lack of supervision by school administrators and playground supervisors can give rise to a personal injury claim or lawsuit if your child is injured.

Poor Maintenance

Playgrounds and schoolyards are most often outside and exposed to the elements. Wind, rain, and snow can erode playground equipment, making them more fragile and expose jagged edges, nails, and screws.
Those who are responsible for maintaining schools and playgrounds have a legal duty to perform adequate maintenance and to remove or repair any known or reasonably knowable hazards.
When your child is injured due to inadequate maintenance of a school or playground, you are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for operating and maintaining the facility.

Faulty Design

Those who design, manufacture or construct school or playground equipment have a legal duty to ensure that the equipment is safe for children to use.
Lack of adequate maintenance or the faulty design of school or playground equipment can give rise to a personal injury claim or lawsuit if they lead to your child being injured.

Who is Liable for School & Playground Accidents

Liability for school and playground accidents will generally depend on what exactly caused the injury––lack of supervision or hazardous equipment––but may rest with either of the following entities, or both:
  • School administrators and playground operators. For public schools and playgrounds, this means the local municipality i.e. the city, county, state, or in the case of playgrounds located in federal parks, the federal government. If the school or playground is owned or operated privately or is located on private property, the liable entity will usually be the owner, enterprise, church, or non-profit organization that operates the school or playground.
  • The manufacturer, builder, or designer. When a design issue or an equipment manufacturing defect leads to a child being injured at school or on the playground, those who manufactured, built, or designed the equipment can be held liable. This is the essence of product liability and will give rise to a personal injury lawsuit against any or all of the above.
 
If your child was injured in a school or playground accident, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, physical and mental pain and suffering, and more. The personal injury lawyers at Ratsenberg & Associates, P.C. can help you determine who is liable, gather evidence to support your claim, and assist you in filing a personal injury lawsuit against those whose negligence is responsible for your child being injured.
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