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
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.