New York School Injury Lawyer
Seeing your child injured is nearly unbearable. When that injury was caused by some other adult’s negligence, it is downright infuriating. We place heavy trust in our schools to both educate and protect our children throughout the day, and when they fail to take that responsibility seriously, they must be held accountable. The dedicated New York school injury attorneys at Dupée & Monroe are ready to help you do just that.
Our seasoned New York personal injury team has decades of experience securing damages for clients hurt in all manner of accidents and against every type of defendant. Whether you are pursuing a claim against a private school, an insurance company, an individual parent, or a city agency, we have the tools and the expertise to get you the recovery you deserve. We will investigate your child’s injury, collect the evidence to build a strong case, negotiate with insurance companies and defense lawyers, and work to secure you a favorable settlement or victory at trial. Call the Goshen school accident injury attorneys at Dupée & Monroe for a free consultation if your child was hurt at school in New York.
When is a School Liable for a Child’s Injury?
When you leave your kids at school, you are putting your trust in the teachers, staff, and school administrators. The school, in turn, has a responsibility to you to take care of your children. They are responsible for ensuring your child’s safety from the time the kids are put into their care until they are released. When your child is injured at school, the school administrators may be held liable based on a number of legal theories.
The most common types of school and daycare injury claims are as follows:
- Negligent supervision. At all times, the school is responsible for ensuring that students are kept as safe as reasonably possible. If students are left to their own devices, kids can get hurt. Schools must make sure to adequately supervise children at all times in order to prevent avoidable accidents, even if the accident was caused by another student.
- Poor maintenance/hazards. Jungle gyms, swing sets, and other school equipment must be kept up to municipal and state codes. If a school keeps a piece of equipment in poor condition, such as by failing to conduct regular maintenance, and a child is injured as a result, the school is liable.
- Gym injury. Physical education (PE) or gym class involves a lot of physical activity, which requires close supervision to avoid injury. If a PE teacher or other administrator allows students to engage in reckless behavior or otherwise fails to supervise gym activity, the school might be liable.
- School bus accidents. The school, school district, or municipality could be liable if there is a school bus accident. School bus drivers must make sure that students are safe while inside the bus as well as before and after bus rides.
- Student-on-student assaults. Kids can be aggressive, and school administrators should always be on the lookout for potential violence, whether intentional or accidental. If a school negligently permits a student to physically assault another student, the school might be liable for the resulting injury.
What Do I Do if My Child is Injured at School?
If you get a call that your child has been injured, or you show up to school and find your child in pain, there are a few important steps to take. First of all, make sure to notify the school of the injury (if they are not already aware). Tell the school nurse about the injury or an additional school administrator such as a vice principal. This will ensure that official reports about the accident are generated. Take your child to your doctor or pediatrician as soon as possible for examination, and make sure to tell the doctor that the injury happened on school grounds and/or during school hours.
After that, the legal process begins. Keep copies of all documents generated in relation to the injury, whether they come from the school, your doctor, or other authority figures. Talk to a lawyer about your child’s injury and start the investigation process to determine if you have a claim for relief. Claims against schools or other government bodies typically have a very short turn-around time. In fact, in New York, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days. The sooner you get a New York child injury lawyer on your side, the better.
Zealous and Compassionate New York School Injury Attorneys Protecting Your Family
If your child or another loved one has been injured at school in New York or Orange County, find out if you can pursue a claim for damages by contacting the dedicated and trial-ready Goshen personal injury lawyers Dupée & Monroe at 845-294-8900.
