Schools, colleges and nurseries have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to provide a safe environment for children, teachers and other employees, parents and other visitors to the school. They are not expected to prevent every minor mishap that a child experiences as they go through school, but they are required by law to reduce the risk of injury from accidents that reasonably can be foreseen.
Where the school, its staff or contractors fail to comply with safety standards and guidelines or their negligence results in serious injury, the injured child or adult may be entitled to claim compensation.
Children may not recognise hazards or danger. The younger the child, the greater the responsibility on the school to keep them safe. This applies whether they are in class, in the playground, on the sports field or out and about for sports events, after-school clubs or school trips.
Children are also vulnerable to accidents on, around or involving school transport, in carparks, drop-off and pick-up zones, or whilst walking, cycling or crossing roads within the school grounds or outside the school gates. Where the accident takes place outside school, the responsibility may lie with another organisation or driver. Drivers are expected to take extra care around schools and be aware of children walking, running or cycling into the road.
School injury claims are not limited to children. Employed adults, such as teachers, parents or other visitors who are injured as a result of dangerous premises and equipment, poor health and safety practises, or negligence of other staff at the school may be entitled to claim compensation.
Boyes Turner’s personal injury lawyers have over 20 years’ experience of helping injured children and adults rebuild their lives after serious injury, through claims for compensation. Our clients benefit from:
- free, confidential advice to get started, when considering making a claim;
- no win no fee (conditional fee agreement) funding for the claim;
- early, funded immediate needs assessments by experienced case managers;
- personalised rehabilitation;
- interim (advance) payments to pay for urgent needs and ease financial hardship;
- educational support (SEN);[node:summary]
- help with specialist equipment, care and support;
- where necessary, adapted accommodation.
Support for the child and their family after an accident
We have helped countless families obtain the help they need to ensure that their child’s home environment, education and care meets their needs after an accident results in disability. Client families who have trusted us to help them through these difficult times often tell us that it was our caring, professional and personal support that carried them through.
We understand the physical, practical, emotional and financial challenges that parents face when their child needs extended hospital treatment followed by changes to homelife, daily activities and school. Our client families can count on our experience to help them gain access to early financial help, individualised rehabilitation, expert support with home adaptations, equipment and care needs and specialist education. Our support continues through our deputy and personal injury trust services, ensuring that where long-term financial provision is needed, our clients’ compensation money is both protected and accessible to meet their needs.
Accidents involving children are always distressing for their families. In some circumstances traumatic or shocking accidents may also cause psychological injury to a witnessing parent. Our compassionate team are experienced in securing treatment and financial compensation for parents or other members of the injured child’s family who suffer psychological injury as ‘secondary victims’.
If your enquiry relates to help with special educational needs (SEN) support, an EHCP Education Health and Care Plan or school placement for a child with special educational needs, you can contact our specialist SEN team here: www.senexpertsolicitors.co.uk