Accidents in Schools Compensation

What are the most common causes of school accident claims?

As a parent, you’ll know that it’s not uncommon for children to suffer the occasional scrape or bruise. But if your child has been injured in an incident that could have been prevented by their school or nursery, you could be entitled to claim on their behalf.

Some of the most common reasons for people bringing an accident at school claim include:

• Falls from poorly maintained playground equipment
• Illness due to school food not being prepared properly
• Slips on unmarked wet floors
• Sporting injuries where there has been improper use of equipment or a lack of supervision
• Trips caused by uneven flooring or worn carpets

Schools have a duty of care towards the children, teachers and parents who visit the premises. This means they must take all reasonable measures to prevent harm. This should include regular risk assessments, safety inspections and training for staff members.

If you or your child has been injured on school property, you could be owed compensation. To find out more, get in touch with our friendly team. We’ll ask you a few straightforward questions and let you know if you have a strong case.

We know that making a claim can feel overwhelming. But you don’t need to go through the process alone, our team are here to support you:

“As a parent, I know how often kids can hurt themselves. It’s usually a case of drying their tears and helping them back to their feet. But when a serious injury happens somewhere your child should be safe, it’s a different matter entirely.

“When your child is hurt in an accident at school, there’s often a good chance it could have been avoided. And if that is the case, we know your immediate instinct will be to make everything better.

“Helping people is what we do. So when you have to be strong for your child, we can be there for you.”

- Mel Aked, Assistant Head of Legal Services

When can you sue a school for a personal injury?

Personal injury claims against schools are usually made when a child is injured on the premises.

If your child has suffered an injury, you could make a claim on their behalf as a ‘litigation friend’. This means you’ll be responsible for making key decisions about the case, meeting with solicitors and attending any court hearings.

School injury claims are not limited to children, though. You may also be able to take legal action if:

• You’re a parent who was injured while collecting your children or attending an event
• You’re a teacher who suffered an injury while at work – in these cases, you could be entitled to make an accident at work claim

To have a strong case for compensation, you’ll need to be able to prove that the school failed in their duty of care, which led to you or your child being injured. Our experienced solicitors will help you do this, so you won’t need to worry about collecting evidence alone.

How can First4Lawyers help?

We work with expert personal injury solicitors who are experienced in handling accident at school claims. They’ll work to build a claim on your behalf, gathering evidence and communicating with all the parties involved.

You might be feeling hesitant about taking legal action against a school, and this is completely understandable. But if you or your child has suffered, it’s only right that you access compensation and support.

For these types of claims, we work on a No Win No Fee basis. So there will be nothing to pay upfront and no legal fees for you to cover if the case is unsuccessful.

Accident at school claim FAQs

How much compensation will I get for an accident at school claim?

Every school injury claim is unique, which means it’s difficult to say exactly how much compensation you could be entitled to. But if your case is successful, your settlement will be split into two categories: general damages and special damages.

General damages will take into account the physical and psychological impact of the incident – both now and in the future.

The amount of compensation you receive in general damages will be based on the Judicial College guidelines:

Special damages are slightly different as they will take into account the financial losses related to your claim. This could include the cost of further medical treatment, transport to and from hospital appointments, or any home adaptations you’ve had to make.  

Your solicitor will speak to you in more detail about how much compensation you could be entitled to after reviewing the details of your case.

What happens to compensation awarded to a child?

If you’re making a school injury claim, an infant approval hearing will be held and a final compensation amount will be agreed upon. This decision will be based on all the evidence gathered, the extent of your child’s injuries and the predicted cost of their ongoing care.

We know this process can seem daunting. But your solicitor will be at your side throughout, ready to answer any questions you may have.

When a final settlement has been agreed, the compensation will be kept in a protected account until your child turns 18. But you will have the right to apply to withdraw some of this money early to cover the cost of education, care or further treatment.

You may also consider setting up a personal injury trust. This will ensure that your child’s compensation doesn’t affect any state benefits they may be entitled to receive when they become an adult.

Is there a time limit for making a school injury claim?

If you’re bringing a claim on behalf of a child, you’ll have until their 18^th birthday to start legal proceedings. After this, they will have until they are 21 to make a claim themselves.

I think I have an accident at school claim – what do I do next?

The most important thing to do after suffering an injury in a school is to seek medical attention. Whether it’s for you or your child, getting a medical opinion should be the first priority.

If you haven’t already, report the incident to the school and make sure there is a detailed record of what happened.

After this, you could consider making an accident at school claim. Get in touch with our knowledgeable team for a free initial chat. If we think you could have a strong case for compensation, we’ll ask if you’d like to be put in touch with one of our expert solicitors.

It will be entirely up to you if you’d like to go forward with a claim, and we’ll never pressure you either way.

To find out more, call us on the number at the top of the screen or fill in our quick and easy claims form today.

We’re here to help, whenever you’re ready.