What to do if Your Child is Injured on the Playground
Posted Friday, August 16, 2019 by Chris Thayer
All across the country children are preparing to start the new school year. If you ask children, it is not surprising for them to say that recess or other types of outdoor activities are their favorite part about going to school. Recess and free time give children the opportunity to stretch their legs, take a mental break, and be more attentive in the classroom. As much fun as the playground holds for children, there are certain risks and injuries of which parents and caretakers need to be aware. It is not uncommon for children to fall down and be injured when playing on a playground, and it is important to know the proper steps to take following that injury.
A study by the Center for Disease Control estimates that nearly 200,000 children under the age of 14 across the country are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained on the playground each year. Additionally, children ages 5 to 9 have the highest rate of emergency room visits. Within this age group, their injuries usually occur at school, not on public playgrounds. Common types of injuries that are sustained on playgrounds include:
- Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Fractured or broken bones
- Back injuries
- Joint dislocation
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Whether an injury is serious or minor, no parent wants to hear that a child has been injured. When a child is injured at school on the playground, this can be especially difficult because you are entrusting the school, the child’s teacher, and other supervisory staff to keep your child safe during school hours. Yes, accidents do happen, but that does not mean that the responsible parties cannot be held liable for their part in causing your child’s injury. A personal injury suit can be an avenue for the injured child and his or her parents to seek recovery for injuries sustained on the playground due to the school’s negligence. The following are common parties to a personal injury suits when a child has been injured on the playground:
- The school or school district
- Manufacturer of the playground equipment
- Individuals who failed to supervise the playground
The personal injury attorneys at Pivotal Law Group are here to help you if your child has been injured on the playground at school. As a parent, you expect the school and its staff to keep your child safe. When your child is injured and it can be traced back to the actions, or inactions, of someone with the responsibility to provide a safe environment, that person must be held accountable. An injury’s reach goes beyond the purely physical; medical bills, lost wages for a parent taking time off of work, and emotional trauma are just a few of the damages that might be available in a personal injury suit. Contact us today for a consultation.
(image courtesy of Aaron Burden)