Brian White | October 28, 2022 | Slip and Fall
When you send your child to school in the morning, you expect them to come home safely in the afternoon. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Children can become injured in slips and falls at school in accidents that the National Safety Council describes as “100% preventable.”
If your child slipped and fell at school in Houston, TX, contact an experienced Houston slip and fall lawyer. They will help protect the most vulnerable members of our community when schools fail to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents At School
Slips and falls can happen for a variety of reasons. Hundreds of students, faculty members, and others may traverse schools every day, so there can be any number of conditions that ultimately lead to a slip and fall.
Often, slips and falls can be traced back to dangerous conditions on the property, such as:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Missing or damaged stair handrails
- Broken or cracked pavement or sidewalk
- Ground or flooring materials at different levels
- Torn carpet
- Loose tiles
- Obstructed walkways
- Broken playground equipment
If school personnel knew about a dangerous condition on the property or failed to regularly inspect the premises to identify such hazards, the school may be responsible for the harm your child suffered.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
In the least serious cases, slips and falls result in minor bumps or bruises.
However, other slips and falls can result in serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Sprains, strains, and tears
Children with growing bodies are more likely to suffer serious injuries because their bones are not as strong or fully developed. These injuries may require your child to be seen at the hospital, undergo surgery, or require other invasive forms of medical treatment.
A legal claim against the school could help you receive the financial compensation you need to cover the medical expenses stemming from the accident.
What Are the Legal Duties of Schools?
Schools have a duty to keep their property safe for students.
This duty often requires them to:
- Regularly inspect the property for unknown hazards
- Promptly fix hazards once they are discovered
- Put up warning signs that children can understand until a dangerous condition can be fixed
- Provide adequate supervision for children at all times
When only a few teachers are watching children, they may not spot hazards, and a child can needlessly suffer injury. When your child is injured because of the negligence of a school or its personnel, you can seek compensation for the losses you suffered.
Possible Compensation in Slip and Fall Cases
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for the following types of losses you incur, such as:
- Medical expenses for your child
- Anticipated medical expenses for the future
- Property that was damaged in the fall, such as a cell phone
- Lost wages for the time you had to take off work
- Your child’s pain and suffering
An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer can explain the compensation that might be available for your claim.
Complicating Factors Involved in Slip and Fall Cases Against the Government
Legal claims involving the government, such as public school districts, are often more complicated than claims involving private parties. This is because there are often extra safeguards in place to protect the government.
For example, sovereign immunity can protect government entities from suit. While Texas law waives sovereign immunity in cases involving negligence, you can still count on a school’s legal team to raise it as a defense and to have to overcome this argument.
Additionally, there are procedural rules, notice requirements, and time limits that apply to cases involving the government. There are also limits on the types and amounts of damages that can be awarded in these cases.
These complicating factors are one reason why it is important to consult an experienced Houston personal injury lawyer for help with claims involving slips and falls at schools in Houston.
Contact the Houston Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
For more information, contact the Houston slip and fall accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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