As a personal injury lawyer might explain, parents often trust schools to protect their children during extracurricular events, sports days, field trips, fundraisers, and more. But when a child is hurt in the setting of a school event, legal issues immediately arise: who is responsible, and under what circumstances can a claim be made?
Duty Of Care Owed At School Events
Schools, much like property owners in general, owe a duty to protect those they invite or supervise under premises liability laws. In school settings, this duty can be even greater because schools act “in loco parentis” (in the place of parents) and are expected to prevent foreseeable harm. In the context of school events, this may mean:
- Inspecting facilities and all equipment to ensure safety regulation compliance
- Ensuring all areas of the event space are properly supervised
- Properly displaying warnings about known hazards and performing all due diligence in informing guests about hazards
When the school fails to meet that duty, and harm results, it may lead to liability under premises liability and other tort theories.
Common Scenarios And Liability Issues
If a gym floor is wet and unmarked, bleachers are damaged, or playground apparatus is defective, the school could be liable if it knew (or should have known) of the danger and did not act. Events often mean large crowds, new spaces, or shifting routines. If students are allowed to stray from monitored zones or chaperones are not trained or properly screened, a school may face liability for injuries caused by negligence in supervision.
What if a student is injured by another student, by a parent volunteer, or by a third-party vendor? The school could be liable if it had notice of a risk (for example, ongoing bullying or past misconduct) and failed to act. Field trips or events at off-site venues raise tricky liability questions. The property owner of the off-site location may share responsibility, but the school could still be liable if it failed to vet the site or supervise adequately. Public schools often enjoy governmental or sovereign immunity, which may limit or bar claims unless specific statutory exceptions or procedural steps are met (e.g., filing a notice of claim).
How A Claim Might Be Established
To hold a school (or related party) liable, a claimant often must show:
- Duty: The school owed a duty under the circumstances
- Breach: The school failed to act as a reasonably prudent school would
- Causation: That breach caused or materially contributed to the injury
- Damages: The child suffered actual harm (medical bills, pain, etc.)
As our friends at Hickey & Turim, S.C. can share, in premises liability work, courts also examine whether the school had actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition and whether it acted in a reasonable time to correct or warn against it.
Practical Steps After An Injury
- Seek medical care immediately
- Document everything: photos, witness names, school reports
- Preserve evidence (equipment, flooring, etc.)
- Review whether any waivers or releases were signed
- Consult with an attorney experienced in school injury cases
We understand these delicate and emotionally charged cases. They can help assess whether legal recourse is available and guide families through the process.
If your child was harmed during a school event, act quickly. Deadlines and immunity rules may apply. Speak with a local attorney to learn more.