Who is Liable for a School Field Trip Injury?

This coming Spring semester, your child’s school may be preparing a field trip to the local zoo or museum. These trips are educational, fun, and offer a break for students who may be a bit frustrated sitting in class. These trips away from school can also increase the risk of injury for your child. There have been cases of children being bitten at the petting zoo or falling off park rides. Parents can and have filed lawsuits against the responsible parties as well, seeking compensation to cover the cost of their child’s injury. How did the parents, however, prove who was liable for their child’s injury?

Both schools and businesses can be held responsible for a child’s injury during a school trip. Businesses open to the public can be held liable for injuries that occur on their property. Businesses are required to be cautious and minimize the risk of injury for anyone on their property. This can include:

• Maintaining and repairing equipment. If your child is injured on a defective or malfunctioning ride, the establishment could be sued for this negligence.
• Installing warning signs.
• Installing safety devices like guardrails.

Parents may also sue the school for the child’s injuries. School personnel are required to supervise their students and ensure that everyone is safe and accounted for. If your child is injured due to neglect on the part of the teacher, parents could potentially file a lawsuit against the school. However, keep in mind that if your child goes on a school field trip, the school may require you to sign a waiver and release of liability. These waivers are not always legally binding, however, so they may not be as detrimental to your case as you might initially believe.

If you need assistance filing a personal injury claim for your child’s injuries sustained on a field trip, contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldwater Law Firm. Our attorneys have years of experience handling personal injury cases involving adults and children. Schedule a consultation today.