When a child gets hurt at school, the process of getting them the help they deserve shouldn’t fall entirely on your shoulders. At The Law Office of Brent D. Rawlings, we handle everything on the legal side for you, including building the case, dealing with insurance companies, and fighting for full compensation so that you can focus on your child.
Our personal injury lawyer takes every case personally, the way we would if it were our own family. There are no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we win. If you want to discuss what happened, we offer a free consultation and case review with no obligations.
Schools (especially large districts) have legal teams whose job is to limit payouts. If you’re dealing with a private school, you’re up against their insurers and attorneys. If it’s a public school, the process is even more complex – California’s Government Claims Act requires filing a formal claim within just six months of the incident, well before any lawsuit can be filed. Miss that window and your case is gone, regardless of how strong it is.
Either way, trying to handle this alone puts you at a serious disadvantage. A school injury attorney can make sure deadlines are met, the right parties are properly notified, and nothing is said or done that weakens your position.
When a child is injured at school, the question of who’s responsible depends on how the injury occurred. In most cases, the school or school district can be held liable for the actions or inactions of its staff. A teacher who wasn’t supervising, an administrator who ignored a known safety hazard, a coach who pushed a student too far – the institution is generally responsible for what its employees do or fail to do.
In some situations, a third party may share liability. Equipment manufacturers can be held accountable for defective products, and in cases involving bullying or violence, other students’ parents may also be involved.
As government entities, public schools are subject to different rules and tighter deadlines. But liability still exists and can be pursued.
One important detail worth knowing: under California Code of Civil Procedure 352(a), if the injured party was a minor at the time of the accident, California law pauses the statute of limitations until they turn 18. From that point, they have two years to file on their own. This means a child injured at age 10 technically has time until age 20 to bring a claim. However, it is still worth acting promptly.
A school injury claim can cover two categories of damages. Economic damages include direct financial costs, like medical bills, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medication, and any future treatment your child may need. If the injury affects their long-term development or future earning capacity, that can be factored in too.
Non-economic damages cover what can’t be put on a receipt – pain and suffering, emotional distress, psychological trauma, and the impact the injury has had on your child’s quality of life. These are real losses, and California law recognizes them as such.
As obvious as it sounds, it’s still worth mentioning: minors cannot file claims on their own. A parent or guardian must file on their behalf. And if the injury occurred at a public school, the six-month deadline to file a government claim applies rather than the standard two-year deadline.
Filing a school injury claim is more complicated than a standard personal injury case, especially if a public school is involved. You’ll need to identify the liable parties, gather evidence, obtain medical and incident records, and calculate the full scope of your child’s damages.
If it’s a public school, you also have to file a formal government claim within six months before any lawsuit can even be filed. Miss that step, and the case is closed forever.
Insurance adjusters and school district attorneys work to limit what gets paid out. Without legal representation, it’s easy to make a mistake that costs you, like a poorly worded statement, a missed deadline, or an incomplete claim.
Getting a school negligence lawyer early protects your child’s case better than anything. We handle the entire process, so nothing gets missed.
When your child is hurt, it’s nearly impossible to think clearly. That’s completely natural! But it’s also exactly what the other side counts on. At The Law Office of Brent D. Rawlings, we handle everything with a clear head while caring about the outcome the way you do. We treat every child’s case the way we’d treat our own family’s, with full attention, genuine concern, and a determination to get what they deserve.
We handle cases of all kinds across California, including those involving a slip and fall lawyer, trampoline injury lawyer, nursing home abuse attorney, drowning accident lawyer, amusement park accident attorney, universal studios injury attorney, store injury lawyer, negligent security lawyer, water park injury lawyer, premises liability attorney, aviation accident attorney, and lemon law help, so whatever the circumstances, we have the experience to handle it.
The consultation is free, and you pay our lawyer for a child injury at school nothing unless we win. Reach out today and let us handle the fight while you help your child recover.
If you’re thinking about working with a lawyer, it’s important that you find the right one.
