A school is supposed to be a place where your child is safe. But just as with everywhere else you can go, accidents happen – especially when children are around.

When kids get hurt at school, whether in the classroom, the hallways, the gymnasium, or the playground, sometimes dismissing it as kids being kids just doesn’t cut it. This is especially true if the accident occurred because of the negligence of a responsible adult.

If your child gets hurt on school property due to the action – or inaction – of someone who was supposed to be responsible for their safety, you may have a case to pursue legal action. Here is what you need to know about the path forward if your child gets hurt at a Minnesota school and who can be held responsible.

Common Minnesota School Injuries

Children are always on the go, and parents know they love to play. Sometimes, however, that play can lead to injury, ranging from minor to quite severe. The most common injuries suffered by children at school include:

Sprains and Strains

Probably the most common injury for children, sprains and strains happen frequently in schools. Usually, however, kids quickly heal from these types of problems and can be back on their feet in no time.

Dislocations of Joints

To prevent permanent damage, you have to treat dislocated joints immediately. In some cases, the dislocation can be severe enough to warrant rehabilitation for quite some time.

Bruises and Cuts

Bruises are minor, but cuts can become serious fast. A deep cut can cause damage to the tissue underneath, sometimes severing tendons or ligaments in the process. Cuts also risk infection, so they have to get treated fast.

Fractures

Children tend to fall frequently. Sometimes, those falls can lead to broken bones. If it’s a clean break, they can be taken to the hospital and patched up quickly. But if the break is severe enough, they may require surgery to repair it, and there could be permanent damage.

Head Injuries

One of the most severe injuries anyone can sustain is an injury to the head that impacts the brain. These kinds of injuries can impact a person for life.

While some of these injuries may not seem severe initially, medical bills can pile up quickly, burying you under a mountain of medical debt before you know it. If you need help covering those expenses, pursuing legal action is vital.

What Should Minnesotans Do?

If your child gets injured at school, the first thing to do is give them medical attention. Next, you need to talk to the school and your child to find out what occurred.

Ask for the details of the accident. Be on the lookout for any inconsistencies in the story. After you’ve gathered all the information, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Who Can Minnesotans Hold Responsible?

You may know that you need to file a lawsuit, but who do you file it against?

For a public school, in most cases you sue the school district. But since public schools are a government entity, it can be a very complicated legal case. For a private school, you file a suit against the organization running the school and the property owner.

About the Author:

A lifelong Minnesotan, founding partner Ronald R. Envall has spent his entire legal career fighting for the little guy, focusing on workers’ compensation, Social Security, and personal injury cases. He has been recognized by SuperLawyers as a Top Rated attorney in Duluth, placing him in the top 5 percent of all workers comp lawyers across the state. In his free time, Mr. Envall serves on the boards of several area government and nonprofit organizations and is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice, which supports consumer rights.