We all want to believe that our children are safe when they’re at school. But, school injuries are more common than you may realize. Across the 10-year period from 2011 through 2020, an average of more than 17,500 children and teens visited hospital emergency rooms each year as a result of in-school injuries.
Most of these students are examined, treated as necessary, and released. But, hundreds each year are hospitalized, held for observation, or transferred to another facility.
Many different types of accidents happen at school, for many different reasons. Some common examples include sports injuries, slip or trip and falls, falls from playground equipment, lacerations from tools such as scissors or lab equipment, and cuts or bruises from metal lockers and other fixtures.
According to the same SafeHome report cited above, the top four causes of school-related injuries all involve sports and recreational activities. They are:
Some other common causes include stairs, exercise, floors and flooring issues, doors, furniture, and other playground equipment.
The SafeHome data shows that students in certain age groups make up a larger percentage of school injuries. In 2019 and 2020, just 10% of school-related injuries requiring a visit to the emergency department involved preschoolers. Elementary school students made up the largest sector, at 37%. Middle school and high school students split the remainder almost equally, at 25% and 28% respectively.
The five most common types of school injuries are:
These five injury types make up 73% of school injuries that send children and teens to the emergency room.
The remaining 27% includes:
Among all age groups, head and neck injuries are the most common. However, in younger children, head and neck injuries make up a much more significant percentage of injuries–74% for preschoolers and 45% for elementary school kids, compared with 27% and 28% for middle schoolers and high schoolers.
Arm injuries are second most common at every level of high school, where arm injuries and leg injuries tie for second place.
Though school injuries can and do happen at any time, some months are far more dangerous for students than others. For the 10-year period from 2011-2020, the number of school injuries necessitating emergency room care was significantly higher in September and October than in any other month. The next most dangerous months are March through May.
There are many possible reasons for the differences from month to month.
For example, September and October are typically the first two full months of the school year, meaning that there are students who are new to the classroom (or even building). The two months with the smallest number of injuries are June and July–a time when most students aren’t in school at all. And, the five months with the most injuries are all warm-weather months, when students are more likely to be outdoors using playground equipment and engaging in sports like football, soccer, and track.
There are some simple tips for avoiding common injuries, such as making sure to use proper safety equipment in any setting, from a lab experiment to sports practice. It’s also important to follow safety rules such as “no running in the halls!” and to avoid roughhousing or using playground or athletic equipment in unintended ways.
Other safety issues aren’t entirely within student control, but kids can be aware of them, take precautions, and alert teachers or other staff when appropriate. For example, debris or items on the floor, lack of clear pathways, broken equipment, and wet floors can all create hazards for students and staff alike.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to offer our kids 100% protection from injury at school. If your child is hurt at school, it’s important to know your rights and how you may be able to recover compensation.
In most school injury cases, the school or school district is the first and most obvious candidate for liability. If the school, the school district, or employees of either acted negligently and that negligence caused or contributed to the injury, the school and/or school district may be liable. But, public and private schools are treated somewhat differently.
A private school may generally be liable for negligence just like any other individual or entity. However, Ohio law offers some protection for “political subdivisions,” which includes public schools and public school districts. With limited exceptions, the law provides that:
…a political subdivision is not liable for damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to a person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission of the political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision in connection with a governmental or proprietary function.
But, don’t assume that if your public school student was injured at school, you have no recourse. First, a statutory exception may apply. For example, a political subdivision, including a school or school district, may be liable for injuries caused by physical defects in the building or grounds. So, if your child tripped on a broken school sidewalk, fell because a stair rail wasn’t properly maintained, or was injured on a damaged piece of playground equipment, you may be able to pursue a negligence claim.
Depending on the circumstances, you may also have a claim against a third party. For example:
These are just two examples of situations in which someone other than the school or school district may be liable for or share liability for school injuries. If your child has been hurt at school, you should speak with an Ohio attorney who is experienced in handling all aspects of school-related injuries as soon as possible.
To get started, call 937-222-2222, fill out a contact form, or click in the lower right corner of this page to chat. The initial consultation is absolutely free and there’s no obligation.
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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