Maison Law represents students injured in serious accidents at school. Serious accidents typically involve severe injuries such as broken bones, torn ligaments, and head injuries. When a serious injury occurs, it is usually because an individual, company, or government entity was irresponsible and caused the injury.
At Maison Law, we help injured students recover financial compensation after suffering severe damages on school property. Our firm conducts professional investigations to build strong cases for our clients so they get the compensation they need.
Get the legal help you need and contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
How Maison Law Helps Injured Students in California
Serious accidents at school can come in the form of slip-and-falls, vehicle accidents, or hazardous conditions. Serious accidents often result in life-altering injuries or even permanent disability in the worst cases. Victims often don’t realize the impact these injuries can have on their lives until it’s too late take legal action. Medical bills can pile up and injuries can worsen over time. That’s why at Maison Law we pursue the maximum amount of damages for our clients.
By partnering with us, we will connect you to immediate medical resources, assign you an attorney to protect you from liability, and work to recover compensation for the following damages:
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation, therapy, in-home care, nursing care, medical devices, and medication
- Lost wages and employment benefits (if applicable)
- Permanent disability
- Reduced or lost earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Costs to repair or replace damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Negative impact on mental health
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Responsible Parties for Serious Accidents at School
The details of the serious accident will often reflect who the responsible party is. For example, if the injury occurred at a private school, then the school will be held responsible for damages. However, if the injury occurred at a public school, then the government can be held liable for causing the injuries.
The most common liable parties for serious accidents at school include:
- The property owner
- The business owner
- The government
- A contractor or subcontractor
- A manufacturer of defective materials
- Building supply vendor
- Construction company
In some cases, multiple parties can be held responsible. For example, if a serious accident occurred due to a step on a stairwell collapsing and injuring a student. The school may be responsible, but they shift the blame to a contractor who was supposed to repair it. The contractor may point the finger to a parts manufacturer who made faulty parts to fix the stairwell, and on and on it goes.
That’s where having an experienced attorney on your side can benefit you. In this scenario, an attorney at Maison Law would file a lawsuit against all three parties to not only get to the bottom of who was responsible, but to maximize your compensation as well.
Who Can File a Claim for Serious Accidents at School?
In California, a minor is considered anyone under the age of 18. Minors are not allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, they are still entitled to financial compensation for damages when caused by a school, or another party.
In order for a minor to recover compensation, an adult or legal guardian must file the lawsuit on their behalf. The adult, not the child, will have to show how the other party was responsible for their child’s injuries. However, if the adult does not want to file a lawsuit, then they can wait until their child is 18. This is covered under California’s Statute of Limitations Law.
Statute of Limitations for Children Injured at California Schools
A child’s injury case falls under personal injury law. So, much like all personal injury cases, the victim of the injury has two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. The two-year statute of limitation is covered in California Civil Code 335.1, which states:
“Within two years: An action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.”
However, if the victim was a minor, the statute of limitations will be withheld until the minor turns 18. Once the child turns 18, the two-year statute of limitations will start.
Child Personal Injury Claim v. Adult Personal Injury Claim
When a child is injured in a, they reserve the same right to compensation as an adult. However, there are key differences between personal injury claims for adults and those for children:
- Minors (individuals under 18 years of age) cannot file their own personal injury claim. Their parent, or legal guardian must file one on their behalf.
- Settlement agreements awarded to children must be reviewed and approved by a judge before they are finalized.
- Children have the right to wait until they are no longer a minors to file their own personal injury claim.
What is a Serious School Injury Worth?
The value of a serious injury claim against a school varies widely from case to case. The amount of compensation your child can receive will be largely dependent on the financial value of their losses. For example, if their injury required extensive treatment and seriously altered their life, then the value of their case will most likely be relatively high. Also, if negligence was excessive, then their claim may also increase in value. Essentially, the more severe the incident and injuries that occurred as a result of the serious accident, the more the case will be worth.
Here is a list of factors that may contribute to the value of your child’s injury claim:
- The severity of your child’s injury
- The cost of your child’s medical treatment to date
- Any special needs created by the injury
- Whether your child requires ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or therapy
- The expected long-term impact and recovery time
- Your child’s educational prospects and earnings after the accident
- Changes to your family’s quality of life post-accident
Contact a Serious Accident School Injury Lawyer in California
If your child has been injured at school in California, the Personal Injury Lawyers at Maison Law can help. Our firm will aggressively pursue all liable parties to recover the maximum amount of damages your child is owed. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action on behalf of your child. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
