What to do when a child gets injured at school
The most important thing for any parent is the safety and happiness of their child. Sometimes it's easy to make a child happy, as an ice cream cone or a trip to the zoo can make all the difference between a good day and a great one. Unfortunately, it's not as easy to guarantee your son or daughter's safety. With each year that passes, your child becomes more and more comfortable experiencing the world on their own. While most of their experiences are positive, some can be unpleasant or even harmful. Kids are curious and are at high risk of several different types of accidents, indoors and outside. When your kids come home from school with broken bones, bruises, and other forms of injuries, you may not know what to do. The following are ideas on what to when a child gets injured at school:
1. Was it really an accident?
One of the first things to determine is whether or not the injuries were sustained in an unexpected incident or if it was intentional. Intentional injuries may occur when kids fight or due to bullying episodes. Harassment can also be considered intentional if it results in an injury. If your kid got the injury as a result of another kid at school, the child's parents should be ultimately held responsible. If the injuries were sustained in a fight, the child might have to harbor some of the responsibility as well.
2. Talk to your child.
When a child suffers an injury from someone else, he/she may not be open about the situation due to fear of reprisal. Make your child understand he/she is not in any kind of trouble for being injured. Based on your child's story, you may know about the circumstances that led to the incident and if it was preventable.
3. Seek medical attention.
Take your child to a hospital if the kid has sustained severe injuries. Be open to your pediatrician and tell your child to give an honest account of what happened while in school. The doctors are trained to look for abuse signs, violence and child negligence.
4. Speak with the school.
Let the school explain to you what happened to your child. Listen to the stories from both sides. If there are inconsistencies between the teacher and your child, then it's nice to seek an attorney's advice.
5. Contact a lawyer if you are suspicious
If you are suspicious that your child may have suffered the injuries due to the negligence of his/her teacher, then you should consult an attorney. Working with kids may be hard, especially when they fear punishments if they tell the truth. An attorney will help continue with the investigation and help you with any legal action that you should take against the school.
Injuries that are sustained at school should be dealt with as soon as possible. Before the incident becomes too difficult to remember, have the child provide all the details to the lawyers. Depending on the results and circumstances and of the incident, legal action may be necessary. As your child is under eighteen, it is your responsibility to research, locate, and consult a sympathetic and knowledgeable lawyer. An injury attorney can help you and your child along the recovery process.