School accident and injury compensation claims
Compensation for pupils, teachers and staff after negligence.
Schools, colleges, and nurseries have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to provide a safe environment for children, teachers and other employees, and visitors to the school. They are not expected to prevent every minor mishap that a child experiences at school, but they are required by law to reduce the risk of injury from accidents that reasonably can be foreseen.
When a child or adult is injured as a result of the school’s negligence or failure to comply with safety standards and guidelines, we can help them claim compensation and rehabilitation.
For help with special educational needs (SEN) support, an EHCP Education Health and Care Plan or school placement for a child with special educational needs, contact our specialist SEN team.
- Nationally recognised personal injury specialists with decades of experience
- Access to leading medical experts and rehabilitation professionals
- Proven track record of securing life-changing compensation for families
- Dedicated support from initial enquiry through to settlement
- No upfront costs and claim through a no win no fee agreement
Starting your school injury compensation claim
It costs nothing to talk to us to find out about making a school injury compensation claim for your child or another member of your family. ou can contact us for free, confidential advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor. In serious injury cases, we often visit our clients in the hospital or at their home if they are unable to get to our offices.
We will ask you to tell us briefly about the accident and injury. We will advise you about any time limits that may apply and whether we can help you make a claim. Your solicitor will discuss with you how your claim will be funded and advise, fully and clearly, how that works and what it will mean for you. We offer a range of funding options, but most of our clients’ claims are handled on a ‘no win no fee’ basis.
We will put your claim to the defendant individual or organisation whose negligence caused the injury, and we will handle all communication on your behalf. The defendant’s insurers will usually handle the claim on the defendant’s behalf and will be responsible for paying any compensation. Once we are in contact with the defendant’s insurers, we can begin to secure the necessary rehabilitation and specialist support to meet the injured person’s immediate needs whilst we proceed with the claim.
No win, no fee
No hidden or upfront costs. Clear, straightforward advice. Nothing to pay unless your claim is successful.
Over 30 years’ experience
We have helped thousands of clients claim compensation.
Fully regulated
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Accidents and injury in schools claims FAQs
What are school injury compensation claims?
The law requires schools, colleges, and nurseries to recognise and reduce the risk of foreseeable injury to children, staff, and visitors to the school. When the school, its staff or contractors fail to do so and this results in a serious injury, the injured person is entitled to claim compensation for their injury and its financial consequences.
School injury claims are not limited to children. Teachers and other staff or even visitors who are injured as a result of dangerous premises and equipment, poor health and safety (H&S) practises, or negligence of the school or its employees or contractors can also claim compensation. However, children are particularly vulnerable to accidents in and around school because they are less able to recognise hazards or danger. The younger the child, the greater the school’s responsibility to keep them safe. This applies whether they are in class, in the playground, on the sports field or out and about for sports events, after-school clubs or school trips.
Our personal injury specialists have helped countless families obtain the practical and financial help that they need to ensure that their child’s home environment, education, and care meets their needs after an accident causes severe injury and disability. Our clients can count on our experience to help them gain access to early financial help, individualised rehabilitation, expert support with home adaptations, equipment and care needs, and special educational needs (SEN). Our support continues through our deputy and personal injury trust services, ensuring that where long-term financial provision is needed, our clients’ compensation money is both protected and accessible to meet their needs.
Who can claim compensation after a school or nursery injury?
Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for children to learn and play, and for teachers and other employees to work. They must also take reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable injury to parents and other visitors to the school.
We secure compensation and rehabilitation after school accidents or negligence causes serious injury to:
- children;
- teachers and administrative or support staff;
- caretakers, maintenance staff and cleaners;
- parents;
- for their own injuries in accidents on school premises;
- in ‘secondary victim’ claims for PTSD and psychological injury from witnessing their child’s death or traumatic injury;
- visitors;
- contractors (builders, decorators, maintenance);
- multiple victims, when more than one person is injured in the same accident.
Who do I claim from in a school injury claim?
Our experienced personal injury solicitors investigate each client’s accident and injury thoroughly to ensure that compensation is claimed successfully from the correct defendant(s).
Depending on the type of school and the circumstances which caused the injury, claims may be made against:
- the local authority/council;
- academic academy;
- private school;
- another individual (e.g. a driver in a car park accident);
- transport provider (e.g. school bus company or taxi firm);
- supplier of equipment;
- contractor (such as builders or maintenance company);
- external provider of facilities, transport, services, or equipment (off-site sports, school trips);
- CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) for criminal injury (e.g. abuse or assault).
Schools are expected to have insurance in place for public liability, employer’s liability, and negligence claims for personal injury. The response to the claim and payment of compensation will usually be handled by the defendant’s insurance company. In most cases, school funds will not be affected by a compensation payment to an injured employee, visitor, or child.
Many private schools now provide accidental injury cover for pupils via a voluntary/mandatory accident insurance premium added to the annual school fees. Where accidental injury insurance is in place, we advise that parents speak to us as soon as possible, so that we can ensure that the injured child receives their full entitlement to compensation.
What accidents lead to school injury compensation claims?
School accident compensation claims commonly arise from injuries caused by:
- unsafe or poorly maintained buildings and grounds;
- falling, tripping and slipping hazards;
- exposure to asbestos;
- missing, defective, dangerous or age-inappropriate equipment;
- unsafe access to deep water, fire, or chemicals;
- lack of trained staff, poor teaching or supervision;
- dangerous lifting of heavy equipment;
- PE or sports accidents in school or off-site;
- accidents on school transport or school trips;
- unsafe medical, allergy or emergency procedures;
- assaults/abuse (on staff or students) by unsupervised students or school staff;
- RTAs (cars, cyclists, and pedestrians) on, outside or near to school premises.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident and injury, the claim may be made against the school, another organisation or individual (such as a driver), or the CICA.
What injuries lead to school accident compensation claims?
Boyes Turner’s personal injury team specialise in recovering compensation for clients with serious injury and permanent disability. When an accident or injury is caused by the negligence of the school, its staff, contractors or visitors, we help the injured child, adult or family claim compensation for the lifelong impact of severe injuries including:
- head/brain injury;
- spinal cord injury (paralysis, paraplegia, tetraplegia);
- major trauma or multiple injuries;
- amputation;
- fractures (broken bones);
- electrocution, burns and scalds;;
- facial or maxillofacial injury;
- scarring and disfigurement;
- blindness or sensory injury;
- asbestos-related disease;
- CRPS and chronic pain;
- PTSD and psychological injury;
- death.
Accidents involving children are always distressing for their families. Traumatic or shocking accidents can cause psychological injury to a witnessing parent. Our compassionate team are experienced in securing treatment and financial compensation for parents or other members of the injured child’s family who suffer psychological injury as ‘secondary victims’.
How much compensation can I claim for school accident injury?
Each individual’s claim is calculated carefully to ensure that their compensation reflects the severity of their injury and meets their lifelong needs arising from their disability. A reduced amount of compensation may be paid where the injured adult or older child’s own actions contributed to their injury.
Claims for severe injuries caused by accidents or negligence at school may include compensation for:
- pain, suffering, and disability;
- costs of rehabilitation (often secured early from the defendant’s insurers);
- case management;
- care (including additional care provided by family);
- special educational support (SEN);
- increased costs of suitable accommodation or home adaptations;
- specialist vehicles, equipment and assistive technology (IT);
- prosthetic limbs (after amputation);
- therapies, e.g. occupational therapy (OT), physiotherapy, speech therapy;
- psychological treatment and counselling;
- private medical/surgery costs;
- immunotherapy treatment (asbestos-related claims);
- future loss of earnings and pension;
- Court of Protection deputyship costs.
In fatal injury claims, depending on the circumstances, compensation may be claimed for the deceased’s family and dependants, including:
- funeral costs;
- statutory bereavement payment;
- loss of dependency on the deceased’s income and services, (childcare, housework, DIY).
Making a school accident claim
We understand how daunting it can feel to take the first step. Our specialist personal injury solicitors are here to guide you through every stage.
Getting in touch
Call us or complete our online form to receive free, confidential advice from one of our specialist school accident solicitors. We will listen carefully to what happened, explain your legal options in clear and straightforward terms, and advise whether your child may have a claim and how we can help your family move forward.
Supporting your claim
Our specialist solicitors will gather the evidence needed to support your child’s claim, including medical records, witness statements, accident reports, school records, and expert opinions where required. They will build a clear picture of how the accident happened, whether appropriate steps were taken to keep your child safe, and the impact the injuries have had on your child’s life. Where appropriate, we can also seek an interim payment to help meet your child’s immediate needs.
Securing compensation
Our solicitors work to secure the maximum compensation possible as quickly as possible. We aim to ensure your child has the financial support they need for rehabilitation, medical treatment, therapies, specialist equipment, educational support, care, and any other assistance required to support their recovery and future wellbeing.
Contact us
If you would like advice regarding a serious injury or illness affecting you or a loved one, please complete the form and one of our experts will be in touch as soon as possible.
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Client story
Teacher injured at a school fair
We secured compensation for a teacher who slipped, fell and broke his leg and elbow and has PTSD following an accident at school.
Accepting compensation offers
We strongly advise parents of children who have been injured at school to speak to our personal injury solicitors before accepting any offer of compensation they receive directly from a school or other organisation or their insurers. You risk irrevocably settling your child’s claim for substantially less than the child’s full entitlement to compensation. Claims for children’s injuries should always be handled by experienced solicitors, and their settlements must be approved by the court.
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Professionalism and continued reassurance
Our clients receive the highest standards of advice and representation and are always treated with compassion, outstanding care and understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact that life-changing injury can have upon their lives.
- We are nationally acclaimed for our personal injury expertise and the outstanding results we achieve for our clients.
- We are ranked as leading personal injury experts in the Chambers Directory and Legal 500 guides to the legal profession and are accredited for our specialist expertise by the Law Society and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
- Our integrated multidisciplinary team offers our clients a full range of specialist help with compensation, rehabilitation, SEN, deputyship, personal injury trusts and community care.
- We secure early, funded rehabilitation and maximum compensation in claims for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic injury, and provide practical support for their families.
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