Sean | October 20, 2022

What Happens If My Child Slips and Falls at School in St. Petersburg, FL?
What Happens If My Child Slips and Falls at School in St. Petersburg?

When you send your child to school, you expect them to be safe. Getting a call that your child suffered a slip and fall accident at school can be a terrifying experience. 

If your child was injured while under someone else’s care, they may be responsible for the harm your child suffered. However, you have a limited time to file a claim, so do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced St. Petersburg slip and fall accident lawyer for help.

Common Causes of Slips and Falls at School 

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 6.8 million people were treated in emergency rooms in 2019 because of slips and falls. The NSC says that slips and falls are 100% preventable. 

Many slips and falls happen because of negligent conditions on the property, such as:

  • Wet or slippery floors
  • Cracked pavement
  • Torn carpet 
  • Missing or broken handrails for staircases
  • Sudden changes in flooring materials or elevations
  • Exposed wires that are not secured to walls
  • Clutter left in hallways or classes
  • Broken or worn clothing

Because schools are responsible for the safety of hundreds or thousands of people on their property, they must take great care to maintain the property so that it is safe for all visitors. Staff should also be aware of risk factors for younger children. For example, slips for toddlers are often due to being unable to tie their shoes correctly or losing balance. 

What Are Some Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries? 

When a kid falls, injuries can be severe because children are still growing, and bones may not be as strong as adult bones. 

Common injuries involved in slip and fall accidents include:

These injuries may require extensive and expensive medical care, including emergency room treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up visits, and more. If your child’s slip and fall was due to the school’s negligence, you may have a right to be compensated for the harm you and your child have suffered. 

Schools have a duty to provide a safe environment for students in their charge and to supervise them properly. If they fail to uphold this duty, they may be held responsible for the harm that they cause. 

However, legal claims regarding slips and falls at school and other cases involving governmental entities like school districts are often more complicated. The legal principle of sovereign immunity generally prevents lawsuits and a finding of legal liability against government agencies. However, Florida law specifically waives sovereign immunity in cases involving negligence. 

A school may be negligent in causing a slip and fall if it failed to fix a hazard on the property and a student was injured because of the hazard. Property owners are expected to inspect the property for possible dangers and promptly correct them. Children are particularly vulnerable to injury because they may not recognize hazards as easily as older people. They depend on responsible adults to care for them and prevent them from being harmed. 

If your child was injured in a slip and fall accident, you have the right to hold the negligent school accountable for its actions. You can seek compensation for the medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you and your child sustained because of the accident. However, you have a limited time to act and provide legal notice to the school of your claim. Reach out to an experienced St. Petersburg slip and fall accident attorney for help with your claim.

Contact Our Slip and Fall Law Firm – Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys

Contact one of our St. Petersburg slip and fall lawyers at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys and schedule a free case review today.

Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys
700 7th Ave N Suite B
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 933-0015