Skip to content 
Accident At School Claim Solicitors
Find out the eligibility criteria for making an accident at school claim and what services our solicitors offer to support clients.
£100 million in compensation
Accident At School Claim Solicitors
Find out the eligibility criteria for making an accident at school claim and what services our solicitors offer to support clients.
AS SEEN ON
When you or your child experiences an accident at school, it can be an extremely stressful situation. Since schools have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment, it can come as a shock when an incident occurs. In such circumstances, you may be able to make an accident at school claim for yourself or on behalf of your child if injuries have been caused by the school’s failure to follow legally required health and safety standards.
Key Takeaways
- Schools are responsible for performing risk assessments, ensuring pupils are sufficiently supervised, and providing adequate training for staff
- Claims often arise because of faulty playground equipment, unmarked spillages or other hazards, a lack of school maintenance, or inadequate supervision
- If your child has been injured in a school accident, you may be able to pursue compensation on their behalf since individuals under 18 cannot claim by themselves
- Staff members and visitors can also pursue compensation for any injuries resulting from the negligent actions of a school
- Our No Win No Fee solicitors have extensive experience supporting clients in accident at work and public liability claims for school injuries
To check whether you have valid grounds to seek compensation, you are welcome to speak with one of our friendly advisors. They have handled many claims of this nature and understand that you want straightforward answers. After speaking with them, you may be given the chance to proceed with one of our specialist personal injury solicitors. You can rely on our solicitors to offer you legal insight that is based on years of training and experience. Having the guidance of an expert who understands the requirements of a school accident claim can make your experience much easier, so why wait to enquire?
- Call the team on 0151 375 9916
- Enquire online
Can I Make An Accident At School Claim?
You can make an accident at school claim for yourself or for your child if injuries have been sustained due to a school’s negligent actions or failures to act. A valid case must meet all 3 of the following criteria:
- A duty of care was owed: Schools have a duty of care towards the safety of pupils, employees, and visitors. For instance, under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, schools must take all reasonably practicable measures to ensure the health and safety of pupils and other non-employees per Sections 3 and 4. This duty applies to all school-authorised activities, including off-site field trips and extracurricular clubs.
- The school breached their duty: Breaches occur when a school fails to meet its legal requirements. Examples include providing inadequate supervision during off-site trips, failing to maintain playground equipment, or neglecting to address leaking roofs or other known hazards.
- This caused harm: It is necessary that you or your child experienced some form of injury directly due to the school’s breach of duty. These injuries commonly include fractured bones, soft tissue damage, and concussions, but any physical or psychological harm can be claimed for if it results from the breach.
Will I Need To Claim For A School Accident On Behalf Of My Child?
Yes, you will need to claim for a school accident on behalf of your child, as those under 18 cannot pursue compensation without an adult acting on their behalf. You would do so by becoming a litigation friend, a role that allows you to handle various aspects of the claims process for them.
Staff Accident At Work Claim
Schools can also be liable for injuries sustained by staff members in workplace accidents. This is because schools have a legal duty as employers to take reasonable actions to ensure the health, wellbeing, and safety of staff, as outlined by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Therefore, schools need to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of all staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, caretakers, and dinner ladies. This duty includes providing appropriate, role-specific training and carrying out regular risk assessments. Employees may be able to seek compensation if they are injured as a result of a school’s failure to comply with workplace health and safety legislation.
Claiming For Accidents When Visiting A School
Those visiting schools, including parents and legal guardians, are owed a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This legislation requires the occupier controlling a public space, typically a local authority or academy trust in the case of schools, to implement practical measures to keep visitors reasonably safe. These measures can include signposting documented hazards in reception areas or making sure walkways are adequately maintained. If you are injured because of a failure to keep you reasonably safe when visiting, you may have grounds to make an accident at school claim.
To see whether you can seek compensation as a parent, visitor, or staff member, you are welcome to speak to our advisors. They can also explain how the process works when making a claim on behalf of a child. You may have the chance to work with one of our expert personal injury solicitors, who have extensive experience providing tailored, family-focused support to clients.
What If An Accident Occurred In School Care But Not On The Premises?
If an accident occurred in school care but not on the premises, such as at a sporting event, there may be grounds to seek compensation if your child was injured because of the school’s negligent actions. Even when incidents take place off-site, schools may be liable for injuries because the duty of care they owe to safeguard students extends to all authorised activities. This includes carrying out risk assessments and providing appropriate monitoring for field trips, including those to museums and public parks.
For example, your child’s school may have failed to assign enough staff to a class trip to an art gallery, leaving students without adequate supervision. In this scenario, you may be able to claim compensation on behalf of your child for any resulting injuries.
All schools are required to have a clearly defined health and safety policy that outlines their duties for off-site activities. Parents can request a copy of this document to determine whether a school adhered to its processes for educational visits.
You are also welcome to speak with our advisors regarding schools’ responsibilities when children are on school trips. It is not always clear whether a breach has occurred, so confidentially discussing the details of your child’s accident with our enquiries team may offer some clarity.
Authorised, Regulated & Trusted by Thousands
What Accidents Might Occur At School?
Slips on unmarked hazards in toilets, trips in poorly maintained corridors, and falls from faulty playground equipment are common accidents that might occur at school. See below for detailed scenarios showing how such incidents can lead to injuries and valid school accident claims:
- Trips: A pupil walks through a computer room and trips over a loose charging cable trailing across a walkway. The failure to properly secure the cabling results in the student spraining their ankle and fracturing their wrist due to the impact of the fall.
- Supervision: No staff member is assigned to supervise pupils in the playground. This leads to a student suffering a concussion when they fall while trying to climb a fence.
- Slips and falls: While heading into your child’s school to pick them up, you slip on a wet patch in the main corridor. There has been a persistent leak for days, but the school has failed to cordon off the area or post a wet floor sign to warn of the hazard. The resulting fall leaves you with a broken leg.
- Faulty equipment: You report a faulty desk chair to the school where you work as a teacher. Despite the chair posing a clear risk, no action is taken to fix or replace it. The chair later collapses beneath you, causing you to injure your back.
Every school accident has its own unique circumstances. Speak to our team to share your situation and see whether there is a case to pursue school injury compensation.
Examples Of Injuries Sustained After School Accidents
Injuries that people often experience after school accidents include fractured bones, soft tissue damage and permanent scarring from burns. In addition, school accidents often result in:
- Sprains and strains
- Head injuries and brain damage
- Psychological harm (such as an anxiety disorder)
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations and dental injuries
- Spinal injuries, which may result in paralysis
- Slipped or herniated discs
Whether the school accident resulted in minor or serious injuries, find out how to claim compensation in your family’s specific circumstances. You can explain the nature of the injuries to one of our advisors to learn how the compensation can reflect both physical and psychological harm.
We pride ourselves
on providing the best service
possible for our clients.
We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible for our clients.
How Much Accident At School Compensation Could Be Awarded?
The amount of compensation that you could be entitled to when making an accident at school claim will depend on the mental, physical and financial consequences of the accident. The first part of the award to consider is general damages. This head of claim compensates for the suffering and pain caused by the injuries.
Various other factors come under general damages. For instance, your child’s future quality of life and educational prospects may be permanently impacted by a traumatic brain injury. Similarly, you or your child may be unable to take part in sports or everyday activities like cleaning or going to the shops.
During the assessment of general damages, a legal professional may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a text that outlines compensation brackets for different types and severities of harm.
We have outlined some figures taken from the JCG below, which you may find relevant. However, we must make it clear that these figures are not a guarantee of your school injury compensation. This is due to the fact that compensation is calculated on a case-by-case basis. Each claimant has a unique experience of their injuries and how this impacts their life.
In addition, the highest-valued entry has not been sourced from the JCG.
| Type & Severity Of Harm | Compensation Guideline Figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple instances of harm causing financial losses | Up to £1,000,000+ | Special damages may account for lost earnings, rehabilitative care, and the cost of private educational assistance |
| Brain- very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | The impacted party will require full-time nursing care due to having double incontinence, limits of language functioning and no to little meaningful engagement with their surroundings |
| Neck- severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 | There will be incomplete paraplegia where there is restricted or no neck movement despite the person wearing a collar for 24 hours of the day for multiple years |
| Arm- severe | £117,360 to £159,770 | Although amputation was not required, they are little better off than if the arm had been removed |
| Back- severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 | This could apply to soft tissue injuries, disc lesions or fractures of the vertebral bodies/discs |
| Ankle-severe | £38,210 to £61,090 | There will be an extensive period of treatment with significant residual disability |
| Wrist- significant permanent disability | £29,900 to £47,810 | Some useful wrist movement will remain |
| Leg- less serious (i) fractures with incomplete recovery or soft serious soft tissue injuries | £21,920 to £33,880 | After a fracture, a person may have a defective gait and/or metal impact. Soft tissue injuries may impact one or both legs with nerve damage and/or functional restrictions |
| Shoulder- serious | £15,580 to £23,430 | Damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus and shoulder dislocation resulting in pain and other symptoms |
Can Accident At School Claims Compensate For Financial Losses?
Yes, accident at school claims can compensate for financial losses that arose due to the injury. Depending on whether you or your child was injured, the following costs may be added to the claim:
- Lost income due to time taken off work to recover or look after your child
- Medical expenses required to treat the school accident injuries
- The costs of travelling back and forth for medical appointments
- Hiring a specialist to help with your child’s studies if they cannot attend school because of their injuries
- Professional care costs required to assist you at home
- Expenses related to home adjustments, as there may be a need to have handrails, wet rooms, and other features installed to make it easier to live with the injuries
In order to recover such losses, it will be necessary to give evidence. This can include pay slips, bank statements, receipts and invoices.
Can The Parents Of An Injured Child Claim Compensation From A School?
Yes, the parents of an injured child can claim compensation from the school if they have suffered related financial losses. Parents often have to bear the financial impact of a child’s injuries, especially when they take time off work to care for them. This is an expense that can be added to the claim.
It is important to note that a child’s compensation is generally paid into a Court Funds Office account. Once the child turns 18, they are given access to the money. Should the parents require money for reasons that are in the interest of the child, they can apply to the court for payments from this account.
Making an accident at school claim can seem complicated. Therefore, you may find it beneficial to contact our advisors for a free case assessment. By discussing the specifics of your case, you can see what personal injury compensation might cover. There is no obligation to start proceedings after your enquiry, so don’t worry about making a decision if you feel hesitant. You may be connected to a solicitor who knows how to efficiently navigate the legal system and get the support your family deserves.
What Is The Process For Claiming After A School Accident?
The process for claiming after a school accident primarily involves gathering evidence to demonstrate the school’s liability for an injury. You may be wondering how exactly to do this, as gathering evidence can seem daunting. Read below for a straightforward explanation breaking down the steps central to the legal process.
Get Medical Help
Your first priority should be treating the injuries, regardless of whether you or your child was the one harmed in the school accident. It may be necessary to visit urgent care, a GP, a therapist, or a specialist paediatrician.
While receiving appropriate care is the main goal, this step also creates an official record that can serve as valuable medical evidence. A copy of these records can be used to strengthen an accident at school claim, if one is pursued later.
Start Collecting Evidence
It is a good idea to start gathering evidence as soon as possible, as this may make things easier for your family when navigating the school accident claims process. Key examples of useful evidence include:
- Photos of visible injuries or hazards in the school, such as untidy walkways or faulty equipment
- CCTV footage, if the school has security cameras
- Contact details of witnesses, including teachers and parents. A solicitor can use this information to obtain eyewitness statements
The stronger your evidence, the better your chances of getting compensation.
Make A Report Of The Incident
The school is required to report certain injuries and incidents involving pupils and others on its premises to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It should also log any incident in an accident book. Securing a copy of this can then bolster your school accident claim.
Record The Experience
You should keep a written record of how the injuries have affected you or your child. This is useful when recalling events during the claims process. Therefore, you may want to document:
- Pain levels associated with the injuries
- Any medication, treatments and medical appointments that you or your child need
- The emotional impact on your family
- Expenses related to the school injuries, such as travel for medical appointments
- Lost earnings due to time taken off work for your own injuries or to care for your child
- Time that your child has had to take off from school
Having a record of the personal effects of the school injuries can be extremely helpful during the claims process.
Learn More School Accident Claims
After getting the medical help that you need, you may want to start thinking about making a compensation claim. You don’t have to spend hours researching online, as our advisors can give you the straightforward answers you need. Get in touch to discuss:
- Any questions you have about making an accident at school claim
- What school injury compensation can cover
- How a No Win No Fee arrangement works
- What one of our solicitors can do to support you
Check How Long You Have To Claim
There is a typical time limit of 3 years when it comes to starting an accident at school claim. This is dated from the incident and is established by the Limitation Act 1980. However, children under 18 cannot pursue compensation for themselves. Therefore, the time limit will not apply until they turn 18. You can seek compensation on their behalf by acting as a litigation friend while the time limit is suspended.
You can get in touch with our advisors to confirm this time limit and any other details of the claims process that you are unsure of. Contact them today to confirm your interest in making an accident at school claim with one of our experienced solicitors.
Claiming For An Accident In A School With JF Law
When making an accident at school claim with a solicitor, you want to know that you will be supported. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of working with one of our solicitors at JF Law.
Why Make A School Accident Claim With Our Solicitors?
Our solicitors have already secured over £80 million in compensation for claimants so far, meaning that they have a proven record of success. They will bring decades of combined experience to the handling of your case. Their expert legal services include:
- Identifying how you can prove that the school was liable for the injuries
- Connecting you with a specialist who could help with the recovery process (such as a child psychologist or physiotherapist)
- Outlining key legal terms
- Explaining the role of a litigation friend and how your child’s compensation would be protected
- Arguing for the maximum compensation value to be paid so that the injuries and financial losses are accounted for
Can I Make An Accident At School Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you can make an accident at school claim on a No Win No Fee basis with one of our solicitors through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that the solicitor can work on the case without charging service fees for their work at the following stages of the legal process:
- Before the school accident claim is made
- As the case progresses
- If compensation is not awarded
Should personal injury compensation be received for the accident at school claim, a success fee will be owed. This is a percentage of the compensation that the solicitor takes. There is a legally binding cap on this percentage, so you can rest assured that the majority of the compensation will remain with you.
Contact JF Law To Begin A Claim
In order to find out whether you qualify to make an accident at school claim, all you need to do is contact one of our advisors. This allows you to ask any questions you have about the claims process, get an estimate of your potential payout and confirm how exactly our solicitors support claimants at every stage. Why wait any longer to access free advice offered no strings attached?
- Call the team on 0151 375 9916
- Enquire online
Learn More
Read our other guides on personal injury claims:
- Find out how to claim for an accident on public transport
- Learn about leisure centre claims
- Visit our guides on claims against local authorities and councils
External resources:
- Read the HSE advice for health and safety in schools
- Visit the health and safety information provided by the National Education Union
- Learn about administering first aid from the NHS
Thank you for reading this guide on how to make an accident at school claim.
Contact Us
Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
All calls are free and there’s no pressure whatsoever to proceed with a compensation claim.
If you write to us, we aim to respond within an hour or two, and no more than a few hours.
Request a Callback