New York School and Childcare Accident Lawyers
When you send a child to a school or daycare facility, you should be able to relax, knowing that the environment is a safe and secure place for your child. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.
All too often, schools and childcare facilities lack the staffing, resources, or procedures needed to keep children safe. When failures like these occur, even just as a result of a slight oversight, it can result in terrible and lasting injuries for a child. Tragically, it can sometimes even end with fatal consequences.
When an accident occurs at school or a childcare facility, the emotional and physical toll on a child and a family can be overwhelming. At Roth and Khalife, our experienced New York school injury attorneys understand these complex situations – and we’re ready to help you get the justice you deserve.
What Types of Accidents Occur in NYC Schools or Daycare?
We have handled thousands of personal injury cases that involve children. They often fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Injuries resulting from poorly maintained or defective playground equipment
- Inadequate supervision
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Sports injuries
- Student-on-student assaults
- Incorrectly administered medication
- School bus or transportation accidents
- Injuries caused by dangerous or poorly maintained buildings
- Incorrectly assembled or secured furniture
- Issues resulting from poorly trained or unlicensed staff
If you are the parent or legal guardian for a child injured in one of these situations – or any other occurring in a school or childcare facility – don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
Legal Responsibilities
The duty of care in schools and childcare facilities cannot be overstated.
Schools and daycare facilities are trusted with children’s well-being – and they must take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. New York City has very clear and strict expectations that relate to keeping children safe.
Negligence, be it an oversight, neglect, or a blatant disregard for safety regulations, can lead to serious injuries or death. If non-compliance with safety regulations and established school and daycare policies is suspected, it provides grounds for legal action.
What Happens if I Don’t Know Who is to Blame?
Many parents and carers come to us concerned because they don’t know who is to blame for their child’s injury. They worry that this will prevent our attorneys from being able to put a case together.
If you’re in a similar situation – don’t panic.
Unfortunately, when something goes wrong, and a child sustains a serious personal injury, the person or people responsible won’t immediately admit fault. This is where a detailed investigation is absolutely essential.
Every personal injury attorney at Roth and Khalife is an expert investigator. We work hard to get to the truth – and if we reach the limits of our knowledge, we’ll bring in expert witnesses to help us understand exactly what has happened.
There Could be Many Parties Involved
In any school or childcare accident, multiple parties are typically involved. Beyond the injured child and their family, these may include:
- Teachers
- School staff
- Other children
- Administrators
- Childcare or school nurse
- Childcare employees
- School officials or board members
- Insurance companies
- Equipment manufacturers
Each party has specific roles and interests, often making the legal landscape challenging to navigate for families seeking justice for their child’s injuries.
What is the Legal Process if My Child is Injured?
Seeking the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer from Roth and Khalife begins with a free consultation. This initial meeting serves as an opportunity for us to listen to your story, evaluate your case, and discuss potential legal strategies and outcomes.
After the consultation, the process of gathering evidence and documentation starts. This information is vital for substantiating your claim and providing a comprehensive picture of the accident’s circumstances.
Our team then moves to negotiations and settlement discussions, always striving to achieve the best possible outcome for your child. If a fair settlement isn’t reachable, we’re prepared for litigation and courtroom proceedings. Our commitment to your case remains steadfast, even if it necessitates pursuing appeals and post-trial actions.
Compensation and Damages
If your child has suffered serious injuries, you are entitled to seek compensation. This can include reimbursement for a range of factors, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of income (if you’ve had to take time off work to care for your child)
In some cases, punitive damages might also be awarded to discourage similar negligence in the future. Our goal as your New York school injury lawyer is to secure fair compensation to alleviate the burdens you’re facing.
We’ll Handle Any Insurance Company Communication
If an incident or accident comes to light in a school or daycare setting, they will be expected to inform their insurance company. As soon as an incident report lands with an insurer, they will have a legal team who assesses it and decides whether it has the potential to become a lawsuit.
Insurance companies will do all they can to take control of the situation – including often contacting you to discuss a settlement. Don’t be fooled into thinking the insurer’s representatives are on your side – they’re there to minimize the financial fallout from your child’s suffering.
When you work with Roth and Khalife, we’ll handle all the communication between you and the insurance company. We’ll make sure the compensation figure that’s being talked about is based on what you and your child have been through, not what’s convenient for a big profit-making business.
Your Lawsuit Could Help to Save Lives
Many parents and caregivers we talk to feel apprehensive about a lawsuit against a child care facility or school. This is understandable – especially if you’re familiar with the people who work there – but we strongly encourage you to look into legal action.
The reason is simple. If your child’s safety has been compromised, who’s to say another child won’t be injured in the future?
Unfortunately, people don’t learn if they have a ‘near-miss’ legally. They learn – and change their practices – when they are held accountable for their actions or inactions. It is their job to keep children safe, so if they are unable to do so for any reason, then they should be made to face the real consequences.
Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society – between us; we’ll do everything we can to make sure they have a voice in a complex legal landscape.
What’s the Next Step?
If your child has been injured in a school accident and you are unsure of your next step, we encourage you to get in touch to arrange a free consultation.
A free consultation gives you the chance to decide if we’re the right law firm for you. It also gives us a chance to look at the facts and help you understand what a potential claim could be worth.
Your child’s safety and ongoing well-being are our priority, and we commit to patiently listen to your story, evaluate your options, and strive for the best possible outcome.
We are experienced personal injury lawyers specializing in school and daycare injury claims. We are driven by a commitment to justice, and we work tirelessly to ensure that the safety and well-being of your child remain at the very heart of the action being taken.