Can You Sue a School for a Playground Injury?

When you send your child to school, you expect teachers, administrators and staff to keep your child safe. And, they have a responsibility to do so. But, that doesn’t mean that no accident or injury will ever happen. Whether you can successfully sue a school for a playground injury and what compensation may be available depends in part on whether the school is public or private, and in part on how the injury occurred.

Playground Injuries at Public v. Private Schools

In some states, including Massachusetts, actions against governmental entities are somewhat limited. The Massachusetts Tort Claims Act (MTCA) allows for lawsuits against public entities such as public schools for damages caused by a negligent or wrongful act of a public employee. But, there are some differences between a claim under the MTCA and a general personal injury claim. Notably:

• The compensation available under the MTCA is limited by statute, and
• Though the general statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Massachusetts is three years, a claim against a public employer must be presented in writing within two years of the incident
• Schools generally aren’t liable for injuries caused by a third party, such as another student, even if negligent supervision played a role in the injury

A private school is not a governmental entity. That means the MTCA does not apply, and pursuing a negligence suit against the school is similar to pursuing a personal injury claim against an individual or other private entity.

When is a School Liable for Playground Injuries?

With the exception of the exclusions listed above for public schools, a school is typically liable for a playground injury if the injury occurred due to negligence on the part of the school or its employees. But, schools aren’t expected to prevent every possible injury to a child playing on a playground. Some reasons a school might be responsible for damages associated with a playground injury include:

• The injury occurred because the child wasn’t being properly supervised at the time–for example, a young child who wandered over to use equipment meant for older children while the playground monitor was distracted on their phone or had left the children unattended.
• The injury occurred because the equipment was unsafe or wasn’t property maintained–for example, there is a rusty, jagged edge on a slide or the surface under the jungle gym is unsafe if a child falls.

Similarly, the school may be liable for injuries that occurred because of inappropriate or inadequate policies. For example, the same young child in the first example might be injured falling from the same piece of equipment. But, instead of the accident occurring because a teacher who was supposed to be monitoring the child was inattentive, the school might have decided to allow children of all ages to use equipment that was intended for older and larger children.

On the other hand, the school will likely not be legally responsible for playground injuries if the school has taken all reasonable precautions.

The Bottom Line on School Playground Injuries

This example illustrates how both the public/private school distinction and the negligence aspect might play out in a playground injury situation.

Imagine that one child pushes another child off the platform top of a slide where the children are waiting for their turns at the slide. The child who was pushed sustains a broken leg.

If the slide was age-appropriate for the children, the kids were properly supervised, the ground surface was safe and the playground monitor had no prior warning that one child might push the other, the school would likely not be liable–regardless of whether the school was public or private.

If negligence on the part of the school or a school employee caused or contributed to the incident, a private school might be liable. For example, if the playground monitor saw the kids roughhousing and pushing one another on the raised platform and allowed them to continue, the school might be liable. Or, if the slide was meant to have a guard rail on the platform, but it was loose or had been removed, the school might be liable.

However, a public school would generally not be liable in this situation, since another student was the cause of the harm.

You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

If this sounds complicated, don’t worry. An experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney can explain how the law applies in your specific situation, and whether you may be entitled to compensation. You can get started right now by calling 978-459-3085 or filling out the contact form on this site.