The Shirvanian Law Firm

Glendale School Injury Lawyer

Children spend most of their waking hours at school. From early morning drop-off to after-school activities, parents trust teachers, coaches, and school staff to provide a space where students learn, build friendships, and participate safely in daily activities.

A 2024 study found that nearly 1 in 5 child injuries happen at school, and every year, 1 in 14 students is hurt badly enough to need medical care or experience temporary disability. Some recover quickly, but others face lasting pain and long-term uncertainty.

When your child is injured at school in a California school district, it can leave you with questions: “Why weren’t they kept safe?,” “Who is responsible for the medical bills and your child’s recovery?” And worst of all: “Could the injury have been prevented?”

At The Shirvanian Law Firm, we help families in Glendale and surrounding communities find answers when a child has been injured due to school negligence. Our skilled team works to protect your child’s rights, hold the right parties accountable, and pursue the compensation your family needs to move forward.

When Can Schools Be Held Liable for Injuries?

California schools—public and private—have a legal responsibility to keep students safe while they are in the school’s care. Under Education Code Statute 44807, staff are required to supervise and protect students.

When a school fails to meet this obligation through unsafe conditions, lack of supervision, or negligent actions, and a student is harmed, the school may be held legally responsible.

Private vs. Public School District Liability

While private and public schools can be held responsible when a child is injured, California law treats them differently. Here’s how a student injury claim might work:

Private school liability. Private schools can be held responsible under general personal injury or premises liability laws as a non-government entity. This means families can file a lawsuit if the school’s actions—or failure to act—created an unsafe environment that led to a child’s injury.
Public school liability. Because the state runs public schools, they are protected by a legal concept called governmental immunity, which limits when and how they can be sued. This can make it difficult for families to file injury claims against the district.
Exceptions to immunity. Immunity doesn’t apply when a school employee is negligent while doing their job. If their actions—or failure to act—cause a student’s injury, the district can still be held responsible.

At The Shirvanian Law Firm, our California school injury lawyers can review your case, identify where the school failed to protect your child, and help you take the next steps to hold them accountable.

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Common Causes of School-Related Injuries

Children can be injured in classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, or during school activities—often because the people responsible failed to take proper care. Here are some of the most common accidents at school that lead to injury claims:

Playground Injuries

Poorly maintained equipment, uneven surfaces, or inadequate supervision can lead to serious falls, broken bones, or head injuries. In one study, 39% of K-6th-grade students suffered harm during recess, with monkey bars accounting for the majority of injuries.

Sports Injuries

While some risk is expected in sports, many injuries are due to preventable issues, like untrained coaches, failure to provide safety gear, or pressuring children to play through pain. For 7th-12th-grade students, sports injuries are the leading type of harm in schools.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Wet hallways, broken pavement, missing handrails, and cluttered classrooms can all create slipping or tripping hazards. Studies show that 85% of elementary students are more likely to fall at school, and for older children, nearly 24% are hurt during class time.

Bullying and Assault

Physical and emotional injuries can happen when schools fail to address repeated bullying or violence. Harm may come from fights, threats, or ongoing harassment, especially when staff ignore warning signs or dismiss student reports. High school students are more likely to suffer assault-related injuries than younger children.

Bus Accidents

Injuries on school buses can result from reckless driving, poor maintenance, or a lack of supervision. Collisions, sudden stops, or unsecured seating can all lead to serious harm during transportation. Nationally, about 6% of those killed in school bus accidents were passengers.

Field Trip Accidents

Children are often injured on field trips when inadequate supervision or safety risks are overlooked. Injuries can happen during transportation, at unsafe locations, or when staff fail to keep track of students or respond to emergencies.

Exposure to Toxic Substances

Children can become sick after repeated exposure to harmful substances like mold, asbestos, or chemical fumes, especially in older buildings. These issues often develop over time and may not be noticed until a child shows symptoms. One study found that 13% of these exposures injured students or staff.

Injuries to Students With Disabilities

When schools don’t follow a student’s Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plan, it can lead to preventable harm. Injuries may result from a lack of physical support, unsafe environments, or emotional distress caused by isolation or neglect. Students with disabilities have a 52% higher risk of injury than those without.

If your child is hurt or tragically passes away due to a school-related injury, knowing what to do next and speaking with an experienced Glendale school negligence attorney can help protect your family’s legal rights.

What To Do if Your Child Was Hurt at School

Taking the proper steps after a school injury is essential for your child’s recovery and preserving your ability to sue a school for injury in California.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Get Medical Attention Right Away

Even if the injury seems minor, always get them checked by a medical professional. Medical records also serve as crucial evidence for a minor injury school claim.

2. Report the Incident to the School

Ask for a written report and keep copies of all communication. Be specific about what happened, when, and where. If the school does not cooperate or tries to minimize what occurred, take notes and gather your own documentation.

3. Speak With a School Injury Lawyer

These cases can be complex and time-sensitive. A qualified school injury attorney at The Shirvanian Law Firm can explain your rights, file the necessary paperwork, and investigate your case’s facts before evidence disappears or deadlines expire.

Filing a lawsuit against a school can be emotionally difficult for families. Working with our skilled lawyers to sue a school district gives you the support and guidance to move forward and protect your child’s interests.

How We Help Parents and Minors

At The Shirvanian Law Firm, we focus on helping families through moments of crisis. We understand how hard it is to watch your child suffer—and how overwhelming it can feel to take legal action while trying to hold everything together.

Choosing our lawyers for a school negligence claim gives you access to:

A free, confidential case review. We’ll listen to what happened, ask the right questions, and explain your legal options clearly.
Full investigation by our attorneys. We review school records, witness accounts, safety policies, and past complaints. Our team examines the environment and determines whether the school followed the law and its procedures.
Help with government claims. If your child attends a public school, we’ll handle the government tort claim process from start to finish, including meeting the strict six-month deadline.
Support in seeking the compensation your family deserves. We fight to recover damages for medical bills, rehabilitation, counseling, lost learning time, and the emotional trauma your child has experienced.

With so much at stake, you deserve a legal team that knows how to handle these cases and understands the local school systems.

Protect Your Family’s Rights After a School Injury

When a child is hurt at school, it affects more than their physical health. It can interrupt their learning, impact their emotional well-being, and burden the entire family.

These cases require care, clarity, and someone who understands what you’re facing. At The Shirvanian Law Firm, we’ve helped families throughout Glendale and Los Angeles County find answers and take action.

Call The Shirvanian Law Firm for a free consultation if your child was hurt at school. There are no legal fees unless we win your case. We will take the time to listen, explain your options, and guide you through every step so you can focus on your child’s future.

Our law offices are located in the communities of Glendale, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and Riverside.

FAQs

Can I sue a California public school if my child was injured?

Yes, but you must first file a government tort claim within six months of the incident. This is a required step before you can file a lawsuit.

What if the school claims it wasn’t their fault?

Even if the injury wasn’t intentional, the school may still be at fault if staff failed to supervise, ignored known hazards, or didn’t follow safety procedures. A qualified Glendale school injury lawyer can review your case to determine liability.

What kind of compensation can we receive?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, therapy, emotional trauma, loss of educational opportunities, and pain and suffering.

My child was hurt on a field trip. Does that count?

Yes. Schools are responsible for student safety during field trips and extracurricular activities. If the injury occurred while traveling to an event, an experienced school bus accident attorney can help you hold the school or district accountable.

What if my child was bullied repeatedly?

You may have a claim if the school knew about the bullying and failed to act. California law requires schools to intervene in cases of known bullying and harassment.

What if my child was injured while biking to school?

You may still have a claim if a school bus driver, poor traffic control near campus, or missing signs or crosswalks caused the injury. Our bicycle accident attorneys can help you determine liability and take legal action.

Additional School Injury Resources:

References:

What Is Going on in Our Schools? Review of Injuries Among School Children Across the United States

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022480423005899

Complete Health Indicator Report of Student Injuries:

https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/indicator/complete_profile/StuInj.html

Monkey Bar Dimensions Associated with Pediatric Upper Extremity Fractures Show Deviations from United States Product Safety Commission Recommendations

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338335200_Monkey_Bar_Dimensions_