Can a School Be Held Liable for Injuries to a Child?

 Posted on October 07, 2025 in Premises Liability

As a parent, it can be alarming to find out that your child has been injured at a school or daycare. It can be even more frustrating when no one wants to take accountability for the harm done to your child, leaving you to take on the financial burden on your own. However, you may have legal recourse in the form of a personal injury claim. 

At Gruzmark Law, Ltd., we can investigate acts of negligence by schools and childcare centers. Our Northbrook, IL personal injury attorneys will seek full compensation for your child’s damages while keeping you informed of your options. In our firm’s history, we have recovered millions of dollars from successful settlements and verdicts thanks to our strong advocacy.

Documenting Injuries at Schools and Daycares

If you suspect that your child has been injured at a school or daycare, you should document the injury in as much detail as possible. A full medical examination from a doctor can help to identify the child’s underlying damage and give you a clearer picture of how much your claim is worth. Our lawyers can help you investigate different kinds of injuries, such as:

• Choking injuries

• School bus accidents

• Injuries caused by physical abuse from staff or classmates

• Slip and fall injuries

We can help you figure out where and when the injury took place so that we can start building a case against the liable parties.

How Can I File a Personal Injury Claim Against a School?

When you file a personal injury claim – whether against a school or another institution entirely – the burden is on you to show proof of negligence. This means that you must show that the other party was responsible for your (or in this case, your child’s) injuries. A lawyer can help with this process by finding strong evidence to support your claim.

To prove that the school or daycare acted negligently, you could cite witness testimony from staff, footage from security cameras, or even maintenance records. Even if your child was partly responsible for his or her injury, you may still be able to recover compensation (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).

Getting Compensation for Your Child’s Injuries from a Daycare or School

After you have built up a strong foundation of evidence, you can begin negotiating for compensation with the liable parties. In Illinois, personal injury claims can factor in multiple kinds of damages, including medical expenses and pain and suffering. Our firm can give you an estimate of the value of your claim to make sure that you are getting a fair offer for your damages.

Our attorneys can handle negotiations for a settlement on your behalf, protecting you from tactics used by insurers to reduce the value of your claim. Our lawyers have trial experience, and we are willing to go to litigation if it means helping your child make a full recovery.

Contact a Cook County, IL School Injury Attorney

If your child has been seriously injured due to the negligence of a school or daycare, our firm can help. To schedule a free initial consultation with Gruzmark Law, Ltd. today, call our offices at 847-729-7660 or reach out to our Northbrook, IL personal injury lawyers online. We speak Russian and Mongolian.