Enrolling your child in school sports often comes with the excitement of early morning practices, evening games, and the usual parental responsibilities. But what happens when your child gets injured on the field or court? Many parents don’t consider who might be legally responsible—until an accident happens.
If school staff fail to maintain a safe environment for sports activities, and your child is hurt as a result, you may have legal grounds to pursue a claim.
When a student suffers an injury during a school-sponsored sports event—whether at practice, a scrimmage, or an official game—multiple parties may bear responsibility. Teachers, coaches, and school administrators all owe a duty of care to students. If that duty is breached through careless or negligent behavior, and injury results, they could be held legally accountable.
In many cases, the school district itself may be liable—especially if the injury stems from unsafe conditions on school grounds. Under California’s premises liability laws, schools are obligated to keep their facilities in reasonably safe condition. If an injury occurs because a hazard was ignored or maintenance was delayed, legal responsibility may fall on the district.
Even when the negligent act is committed by an individual employee—a coach, trainer, or teacher—the school district can still be held liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers responsible for the actions of their staff when those actions occur within the scope of employment.
It’s common for schools to require parents to sign waivers or consent forms before allowing student participation in sports. These forms typically attempt to release the school from liability for injuries that arise from the inherent risks of the sport—like a twisted ankle during soccer or a fall during gymnastics.
However, these waivers do not protect schools from liability for every kind of harm. Courts generally do not enforce waivers that attempt to excuse negligence that goes beyond the known risks of a sport.
Not every injury should be expected based on the nature of the sport. For example, a student participating in bowling does not face the same risk of head trauma as one playing football. When injuries arise due to preventable errors or carelessness, those are not risks that can be waived.
Here are some common scenarios where negligence—not the sport itself—may be to blame:
While you may have signed a waiver releasing the school from liability for normal incidents—like an accidental collision in basketball—this does hold that while schools can limit liability for inherent risks, they cannot require parents to waive responsibility for negligence or reckless behavior. In other words, you cannot be forced to forfeit your child’s right to safety.
Not all injuries are considered a normal or expected part of sports participation. For example, while it might be foreseeable that a football player could suffer a bruise during play, it is not expected that a bowler would suffer a concussion. When injuries occur due to careless or dangerous conduct, rather than the nature of the sport itself, liability may still attach—even if a waiver was signed.
Examples of negligence in school sports may include:
In these situations, a waiver will not shield the school from liability. The courts recognize a school’s ongoing duty to protect students from avoidable harm—even if that harm arises during extracurricular activities.
A school may be liable when it fails to adequately supervise students, maintain safe facilities, or train staff in proper safety protocols. The level of supervision required depends on both the activity’s inherent risk and the child’s age or experience. For instance, younger children and high-contact sports generally demand closer oversight.
In California, the doctrine of respondeat superior holds employers legally responsible for the negligent actions of their employees, as long as those actions occur within the scope of their employment. This means if a coach, athletic trainer, school nurse, or other school staff member acts negligently during a school-sanctioned sports activity, the school—and potentially the entire school district—can be held liable.
This liability also extends to failures to act. For example, if a staff member fails to provide timely medical attention after a student-athlete is injured, and that delay causes further harm, the school district may still be liable under this legal principle.
To prevail in a personal injury claim in California, Avian Law Group helps clients prove the following elements of negligence:
When these elements are established, families may be entitled to compensation.
Injuries caused by school negligence may entitle families to compensation beyond just medical expenses. Damages can include:
Each case is unique, and Avian Law Group will evaluate all potential damages to ensure full and fair compensation.
These sports involve high-impact movements, frequent collisions, and intense physical strain. Because student-athletes are still growing, injuries such as fractures, ligament tears, and concussions can have long-term consequences on physical development.
Filing a claim against a public school or district involves several key steps:
Depending on the circumstances, more than one party may share liability. Avian Law Group will investigate your case thoroughly to determine who should be named in the claim.
If your child was injured during a school sports activity, don’t assume you’re out of options. The injury may have been preventable, and you deserve answers.
Avian Law Group has extensive experience holding school districts accountable for negligence. We offer free consultations to evaluate your case and help you understand your rights.
Let us help you fight for justice and protect your child’s future. Call Avian Law Group today.