Chicago School Lawyers
PRACTICE AREAS
What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need To Sue a School in Chicago, IL?
To sue a school in Chicago, IL, you need an experienced Chicago school injury lawyer who understands children’s personal injury cases involving school districts and school staff. School injury cases often involve complex issues related to school employees and serious injuries that occur during school sports, in the classroom, or on school property.
A qualified Chicago school attorney can help parents navigate the personal injury claims process, gather evidence, and secure financial compensation for your child’s injuries, medical attention costs, and other financial losses.
Chicago Lawyer to Sue School District or School Staff
When a child is injured at school, parents may be able to sue either the school district or the school staff.
When a child’s injuries result from inadequate supervision, a negligent act, or unsafe conditions, parents may take action against either the school district or individual school employees.
Suing a Chicago school district requires following specific rules under Illinois state law, including a one-year statute of limitations.
Claims against Chicago school staff, including teachers, administrators, or other personnel, focus on whether the employee’s role violated safety policies or caused harm.
While both can be held liable, the standards and procedures differ. The Chicago school injury lawyers at our law offices help families understand their legal options, identify all responsible parties, and pursue compensation for the pain and expenses related to a child’s serious injury.
Common Cases Our Chicago School Negligence Lawyer Team Handles
Negligent Supervision
Negligent supervision occurs when teachers or school staff fail to properly monitor students, resulting in injuries. This failure can lead to harm during class, sports, or any program involving student services. When injuries happen due to a lack of oversight, the school district or individual employee may be held responsible under Illinois law. A Chicago school attorney can help file a claim and seek compensation for medical attention, pain, and other costs.
Harassment and Bullying Resulting in Child's Injuries (Student-on-Student Assault)
Student-on-student assaults are a serious issue that families face in Chicago school districts. Often, parents raise concerns with teachers, then escalate to administrators or even the school board, only to be ignored until their child is seriously hurt. This often forces children to leave their school or school district entirely to avoid harm. When school employees and school districts refuse to take action, they may be held liable for failure to keep children safe. A Chicago school injury lawyer can help file a personal injury lawsuit for the child’s injuries, emotional damage, and medical expenses, and hold the at-fault parties accountable.
Private and Public School Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse in Chicago is a devastating form of negligence, often caused by failures in supervision, hiring practices, and reporting procedures. When school staff or teachers sexually assault children or when school districts ignore warning signs, they may be held responsible for the harm caused. These cases involve deep emotional damage and require extensive rehabilitation. Our Chicago school sexual abuse attorneys can file a lawsuit against the school district, institution, or employee to help ensure that those who allowed the sexual assault to happen are brought to justice.
School Bus Accident
Chicago school bus accidents often occur due to poor training, lack of proper oversight, or unsafe conditions. When a student is injured, the school district or its bus driver may be held accountable. A qualified Chicago school bus accident lawyer can help families file a claim to obtain recovery for financial damages.
Slip and Fall School Accident
Our Chicago school injury attorneys often handle fall cases involving children in elementary schools. Injuries often happen when defective equipment, unsafe playgrounds, or poorly maintained areas go unaddressed. When elementary school teachers or staff are absent or are negligent in taking action, and an injury occurs as a result, families may be entitled to file lawsuits. These types of incidents can arise during class, passing periods, or time on the playground, and schools have a clear duty of care to prevent them. A Chicago slip and fall accident lawyer can explain what to expect in the following steps and help families obtain recovery through injury claims.
School Sports Injuries
School sports injuries in Chicago can lead to serious consequences when caused by staff being absent, a lack of proper training, or defective equipment. Kids’ injuries often occur during sanctioned sports programs or on playgrounds where school staff and personnel fail to follow safe practices. If your child’s injury happened during a sanctioned sports program and safety policies were absent, you may be entitled to file a claim. A Chicago school injury lawyer can help you take the proper steps and recover damages.
Exposure to School Mold, Mycotoxins, Asbestos, or Lead
Many Chicago public schools (CPS), most of which are over 80 years old, still face unresolved hazards, including lead, asbestos, mycotoxins, and mold. While over 180 institutions were reported for friable asbestos, only 11 addressed the toxic condition over the next few years. CPS reports offer little transparency on the current status. This lack of remediation and disclosure raises serious concerns about negligence. Staff and students exposed to asbestos, mold, mycotoxins, or other toxic conditions may pursue claims against the school district. A Chicago school mold lawyer or mesothelioma lawyer in Chicago, IL, can gather evidence, determine fault, and file lawsuits against negligent entities.
Inadequate Security: School Shooting and Injury Cases
Negligent security can lead to devastating consequences, including shootings, assaults, and other violent incidents, causing severe or fatal injuries to students and staff. When a school district fails to implement proper safety policies, monitor building exits, or respond to threats, it may be held liable for resulting damage. An experienced Chicago inadequate security lawyer can help families file injury claims to recover damages.
Daycare Injuries
Children hurt in daycares or early education centers are often a result of negligent care, unsafe playground conditions, or employees’ failure to follow reasonable safety policies. When a toddler or kid is injured at an early education center, families may file a claim if the injuries were caused by negligent acts or duty of care violations. A skilled Chicago daycare injury lawyer at our law firm can help families take legal action.
School Death
When a child dies due to negligence on the part of a school district, teacher, or other employees, families can pursue lawsuits for wrongful death. An experienced wrongful death lawyer in Chicago, IL, can guide families through the legal process, help fight for justice, and obtain compensation for funerals, immense suffering, and long-term impacts.
If My Kid Gets Hurt At School, Who Pays in Illinois?
If your child is hurt at school in Illinois, who pays depends on whether the institution is public or private and how the injury occurred. Illinois school districts have legal protections that make lawsuits more complex, while claims against private schools generally fall under the state’s negligence statutes. In either case, if the injury resulted from negligence, victims can pursue claims for recovery.
My Child Was Injured At School By Another Student in Chicago
Under Illinois state law, school districts must provide a safe educational environment. If the injury resulted from inadequate supervision or failure to intervene in known bullying situations, parents can pursue claims against the school district for negligence. This includes cases where the institution was aware of prior incidents involving the same child and failed to take action.
Consult a Chicago school injury lawyer from our law firm for a free consultation to learn more.
Can You Sue a Public School in Chicago?
Yes, you can sue a public school in Chicago. Under state law, public schools are protected by the Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act and the Tort Liability of Schools Act.
To pursue a lawsuit, families must prove that the school was willful and wanton (more than negligent). Additionally, parents are required to file a written notice of the claim within six months and file the lawsuit within one year.
Due to these complexities, consulting with an experienced public school lawyer in Chicago is essential.
Can You Sue a Private School in Chicago?
Yes, you can sue a private school in Chicago if your child’s injuries were caused by negligence or the school staff’s failure to take action. When a child is injured, families may pursue claims for medical attention, emotional suffering, and related damages. A Chicago private school injury lawyer can help families determine liability and take the necessary legal steps.
Chicago Schools With Misconduct Allegations and Lawsuits
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) With Prior Misconduct Allegations
- Sullivan High School
- William J. Bogan Computer Technical High School
- Marquette Elementary School
- Dunbar Vocational Career Academy
- Lorca Elementary School
- Lincoln Park High School
- Gage Park Academy
- Michele Clark Magnet High School
- Marshall High School
- Black Magnet Elementary School
- Taft High School
- Lawndale High School
- National Teachers Academy
- Marine Leadership Academy
- Parkside Elementary Community Academy
- Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
- Noble Network of Charter Schools
Chicago Private Schools With Prior Misconduct Allegations
- Latin School of Chicago
- Francis W. Parker School
- Fenwick High School
- DeVry University
Chicago School Attorney
When a child is hurt due to a school’s negligence, answers and accountability should be required without hiring a lawyer. Our Chicago school injury lawyers understand how frustrating our school districts and charter school systems can be. We know what questions to ask and can help ensure clients’ voices are heard. Whether you’re child was injured in the classroom, was hurt on defective playground equipment, suffered severe injuries from another student, or was sexually abused by a teacher or staff member, our Chicago school injury lawyers can help.
When a child’s injury occurs due to a Chicago school’s negligence and causes physical, emotional, and financial problems for your child and your family, it’s time to consult a Chicago child injury lawyer.
Call 312-321-1111 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Chicago school injury lawyer at our law firm.
