Injuries During Field Trips And Off Campus Activities

Who Is Responsible When Something Goes Wrong Away From School Grounds

Field trips, athletic meets, and off-campus events are often highlights of the school year. They give students the chance to learn outside the classroom and experience new environments. But when a student gets hurt during one of these activities, parents are often left wondering who is responsible. Can the school still be held liable even when the injury didn’t happen on school property?

Below, our friends from Hayhurst Law PLLC discuss who is responsible for injuries that occur during field trips and off campus activities.

Schools Still Owe A Duty Of Care

When a school organizes and supervises a field trip, it continues to owe a legal duty of care to its students. That means teachers, chaperones, and school administrators are expected to take reasonable steps to keep students safe during travel and throughout the event. Even though the activity takes place off school grounds, the responsibility does not go away. In fact, it can become even more important given the unfamiliar surroundings and potential risks.

What Counts As Negligence On A Field Trip

Negligence occurs when a school or its staff fail to act in a reasonably careful way and that failure leads to injury. On a field trip, that could mean a teacher who fails to supervise students near water, a school bus that breaks down due to poor maintenance, or staff who ignore safety protocols at a museum or zoo. If a school failed to plan properly, provide adequate supervision, or respond appropriately to an emergency, that could open the door to legal liability.

Injuries Caused By Third Parties

Sometimes a student is injured by someone who is not affiliated with the school, like an employee at the field trip location or a driver involved in a transportation accident. In those cases, a third party might be responsible. But that does not necessarily remove the school from legal consideration. If the school failed to vet the destination, ignored clear safety concerns, or chose a vendor with a poor safety record, they may still share liability.

Parent Permission Slips And Waivers

Most schools require parents to sign permission slips for off-campus events. Some forms include liability waivers or language meant to release the school from responsibility. However, courts often scrutinize these documents closely, especially when minors are involved. While a waiver might limit certain types of claims, it usually will not protect a school from negligence, particularly if staff acted recklessly or failed to take reasonable precautions.

Government Immunity And Deadlines

Just like with injuries on school property, legal claims against a public school district may be subject to government immunity laws. This does not mean you cannot file a claim, but you may have to follow specific procedures. Often that includes filing a formal notice of claim within 60 to 90 days of the incident. Missing that deadline could mean losing your chance to seek compensation, even if the school was clearly at fault.

When Fun Turns Into Liability

Off-campus activities are supposed to be safe and enriching, not dangerous or poorly managed. If your child was seriously injured during a school-sponsored trip or event, you have the right to ask tough questions about how it happened and whether the school followed its responsibilities. A workplace injury lawyer with experience in school-related cases can help you review the situation and take the right next steps.