Can You Sue if Your Child Suffers Personal Injury at School?

Classroom — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Read the blog from Frank Penney Injury Lawyers in Roseville, CA below.

Laws about whether or not you can file a lawsuit against a school vary from state to state. In California, you certainly can, but first, you must file a Notice of Claim within six months of the date of injury. School districts are government entities and as such are protected by what is known as “sovereign immunity.” However, exceptions can be made when an injury on school property was due to negligence and could have been prevented.

School Injury Lawsuit Filed by Parkland Shooting Victims

Families of two of the students injured at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14 are filing several lawsuits against school and law enforcement agencies. Personal injury attorneys representing the students and their parents claim that law enforcement, Broward County and Broward County Public Schools were negligent in their duties to protect students from the gunman.

Anthony Borges and Kyle Laman, 15, spent weeks in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds after a former student, 19, opened fire at the school and killed 17 students and teachers with an assault rifle.

Borges’ personal injury lawyer wrote, “The failure of Broward County Public Schools and the Principal and School Resource Officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent. Such action or inaction led to the personal injuries sustained by my client.”

Tall School — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Gun Threats at Roseville Schools

Our own Sacramento and Roseville communities aren’t immune to the possibility of gun violence in schools. The month of February saw a number of high school lockdowns in Granite Bay, Elk Grove, Roseville, and Sacramento. Thankfully, these investigations only revealed false alarms and empty threats. Oakmont High School in Roseville faced a more serious challenge when a gun actually was brought to campus by a student. The gun was found and two arrests were made without anyone getting injured on school property.

Who is Responsible for School Injuries?

Generally speaking, schools are required to provide a safe environment for students, but they can’t guarantee a child’s safety. They must take reasonable steps to protect your child from personal injury at school, such as:

Making sure your child isn’t harmed by other students or staff.
Making sure no one enters the school without permission.
Keeping the school building and grounds in good repair.

In most personal injury cases, it comes down to a question of negligence. If school officials did something (or failed to do something) that made the premises unsafe, the school may be liable. Here are some examples of school liability for student injury:

A teacher or school administrator received a warning or threat and failed to report it.
Emergency evacuation plans were inadequate or poorly executed.
A student was injured due to structural damage (e.g. broken stairs) that wasn’t repaired.
A stranger was allowed to enter the school without permission.
Cafeteria food wasn’t cooked properly or served past its expiration date.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Child

Anthony Borges (mentioned above) was shot five times while heroically closing and locking a classroom door to protect the students inside. He then saved his own life by applying a tourniquet, which he had learned to do in Boy Scouts.

As an active supporter of The Boy Scouts of America, I strongly encourage you to make sure that your kids get some emergency first-aid training. Other than Scouts, there are a number of organizations that offer low-cost training, and the Red Cross is always a good place to start.

Legal Action After an Injury at School

Children’s personal injury claims against schools, police departments, and other government entities must follow a strict process. Failure to follow the process and meet the deadlines means that you could miss your chance of getting the compensation you deserve. If your child sustained a personal injury at school, make sure to hire an experienced personal injury attorney who has won cases against state or local government agencies.

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Driver Seriously Injured in Highway 99 Crash Near Fresno Street

By Frank Penney • June 11, 2025

A driver was seriously injured Saturday evening in a crash on Highway 99 near Fresno Street, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident occurred on the southbound shoulder of the highway, where a commercial big rig had pulled over due to mechanical issues. As the truck sat stopped on the shoulder, a Ford Taurus traveling at high speed veered onto the same shoulder and slammed into the back of the trailer. Authorities say the Taurus appeared to be driving recklessly before the collision. The impact left the car heavily damaged, and the driver—who was not wearing a seatbelt—was rushed to a local hospital with major injuries. “Our hearts go out to the injured driver,” the CHP said in a statement. “This incident serves as a stark reminder that excessive speed and reckless behavior can have devastating consequences.” The CHP is using the crash as an opportunity to remind all motorists to drive responsibly, follow traffic laws, and always wear a seatbelt. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.

Innocent Bystander Killed in Multi-Car Crash After Police Chase in Sacramento

By Frank Penney • June 11, 2025

A tragic series of events unfolded Saturday morning in Sacramento when a police pursuit ended in a seven-vehicle collision that killed an innocent bystander. The crash occurred at the busy intersection of Florin Road and Greenhaven Drive. The incident began around 10:15 a.m. when Sacramento police received a call from a woman requesting assistance in retrieving her belongings from a home on Farm Dale Way. She expressed concern that her former partner, a known domestic violence suspect, might be present at the residence. Officers recognized the location from a prior domestic violence call the previous weekend. At that time, the suspect, Daniel Cunningham, 33, had already fled before officers arrived. During the ongoing investigation, police developed probable cause to believe that Cunningham had committed felony domestic violence. He was also identified as a parolee at large with an outstanding warrant. On Saturday, officers located Cunningham in a vehicle, which led to a high-speed chase heading westbound on Florin Road. The pursuit ended abruptly when Cunningham’s vehicle crashed into multiple cars at the Florin and Greenhaven intersection. According to police, the pursuit was short and officers had lost visual contact with Cunningham's vehicle just prior to the collision. Following the crash, Cunningham attempted to escape on foot but was quickly apprehended with the assistance of a police K-9. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being booked. Tragically, the crash claimed the life of 30-year-old Huyn Huu Duc Nguyen of Elk Grove, a bystander with no connection to the suspect. Details on other possible injuries, including whether children were involved, have not yet been confirmed. Sacramento Police spokesperson Anthony Gamble stated, “Our officers had the obligation to bring this person to justice. He made the decision to run. He made the decision to drive at a high rate of speed. He put himself and everybody else’s lives in danger by his actions and he caused this collision that took the life of somebody who was not involved in this whatsoever.” The California Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation into the crash itself. Cunningham faces multiple charges including parole violation, felony domestic violence, and felony evasion. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.

Sacramento Woman Killed in Tragic Parking Lot Accident at Bel Air Grocery Store

By Frank Penney • June 5, 2025

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If you are involved in any type of personal injury due to the fault of someone else, our experienced team at Frank Penney Injury Lawyers in Roseville, CA can help. We are available to anyone in Northern California 24/7! Give us a call today to learn more at 888-888-0566. We will fight for your rights!