Injured at Summer Camp? What Parents Need to Know About Liability and Compensation

Sending the kids off to summer camp is a popular way to keep young children entertained and occupied during the summer months in Massachusetts and the surrounding New England states. The fact that our region provides access to a range of outdoor activities makes the summer camp experience particularly appealing among young kids and their families here.

You send your kids to summer camp expecting them to create fun memories while potentially developing skills that may be applicable in other areas of life. Most parents don’t want to think about the possibility of their kids being injured while at camp. However, for various potential reasons, a child could be harmed while attending a summer camp in Massachusetts or elsewhere in New England. Depending on the circumstances, if your child is injured at camp, you may have grounds to file an insurance claim or lawsuit seeking compensation for their medical bills and related losses resulting from their injuries.

Potential Causes of Injuries at Summer Camps

The types of injuries young campers may sustain can depend on the types of activities they participate in at summer camp. The following are merely a few examples of injuries that campers may face.

• Drowning injuries or similar injuries if campers participate in swimming or other water sports
• Broken bones, concussions, and similar injuries that can result from participating in sports or related activities
• Bites and similar animal attacks
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Burns and other fire-related injuries
• Injuries resulting from defective playground equipment, sports equipment, or other such equipment that may be used during camping activities

Determining the specific cause of your child’s injuries is particularly important if they’ve been hurt at summer camp. Naturally, the cause of the injuries may contribute to the type of treatment a doctor recommends. In addition, understanding the cause of your child’s injuries can be key to determining whether compensation is available.

Seeking Compensation After a Child is Injured at Summer Camp

You may be able to secure compensation for medical bills and other losses related to your child’s injuries if they sustained said injuries because another party was negligent.

However, these cases can be somewhat complex when compared to others because it’s not uncommon for summer camps to require parents to sign liability waivers when enrolling their children. These waivers may contain language stating that a parent assumes and understands the risks involved with sending their children off to camp, and thus won’t hold the camp liable for injuries their child sustains.

The fact that you signed such a waiver doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ironclad. For example, the waiver may have only covered foreseeable injuries and not necessarily the types of injuries your child sustained. In addition, while a waiver can offer a summer camp some degree of protection in these circumstances, it may not apply if a child was injured due to gross negligence on the part of the camp.

On the other hand, the camp itself may not be the liable party just because camp was the setting where a child was injured. For example, perhaps a child sustained injuries because a piece of playground equipment failed. If so, the manufacturers or designers of the defective equipment may be liable. Although the camp is typically responsible for maintaining equipment, if it was defective in the first place due to a manufacturing or design error, then another party may be liable.

The Value of Legal Assistance When a Child is Injured at Summer Camp

After your child is injured at summer camp, make sure they receive medical attention right away. Even if your child’s injuries don’t seem serious, if they were involved in any incident that could result in injury, make an appointment to see a doctor immediately. Sometimes, the symptoms of injuries such as concussions and similar injuries aren’t immediately apparent.

Ensuring your child receives medical attention as soon as possible is key to optimizing their recovery. It also establishes a valuable link between their injuries and the incident you believe caused them, which is critical when seeking compensation.

Before proceeding with legal action, you may also review your case with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can go over the details and help you better understand whether you have grounds to seek compensation. An attorney will also have the resources and experience necessary to investigate the accident and gather sufficient evidence of negligence in case the insurance company or liable party attempts to avoid paying you what you may deserve. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., a Boston child injury lawyer is on hand to offer valuable assistance during this time. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling us at (617) 742-1900 to set up your free consultation.

Need Help?

If you or someone you know, needs help from a lawyer, contact the law offices of Swartz & Swartz, use our live chat, or send us a message using the form below and we’ll get in touch to assess your case and how we can help.