I always assumed that personal injury cases where pretty straight forward. After being in an accident, any financial losses that you suffered would be reimbursed by the liable party's insurance company. Unfortunately, things only work this way in a perfect world. In the real world, personal injury cases are extremely complex and getting the insurance company to pay a fair settlement requires the expertise of an experienced injury lawyer. Unfortunately, it took me several months to finally seek out the legal assistance I needed. As a result, I waited much longer than necessary to get the compensation I so desperately needed. During this time, I learned more about personal injury law than I ever thought I would. It is my hope that this blog will allow me to share that knowledge with you so that you can avoid making some of the same mistakes that I did.
Parents are increasingly filing lawsuits against schools if their child endures ongoing bullying and nothing stops it. A lawsuit sends a message that bullying is unacceptable and that school staff should control these situations more effectively. If your youngster has been dealing with harsh treatment from other students for any length of time and the school seems unable or unwilling to do anything, you may want to take action.
Behavior That Constitutes Bullying
Bullying does not have to include physical mistreatment, although it often does. It also may be characterized by actions such as:
Your First Steps
Parents often hesitate to become involved. They may worry that doing so will actually worsen the situation. They may wonder whether the youngster should learn to manage difficult social circumstances. Teachers sometimes don't interfere for these reasons.
However, this ongoing intimidation and torment can be enormously detrimental to a child or teenager, disrupting academic progress and motivation to participate in extra-curricular activities. Youngsters can become depressed and even suicidal.
Get details from your child about what is going on. You'll need names of the bullies. Talk to the school's principal about the situation. Often, a bully harasses more than one student, and teachers and other staff members are aware of it.
Make it clear you expect this behavior to stop immediately. You expect your child to enjoy a fulfilling educational experience without having to be anxious or even fearful about going to school.
Relevant Cases
Numerous legal cases have appeared in 2014 and 2015 in which parents sue schools over bullying.
In Louisiana, for example, a lawsuit was filed against a private school after a teen was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She developed depression and suicidal tendencies related to bullying.
In Oregon, the father of a middle school student sued a public school district. The suit demands compensation for physical injuries and emotional pain and suffering after the boy was attacked on a playing field.
In Washington, a teenager sued a public school district after ongoing name calling, ridicule and physical attacks.
These are just a few examples of relevant lawsuits that have been filed over the past two years.
What This Means for You
Personal injury lawyers and civil rights attorneys handle bullying cases. These legal professionals generally offer free consultations. If you take steps to stop the troublesome behavior and it continues, schedule an appointment with a lawyer (at Edward J. Achrem & Associates, Ltd. or elsewhere) to learn what you can do next.
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