Legal Question in Personal Injury in Texas
Personal injury on Public School grounds
A metal brake (machine to bend metal - 500-700 lbs) fell on top of my son during Metal Shop class on the public school campus. School knew machine was top heavy. It's fallen once before, was never secured. Witness reports not clear how it fell over. Son's femur was broken. Is school liable for medical expenses?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Personal injury on Public School grounds
It looks like the school was legally responsible. However public school districts enjoy sovereign immunity.
Re: Personal injury on Public School grounds
No. Public schools in Texas are immune from any claim for bodily injuries unless it involves a motor vehicle.
Re: Personal injury on Public School grounds
Under state law, schools generally enjoy immunity from personal injury claims unless the use of a motor vehicle is involved. You cannot enforce a claim, but you could always ask the school to pay for any out-of-pocket expense. If not that, maybe the school could compensate in other ways like giving your son a prime assigned parking spot or some other sort of non-monetary favor.