Can a School Be Held Liable if a Child Is Injured on a Field Trip?

Field trips are a hallmark of a child’s education, offering exciting, hands-on learning outside the classroom. When an educational outing takes a turn and a child sustains an injury, parents are left wondering who is responsible and whether the school can be held financially accountable.

The simple answer is yes, a school can be held liable, but the path to proving it is complex. Our Connecticut personal injury lawyers at Connolly Brennan Ralabate can help parents understand the school’s legal obligations and determine whether they have a potential claim.

Duty of Care and Supervision

Schools owe a duty of care to protect students within the classroom and during school-sponsored activities, including off-site trips. This responsibility requires administrators and staff to anticipate potential hazards, provide adequate supervision, and take reasonable steps to ensure student safety.

Courts have recognized that schools are not automatically shielded from liability for injuries that occur during field trips. In one notable Connecticut case, the state Supreme Court found that schools may have a duty to warn students about foreseeable dangers, such as insect-borne diseases, when planning excursions abroad.

However, that duty is not unlimited. A student’s own conduct may limit or eliminate liability. The adequacy of supervision, the nature of the location, and the foreseeability of danger all influence whether a school breached its duty of care.

Breach, Causation, and Damages

Even when a duty exists, liability requires showing that the school or its staff breached that duty and that the breach directly caused the child’s injury. For example, if students visit a hiking trail with known hazards and the school fails to warn them or provide proper supervision, a negligence claim may arise. Conversely, if a student disobeys instructions or acts recklessly, the school may argue that its negligence did not cause the harm.

In cases where liability is established, damages may include medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, and lasting impacts on the child’s quality of life. Under Connecticut’s statute of limitations, injury victims generally have two years from the date of injury to file personal injury claims.

Public vs. Private Schools

Liability exposure can differ depending on whether the school is public or private. Public schools often benefit from governmental immunity, though certain exceptions exist for acts of negligence performed during ministerial duties. Conversely, private schools are not covered by sovereign immunity and may face greater exposure in negligence suits.

Permission Slips

Many schools require parents to sign permission slips or waivers before field trips. Parents often assume that these documents prevent them from filing a lawsuit if their child is injured, as they contain language attempting to release the school from liability. However, this is not always the case.

When signing a standard permission slip, a parent acknowledges and accepts the inherent, ordinary risks associated with an activity. This form generally does not waive the school’s own negligence. If the injury resulted from a school’s failure to provide adequate supervision, use safe transportation, or warn of known non-obvious dangers, a waiver is unlikely to shield the school from liability.

Third Parties and Shared Responsibility

Field trips frequently involve third parties, like transportation providers, museums, amusement parks, or outdoor facilities. When an injury stems from a third party’s negligence, that entity may share or bear full liability. For example, a bus company that fails to maintain safe vehicles or a venue that neglects clear safety hazards could be held accountable.

Schools themselves may also be implicated if their selection or oversight of vendors was negligent. This could include hiring an unqualified company or failing to verify insurance coverage. Many Connecticut school districts now require vendors and contractors to carry liability insurance to mitigate these risks.