Alexandria School & Playground Injury Attorney

School & Playground Injury Attorney

School is supposed to be a safe place for children, but sadly, that’s not always the case. Without the proper supervision and care, there’s potential for any number of hazards to present themselves. Children could fall from playground equipment or be hurt by broken equipment, or they could be injured during PE class. Parents whose children have been hurt are left wondering whether the injury could have been prevented.

Louisiana law allows parents to pursue compensation when a child’s injury results from negligence. Understanding your options is the first step toward getting your child the care they need and holding the responsible party accountable.

Third- and Fourth-Generation Advocates for Louisiana Families

Chris J. Roy, Jr. and John J. Roy represent injured individuals and families throughout Rapides Parish and Central Louisiana. For more than 30 years, Chris has helped local families seek justice after negligence of every kind. As a third-generation attorney, he understands what a serious injury can do to a family’s stability and peace of mind. Continuing his family’s legacy as a fourth-generation lawyer, John brings the same commitment to integrity and personal attention to every client he serves.

We handle cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing upfront and owe us nothing unless we win your case. We don’t advertise on television, which means we don’t need to settle cases quickly or cheaply to cover expensive ad campaigns. Instead, we work each case as though the client were our own family, because in a community this size, you often are.

Who We Serve

Parents reach out to us after all kinds of school and playground incidents. We frequently see the parents of children who:

• Were seriously hurt in a fall from playground equipment, such as monkey bars, a slide, or a swing, resulting in serious harm. Potential contributors to accidents such as these include poor supervision, an unsafe landing surface, overcrowding, or how the play area was set up.
• Suffered an injury due to unsafe playground equipment or play areas, which may include a broken swing, loose or unstable equipment, exposed bolts or sharp edges, missing guardrails, damaged surfacing, or equipment that wasn’t appropriate for the child’s age. The school or playground operator may have failed to repair or block access to a known hazard.
• Got seriously hurt during PE, recess, or a school-supervised activity, such as gym class or sports practice, after being directed to do something unsafe, given inappropriate equipment, placed in an activity beyond their ability, or left without adequate supervision.
• Were seriously hurt by another student when staff failed to intervene, including being pushed off equipment, punched, tackled, or kicked. This often follows prior reports of bullying or aggressive behavior, a situation staff could see escalating, or an incident in an area where supervision was limited.

If your child’s situation resembles any of these, you deserve answers, and you may have grounds for a claim.

Understanding Louisiana Law and the Legal Process

How Liability Works in School and Playground Cases

Under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2315 and 2316, a person or organization can be held responsible when their negligence causes harm to someone else. In school and playground injury cases, this duty typically falls under a legal concept called in loco parentis, meaning teachers and school staff must supervise children with the same level of care a responsible parent would provide. When a school fails to meet that standard, and that failure leads to an injury, the school or staff member may be held liable.

Several parties could bear responsibility, depending on the facts:

• The school or staff member, if poor supervision or an ignored safety concern contributed to the injury.
• The property owner, if a dangerous condition on the premises, such as broken equipment, caused the harm.
• The equipment manufacturer, if a defective product was involved in the injury.

Public schools carry additional legal protections because they are considered political subdivisions of the state. This means that claims against a public school must follow specific procedures.

Private schools are not shielded by this same immunity, but the general time limit for filing a personal injury claim in Louisiana still applies: two years for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024, and one year for injuries that occurred before that date. Because every case is different, it’s best to have your situation reviewed as early as possible.

Our Process

1. Free Consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, answer your questions directly, and let you know whether your child’s case may qualify for a claim.
2. Investigation. We gather evidence to determine what caused the injury and who may be responsible.
3. Claim Preparation and Filing. We identify the appropriate parties and file the claim on your family’s behalf, meeting all relevant deadlines.
4. Negotiation or Litigation. We pursue a fair settlement with the school, property owner, or their insurer. If a fair resolution isn’t offered, we’re prepared to take your case to trial.
5. Resolution. We work to recover compensation for medical bills, future care, pain and suffering, and other losses tied to your child’s injury, so your family can focus on healing.

Why Choose Roy Injury Law?

• Personalized Care: We never treat your family like a case number. We take the time to understand what happened to your child and answer every question along the way.
• Direct Attorney Access: You’ll work directly with the legal team handling your case, not various paralegals or assistants you’ve never met.
• Local Knowledge: As lifelong members of this community, we understand the local schools and courts involved in these cases.
• No Upfront Costs: We handle cases on a contingency basis, meaning we cover case expenses and only get paid when we win for you.
• We Come to You: We can meet at your home, the hospital, or our office, whatever works best while your child recovers.
• A Legacy of Service: As third- and fourth-generation Louisiana attorneys, Chris and John Roy have deep roots in Rapides Parish and a genuine commitment to the families who live here.

Get Your Questions Answered Today

If your child was hurt at school or on a playground, you don’t have to figure out what comes next on your own. Roy Injury Law offers free, no-obligation consultations to help you understand your options and what steps may be available for your family. Schedule your free consultation to speak with our team today.

Frequently Asked Questions