{"id":372826,"date":"2017-06-16T15:35:34","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T20:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/georgia-law\/how-to-sue-a-school-in-atlanta-for-injuries.html"},"modified":"2017-06-16T15:38:43","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T20:38:43","slug":"how-to-sue-a-school-in-atlanta-for-injuries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/georgia-law\/how-to-sue-a-school-in-atlanta-for-injuries.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Sue a School in Atlanta for Injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How to Sue a School in Atlanta for Injuries<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Your child was injured at school and you’ve been thinking of suing his school district here in Atlanta. However, you’ve heard it’s extremely difficult. There’s notice requirements, paperwork, antiquated rules. It all makes your head spin. Seeking some basic information on these types of cases? You’ve come to the right place. Let us fill you in on some of the basics on the law and process of suing a school in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Who Am I Suing?<\/h2>\n

Know ahead of time that when you try to sue a public school, you are actually suing the government. Why is that important? Public schools, as government institutions, enjoy special government immunity<\/a> from certain kinds of liability. That means the school district can’t be sued unless it agrees to the lawsuit (highly unlikely) or there is a statute that allows it.<\/p>\n

The process of suing a public school is much more involved than suing the average person for negligence<\/a>. You’ll likely want to speak to an Atlanta attorney<\/a> who specializes in education or administrative law or contact your legal aid provider<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Public vs. Private Schools<\/h2>\n

If your child attends a private school you’ll probably have a relatively easier time bringing a lawsuit. Government immunity laws don’t protect private schools unless they receive federal funding. Your options include a suit for negligence<\/a>, breach of contract issues, or simply filing a claim with the school’s insurance policy. You’ll also have a longer time to file — two years from the date of the injury<\/a>. For public schools, you only have one year from the date of the incident to file your lawsuit.<\/p>\n

Grounds for Your Lawsuit Against a Public School<\/h2>\n

There are several reasons you may want to file a lawsuit against your Atlanta public school district<\/a>. If your child was injured at school, you might want to file a negligence lawsuit. Other reasons parents sue their school include:<\/p>\n