Boy Sues Newport-Mesa School District Over Eye Injury

A middle school student at a Newport Beach and his mother have filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Newport-Mesa Unified School District alleging the boy suffered serious eye injuries when a violin he was playing broke and a piece of the instrument struck him in the eye. According to a report in The Daily Pilot, the lawsuit alleges the 14-year-old was using the violin at Ensign Intermediate School on March 9, 2015 when a tuning screw came loose from the instrument’s neck, flew in the air and struck his face and eye.

Lawsuit Alleges Negligence

The boy needed surgery to replace the lens in his left eye and the screw caused a “traumatic cataract and corneal abrasion” among other injuries, the lawsuit states. The teen and his mother are seeking unspecified damages including reimbursement for medical bills that have reached $30,000.

The lawsuit alleges that the school district and a teacher were negligence in maintaining the school-owned musical instrument. Had the school staff instructed students regarding proper use and maintained the violin properly, these injuries could have been prevented, the lawsuit states. The boy is expected to need another surgery and has had to wear glasses due to significant deterioration of eyesight.

If Your Child is Injured at School

If your child has suffered serious injuries while attending school, you may wonder who should be held accountable for those injuries and losses. The answer to that question depends on how the injury occurred and why. Generally speaking, if a school fails to follow accepted standards of care in providing a safe environment for children and the student is injured because of that failure, then, the school can be deemed negligent. Examples of injuries caused by negligence include:

• Injuries caused by negligence of a school bus driver or another school employee.
• Improper employee training that causes injuries.
• Poorly designed or maintained piece of equipment that causes injury.
• Lack of adequate supervision by a teacher.
• Slip-and-fall accidents on school premises.
• Improper food preparation or storage that causes food poisoning.

If your child has been injured at school, it is important that you understand your child’s rights. Your child may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, cost of surgeries, rehabilitation, medical equipment, medication, etc. Contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer who will be able to fight for your child’s rights and help you receive maximum compensation for your losses.