Connecticut summer camp, which could be day camp or sleep away camp, that are run by private entities, churches or schools, or other organizations provides parents and students with both a learning experience and a fun escape during the warm summer months. These camps can involve sporting activities, specialized training, or an opportunity to gather with new and old friends. Unfortunately, there is a multitude of opportunities for a child to be injured while away at summer camp and some of those injuries might be the responsibility of the camp, its counselors, or other third parties. You should educate your child about the need to be careful and make good decisions while away at camp and to report anything that seems out of the ordinary or dangerous.

There are a number of different reasons for children getting injured at a summer camp which could include, but not be limited to, some of the following:

Bus or Transportation Accidents

Some camps provide transportation so that the campers can be brought from one location to another. Many times campers are put on buses to attend competitive sporting events, go to amusement parks or other attractions, or to be brought from one location to another. Children could be injured either on the bus or as a result of some type of accident. The liability as to what party is at fault and who is responsible for your child's injuries and damages could be determined by having an experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyer review the facts of your child's particular case.

Drownings and Swimming Pool Accidents

Some camps have swimming pools, lakes or ponds, or other bodies of water that are used for recreational activities for the campers. Because children have varying levels of experience in swimming it would be necessary for them to be properly supervised while in and around the water. If there is some type of injury, or in the worst possible scenario a death, then there could be a variety of claims made against the camp owner, operator, landlord, property owner, or third parties for different types of negligence.

Premises Liability Accidents

Sometimes students are injured in trip and fall or slip and fall accidents or are otherwise are injured because of unsafe or defective conditions that occur in and around the summer camp property. These defects could involve building code violations, improperly built improvements, the fact that either these dangerous and defective conditions were known by the campground operators or should have been known by somebody working at the campground, improper designs to the property itself, a lack of maintenance or repair or other situations which would give rise to some claim of negligence.

Activity Accidents

Injuries due to sporting activities, cooking or outdoor fires, playground equipment, or other activities that are engaged in by the children attending the camp may occur. These claims could result from improper supervision, defective equipment, a lack of proper safety policies and procedures, or other reasons which would give rise to a claim of negligence.

Improper or Inadequate Supervision

Because so many children attend these camps, it is important for the owners/operators to have a sufficient number of staff available to properly monitor and supervise the activities that the campers engage in on a regular basis. This would include having the proper number of lifeguards at any body of water, supervisors for sporting events and games, personnel to check on safety issues, the replacement of defective items that are used at the camp, and any and all other matters related to the health, safety, and welfare of the students.

Improper Training of the Camp Counselors

Because so many things can go wrong at a summer camp and the risk of injury is quite great, there should be policies, procedures, and training that is undertaken by the camp counselors and staff to understand how any particular situation is to be handled, what types of inspections should be conducted, how to conduct supervisory functions and any and all other matters related to how a camp counselor is to safeguard the children that are attending the camp.

What to do if your child was injured

If your child has been injured while attending a Connecticut summer camp or while under the care and supervision of summer camp personnel then you should immediately consult with an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney to determine what you should be doing and what you should not be doing.

There are a number of steps that should be taken immediately after your child has been injured to properly document your child's injury case and to help ensure that your child receives the best possible medical care and attention. Some of these items would include:

• getting immediate medical care and attention for the injuries that have been sustained;
• being seen by a plastic surgeon if any injury involves the potential for a scar;
• taking pictures of the condition or thing that caused your child's injury;
• making sure that an incident report is filed and that you receive a copy of that report (or that you take a picture of that report with your cell phone before providing it to the camp personnel);
• making follow-up appointments with the proper doctors for additional care and treatment;
• not speaking with the insurance adjuster or insurance company representing the interests of the summer camp; and
• speaking with an experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyer at the earliest possible moment

You want your child to have a safe and memorable summer experience so you want to do everything possible to make sure that this occurs. If your child has been injured while attending a Connecticut summer camp then you will want to investigate who was responsible for your child's injuries and damages so that they can be held accountable. Please contact our office at the earliest possible time so that we can explain what you should be doing and what you should not be doing. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis and advance the costs to develop your child's summer camp accident case which means you do not have to come up with any money out of pocket. Contact us today before you make a mistake in attempting to handle your own child's injury case.