Who Is Responsible If My Child is Injured at Summer Camp?

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Summer is a time to make memories, get outdoors as much as you can, and enjoy your free time. This is especially true for children, who often get to start asserting their independence by attending summer camps and other fun activities. Most of the time, summer camp ends with a tired kid with tons of new memories who can’t wait to go back the next year. Sometimes, summer camp ends with injuries that mar a child’s experience and an adult’s trust in the camp.

If your child has been injured at summer camp, you may wonder what your options are. Let’s talk—call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 to schedule a consultation now.

Check Your Paperwork

First, you’ll want to take a look at the paperwork you signed before you sent your child to camp. There’s likely some sort of liability waiver though. Go through the waiver in detail to learn more about what you are and are not allowed to do after an injury. However, remember that there are limitations to every contract. The contract may make it sound like you have no rights after an injury, but that generally isn’t true. A contract may prevent you from suing if your child’s injury happened in the normal course of planned activities. However, it cannot make up for a counselor’s or staff member’s negligence.

Understand the Risks of Summer Camp

Generally, liability waivers simply keep you from suing if your child is injured in a way that is consistent with the rules of the camp. For example, if your child is riding a horse at camp and breaks a leg, you may not be able to sue if the horse was gentle and appropriate for your child’s skill level. However, you might be able to sue if the counselor chose a horse intended for a much larger and more skilled rider, and then failed to watch your child and keep them safe.

Another example: think about a camp where kids spend a lot of the day outside in the heat. If your child develops heat sickness because they did not bring a hat and refused to drink enough water, it’s unlikely that you can hold the camp accountable for that. However, you may be able to hold the camp accountable if counselors refused your child water or didn’t pay attention when your child began showing signs of heatstroke.

Basically, know the risks of every activity your child will participate in at camp. Injuries likely to arise from those activities may not allow you to sue the camp.

Proving Liability

If you believe a counselor or other staff member was negligent in their handling of your child, you may have a case. However, your case would be against the camp itself, not the individual counselor or staff member. Businesses carry business insurance to protect against cases like these, and an employee cannot usually be held liable for work done in the normal course of their employment.

You will, however, need to prove that the camp erred in its handling of your child’s injury. In addition to the examples above, consider a child who was stung by bees at camp. The child developed a severe allergic reaction that no one expected, because they had never been stung before.

Despite the child telling three separate counselors that they could not breathe and that they were in pain, no one called 911 for several minutes because they believed the child was being dramatic. In this case, you could argue that the camp counselors violated their obligation to your child by ignoring their pleas for help and clear signs of a serious allergic reaction.

No matter what the nature of your child’s injury is, it’s highly recommended that you connect with a personal injury attorney to discuss your options. We can look at the details of your claim and help you determine the next best step.

Contact Reeves & Mestayer for Help with Your Injury Claim

The sooner you contact an attorney after your child’s injury, the sooner we can start making a plan that meets your family’s needs. To take the first step and set up a consultation, reach out to Reeves & Mestayer online or give us a call at 228-374-5151. We look forward to assisting you through this difficult time.

Why It’s Important to Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions Following an Accident

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Now that you’ve initiated a personal injury claim, you might wonder what your responsibility is. You have an attorney working on your case, but how can you protect your claim and maximize your chance of a fair and full settlement? Following your doctor’s orders is a big part of this. If you show that you are focused on recovering from your injury and not trying to milk your personal injury claim, it will be much harder for the insurance company to deny you.

Learn more about what to do after you initiate a personal injury claim, and for more personalized advice regarding your claim, call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151.

Creating a Thorough Paper Trail for Your Injury

Documentation is key in any personal injury claim, and you can bet that the liable party’s insurance company will be looking for any holes in your story. A thorough log of your medical appointments and your efforts to follow your doctor’s orders can only help your case. That’s one reason that it’s recommended that you seek medical care immediately after an accident. Doing so starts a paper trail that directly ties your injury to the accident. You want medical records showing that any new or continuing symptoms are a direct result of the accident, not because of a new injury.

Showing Your Commitment to Healing

A personal injury claim might feel like work, and in many ways, it is. Part of your job during this time is to focus on recovering from your injury so you can get back to work and back to normal life. Following your doctor’s recommendations and orders shows that you are seeking care in good faith, not simply drawing out the amount of time you’re injured for a bigger settlement.

Failing to follow your doctor’s instructions can be very bad for your claim. Consider a situation in which your doctor recommends surgery to treat your injury. The surgery has a good chance of healing your injury and allowing you to return to work after six weeks. You turn down the surgery and continue to struggle through recovery, leaving you out of work for much longer than six weeks. The insurance company might refuse to pay any settlement, claiming that your extended injury is due to your choice to ignore your doctor’s orders.

Avoiding Unintended Consequences

Failing to follow your doctor’s orders could actually make your injuries worse. If you go too long without taking necessary steps in treatment, your body can start to adjust to your injuries. This often puts extra strain on other parts of the body and puts theme at greater risk of injury. Your doctor knows this and will make their care recommendations accordingly.

Protecting the Value of Your Claim and Your Health

Remember, protecting your claim isn’t the only goal during this time. You also have to do what is best for your health. A solid claim that leaves you with lifelong injuries isn’t nearly as good as a solid claim with treatable injuries. Not only is following your doctor’s orders best for your personal injury claim, it is generally what is best for your health.

This makes it an easy choice to follow your doctor’s orders. It benefits you in every way and has a minimal chance of harming you. If you operate in good faith and do your best to recover from your injuries, the insurance company will struggle to poke holes in your claim and deny you fair compensation.

If you’re uncertain about whether or not you should follow your doctor’s orders, discuss your concerns with your attorney. Your attorney has seen many personal injury claims and they know what slip-ups can put your claim in danger. They can tell you what may happen if you ignore your doctor’s advice and how that choice may affect your claim. Your attorney has your best interests in mind.

Find Out How Reeves & Mestayer Can Help

Not sure what your next step is after a personal injury? Let Reeves & Mestayer guide you through this process. Learn more about your legal options by calling us at 228-374-5151 or contacting our team online. We look forward to working with you.

Personal Injury Risks at the Beach This Summer

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Ready for a summer of fun on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast? Over 13 million people visit this beautiful area every year, ready to soak up the sun and make memories. However, with so many people in one place, you’ll also find new unexpected personal injury risks. Knowing the specific risks you face on Mississippi beaches allows you to take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your family.

Learn more about personal injury risks at the beach and take steps to protect your loved ones. If you suffer a personal injury this summer, let us help you through this process. Call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 to schedule a meeting now.

Harmful Algae Blooms

One unique risk facing Mississippi visitors is Harmful Algae Blooms, often referred to as HABs. These occur when algae grows and spreads rapidly on the water’s surface, leading to discoloration. Depending on the bacteria causing the bloom, the algae may look like mats, scum, or foam.

These blooms can be very dangerous to you and your pets. The toxins present can cause serious illness in humans and animals, and eating fish from this area can also cause illness. The Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program offers an easy way to check for beach closures and contact advisories. In extreme situations, beaches may close to protect patrons. If the bloom is not that serious, you may simply be warned to be cautious while visiting.

Vibrio Bacteria

Warm coastal waters are prone to vibrio vulnificus and other vibrio bacteria infestations. While this bacteria can cause illness in anyone, it is particularly harmful for those with compromised immune systems. You can get infected via an open wound or from eating seafood from infected areas. Common outcomes include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. People with compromised immune systems are at risk of blood infections that can lead to death.

To protect yourself, check yourself and your loved one thoroughly for open cuts or scrapes before entering the water. Stay out of salt and brackish water if there are any open cuts. If you discover a cut after getting out of the water, wash it thoroughly with soap and filtered water. While enjoying fresh seafood, stay away from undercooked oysters and shellfish.

Dangerous Marine Life

The Gulf Shore is home to a thriving ecosystem of marine life. That includes dangerous species. Whenever you visit the beach, familiarize yourself with their flag system so you know what risks are present. Several beaches have a special flag for dangerous marine animals.

The Gulf Shore is most commonly plagued by dangerous jellyfish, which often trigger the “dangerous marine life” flag. Dangerous jellyfish species in this area include the blue button jellyfish, the sea nettle jellyfish, the mauve stinger, and box jellyfish. The most dangerous species include the Portuguese man-of-war and the box jellyfish, whose stings can cause death under certain circumstances.

Other risks present in this area include dangerous fish species, sharks, and sting rays.

Rip Tides

Rip currents are a serious risk for everyone visiting the Gulf Shore. No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, a strong current can pull you away from the shore in seconds. People often panic in a strong current and get tired or panicked before they can figure out a way back to shore. To avoid this risk, only choose beaches that are staffed with lifeguards. Before entering the water, look for flat spots along the wave lines. These may be rip currents. Avoid these areas when entering the water.

Hazards in the Sand

Even just walking around on the beach can leave you at risk of injury. Broken glass bottles are a risk during summer, as visitors flock to the beaches and leave their garbage behind. However, you could also injure yourself stepping on sharp rocks or shells. Make sure you and your love ones have durable flip flops or sandals for your walks along the beach.

Contact Reeves & Mestayer for Help With Your Injury Claim

Whether you get hurt on one of Mississippi’s beautiful beaches or during another summer adventure, it’s important to explore your options for compensation. Turn to Reeves & Mestayer to learn more. Call us at 228-374-5151 or reach out to our team online to get started.