Cape Coral, FL asked in Personal Injury, Collections, Juvenile Law and Education Law for Florida

Q: Hi, Who is responsible for my 14 child's medical bills (No Insurance)when he was bit by a rattlesnake inside his school.

I did not have insurance at the time due to a lapse during a job change. I am being sued for $40k in medical bills but I believe the school should be responsible.

3 Lawyer Answers

A: A school has a legal duty to make sure their premises is safe for students that attend. If the school was on actual/constructive notice that a rattlesnake was crawling around the property, (and failed to take corrective action), then the school would be liable. This would depend on the unique facts of the case. You should reach out to one of us for possible contingency-fee representation, which means you don’t pay anything, unless you win the case.

A: As between you and the medical providers, you are responsible. The school.district might be liable to you, but the medical providers have no action against the school district. See an attorney.

Tim Akpinar , Charles M. Baron and Terrence H Thorgaard agree with this answer

A: If the school was negligent and you could demonstrate it, they could be liable for the bills. If they do not step up to the plate, it's likely you would need to bring legal action. If you have to file a lawsuit, you're probably looking at very short windows of time to take action (notice of claim requirements - which can be in the order of days). In other words, short filing deadlines to preserve your son's rights in a legal claim. You should consider reaching out to Florida attorney to discuss your options. Most would offer free initial consults in this type of matter. I hope your son is okay. Good luck

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