When Connecticut parents send their children to school, whether it’s elementary, middle or high school, they expect that the teachers and staff members will protect them from any possible harm. Unfortunately, distractions can sometimes keep teachers from paying attention to every student at every moment of the school day, which can result in devastating fatal accidents.
When a group of freshman students was swimming during a physical education class at Manchester High School, one 14-year-old student wandered to the deep end of the pool, where the water was 10 feet deep. It wasn’t until the end of class that another student noticed that he was missing. The teacher rushed to pull the student out of the water, but it was too late. The medical staff at a local hospital was unable to revive him because he had been underwater for about 17 minutes.
The number of students who were in the class is unknown, but some people who know the physical education teacher said that he is usually careful to follow the school’s safety policies. Nevertheless, the victim’s parents sued the physical education teacher along with the school principal, the school athletics director and the district’s superintendent. As a result, the boy’s family will receive $1.72, which will cover his medical bills and the pain and suffering they faced as a result of their loss.
The untimely death of a young person is often devastating for everyone involved, including the person responsible. People who have lost a loved one in a fatal accident may want to talk to an attorney about a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: The Hartford Courant, “$1.72 Million Settlement In Manchester High Drowning Case,” Jesse Leavenworth, Feb. 16, 2014
