Accidents can quickly occur not only in physical education classes, but also in the schoolyard. But who actually pays if a child is injured on school grounds?
Elementary school students are the most likely to get injured
During breaks, children often let out their excess energy in the playground, which often leads to injuries and accidents. As Zeit Online reports, according to statutory health insurance figures, around one in ten Berlin students are injured over the course of a year while playing in the schoolyard or in sports class. Most accidents happen at primary schools, but most of them involve minor injuries such as abrasions or scratches.
Statutory accident insurance covers costs
According to transparent-beraten.de, statutory accident insurance pays for treatment and follow-up costs if a child has an accident at school. The accident insurance funds of the federal states are particularly responsible for accidents in schools, universities or kindergartens. According to transparent advice, which refers to the Berlin accident insurance fund, the service should be designed in such a way that “the child is treated as if the accident had not happened”. According to transparent-beraten.de, accident insurance not only covers the costs of medical treatment, “but also grants, for example, subsidies for any necessary house or apartment renovations.” If the injury leads to a chronic illness, “the fund even pays subsidies toward a lifelong pension.”
Costs are borne by federal states
The costs of student accident insurance are borne by the federal states or district administrations. If another person is responsible for the accident or a supervisor has breached their duty of supervision, it is possible for the responsible person to pay compensation or cover the costs. According to transparent-beraten.de, it is important that the accident is correctly reported to the insurance company and the treating doctor. The school must also write an accident report and send it to the accident insurance company. The teacher who was responsible for supervision is responsible for this.
Editorial team finanzen.net