Helping a family whose child was injured during a school residential trip

The claim was brought while our client was still a minor. His mum acted as his Litigation Friend, which meant she could manage the claim on his behalf. Our team guided the family through each stage, keeping them updated, explaining what needed to happen next and making sure decisions were made with our young client’s best interests in mind.

When he turned 18, we were able to take instructions directly from him and move the claim towards a successful conclusion.

The settlement has provided our client with a sense of closure. It has helped him deal with the memories of how the trip ended and the effects the injury had on him at a young age. Most importantly, he feels that what happened to him has been recognised.

A school residential trip is something many children look forward to, giving them time away from the classroom to enjoy new activities and greater independence. For our client, a young pupil attending an outdoor activity camp, the experience was cut short when a preventable hazard caused a serious injury.

During the trip, our client tripped over a poorly positioned guy rope securing a tepee. He fell forwards and struck his head on a rock, sustaining a deep laceration to his forehead and a concussion which caused him to lose consciousness.

He was taken to hospital, where the wound was assessed, treated and glued. His parents then took him home. He was unable to return to the residential trip and missed its final two days.

His recovery continued after he returned home. The wound took a few weeks to heal and sometimes reopened when he was bathing. His sleep was affected for three nights after the accident, and concerns about his head injury meant he was unable to take part in the sports he loved while he recovered.

The accident also left him with a 40mm scar on his forehead, within his hairline. This could become more prominent in the future as his hairline naturally recedes.

For his family, the weeks after the accident brought added worry. His mum kept a particularly close eye on him for the first four weeks because of concerns about his head injury.

What should have been an exciting school trip had instead ended with a hospital visit, a period of recovery and a lasting scar.

Fletchers and solicitor Justine Murtagh took over the claim in May 2025, when our client was 17.

At that stage, he was understandably reluctant to discuss what had happened. His mum acted as his Litigation Friend, allowing her to manage the claim on his behalf while he was under 18.

We provided his mum with regular updates and explained what was needed at each stage. This included progressing and finalising the medical evidence needed to understand the impact of his injuries and move towards settlement negotiations without unnecessary delay.

When our client turned 18, we took instructions from him directly and continued the claim with his involvement. This helped us bring the case to a successful conclusion and allowed him and his family to put the legal process behind them.

Childhood injuries can have a ripple effect on the whole family. An accident may be over in seconds, but recovery can take much longer, particularly when a child has suffered a head injury or is left with a lasting scar.

In this case, the outcome has given our client a sense of closure and acknowledgement. It has helped him and his family put the claim behind them and move forward after an experience that disrupted what should have been an enjoyable school trip.

If your child has been injured on a school trip or in another accident because reasonable steps were not taken to keep them safe, our child injury solicitors can help you understand your options.

You can read more about our child injury work or see how we support families through child accident claims.