Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Blog

The parents of a Uniontown, Pennsylvania high school cheerleader were awarded a $235,000 settlement for severe personal injuries their daughter suffered when school bleachers collapsed during a 2008 cheerleading practice at Uniontown High School. Taylor Wrona, then 14, was pinned under the bleachers with another girl when the bleachers collapsed. She and other cheerleaders had been told to push the heavy wood and metal bleachers out of the way and into their storage position to create practice room.

Both of the trapped teens suffered severe personal injuries and permanent scarring in the accident. Taylor sustained a broken nose, broken teeth, broken ankles and facial scratches that have permanently scarred her young face. The other girl suffered a broken leg, broken ankle, nerve damage and permanent scarring. The school district agreed to pay Taylor and her parents a $235,000 settlement, the court ordering that $137,989 of that amount be held in a federally insured account until Taylor turns 18. The Pennsylvania personal injury lawsuit filed by the other girl and her family is still pending.

Participating in school sports is an important part of a teenager's life. Team sports are considered healthy and desirable activities that provide myriad physical, social and emotional benefits to developing teenagers. Yet, any sport involves inherent risk of possible injury. Many of these injuries are considered the nature of the game -- twisted ankles, torn knee cartilage, bumps and bruises happen. However, when negligence on the part of the school or coach contribute to or cause a child's injuries, schools and their employees should be held accountable. When serious personal injuries occur on the playing field or in the school gymnasium, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers can protect the rights of the student and her parents and work aggressively to see that they are adequately compensated for medical and rehabilitation bills, lost mobility and capability, and pain and suffering.