No matter where a serious fall occurs or who is the victim, the individuals who are responsible for the location should immediately seek medical assistance. This duty is heightened when an accident takes place at school and the person who fell is an autistic student who lacks the ability to speak for himself. 

According to Maryann and Hermann Bensurto, Quail Valley Middle School called the family’s home saying that their 11-year-old son Kyle was on the floor and would not get up. Maryann Bensurto could hear Kyle, who is autistic and non-verbal, screaming in pain. She immediately rushed to the school, which is located in the Fort Bend ISD, and saw Kyle still on the ground. Despite the obvious health crisis, videos show that it took more than two hours before Kyle was finally taken to the hospital. When the boy finally received medical care, doctors found that the boy had shattered his femur. Initially, he required surgery to implant a metal plate and eight pins in his left thigh. Following the operation, he needed a wheelchair and will have to undergo additional operations.

This incident underscores the difficulties that individuals with special needs often encounter when seeking proper care after a fall or other injury-causing incident. For non-verbal individuals like Kyle, communicating pain or the severity of an injury can be nearly impossible without the proper support and understanding from caregivers, educators and medical professionals. This communication barrier can lead to delays in recognizing the seriousness of an injury, as seen in Kyle’s case. Maryann Bensurto said that school employees treated the entire situation casually and were talking, joking and ordering food during the two hours. 

Additionally, there is often a lack of training and preparedness among school staff and other caregivers when it comes to responding to medical emergencies involving special needs individuals. Recognizing the signs of distress and acting swiftly are crucial, yet these steps are sometimes overlooked due to a lack of awareness or resources.

Hope & Causey, P.C. handles Texas slip and fall claims as well as other types of personal injury lawsuits. Our firm is located in Conroe, and we serve clients throughout Montgomery County, San Antonio, Houston and the surrounding areas. For a free initial consultation, please call 936-441-4673 or contact us online today.