Albuquerque School Bullying Attorneys

Signs Your Child Is Being Bullied in School

Kids often attempt to hide issues with bullying from their parents. Accordingly, the following signs may go unnoticed:

• Frequent Illnesses: Stress and anxiety often cause physical symptoms, like nausea and headaches. Children may also manufacture symptoms in an attempt to avoid kids at school. In either case, physical symptoms should be addressed by a family physician.
• Problems Sleeping: Anxiety may also lead to insomnia. Watch out for excessive morning tiredness and fatigue, as this could be an indicator of lack of sleep.
• Isolation: In addition to isolation at school, bullied children may also avoid interacting with their families at home. Your child may keep to his or her room or spend most of their time a mobile device or computer.
• Changes in Posture and Demeanor: Bullied children often assume what’s known as the “victim’s stance.” Poor posture, with head lowered to the floor, intense shyness, and lack of confidence are all linked to bullying episodes. These behaviors will become more pronounced the longer the child is bullied.
• Acting Out at Home: When kids are bullied at school, they may act out at home. If your child seems unusually angry or lashes out more frequently, they could be facing bullying or harassment at school.

Bullying can have both short- and long-term effects on young children and teens. Bullied kids may experience considerable anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may become isolated or socially withdrawn, and they may struggle to do well in school. Bullying can significantly impact a victim’s self-esteem, both immediately and in the future, and studies have shown that people who were subjected to bullying as children or teens are more likely to develop physical and psychological health problems. They may also be more likely to be unemployed and usually report lower life satisfaction than individuals who were not bullied as children. 

What Parents Can Do About Bullying at School

Address the issue with your child’s school as soon as you become aware that they are being bullied. Even if you only have suspicions about what’s occurring, it’s best to discuss them with your child’s teachers or other school staff who may be able to provide greater insight.

New Mexico schools are obligated to take the proper actions to prevent bullying and stop it from occurring once a complaint is received. Failure to take the right steps can land a school in legal trouble or even result in a civil rights violation depending on the nature of the incident.

Who Is Responsible for School Bullying? 

In New Mexico, educational facilities can be held legally responsible for bullying that leads to bodily injury and/or psychological harm, as well as financial losses related to the incident. 

To have a civil case against a school or another educational facility, you will likely need to prove the following:

• Your child was bullied at school or during a school-sponsored function, such as a field trip or high school dance 
• The bullying was significant, repeated, and/or extreme enough to cause serious bodily injury, psychological distress, and/or financial losses
• The school knew about or should have known about the bullying yet failed to take reasonable measures to intervene or put a stop to it 
• Your child suffered verifiable injuries, whether physical or otherwise, that led to certain damages for which you or your child can be compensated

In addition to schools, the bullies themselves—or their parents/guardians—can be held legally responsible for the harm they cause. There have been many successful personal injury cases brought against bullies, bullies’ parents, and other liable parties in New Mexico. 

At Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, our Albuquerque school bullying lawyers help students, parents, and loved ones seek justice for the immense harm done by excessive and repeated bullying. We understand the many complex challenges these cases present, and we know how to help you navigate the legal process. 

What to Do If You Need Legal Assistance for a Bullying Issue

If a school fails to take the necessary steps to prevent bullying, or if your child is seriously harmed as a result of an incident at school, you should seek help from an attorney. Our lawyers at Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero know the rules and regulations New Mexico schools must abide by, so we can support your case and fight to ensure negligent parties are held accountable.

Depending on the specific details of your case, you could be entitled to compensation for: 

• Your child’s medical care and expenses related to treating injuries and other health conditions caused by bullying 
• Mental health care services and expenses related to treating anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental health conditions caused by bullying
• Physical pain and mental suffering experienced by your child as a result of bullying 
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses you have paid or will pay as a result of your child being bullied, such as private tutoring costs

Our team can help you understand your rights when it comes to pursuing fair compensation on behalf of your child, as well as the justice they deserve. We invite you to meet with our team to discuss your situation and potential legal options. We do not charge anything for initial consultations and only collect legal fees if/when we recover compensation for you.

Please contact us today for more information. Call (505) 806-1780 or submit a secure request form to get started. Hablamos español.