Personal Injury Involving Children and Individuals with Disabilities

Attorneys Protecting the Vulnerable Across Indiana, Ohio, & Michigan

At Connell Michael, LLP, we are dedicated to representing the most vulnerable members of our community—children and individuals with disabilities—when they are injured due to the carelessness, abuse, or inaction of others. These cases are deeply personal, emotionally complex, and legally demanding. They require not only skilled legal representation, but also a law firm that understands trauma, disability, and the lifelong implications of a preventable injury.

We don’t just handle personal injury cases. We represent children, teens, and adults with physical, developmental, intellectual, and emotional disabilities who have been hurt by systems that were supposed to protect them. When schools, institutions, caregivers, or programs cause harm, we hold them accountable.

When the System Fails the Most Vulnerable

Children and people with disabilities often rely on adults and institutions for care, supervision, and safety. But too often, those entrusted with protection become the source of harm.

At Connell Michael, LLP, we take on injury cases involving:

Injuries in Schools and Special Education Programs

• Physical abuse by teachers, aides, or school staff
• Dangerous restraint and seclusion practices
• Injuries during unmonitored or unsupervised transitions
• Failure to accommodate disabilities under IEPs and Section 504
• Unsafe handling of medically fragile children
• Negligent use of transportation, lifts, and mobility equipment

Abuse and Neglect in Residential and Day Programs

• Harm inflicted in group homes, developmental disability centers, or therapeutic schools
• Peer-to-peer abuse or assault due to lack of supervision
• Neglect by staff or caregivers leading to injury, elopement, or medical crisis
• Failure to provide toileting, feeding, or medical care in accordance with care plans
• Emotional or psychological trauma caused by threats, humiliation, or intimidation

Injuries at Camps, Childcare Centers, or Community-Based Programs

• Failure to supervise children or meet their medical or behavioral needs
• Injuries during field trips, outings, or untrained restraint of a child in crisis
• Abuse by peers, counselors, or volunteers
• Neglect of children with mobility, sensory, or communication disabilities

We focus in cases where systems ignored warnings, silenced families, or failed to implement safety protocols for those who could not protect themselves. These injuries are not just accidents—they are often the result of avoidable negligence and failure to honor legal responsibilities.

Our Approach: Compassionate, Relentless, Focused on Justice

At Connell Michael, LLP, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We understand that injuries involving children and people with disabilities require legal representation that is:

• Trauma-informed – we treat survivors and families with empathy and patience
• Family-centered – we listen to parents, guardians, and caregivers as partners
• Legally aggressive – we pursue full accountability through settlement or trial
• Specialized – we understand complex education, disability, and care regulations

You will never be treated like just another file. We know how hard it is to speak up, and how often families are dismissed or gaslighted by schools, institutions, and agencies. We are here to amplify your voice and demand justice.