When Bullying Leads To Serious Injury: What Georgia Families Need to Know
Bullying in schools is common and becoming more frequent even among young children. Bullying often starts as routine teasing, verbal aggression, or exclusion. However, bullying can often cross the line into serious physical harm with an impact that can last a lifetime. Research shows the profound long-term impact that bullying can have on a child. For families in Georgia, the effects of bullying that causes physical injury can be both emotionally and financially devastating. In some cases, a child who is bullied may resort to self-harm, including suicide attempts.
This guide walks you through:
Georgia laws about bullying
Signs of bullying
How the classification of the act matters
Who may be held responsible
Steps you can take today to protect and advocate for your child
Georgia Laws About Bullying
The rise of dangerous bullying and hazing in schools led to Georgia enacting certain anti-bullying laws and regulations. It is important to know that these anti-bullying laws cover both on- and off-campus activities if the off-campus activity is school-sponsored or school-related. Georgia anti-bullying laws include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:
The term "bullying" means an act that is:
Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so;
Any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm; or
Any intentional written, verbal, or physical act which a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass, or intimidate, that:
Causes another person substantial physical harm within the meaning of Code Section 16-5-23.1 or visible bodily harm as such term is defined in Code Section 16-5-23.1;
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education;
Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Georgia’s anti-bullying laws include cyberbullying in certain situations.
Signs of Bullying
Parents and caregivers may not be aware that a child is being bullied until it crosses over into physical injury. There are red flags you can be mindful of to catch signs of bullying early and open a honest and productive conversation with your children and their teachers. The signs of bullying may not be obvious at first, but encouraging regular and open communication can help ensure you do not miss the warning signs.
Signs of bullying may be emotional or physical and include the following:
Changes in eating habits
Fear or anxiety
Nightmares and sudden changes in sleep patterns
Moody, withdrawn behavior
Listlessness and fatigue
Sudden falling grades and absences from school
Unexplained injuries
Loss of interest in hobbies and friends
Damaged property or “missing” items that may have been stolen
What Are Common Injuries Caused by Bullying?
Bullying isn’t just hurtful words or exclusion. When repeated, purposeful harm targets someone with less power, it becomes legally significant. Common injuries may include physical harm, such as bruises, broken bones, or even a concussion. Bullying can certainly result in mental harm and trauma. Common diagnoses arising from bullying include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In some tragic cases, children have taken their own lives as a result of the mental harm suffered from bullying. Lastly, the educational harm to the child should not be ignored. Students who were performing well in school may suffer falling grades and, in some cases, may drop out of school entirely in order to avoid being the target of a bully.
Georgia law may provide grounds for legal action under standard personal injury claims if a child suffers a physical injury from a shove, punch, or other intentional act. If injuries don’t meet that threshold, you may still seek justice and relief through intentional emotional distress claims.
Can Parents Be Held Liable When Their Child's Bullying Causes Injury?
In Georgia, yes, under parental responsibility laws.
Georgia Code § 51-2-2 generally holds parents liable for torts committed by their children, except in cases where § 51-2-3 explicitly applies, such as intentionally malicious actions, including bullying.
What If the Injury Happened at School?
If your child suffered injury from bullying on school grounds, you may be able to hold the school accountable, especially if supervision was clearly lacking or staff failed to follow antibullying policies.
Public schools have legal protections, but cases of negligent supervision or policy violations may be exceptions. Private schools, meanwhile, can face full liability without such protections. Filing claims in either case requires careful documentation of the injury and school conduct.
Cyberbullying and Emotional Harm
Online bullying can cause real psychological injuries, such as depression, self-harm, and anxiety, with long-term consequences. Georgia law also offers options here.
While physical injury claims are more straightforward, emotional injury from cyberbullying may qualify under personal injury law as emotional distress if you can prove the harm and its source.
Georgia also has antibullying laws that require schools to respond to reports and notify parents. However, these laws don’t mandate emotional support or staff training. That makes documenting emotional harm and school inaction significant.
Steps for Parents of Bullied Children
If your child is being bullied at a Georgia school, you should take immediate action and report it to the school teachers and administrators. Trust your gut-you should always report suspicions of bullying. A school should take action to stop the bullying and make it a safe space for your child to learn, grow, and succeed. If the school knows of a bully’s conduct and fails to act, it may be held liable for the harm suffered. Steps include the following:
Document Everything – Take photos of injuries, record school reports, save emails and texts, and note any missed school or mood changes.
Demand Accountability – Send written requests to the school asking how they will address the bullying and protect your child in the future.
Consult a Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer – Especially if physical harm is involved.
Why an Attorney Matters
Bullying injury cases aren’t simple. Evidence can fade quickly, and a successful claim may require complex legal strategies, especially when seeking compensation for emotional damage or suing educational institutions. A lawyer experienced in Georgia injury or education law will help you:
Choose the right legal path
Build a strong evidence-based claim
Navigate school immunity and parental liability limits
Pursue fair compensation or, just as significantly, school safety reforms
Final Word: Protect Your Child, Pursue Justice
Bullying injuries leave visible scars, and often invisible ones, too. Georgia law provides avenues to hold others accountable, but the clock starts ticking the moment those injuries occur. Don’t navigate this alone.
Talk to a Georgia personal injury attorney to understand your family’s options and take steps today to protect your child’s well-being and future.
