Pupil accident insurance (Schülerunfallversicherung) – coverage during lessons and school trips

Title:
Student Accident Insurance (Schülerunfallversicherung): Protecting Children at School and During Official Activities

Meta description:
Did you know that students in Germany are covered by Schülerunfallversicherung during the school day and on school trips? Learn what is covered, where the insurance protection ends, and what to do if an accident happens.


What is Schülerunfallversicherung?

Schülerunfallversicherung is a compulsory insurance provided by the German state through the statutory accident insurance (gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) for all students at public and private schools.

It covers accidents that occur during:

  • lessons (Unterricht)

  • breaks (Pausen)

  • school activities such as clubs and sports (AGs, Sport)

  • school trips and camps (Klassenfahrten, Wandertage)

  • the direct way to and from school (Schulweg)

The insurance is administered by bodies such as the Unfallkasse or the competent Berufsgenossenschaft, depending on the federal state.


What does the insurance cover?

Typically, the student accident insurance covers:

  • medical examinations and treatment

  • rehabilitation and physiotherapy

  • technical aids (e.g. a wheelchair)

  • partial benefits in cases of disability or permanent impairment

  • psychological support after serious accidents

  • in certain cases: allowances for parents (e.g. for accompanying the child)


Which situations are covered? – Examples

The following are usually covered:

  • a child falls and is injured during sports lessons (Sportunterricht)

  • an injury during a game in the schoolyard during break time

  • a traffic accident on the direct way to or from school (Schulweg)

  • a fall or injury on an official school trip (Klassenfahrt)


Which situations are not covered?

The following are generally not covered by Schülerunfallversicherung:

  • accidents while playing at home or after school hours

  • private activities with no connection to school

  • family trips or private travel

  • situations where the student has left the school grounds or the activity without permission


How to report a school accident

  1. Inform the teacher or school administration immediately:
    Report the accident as soon as possible to a teacher or the school office.

  2. Accident documentation (Unfallanzeige):
    The school must document the accident in an official Unfallanzeige (accident report).

  3. Forwarding to Unfallkasse:
    The report is then sent to the responsible Unfallkasse or Berufsgenossenschaft.

  4. Proof of connection to school activities:
    It must be documented that the injury is directly linked to a school activity or the school route.

Important:
In case of obvious or more serious injuries, you should see a Durchgangsarzt (a doctor authorised by the accident insurance), so that the treatment is properly handled via statutory accident insurance.


Key German terms

Term Meaning in English
Schülerunfallversicherung student accident insurance
Schulweg way to and from school
Unterricht lesson / class
Klassenfahrt school trip
Unfallkasse statutory accident insurance fund
Durchgangsarzt designated accident insurance doctor
Sportunterricht sports lesson
Unfallanzeige accident report

SEO keywords

Schülerunfallversicherung Deutschland, student accident insurance Germany, school accident coverage, accident during Klassenfahrt, Schulunfall melden, gesetzliche Unfallversicherung Schüler


The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may still occur or some information may be incomplete or not fully confirmed. Please treat the information in this article as an initial guide only and always contact the competent authorities or professionals for binding and up-to-date advice.


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