Even when you are careful, there is no way to completely erase the risk that your child might wind up getting injured in an accident caused by another person’s misconduct. When your family is dealing with a situation like this, your actions could substantially impact your child’s life in the years and decades to come.

Assistance from a seasoned personal injury attorney could help you achieve a favorable result from a claim on behalf of your injured minor child. Because many rules and considerations come into consideration during this type of claim, seek help from a Media child injury lawyer who has successfully handled similar cases.

Recovering for an Injured Child’s Losses

Since minor children cannot represent themselves in legal proceedings, a child who gets hurt in an accident because of an adult’s negligent or wrongful act cannot file suit on their own behalf until they are at least 18 years old. Parents and guardians are responsible for pursuing civil compensation and may seek restitution on their child’s behalf for any losses they can trace directly to the child’s injury.

In the case of a child’s injury, parents and guardians may demand compensation for losses that have already occurred and losses that will not fully manifest after the legal process concludes. Some examples of specific damages in claims filed for injured children include:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Lost enjoyment or quality of life
  • Emotional anguish and psychological trauma
  • Lost working and earning capacity due to long-term disability
  • Cost of childcare services or lost wages for a parent or guardian needed to care for an injured child while they recover
  • Cost of emergency medical care and expected future care, including things like physical therapy, assistive equipment, and in-home care for severe disabilities

A Media child injury attorney could discuss damages for a specific claim during a private initial consultation.

Special Rules for Child Injury Litigation

Whether a parent or guardian sues on an injured child’s behalf or the child sues on their own behalf, the period set by the state’s “statute of limitations” in which a civil lawsuit can be filed is generally two years. This filing period starts on the date the child was injured when a parent or guardian files and on the child’s 18th birthday when they file by themselves.

Courts often only let parents or guardians of injured children accept settlement offers out of court after first getting approval from the court system. Money recovered on a child’s behalf must be handled according to strict regulations until the child comes of age to take possession of it themselves, which a child injury lawyer in Media could explain in more detail.

Get Help from a Media Child Injury Attorney

Traumatic accidents caused by adults injure children every day. The injured child’s parents or guardians have a right to demand comprehensive compensation for the harm their child and their family sustained because of the accident.

Enforcing your right to bring a lawsuit could be much easier with guidance from a compassionate and capable Media child injury lawyer. Call today to learn more.