As responsible adults, caregivers, and supervisors, we all want to keep our children safe. The reality is that children are more likely than adults to be the victims of accidents, even if proper precautions have been taken. This could be due to the fact that children may not have the same well-formed judgment that adults do. They are more likely to take risks and less likely to think about the consequences of their actions. But what can be done in situations where a child is injured due to negligence or poor decisions? There are rules in personal injury litigation designed to address accidents where children are involved specifically. Below is more information about the types of accidents children are likely to be involved in and what can legally be done to seek compensation.
Understanding how kids are injured
Most parents understand that accidents can and will happen with small children. From running too fast and tripping to bumping their heads on furniture. We are not talking about minor “ouchies” and “boo-boos” that come with growing up. This article is designed to address situations where a child’s safety was compromised when they were supposed to care for a responsible adult or trusted entity. For example, if a child was injured while at school, they were not watched because their teacher or recess guard was not paying attention. Many parents find themselves in situations where they need to work to support their families. This means that they trust others to babysit, tend, watch, and help educate their children day or night. This includes but is not limited to:
- Injuries that happen during school or daycare
- Accidents that happen during summer camp
- Car accidents
- Injuries that occur on a playground or at an amusement park
- Swimming pool accidents
- School bus accidents
Most injury cases involving minors allow the parents or guardians to seek legal compensation for items such as medical bills, a long-term care plan, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disabilities. Children need medical attention to treat broken bones, back and neck injury, or severe cuts and bruising in many cases. Every injury case involving a child is a sensitive subject and should be handled with the utmost care and respect. If you would like to learn more about what a child injury attorney can do for you, contact our office today to speak with a legal professional.