Children can be very active, and it is not uncommon for a young child to fall and scrape a knee from time to time. However, as a parent, finding out that your child has been injured in a severe accident is extremely troubling. When you learn that a negligent person caused the accident, the situation can be even more difficult to bear. In addition to the emotional trauma an unexpected accident can cause, you and your family may be facing financial strain due to the cost of medical treatment and prescription medication.
Though hiring a lawyer may not be the first thing on your mind after an accident, filing a personal injury lawsuit with one of our skilled attorneys could help you get the compensation you need to alleviate many of the financial burdens caused by the accident. With the help of our Wesley Chapel child injury lawyers at Hancock Injury Attorneys, you can protect the rights of your child and help make their pain go away.
What are Common Causes of Child Injuries?
While children manage to injure themselves in many situations, accidents caused by another person’s careless actions can often have more serious consequences. Some of the most common causes of injuries to children include:
- Dog bites
- Bicycle accidents
- Lack of supervision at school or daycare
- School bus accidents
- Defective car seats
- Swimming pool accidents
- Car accidents
Many of these accidents occur when an individual or company fails to exercise reasonable care. Our dedicated attorneys can help you determine the cause of your child’s accident.
Establishing Liability in Accident Cases Involving Minors
To establish that the other party was at fault, you and your attorney will need to demonstrate that the defendant’s careless actions directly caused your child harm. This legal standard requires sufficient proof of the defendant’s wrongdoing, whether through negligent actions or inactions. Our qualified personal injury attorneys have the experience needed to gather evidence to prove liability in a case involving an injured minor.
Proving this negligence by gathering evidence is crucial to a successful lawsuit. Some types of evidence might include:
- Video and/or photo footage
- Medical records (prior and current)
- Police reports
- Witness testimony
- Expert testimony
When is the Deadline for Filing a Child Injury Claim?
Most child injury claims are considered personal injury actions, meaning they are subject to Florida Statutes Annotated § 95.11(3). This law requires most lawsuits to be filed within four years of the date the plaintiff suffered the injury. However, child accident claims are unique because minors are not legally able to file a lawsuit. So, the four-year time period does not start until the child turns 18.
Regardless of this extended deadline, you should not wait to file your claim. Waiting too long can result in lost evidence, faded memories, and therefore likely a lower settlement. Our dedicated lawyers can work with you immediately after an accident to start preparing your child injury case.
What Compensation May Be Available After an Accident in Wesley Chapel?
In a successful personal injury claim, you and your family could receive significant compensation that you rightfully deserve after our child going through something traumatizing that they never should have had to experience. You may pursue compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic losses, including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
An injury during childhood can lead to lasting developmental and psychological issues, so it is crucial that you work with our attorneys in Wesley Chapel, who will fight for compensation to cover all your past and future damages.
How Our Wesley Chapel Child Injury Attorneys Can Help You
If your child was injured in an accident caused by another person in Pasco or the surrounding area, you have the right to take legal action. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you could recover compensation for all your losses. However, we do not recommend that you pursue a lawsuit alone. There are many laws governing civil lawsuits, and it may be difficult to navigate a case without proper guidance.
In a serious accident case, you should always work with an experienced attorney like Mike Hancock, who understands the legal system and the tactics the defense team may use to limit their liability. Schedule a free consultation today and let our Wesley Chapel child injury lawyers advise you of your legal rights.