When anyone is injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, it is a frustrating experience. When a minor child is hurt, it can have particularly devastating and long-lasting consequences. Since the bodies and minds of young children are still developing, physical trauma that an adult might be able to heal from completely with time and proper medical care may instead have permanent and life-altering effects on someone under the age of 18.
No matter how your child was injured or how long their injury will last, they—and you as their parent or guardian—deserve fair financial compensation for the harm done to them. A compassionate Brentwood child injury lawyer can help you effectively pursue it. At OnderLaw, your claim is not just a case; it’s a cause. Our tenacious personal injury attorneys know through years of experience how to fight and win on behalf of families like yours.
Minor children cannot represent themselves in court under Missouri state law. However, parents and guardians of children injured in an accident caused by another adult’s misconduct can take legal action on behalf of those children and demand compensation for their child’s injuries and losses. Alternatively, a child can wait until they turn 18 and file suit in their own name. Either way, there are unique filing deadlines for these kinds of claims, which a knowledgeable Brentwood child injury attorney can explain in more detail as needed.
Through a successful lawsuit or settlement demand over a child’s injury, it is possible to recover for both short-term and long-term forms of harm that injury will cause for the child, including:
If parents or guardians recover compensation on their child’s behalf, there are several restrictions on accepting a private settlement offer in their child’s name, as well as on how recovered funds may be spent before the child turns 18. Once again, a qualified legal professional can go into more detail about these rules during an initial meeting.
For the most part, holding an adult legally at fault for injuring a child through their negligence works the same as it would if that adult had injured another adult filing suit on their own behalf. It is worth noting, though, that adults are sometimes liable for injuries to children in situations where they would not be liable for an injury to an adult—situations that a skilled child injury lawyer in Brentwood can help navigate.
For instance, if a property owner has an “attractive nuisance” on their property, such as construction equipment or an unsecured swimming pool that might entice curious children into trespassing on their property, that property owner has a legal duty to restrict access to their land so that children too young to understand the risks associated with that hazard cannot easily reach it. Failure to do so might open that property owner up to civil liability for any injury suffered by a trespassing minor child directly when they otherwise would not be liable for harm suffered by a trespassing adult.
Personal injury lawsuits pursued on behalf of minor children can be both legally and emotionally challenging endeavors. Fortunately, assistance is available from a team of dedicated legal professionals who are ready to stand by your family’s side every step of the way throughout your legal proceedings.
Discussing your options with a Brentwood child injury lawyer at OnderLaw is the key first step to protecting your child’s rights and future prospects. Call today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you seek justice.
