There is nothing more heartbreaking than an injury to a child. Sure, all injuries are bad, but it's our job as adults to make sure the kids in our lives are ok. Kids trust that we will keep them safe. When a child gets injured, in addition to the issues surrounding the physical injury, there are emotional implications as well. The parents feel devastated that they somehow let their child down (even when this is clearly not the case). The child may develop irrational fears or nightmares, and may suffer from a loss of trust. All in all, an injury to a child can turn a whole family upside down.
Children often require different medical treatment from adults as well. Often a child will have to be evaluated by a pediatric specialist. The implications of an injury to a child's brain or spine may be quite different from the same type of injury in an adult.
Now throw into that mix the legal complexities of a claim on behalf of an injured child. The law regarding injury claims made on behalf of minors are significantly different from the laws governing adult claims. The time limits may be different. Because the child cannot make a claim in his or her own name, a guardian may need to be appointed to represent the child's interests. The insurance company may be giving you advice that is inaccurate or misleading. If you listen to the insurance company without consulting an attorney who represents you and your child, you may risk losing some or all of your claims. The stress of all of this can be overwhelming when your family is just trying to get things back to normal.
All of these factors make it essential that you consult an attorney right away whenever a child is injured due to someone else's negligence. Children can be injured as a result of negligent supervision at day care or school. They can be hurt, sometimes seriously, in playgrounds or swimming pools. They are often injured in school bus accidents. Any time a child suffers any kind of injuries in one of these situations, you should consult an attorney who has experience handing claims for minors.
At the Law Offices of Matthew D. Dubin, we are committed to looking out for the interests of all our clients, but especially the children. We have extensive experience representing injured children and their families in all kinds of claims including motor vehicle accidents, playground accidents, medical malpractice and more.
For more information regarding injuries to children and the procedures for handling these claims, please visit our website, send me an email at matt@dubinlawoffice.com or just give us a call at 206-720-1501. We'll listen to you and let you know if we can help.
