Minors are not eligible to file personal injury actions. When a child is hurt because of another person’s negligence, the parent or legal guardian may file on his or her behalf. Learn the basics on filing a claim for another person so that you may receive compensation for medical bills and recovery.
Types of Situations that Merit a Personal Injury Action
Our firm has worked with a lot of families, handling various kinds of injury cases for children and teenagers. Any injury or illness that arose from another party’s negligence may be just grounds for the parents to file an injury action.
Some of the most common types of child injury cases we handle include the following.
- Auto accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Accidents related to scooters, baby items, and defective toys
- Injuries caused by dangerous medications
- Birth injuries
- Accidents on playgrounds and at daycares
- Assaults at school
- Bus accidents
- Slip and fall accidents at amusement parks
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
Damages You Can Recover by Filing a Suit on Your Child’s Behalf
Ohio law stipulates that parents can seek recovery for damages after their child has been injured. Below are examples of compensable damages to which your family is entitled.
- Medical expenses, including those for treatments, rehabilitation, specialist appointments, follow-up care, medical products, and injury-related transportation expenses
- Future medical expenses (Up until the child turns 18, the parents recover the medical expenses. When the child reaches adulthood, s/he is the party that will receive the funds)
- Lost wages
- Attorney’s fees
- Physical pain and suffering
- Long-term disability or deformity
- Emotional distress
There’s a time limit on when you can file. Call Bressman Law for More Info
As with all personal injury cases, there is a time limit or statute of limitations on when you can file a claim. Generally, in most adult cases, there is a two-year deadline to file suit. The clock starts ticking at the time the injury occurred or at the time it was discovered. However, with children, the clock doesn’t start ticking until their eighteenth birthday. Regardless of when your child was injured, you have until their twentieth birthday to take legal action.
Be that as it may, if your child was injured, it’s highly advisable to take action as soon as possible. Waiting too long could mean lost evidence, blurred memories, and time spent without funds that your family needs for recovery.
For a free consultation with a child injury lawyer in Ohio, contact Bressman Law today at (614) 538-1116.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
