Most children will experience scrapes, bruises, and maybe even a broken bone or two. However, sometimes a child is seriously injured because another person was careless or reckless. When that happens, the negligent parties can be held financially accountable for the injuries caused to your minor child.
If your child had a severe injury and the incident was somebody else’s fault, talk to a skilled attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. Our Norristown child injury lawyers know how to fight for your family’s best interests. Founding Partner Jon Ostroff won a $3.5 million settlement in Montgomery County on behalf of a child struck by a drunk driver while riding her bike near her house. She suffered fractures to her face, ribs, and clavicle and a mild traumatic brain injury. We are prepared to support and represent you and your child throughout this difficult time.
Situations That Might Cause Childhood Injuries
As a parent, you could raise a claim or file a lawsuit if another person, company, or government agency did not take care to protect your child. Your lawyer must prove that your child would not have been injured except for the other party’s conduct – their action or inaction.
Our Norristown attorneys are experienced in winning child injury cases involving various scenarios, such as:
- Mistakes during the child’s birth by a doctor, nurse, or midwife
- Distracted school bus drivers
- Dangerous equipment on a playground
- Drunk drivers
- Negligent daycare teachers
- Swimming pool accidents
- Defective sports or exercise equipment
Whatever the situation that caused your child’s injury, talking to a seasoned legal professional can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. A Norristown lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can work to make the responsible parties pay for the incident that harmed your child.
Important Timeframes in Norristown Child Injury Cases
When a child gets hurt, the child’s parents usually file a lawsuit asking for compensation. The parents could get reimbursed for the child’s medical expenses and costs of care. They also could recover for the child’s pain and suffering, lost career or other financial opportunities, disability, and other effects of the injury. However, Pennsylvania Statute §5524 requires parents to file suit within two years of the child’s injury.
When the child turns 18, they could also bring a lawsuit on their own behalf. They have two years from their 18th birthday to file suit. A seasoned child injury lawyer at our firm can help seek damages for their:
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Reduced employment opportunities
- Emotional suffering
- Future costs related to caring for the injury
- Services they require, like in-home support from a nurse’s aide
Your lawyer might recommend that you file a lawsuit as soon as possible after your child’s accident while the evidence is fresh. It is usually simpler to prove another party’s negligence soon after an accident occurs. But if a claim was not previously made, and your child has injury-related expenses when they become an adult, they could sue for compensation before their 20th birthday.
Handling Damages Until the Child Turns 18
When parents sue for their child’s injuries, the money they receive belongs to the child. Courts want to protect it until the child reaches 18, so parents must follow specific procedures with the funds.
First, a judge must approve any settlement. The judge will review an agreement and ensure it is in the child’s best interest. Sometimes, but not always, there will be a court hearing where the judge will question the parents and, if they are old enough, the child.
If the child receives less than $10,000, the payment typically goes to the parents. If the child gets a larger award, the Probate Court supervises the money. Parents can request funds to provide necessary care for the child, but the court tries to preserve the money for the child. A seasoned Norristown lawyer can further explain how the money would be handled in your child injury case.
Consult a Norristown Attorney About Your Child’s Injury Claim
If someone’s recklessness or carelessness injured your child, you have the right to be angry. You also have the right to hold them accountable and make them pay.
Call a Norristown child injury lawyer as soon as you can. With help from the dedicated attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, you can protect your child’s future. You will not pay anything until we get the compensation your family deserves, so reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
