Serious Child Injury Compensation Claims
When a child suffers from a serious personal injury, it can be a traumatic experience for the whole family. If the injury results in hospital treatment and long periods of rehabilitation, it can be very painful and distressing to experience. That’s why it’s important to get the right help in place.
At JMW, not only will we work towards securing your child the compensation they are entitled to, but we can also assist with medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as help them to adapt to how their everyday life has been affected as a result of the accident.
We will assess your child’s claim and advise on the best course of action for you and your child throughout the lifetime of your claim. Our skilful team of child injury lawyers is ready to act on your behalf to seek compensation for your injured son or daughter.
To speak to a solicitor about making a serious child accident claim, get in touch with us today by calling 0345 872 6666, or by filling in our online enquiry form to request a call back.
How JMW Can Help You Make a Claim
Our goal with any claim is to help to restore your child to the position they were in before the accident, or as close to that position as possible. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to child accident claims, particularly with more serious injuries, as it may take some time for the full impact of the accident to become clear.
A claim doesn’t just ensure that the child receives compensation for injuries, or financial assistance with costly medical expenses. It can also take into account a range of other issues, such as:
- Time parents/family members have taken off work
- Time missed from school
- Damaged clothing or personal possessions
- Additional care required for your child
We have a successful track record of winning compensation in serious child personal injury cases. When you work with us, you will receive clear and understandable legal advice as we aim to provide you with the best possible chance of being awarded compensation for your child’s injuries. Our solicitors have built a strong reputation by consistently securing compensation for our clients with hard work and legal expertise.
Our solicitors operate nationwide from our offices in Manchester and London, providing our clients with the best possible customer service wherever they are in the country.
Making a Claim on a Child’s Behalf
When a child is injured, the law provides that a claim should be made before their 21st birthday. There are some exceptions to this rule but they only apply in very exceptional circumstances and you should seek legal advice if you are unsure about this. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, then take legal advice well in advance of your child’s 21st birthday.
It is up to a responsible person over the age of 18 to make a claim on a child’s behalf. This person, known as a ‘litigation friend’ in legal terms, is usually one of the child’s parents; however, grandparents and other relatives and legal guardians are also able to act on behalf of the child.
Our expert solicitors have the sensitivity and empathy needed to make sure that dealing with the claim is as stress-free as possible. If required, we will put you in touch with the appropriate medical and rehabilitation experts, as well as ensure any potential educational issues are understood and care requirements are anticipated. We will also make sure that the final compensation award is reflective of what your child’s needs may be in the future.
Common Causes of Injuries to Children
Children can often be involved in accidents caused by somebody else’s negligence or through a lack of safety provision. Our solicitors are experienced in dealing with the entire spectrum of personal injuries and can handle serious child injury claims as a result of a number of circumstances, including:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Road traffic accidents
- Dog bites
- Falls from height
- Accidents on school trips
- Accidents during sporting activities
- Food poisoning
- School, college or nursery accidents
- Accidents involving defective products
- Accidents at a funfair or amusement park
- Accidents on holiday
- Accidents in a public place
We also have experience in handling child accident claims caused by bouncy castle accidents.
Regardless of how your child has developed their injury, if it was caused by somebody else’s negligence, you are entitled to make a claim for compensation on their behalf.
FAQs About Serious Child Injury Compensation Claims
- How much compensation could my child receive for their injury?
It is difficult to determine exactly how much compensation you are likely to receive for your child as it is based on a number of factors, including the extent of their injury, its impact on their life and the likely impact on their future. Any costs incurred at the time of the injury and thereafter will also be considered.
Our personal injury solicitors can give you an indication of how much your child injury compensation claim is worth.
- How do I pay for my child’s personal injury compensation claim?
All personal injury claims handled by JMW are taken on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. This means that should the claim be unsuccessful, you will not have to pay any legal fees. If a claim is successful, the legal fees will usually be included in a compensation settlement.
- What is a serious child injury?
As a parent, any injury to your child will be serious. In legal terms, an injury is deemed serious if there has been a detrimental impact on a child’s life and their future since the injury. Other examples of factors that make an injury serious include, but are not limited to:
- A child spending an extended period in hospital
- A child’s development is likely to be impaired as a result of the injury
- A child suffers a condition or pain that they did not have before the injury
- What evidence do I need to make a child injury claim?
There is certain information that should be collected, if possible, to help your claim. This includes:
- The date and time that the accident occurred
- Details of where the accident took place - supporting these details with photographs can be very useful
- The contact details of any witnesses to the accident
- If your child was involved in a road traffic accident, you will need to provide the name and address of the driver responsible for the accident, if they did not flee the scene
- If your child was injured by an animal, details of the type of animal, the name and contact details of the owner and whether the animal was under anybody’s control will need to be provided
- If the accident took place in school or on a playground or park, you will need to provide details of who was responsible for the child at the time of the accident (e.g. a teacher) and the local authority responsible for that location
If it is not possible to collect all of the information outlined above, this should not put you off making a claim with JMW. Our solicitors have helped many families make claims for accidents involving their children, so we will be able to provide advice on how you can make further enquiries for the information.
Start Your Claim Today
If your child has suffered a catastrophic injury that was the fault of another individual or organisation you could be entitled to claim compensation on your child’s behalf. Get in touch with JMW today by calling 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
