You may be considering contacting a car accident lawyer because your child was injured in a car accident that a negligent driver caused. However, you may be unsure if you as the parent can initiate a personal injury claim or a lawsuit on their behalf. If this describes your scenario, call us today to speak with one of our attorneys about your case. In the meantime, the following information may be helpful to you and your family.
Minor Versus Adult Children
If your injured child is a minor, and you are the legally recognized parent or guardian of that child, you have the right to pursue compensation for their injury-related damages on their behalf. When you hire a car accident lawyer from our firm, they will provide you with legal advice specific to your situation and all applicable laws. For example, if the law requires that a settlement provided to your child from the at-fault party must be deposited into a trust fund, our legal team will provide you with the necessary information. Your attorney will guide you through the legal process to ensure that your family abides by all laws and is protected from prosecution.
If your injured child is an adult, you cannot pursue a personal injury claim on their behalf unless they are unable to do so on their own. For instance, if they were significantly injured and are unable to care for themselves, a car accident lawyer from our firm can confirm whether or not you can hire legal counsel on their behalf. If they were fatally injured in an accident through no fault of their own, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death suit on their behalf. The law is very specific about who can do this on behalf of a deceased victim, so it is best to consult a skilled attorney from our firm to verify whether or not you can do so.
Recoverable Damages
If you are legally eligible to file a personal injury claim on behalf of your child after they were injured in an accident, there are a number of damages you can include. A skilled car accident lawyer can identify qualified damages that you may not realize can be included in the personal injury claim. After a careful and detailed review of your case and the circumstances of your child’s life before and after the accident, your attorney will detail those damages and their associated costs. An incomplete list of examples follows:
- Income. This includes the income they are unable to make while they recover from their injury and during the anticipated future recovery time. If their injury precludes them from returning to their job because they can’t perform those job duties, they may have to find another line of work. If their new vocation earns less income than their previous job, the difference in salary for their lifetime might be included as damages.
- Medical bills. A serious injury will almost always require significant medical care and that is costly. These costs, in addition to physical rehabilitation, might be included as damages.
- Pain and suffering. If your child is unable to drive or ride in a vehicle after the accident due to experiencing post-traumatic distress order, this is considered an injury just as real as a physical injury. This is also true of pain and suffering. Your car accident lawyer can determine a fair dollar amount to compensation for these damages.
Contact Us Today
Call us to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer if your child was seriously injured in a car accident that they did not cause. In the event you need legal advice, do not hesitate to contact an attorney, like a car accident lawyer trust, to assist you.
