As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children. Unfortunately, when another person’s reckless behavior harms them, their safety may be out of your hands.
If your child has been in an accident that was someone else’s fault, contact an Elyria child injury lawyer to discuss your options for seeking justice. A qualified attorney can negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company on your behalf or initiate a civil lawsuit to pursue compensation for your child.
Common Child Injuries in Elyria
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that increased awareness of child injuries has resulted in a decrease in these injuries over the past several years. They still happen, however, and can be devastating for children and families alike.
Some of the leading causes of child injuries are falls, car accidents, drowning incidents, fires, and accidental poisonings. While a child’s injuries are not always attributable to another party’s negligence, an Elyria attorney could review a child’s accident and determine whether someone is liable and how much compensation is needed for recovery.
When Do Child Injuries Result in Lawsuits?
When a child’s injuries are the result of another person’s negligence, legal action may be the best course of action with the help of an Elyria lawyer. Negligence is a civil action involving a person who has breached a duty to act reasonably around the plaintiff, leading to otherwise preventable harm. Further, many injuries occur while the child is supposed to be supervised, but the caregiver gets distracted or careless.
Defective Products
In some cases, children are injured by defective products, often leading to civil liability for the manufacturer. Manufacturers label products by age appropriateness and should also include a warning label if a toy contains small parts that young children could choke on. Products that have injured children include car seats, cribs, bouncy seats, prescription drugs with caps that are not childproof, and bicycles.
Attractive Nuisance and Premises Liability
Children often do not understand a calculated risk and may seek a thrill that ends in injury. In 2001, the Ohio Supreme Court reinforced what is called the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine, making it a property owner’s responsibility to secure “attractive nuisances” so children cannot gain access to them and injure themselves. The most common example of attractive nuisances that lead to child injuries is unsecured pools.
Other common examples of attractive nuisances include tunnels and abandoned buildings and cars. A legal professional at our firm can review an individual’s case concerning a child’s injury and determine an appropriate course of action.
Other Examples of Negligence
Some other examples of negligence resulting in injured children include:
- Medical malpractice, including labor and delivery issues
- Dog attacks
- Negligent caregivers at school, daycare, camp, and sports activities
Recovering Damages after a Child Injury in Elyria
The child and his or her family could be compensated for medical bills, pain associated with the injuries, loss of the enjoyment of life, and even the parents’ lost wages for having to miss work to care for their child. The world is fraught with danger, and when children are harmed by others through carelessness, an Elyria lawyer could help their families seek justice and fair compensation from the defendant.
Let an Elyria Child Injury Attorney Advocate for Your Family
Parents whose children are injured because someone else was careless have legal recourse. Call our firm today for your initial consultation with an Elyria child injury lawyer. We deal with insurance companies, and we can file a lawsuit on your child’s behalf to relieve you of that burden.
