When your child is injured, it can feel devastating. You may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of your child if someone else’s negligence caused the injury. A Washington, DC child injury lawyer can explain your options.
Children have legal rights just like everyone else. When a child is hurt in an accident, they may have a claim for personal injury. The parent or legal guardian of the child can file a lawsuit on behalf of the minor child. Through the lawsuit, the child may be awarded money to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other costs.
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Children can be injured in many different kinds of accidents. Injuries commonly occur in car accidents, sporting events, daycares, school bus crashes, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, and playground and pool accidents.
If your child was injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a claim on their behalf for compensation under personal injury law.
Whether you’re ready to file a claim today or you’re not sure if a lawsuit is the right path for you and your child, a child injury lawyer in Washington, DC can give you a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (202) 960-4596 or send us a message now to schedule your case evaluation today.
The Washington, DC child injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have extensive experience with injury claims and they have represented cases of national significance. In one case, we obtained $4.2 million settlement for an injured six-year-old child who fell from defective playground equipment. It is one of the first and largest verdicts in the Washington, DC regarding unsafe playground equipment.
We have investigated and pursued premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability and bicycle accident cases successfully among others for decades and have achieved outstanding results for families and their injured children. We have the resources necessary to successfully handle these complex legal cases.
Our award-winning trial attorneys have more than 40 years of experience exclusively practicing personal injury law. Contact our personal injury law firm in Washington, DC to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney about your case.
Children can be injured in many of the same ways that adults. Because of their smaller size, the injuries they suffer can be more serious. An accident that causes minor injuries to an adult can be catastrophic to a child. The most common injuries that children suffer include:
When your child is seriously injured, no amount of compensation can make everything fine. While nothing can make you feel whole again, compensation can ensure your injured child has everything they need to grow and improve as much as possible. Medical expenses and costs add up quickly, especially if special care will be needed throughout your child’s life. Caring for a severely injured child with a permanent disability caused by an accident is a lifelong journey. Compensation can ensure your child receives the best possible care and accommodations possible.
If you child tragically died as a result of an accident, compensation cannot relieve your pain and suffering. It can, however, pay for any medical expenses and funeral costs.
An experienced Washington, DC child injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation from the negligent person that caused your child’s injury or death. When a lawyer takes your case, this is what you can expect:
A lawsuit it started in court by filing a complaint, which is a document that outlines what happened to your child and how the negligent party caused the injuries. The negligent person who caused your child’s injury is called the defendant. Your child, as the injured person or victim, is called the plaintiff. The defendant responds to the plaintiff’s complaint with a document called an answer.
Next, the “discovery” process begins, where each side exchanges documents and information that will serve as the evidence at trial.
Once the discovery process is complete, both sides may file papers with the court, called motion practice, asking the court to make decisions on certain parts of the case based upon the information and documents obtained during discovery. Ultimately, both sides prepare for trial. Many personal injury cases result in a settlement agreement rather than a verdict at trial. Settlement is possible at any point before, during, or even after trial.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), for every 100,000 U.S. children, nearly 9 of them will suffer a fatal injury every year. The most common types of injuries are:
Your child may be entitled to recover money for any or all of the following:
If your child’s accident results in severe injuries, they may be entitled to more financial compensation. The amount of compensation is different for every accident. Our DC child injury lawyers can provide you with an estimate of the compensation your child deserves after a financial analysis and investigation to answer these questions:
When your child is injured in an accident, you must file your claim against the person who caused the injury within a specific period of time called the statute of limitations. Under DC law and Maryland law, you must file your claim within three years of the accident. In Virginia, you have even less time: two years from the date of the accident.
If your child was injured by someone else who was acting negligently, you will likely file a personal injury claim against the person, or people, that caused the accident.
If the injury to your child was caused by a defective product, such as a faulty car seat or a dangerous piece of playground equipment, you may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer who made the product. You may also be able to sue the retailer who sold the product to you.
If your child’s injury occurred on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a premises liability claim against the property owner. Common scenarios include a homeowner who does not have a fence around their pool, or a hotel owner whose property was somehow dangerous.
The answer is almost always yes, especially if your injuries are serious or your medical expenses are high. The sooner you hire an attorney, the easier and more efficiently your personal injury lawyer can resolve your case. In order to receive compensation from the at-fault person or entity, you must show that the person or entity actually caused your injuries through negligence or recklessness. A personal injury lawyer will work to collect the necessary evidence to show who caused your injuries, negotiate on your behalf to obtain the compensation you deserve, and advocate for changes in law or safety measures to ensure others do not suffer the same kinds of injuries in the future. Your personal injury lawyer can also handle any necessary discussions with witnesses, other lawyers, and insurance companies.
The lawyers of Regan Zambri Long are passionate about helping the families of injured kids. We want to help you and your family move forward in the best way possible. We have deep compassion for our clients who are devastated by their child’s injuries. We understand how hard it is to handle. We recognize that childhood injuries can lead to a lifetime of expensive medical care. This is why we fight for your child’s rights.
For one of our clients, we won a verdict of $7.5 million for a child injured in an accident.
We have received many awards and much recognition for our extensive experience in personal injury cases. Our attorneys have been named as some of the best lawyers in the country. For example, Regan Zambri Long attorneys have received the following accolades, just to name a few:
If your child is suffering as a result of an accident, you may have mounting medical bills and costs. Because we know how challenging it can be after a child suffers an injury, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no attorney fees charged to you unless we recover funds on your child’s behalf as a verdict in court or a settlement.