If your child has recently suffered devastating injuries due to their caregiver’s negligence, you may have the right to pursue legal action against those responsible. The at-fault party should pay.
Your child’s safety should have been a top priority. There is no reason you should be stuck covering the costs, and your child should be forced to deal with the ramifications of someone else’s wrongful actions. With help from an experienced Forest Acres child injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you can demand justice.
A dedicated Forest Acres personal injury lawyers at our firm will work tirelessly to build a powerful case against the liable party so you can recover maximum compensation and ensure your child has access to the resources they will need to improve their quality of life. Contact our office for a free consultation
Common Types of Child Injuries in Forest Acres
Children’s injuries are often far more devastating than adults. Although children are resilient, the injuries they sustain, if severe enough, could follow them into adulthood and affect them for the rest of their lives.
Depending on the type of accident your child was involved in, a wide range of injuries are possible. Some of the most common types of injuries we sue for in Forest Acres include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Broken and fractured bones
- Dental and facial injuries
- Neck and jaw injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ failure
- Septic shock from deep lacerations
- Puncture wounds
These are just a few examples of injuries children are diagnosed with after serious accidents. Discuss the specific circumstances of your case with a child injury attorney in Forest Acres, SC, to explore your legal options further.
Accidents Known for Causing Forest Acres Child Injuries
Nearly any type of accident can cause critical and life-threatening injuries to children. However, some types of accidents are more common than others, including:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Daycare injuries
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Playground accidents
- Classroom accidents
- Sexual abuse
- Trampoline accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites and attacks
Compensating Child Injury Victims and Families in Forest Acres
Your child’s life could be permanently affected by the accident they were involved in or their resulting injuries. For this reason, it is crucial to ensure they receive fair compensation. To accurately calculate the value of your claim, your child injury attorney will categorize your child’s damages as being economic or non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are a category of losses that describe monetary damages. These could include any out-of-pocket costs or outstanding debts that have not been taken care of. Some examples of recoverable economic damages in child injury claims include:
- The cost of necessary medical devices
- Prescription medication costs
- Ongoing medical treatment expenses
- Parent’s loss of income
- Parent’s diminished earning capacity
- Your child’s diminished earning capacity
- Unexpected childcare expenses
- The cost of hiring household maintenance help
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages account for the ways your lives and your child’s life have been impacted by their injuries and the accident. Some examples of non-economic damages that could be recovered in your case include:
- Skin scarring
- Emotional distress
- Embarrassment
- Physical pain and suffering
- Fear
- Anticipation
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Apprehension
- Inconvenience
- Reputational damage
Punitive Damages
Due to the often extreme nature of child injury cases, punitive damages may also be possible in your case. However, punitive damages are generally only awarded when the South Carolina civil court system determines a defendant’s actions are intentionally harmful, malicious, grossly negligent, or reprehensible.
For example, if your child suffered severe brain trauma after being left in a hot car at daycare, and the daycare had previously been under investigation for a similar incident, the court system may determine punitive damages are appropriate in your case.
What to Expect from Your Child Injury Claims
If you are feeling intimidated thinking about bringing your case to court, you are not alone. Your child injury lawyer in Forest Acres can help you understand how the process works so you can feel confident in your decision to demand justice.
Although every person’s case is different, here is a general rundown of what you can expect after hiring an attorney to advocate for your child’s rights:
- We open up an investigation into how your child’s injuries occurred
- Our investigation will uncover valuable evidence we will use to support your case
- We examine the circumstances of your case to determine whether your family should file a claim with the insurance company, pursue a civil lawsuit, or a combination of both
- Our team will go over your family’s losses in detail to ensure we understand the true value of your case
- We will prepare insurance claim documents and negotiate with insurance adjusters on your family’s behalf
- If the at-fault party does not have insurance coverage or does not have enough insurance to meet your family’s needs, we will prepare your case for trial
Pursue Your Child Injury Case Before Time Runs Out
You should not have to rush through the claims process after a traumatic experience. However, the statute of limitations begins counting down from the day your child was injured.
Fortunately, despite the personal injury statute of limitations of three years under South Carolina Code of Laws §15-3-530, when children suffer injuries, the statute of limitations can be “tolled” or temporarily paused until the child reaches the legal age of pursuing their case under South Carolina Code of Laws §15-3-40. At that point, they will have one year to file suit before time runs out.
However, as the child’s parent or legal guardian, you do have the authority to file a child injury lawsuit on their behalf. You can discuss your options in greater detail when you meet with your child injury attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
Connect with a Forest Acres Child Injury Attorney in Forest Acres, SC Today
Are you ready to take action when your child has suffered debilitating injuries? If so, you may require the legal support of an experienced Forest Acres child injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Our team is standing by, ready to help you demand total financial compensation.
Learn more about what your next steps should be when you contact our office for a 100% free consultation. Complete our quick contact form or call us to begin preparing your insurance claims and civil lawsuits as soon as today.
