Your child can suffer an injury in Summerville, South Carolina, that occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence. In this situation, you want your child to get the care they need to recover fully. To achieve your goal, you may need help from a Summerville personal injury lawyer.
At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we believe anyone that causes a child to suffer an injury should be held accountable for their actions. If you want help with a child injury lawsuit in Summerville, get in touch with us today. A Summerville child injury attorney from our team can help you file a personal injury lawsuit on your child’s behalf right away.
Why a Child Can Suffer an Injury in Summerville
Some of the most common causes of child injuries in Summerville include the following.
Falls
Research indicates more than 2.2 million kids under the age of 14 are treated for fall-related injuries at hospital emergency rooms in the United States every year. If a child falls and gets hurt, they require medical care, which can be expensive. On top of that, a child that falls can experience an injury that affects them into adulthood.
Car Accidents
A child may play outside their home and get struck by a negligent driver. In this scenario, a parent can file a car accident lawsuit for their child. The lawsuit allows the parent to seek compensation from the negligent driver to cover any medical costs relating to the child’s injury.
Dog Bites
It is a dog owner’s responsibility to take care of their pet and ensure it does not bite a child. Otherwise, if a dog bites a child, the pet’s owner can be held responsible. This individual can face a dog bite accident lawsuit and be required to pay the child’s injury treatment costs.
The Shelly Leeke Law Firm has helped many clients secure thousands of dollars in settlements in child injury lawsuits. Reach out to a Summerville child injury lawyer from our firm. At this point, we can take a look at your case and help you request damages from any responsible for your child’s injury.
How Much Time You Have to File a Summerville Child Injury Lawsuit
Generally, you have up to three years from the date your child suffers an injury in Summerville to file a personal injury lawsuit. This lines up with South Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims. If you do not file a child injury lawsuit within three years of the date your child’s injury occurs, you cannot do so at a later date.
A child injury attorney in Summerville will make sure your lawsuit is filed right away. Initially, the lawyer learns as much as they can about your child’s injury, how it occurred, and who is responsible for it. Next, the attorney files your lawsuit in alignment with South Carolina’s statute of limitations and helps you build your argument.
The best child injury lawyer in Summerville gathers and reviews the evidence and takes other steps to ensure your argument is compelling. In addition, the attorney negotiates with the defendant’s attorney on your behalf. This may help you settle your child’s injury claim outside the courtroom.
How a Summerville Child Injury Personal Injury Settlement Works
You may have the option to accept a personal injury settlement in your Summerville child injury case. For example, the defendant can propose a settlement before your case goes to trial. You then can approve, decline, or counter the offer, and the choice you make will dictate whether a trial is required.
If you receive a personal injury settlement offer, consult with your lawyer. You are not required to accept an offer, but reviewing the proposal with your lawyer can help you weigh its pros and cons. With your attorney’s assistance, you can make an informed decision regarding an offer.
For those who decide against accepting a settlement proposal, your case moves forward. You and your attorney continue to work together and prepare for your trial. When your trial commences, you and your lawyer present your argument to a judge or jury and find out if damages will be awarded.
Damages that You Can Receive in a Summerville Child Injury Case
In a child injury lawsuit, you can request compensation relating to your child’s medical bills and similar expenses. The amount of compensation you should request varies based on the child injury expenses that you have incurred or will be forced to deal with moving forward. Your attorney can calculate an appropriate amount of damages to request and ensure you ask for the most compensation possible.
You may request economic damages for any quantifiable losses in your child injury case. There is no cap on the amount of economic damages you request. In some child injury lawsuits, plaintiffs request tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic damages.
Along with economic damages, you may seek non-economic compensation in your child injury lawsuit. Non-economic damages may be awarded for pain, suffering, and other subjective losses. In most instances, there is no cap on the amount of non-economic damages you can request in a child injury lawsuit.
When to Hire a Summerville Child Injury Lawyer
After your child suffers an injury and gets the medical help they need, find a Summerville child injury attorney. You can set up a meeting with a child injury lawyer in Summerville. This meeting allows you to share your legal concerns and questions with a lawyer.
During an initial meeting, you can get insights into how a child injury lawyer can help you win or settle your case. Meanwhile, the lawyer can learn about all aspects of your case. If there is a good fit for both sides, you can get started with your child injury lawsuit.
Over the course of your litigation, your child injury lawyer represents your best interests. Your lawyer keeps you up to date as they get ready for your trial. If you need legal assistance at any time during your litigation, your attorney is available to help you out.
Partner with a Summerville Child Injury Lawyer
The Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers instant access to legal services for child injury cases in Summerville. For more information or to request a free consultation, please contact us today.
