Turlock is home to many sights and sounds, including places where children are prevalent. With a variety of schools and parks such as Augusta Bates Children’s PlayPark and Crane Park, you will see children every day if you take a drive through Turlock. Though parents always want to do what keeps their children safe from harm, accidents still occur around every corner.
At Maison Law, our attorneys offer representation to families whose children have been injured in serious but preventable accidents. Far too often, we believe that others do not watch out for the well-being of children, who are some of the most vulnerable parties on our roads and beyond. If your child has been hurt in an accident and you believe that another party is to blame, it is imperative that you contact a lawyer who can handle your claim from start to finish.
Common Types of Turlock Accidents Involving Children
Since children have always-developing minds, there is always a chance that they could make a simple mistake that leads to a catastrophic accident. Children are involved in serious accidents annually in Turlock, some of which include the following:
Car Accidents: One of the most common types of accidents that land children in the hospital each year are car accidents. Children are seriously injured in car accidents every year due to reasons that include driver distractions, speeding, intoxication, and more.
Pedestrian/Bicycle Accidents: Pedestrians and bicyclists are incredibly vulnerable parties, which means that being involved in one of these accidents is bound to lead to injuries and even fatalities. Children are even more susceptible to these accidents because they are not always aware of the dangers on our roads around them.
Dog Bite Accidents: Young children may not realize how dangerous some dogs are, getting in their faces and sustaining a dog bite attack. Due to the severity of some dog bite incidents, a child may require extensive treatment and surgery.
Product Defects: Manufacturers and companies have a duty to design products that are safe for children and other individuals. A manufacturer can be held liable if a product they put on shelves was defective and caused serious injury.
Premises Liability: If a child is injured on somebody else’s property due to the negligence of an owner, a premises liability claim could result.
Injuries Children Sustain in Turlock Accidents
Because children are vulnerable, they are sometimes likely to sustain life-altering injuries in an accident. On top of this, children’s injuries can sometimes take a long time to heal or follow a child throughout their entire life. Here are some of the most common types of injuries that children sustain in accidents in Turlock each year:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries/Paralysis
- Amputation of limbs
- Broken bones
- Disfigurement or scarring injuries
- Hearing or vision loss
- Internal organ damage or bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries
The injuries that a child sustains can be painful and devastating. These injuries can keep a child from enjoying certain things in their life or keep them from a career in the future. Because of this, parents may seek the help of a lawyer who has handled child injury claims through these difficult times.
Can a Child Be Liable for Their Own Injuries?
After a child is injured in an accident, individuals and their insurance companies may try to point the blame on a child. A driver, for instance, may claim that a child ran out in front of their vehicle as they were driving and they were unable to stop in time, causing a pedestrian accident. However, children cannot appreciate the consequences of an accident, which means that a driver could still be held liable for the harm that they have caused a child. Comparative negligence is not as easy to show in cases involving children for these reasons.
You may think that an insurance company would never try to take money away from a child who has been injured, but insurance companies care a lot about keeping their money. Because cases involving children can be worth a lot, an insurance company will always try to undervalue or completely deny a claim. Parents have the right to seek help from a legal advocate so that they can ensure that their child’s rights are being protected along the way.
Who Can Bring a Turlock Injury Claim on Behalf of a Child?
Children are not legally able to bring a personal injury claim until they are 18 years of age. This means that somebody else has to bring a claim on their behalf after they have been injured – but who?
In California, parents or a guardian of a child under 18 years of age can bring a personal injury claim on their child’s behalf. Even though parents have a longer time to file a personal injury claim for a child, they should never delay so that no financial opportunities are missed. Some of the damages that may be available in a personal injury claim involving a child include the following:
- Medical expenses the child incurred or expects to incur
- Lost wages if the child is unable to work in the future due to their injury
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Therapy costs
- Caregiving costs to a caregiver or parent who has to take time to care for the child
You do not want any expenses to be missed when you are bringing a claim on behalf of a child, especially because your child’s well-being is most important to you. This is why you should never wait to seek help during these trying times.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Turlock Involving Children
The most devastating type of accident is one where the life of a child is taken prematurely due to another party’s actions. When you have lost a child in a catastrophic accident, you and your family may be feeling lost and alone. As you are grieving, you should not be faced with endless bills and stress from the insurance company. Luckily, you have the right to file a wrongful death claim on your child’s behalf after their life has been taken in an accident.
There are several parties who can successfully bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of a child, including a parent of the child, a guardian, or a personal representative of the child’s estate. In a wrongful death claim, you may find that you are eligible for the following types of support:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Nursing costs and other medical bills your child incurred before their passing
- Future lost wages and other related benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium or companionship
Having help from a compassionate and knowledgeable wrongful death attorney is vital when it comes to finding success during these complicated and confusing times.
Contact a Turlock Personal Injury Lawyer if Your Child Has Been Injured in an Accident
At Maison Law, our Turlock personal injury lawyers have years of experience assisting families after their children have been hurt in serious accidents. We believe that nobody’s child should ever suffer and no parent should ever have to pay for the actions of a negligent party. Our attorneys will stand by your side and provide your family with necessary resources to move forward with a personal injury claim. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a no-obligation case review today.
