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It is devastating to find out that your child has gotten into an accident and suffered a serious injury, especially if that accident stemmed from an adult’s reckless or careless behavior. Fortunately, you could take legal action on your child’s behalf and seek compensation for all the harm suffered by your child.
However, child injury cases can be particularly tricky to pursue without legal guidance, so retaining the help of a seasoned personal injury attorney is often an essential first step in the litigation process. A qualified and compassionate Murfreesboro child injury lawyer could help you understate how state law applies to your situation and work diligently to secure a favorable case resolution on behalf of you and your family.
Unfortunately, children are often especially likely to suffer physical harm in the event of an accident compared to adults subjected to similar impacts. Car crashes, slipping or tripping accidents, healthcare provider errors, and vehicles striking a child on their bike or walking alongside a road can all lead to devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences for both an injured child and their family.
There are also certain accidents which children are uniquely susceptible to, like school bus crashes and playground accidents, as well as situations in which an injury to a child might give rise to a case when the same injury suffered by an adult would not. For example, if an owner of private land does not take appropriate steps to prevent children from trespassing onto their land, they may bear civil liability for any injury a minor suffers from exposure to an “attractive nuisance” like a swimming pool or a piece of construction equipment, whereas they would not be liable for injuries to a trespassing adult. A local child injury attorney could help a parent understand whether they may have grounds to file suit given the circumstances of their child’s accident.
Like with any civil case involving unintentional harm, the plaintiff in a child injury case generally must prove either legal negligence by the defendant that proximately led to their child getting hurt, or strict liability on the defendant’s part for the situation that led to the child’s harm. In cases involving negligence, comparative liability has the potential to reduce available recovery if a court thinks an injured minor was old enough to be aware that they were doing something dangerous or unsafe.
Furthermore, the same one-year statutory filing deadline applicable to other personal injury cases in Tennessee also applies to child injury cases, with an exception. Since minors cannot represent their own best interests in any kind of court case, the one-year filing period for a child injury case does not begin until the child in question turns 18 years old. That being said, retaining a child injury lawyer in Murfreesboro as soon as possible can be key to ensuring relevant evidence and testimony remains accessible.
No child should have to deal with the painful effects of a serious injury, nor should any adult act irresponsibly in a way that puts a child at risk of harm. Unfortunately, if your child was harmed by another’s negligence, you may be struggling to handle financial burdens while caring for your child.
If you would like to take action against the party responsible for the harm your child suffered, compassionate legal counsel could help you do so effectively and efficiently. Contact a Murfreesboro child injury lawyer today to discuss your situation and learn more about your options.