West Palm Beach Child Injury Lawyer
Children get into accidents seemingly on a daily basis. While many injuries are simply the normal consequences of childhood, there are cases where a minor is harmed due to the negligence of another person or legal entity. In these cases, the child–acting through their parents–can seek to recover compensation through a personal injury claim.
There are a number of special laws governing injuries to minors in Florida. A qualified West Palm Beach child injury attorney can guide you through this process. Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather is a team of skilled Florida personal injury lawyers representing parents whose children have suffered serious–and often life-threatening–injuries due to the careless and reckless conduct of others.
Has Your Child Been Hurt Due to Someone Else’s Negligence?
Personal injury cases involving minors cover a wide range of accidents and professional negligence. Some of the more common situations we see with our youngest clients include:
- playground accidents caused by defective equipment;
- negligent supervision of minors while at daycare or in school;
- injuries caused by accidents while riding on a bus;
- sexual abuse;
- birth injuries caused by medical malpractice; or
- creating an “attractive nuisance” for children, such as leaving a swimming pool unlocked and unsupervised.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when discussing child injury claims in Florida. The first is that if your child’s injury occurred due to the negligence of the government, such as a public school or a county-run recreational facility, there are special rules you must follow to seek compensation on your child’s behalf. Among other things, these rules limit the amount of damages the state can be ordered to pay in connection with a child injury.
The other important rule is the statute of limitations. This is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit based on negligence. In March 2023, the Florida legislature cut the limitations period from four years to two years. This means that for most personal injury cases arising after March 2023, the injured party has just two years to file a lawsuit. But there are exceptions that may extend the time to file certain claims involving victims who are minors.
Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Today
Children under the age of 18 cannot file a lawsuit on their own. A parent or legal guardian must sue on the child’s behalf. So if your child has been injured, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
A personal injury claim can seek a wide range of damages to compensate your child for their injuries and ongoing losses. This includes economic damages to pay for their medical bills and rehabilitation costs. It can also include non-economic damages to cover their pain and suffering. In some cases it may even be possible to seek punitive damages against a defendant whose actions involve gross negligence.
If you need to speak with an experienced West Palm Beach child injury lawyer right away, contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather today to schedule a consultation.
