Accidents Involving Children

Claims involving children require an experienced yet delicate approach. If you choose us to handle your child’s case, we promise to act with the utmost sensitivity. We’ll apply our extensive knowledge as personal injury solicitors to get the outcome your family deserves.

Call us on 01 901 1355, email info@rnlsolicitors.ie or fill in the Free Online Enquiry Form. You can also request a call back and we will contact you at a convenient time.

Child accident claims*

It’s well known that children have accidents. But what if your child’s accident happened because of someone else’s mistakes? If these mistakes amount to negligence, then it may be possible to pursue legal action against those at fault. This could be an individual (as in the case of a car accident) or it could be an organisation (as in the case of a defective toy).

Child accident claims can happen for all sorts of reasons, with some of the most common including:

Car Accidents
Dangerous toys or defective equipment
Dog bites or other animal attacks
Fairground accidents
Medical negligence
Pedestrian accidents
Public place accidents
School or nursery accidents

**Who can make a claim* for an accident involving children?**

Accident claims involving children are different to accident claims involving adults. People are under the age of 18 are considered minors and cannot bring legal action on their own. Instead, a parent or legal guardian must bring a claim on the child’s behalf. For the purposes of legal proceedings, this person is known as the ‘next friend’. Alternatively, the child can wait until their 18^th birthday to begin the claims process in their own name.

**How long does a child have to bring a personal injury claim*?**

A child has until their 20^th birthday to bring a claim. This differs to most other types of personal injury claim in Ireland, which must be made within two years of the accident or the date of knowledge. This extra time is highly advantageous, as the full extent of a child’s injuries is not always known straightaway. It may be years before the true impact of the accident is fully understood.

Court approval

Where a child is wrongfully injured, a claim is made through the Injuries Board (with the exception of medical negligence claims). The Injuries Board will assess the claim and determine an appropriate sum of compensation. This must be approved by a court. If the court finds the settlement to be insufficient, the other side must either increase the settlement offer, or court proceedings must be initiated.

When does an injured child receive their settlement?

Once the claim settles, the compensation is usually held by the court until the child reaches the age of 18. However, funds can be released to cover costs such as medical treatment, care or specialist equipment.

Specialist child accident solicitors

Claims involving children require an experienced hand. Not only is the process slightly different to other types of claims, it is also much more complex. A solicitor must establish exactly how your child’s life will be affected – both now and in the future. Where serious injuries have been sustained, medical and care costs must be recovered for the years to come. Specialist equipment and adaptations to the home may also be needed to help your child live as comfortably as possible.

Then there’s the emotional impact to consider. Seeing your child suffer harm as a result of another person’s/organisation’s negligence is something no parent wants to live through. You, your child and the rest of your family will no doubt be feeling angry and upset. At RNL Solicitors, we understand the trauma you’re going through. We promise to handle your child’s case with sensitivity and respect, while at the same time fighting to get the support you need.

What to do if your child is injured in an accident

If your child is injured in an accident, we recommend that you:

1. Get immediate medical attention

Take your child to see a doctor straightaway. Urgent medical treatment may be required, even if there are no obvious injuries.

2. Take photos of the accident scene

If applicable, take photos of the scene of the accident, or the item that injured your child. If you can’t get there yourself, ask someone else to do it for you.

3. Report the accident

Report the accident to the individual or organisation you consider responsible for your child’s accident. For example, this could be your child’s school, a toy company, or a driver’s insurance company.

4. Get witness names and contact details

If anyone else saw the accident happen, take down their names and contact details. This could be other parents, teachers, neighbours or people passing by.

5. Contact our accident solicitors

Then, contact our specialist personal injury solicitors. We offer friendly, professional legal advice to those who have been injured through no fault of their own.

We understand how distressing it is when a child is harmed. As experts in this area of the law, we can suggest what to do next. If there are grounds for a claim, we can help you.

Speak to our personal injury solicitors Ireland

Speak to our personal injury solicitors about your child’s accident. We offer friendly, practical legal advice – completely free of charge.