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At Chicago Personal Injury Attorney at Law, our Chicago Child Injury Lawyer helps families through tough times. We focus on cases where kids get hurt due to someone else's carelessness. Our team has helped numerous local families get money for medical bills after child injuries. We know how to handle these special cases with the care your family deserves.
Learn more about how negligent parties may lead to child injuries below. Then, contact our personal injury lawyers to see if we can file a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of your child.
Kids have special legal protections, but these cases need experts who know the rules. Many parents don't know all the options for recovering compensation to pay for the treatments their child needs. Our child injury lawyers know how to find all parties who might owe your family money for your child's severe injuries.
Insurance companies often try to settle quickly and cheaply in child injury cases. They know these cases can be worth more when handled right. Without a lawyer, you might accept much less than your child deserves. We make sure your child gets every dollar they need for both current and future care.
Children can get hurt in many different settings, from playgrounds to daycares to other people's homes. The most common causes we see include falls, car crashes, animal attacks, unsafe products, and adult neglect.
Playground injuries happen often when equipment isn't properly maintained or lacks safe surfaces below. Kids can break bones, get concussions, or suffer cuts when they fall from swings, slides, or climbing structures. Many of these accidents could be prevented with better supervision and safer playground design. School staff or park owners must keep playgrounds safe and watch children properly during playtime.
Children suffer unique injuries in car crashes because their bodies are still developing. Even with car seats and seat belts, kids can get serious injuries when vehicles crash. The impact can cause head trauma, broken bones, or internal injuries that may not show symptoms right away. Parents should get medical care for children after any crash, even if the child seems fine at first.
Dog attacks often target children because kids are smaller and may not know how to act safely around animals. These dog bites frequently happen to the face, arms, and hands, causing painful wounds and scary scars. Dog owners must control their pets and keep them away from children if the animal shows any aggression. Illinois law holds pet owners responsible when their dogs bite people without being provoked.
Daycare injuries happen when staff don't watch children closely or allow unsafe conditions. Kids can get hurt from falls, fights with other children, or access to dangerous items while in daycare. Good daycares must check their spaces for hazards and have enough staff to watch all children properly. Parents have the right to expect their children to be safe when in the care of these businesses.
Sadly, some child injuries come from deliberate harm by adults who should protect them. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and severe neglect cause terrible trauma to children. Schools, churches, sports teams, and youth groups must screen adults who work with kids. These groups can be legally responsible when they hire people without proper background checks who then hurt children.
Illinois gives injured children more time to file lawsuits than adults. The "statute of limitations" clock doesn't start running until the child turns 18. This means they have until their 20th birthday to file most personal injury claims. This extended deadline protects kids whose injuries might show effects years after the accident.
The court must approve any settlement involving a minor in Illinois. This extra step ensures the money truly benefits the injured child. A judge reviews the settlement terms and may require funds to be placed in a protected account. This protection prevents others from using the money for anything except the child's needs.
Children cannot file lawsuits on their own, so a parent or guardian must act as their representative. The adult files the claim "on behalf of" the minor child against the responsible party. This adult has a duty to make decisions in the child's best interest throughout the legal process.
Courts often assign more blame to adults who harm children than they would in cases between adults. Kids aren't expected to recognize dangers as clearly as grown-ups. Property owners, drivers, and caregivers have a higher duty of care around children. This higher standard often makes it easier to prove negligence in child injury cases.
Yes, you can sue a daycare if its negligence caused your child's injury. Daycares have a legal duty to provide proper supervision and maintain safe conditions for all children in their care.
In Illinois, you generally have until your child's 20th birthday to file a personal injury claim. This extended time reflects the understanding that some injuries may not show their full effects until years later.
Children can receive payment for all medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, permanent disabilities, and future losses. The settlement should consider the injury's impact throughout the child's entire lifespan.
Most child injury cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. Having a lawyer who is ready for trial often leads to better settlement offers from insurance companies.
Public schools have special protections, but can still be held responsible for negligence. Claims against schools have strict notice deadlines, sometimes as short as one year, so you should talk to a lawyer quickly.
At Chicago Personal Injury Attorney at Law, we can help your family get justice. We offer free case reviews where you can learn about your child's legal rights. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay anything unless we recover compensation for your family. Call us today to schedule a free case consultation.
