Child Claims

Children are well known for getting scrapes and bumps and because of their age, make rash decisions about things without being able to understand the consequences, which results in them being hurt or injures. This is normal, but what happens when your child is injured in an accident as a result of someone else’s negligence? In these circumstances it can be very difficult to come to terms with your child’s injuries, especially if they are serious.

You can make a claim for compensation on behalf of your child, if you choose to, however, your child will also have the option to make a claim for themselves, as they will have 3 years from the date of their 18th birthday (when the reach majority in the eyes of the law) to make a personal injury claim, regardless of when it happened in their childhood.

What Types Of Accidents Can My Child Claim For?

There are many different types of accidents which your child may have, which may not be their fault. These are:

• Road traffic accident
• Accident at school
• Accident in the play park
• Accident on a school trip
• A slip, trip or fall

These are only a few examples and if your child has been injured, you should call us today as we will be able to tell you very quickly if you can make a claim on your child’s behalf.

Are There Any Differences Between A Child Claim and An Adult Claim?

There are a number of differences in a child’s personal injury claim. the first is that your child will need a litigation friend to act on their behalf. This will normally be you, their parent, however, in some circumstances you may be the person your child is claiming from (in a road accident which was your fault). If this is the case, someone else must act as litigation friend.

A litigation friend will act on the child’s behalf, sign all legal paperwork and agree the settlement once it has been made. A litigation friend should always act in the best interests of the child, which is why a parent usually takes this role.

The second difference is that all child claims must go to court. Most of the time this is just for the settlement to be approved by a judge and not because agreement cannot be reached.

Lastly, any compensation awarded to the child will be kept in a trust until they reach 18 years old.

Why Should I Choose Ashmans Solicitors?

Our professional and experienced personal injury team will always put you and your child’s best interest first and do all we can to get the very best settlement possible for your child’s injuries.

By offering you a free initial consultation to discuss your child’s accident and injuries we can clearly understand how their accident has affected them and you are able to ensure that you are comfortable with us representing you.

The cost of making a claim may be putting you off, but we can discuss all the different ways available for you to be able to fund your child’s claim. We will even give you advice on which one will provide the best outcome.

Talk to us now, to see how we can help.