If your child has suffered an injury through no fault of their own such as in a car accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice or any other act of negligence, your family may be eligible for compensation. These accidents can be devastating for your child and your family, but a Tampa, FL child injury personal injury attorneys from our firm could help you understand the circumstances.
While your child may be too young to file legal action on their own, our Tampa personal injury lawyers will help your family review your options for recovering restitution. You can learn more today during a free consultation with our team.
Determining Fault in a Tampa Child Injury Case
When an accident occurs, we will investigate the case to determine who caused your child’s injuries. These cases can be quite complex as there may be very few witnesses or no one who can explain what occurred.
If the accident happened at school, we would reach out to speak to the school’s staff, pull security video, request video from a school bus, and take other measures as necessary. If you have any information to share, we will compile that evidence during your consultation. Additionally, we will explain any changes in the case as we gather this evidence.
Common parties that could face liability in a child injury accident include:
- Teachers or school staff
- The school district
- Churches
- Other children
- Other adults
- Drivers
- Local businesses
- Government agencies
Common types of claims made for injured children include:
- Bicycle Accident
- Boat Accident
- Bus Accident
- Tampa Car Accident Lawyers
- Dog Bite
- Falling Objects Injury
- Medical Malpractice
- Pharmacy Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Scooter Accident
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Compensation Families Could Recover in a Child Injury Accident
Florida imposes a two-year statute of limitations for injury lawsuits under Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). We encourage you to reach out to our skilled Tampa attorneys as soon as possible so that we have time to build a robust case that helps your family recover from your child’s injury and accident.
In addition to bringing your case forward as soon as possible, our legal team will assess and calculate the compensation for your child’s injuries and your family’s losses. Once we arrive at a final figure, this will be the amount we request from the at-fault or liable party. These damages could include:
Medical Costs
Medical costs begin when the accident occurs, and they can carry on for some time. We can refer your family to medical experts if you need help calculating the total cost of your child’s recovery. Additionally, you may seek damages that include specialist visits, surgeries, medical equipment, medications, mental health counseling, and more.
Lost Income
While your child likely does not have an income to recover, parents might lose money while caring for their injured or ill child. When you meet with us, you can explain how much money you have lost by missing work, especially if your employer is not offering leave under federal law.
If you are an independent contractor or business owner, you may seek damages that include any lost earnings you would have had if you could have worked normally. We can also discuss how much income you could lose in the future because of this accident.
Pain and Suffering
We review your child’s pain and suffering and calculate accordingly based on:
- The severity of their injuries
- The impact on their quality of life
- The impact on their prospects
You can share what your child experiences every day, and we can speak with your child, allowing them to share their story. This can be a difficult time for parents, but we work diligently to ensure your child feels comfortable explaining the accident and how it is has affected them.
You may also explain how your child’s injuries hinder their future prospects. This could include if they were excelling in athletics or another area. We can also show how they cannot perform tasks or partake in an activity for which they have shown a high aptitude because of their injury.
Loss of Consortium
Children often feel isolated when they are injured and recovering at home. Your child’s social life could change after they are injured, and it could cause emotional trauma that requires compensation. Parents and their social/emotional well-being could also be affected.
Emotional Anguish
As your child deals with the accident and their injuries, their mental health could be affected as well. Explain how your child has developed psychological symptoms that require treatment and impact their quality of life. If you have sought mental health counseling before filing a lawsuit, you could add those expenses to your total medical costs listed above.
Filing a Wrongful Death Action After a Florida Accident Occurs
While no parent wants to consider their child succumbing to fatal injuries, it can happen. If this were to occur, parents may file a lawsuit on behalf of their child, seeking damages to be paid to the family. If the child is under guardianship, the guardian may seek damages. Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d) allows a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death actions.
In addition to medical costs that may be recovered, wrongful death actions also allow grieving families to seek compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- The decedent’s medical expenses
- Loss of consortium
Services a Child Injury Lawyer in Tampa Provides
Our legal team offers The Distasio Personal Touch, ensuring that you and your family come first. We will work hard to hold the party that injured your child accountable and make them pay for your damages. You can expect quality service that includes the following:
Client Communications
At Distasio Law Firm, we believe our clients deserve hands-on personal service at all times. We follow essential rules of communication and ensure we are always easy to reach via phone or email. You can reach out to a knowledgeable child injury lawyer in Tampa if you have any concerns or questions.
We also communicate with insurance companies and other interested parties on your behalf so that you won’t have to. If you receive phone calls, letters, or emails about the accident, you can send them all to our office. We also speak on your behalf during settlement negotiations, in court, or when you require additional support.
We Will Explain Your Case
We want you to fully understand your case and the compensation you could receive, so we take the time to explain your case, including all laws that apply. You have legal rights, and we will better explain how these rights apply to your case. If you have questions, we will answer them.
We also explain what a fair settlement is and help you review any settlement offers you may get from an insurance company. If they do not meet your needs, we will advise you of that, although we leave the final decision up to you. We can explain what is happening if the case goes to court, and we also explain why we must take certain steps during the case. We make sure you are never left in the dark during the claims or legal process.
We Support You Until the Case Is Resolved
We provide you with the support system you need until the case is resolved. Personal injury cases can be quite complex, and our diligent Tampa child injury attorneys will take the case as far as it can go. This includes fighting for your child’s award at trial.
Call a Tampa Child Injury Attorney For a Free Consultation
If you are ready to explore your legal options with the legal team at Distasio Law Firm’s personal injury lawyers, you can call us for a free consultation. After retaining a Tampa child injury lawyer from our firm, we will take over the personal injury claim and case so that you can focus on your family and help your child recover.
There is a path that allows your child to live a normal life, and we will help you seek the compensation that makes it all possible. Our Tampa, Florida law office personal injury lawyers are on your side.
