Few things bring greater joy to a parent than watching your child thrive and grow up happy and healthy. When someone’s negligence causes your child harm, the pain of watching your child suffer and potentially grapple with a newfound reality can feel unsurmountable.
If your child was injured because of an individual or entity’s failure to uphold their duty of care, you should speak with a qualified personal injury attorney to discuss available legal options. A Reno child injury lawyer at Shook & Stone could provide the guidance you seek while vigorously protecting your rights and those of your child as you seek financial recovery from the liable parties involved.
Liability for Child Injury Cases
Child injuries can take a variety of forms and trace back to multiple negligence-based incidents. Liable parties in a child injury case can include:
- Schools
- Medical providers
- Dangerous drivers
- Daycare institutions
- Product manufacturers
- Private and public property owners
- Any other individual or entity whose action or inaction caused the incident
If a party violates their duty of care, and in so doing, a child is injured or killed, that individual or entity can be liable for a range of financial damages.
Accidents that Frequently Result in Children Suffering Injuries
Some of the most common child injuries are caused by:
- Falls
- Bicycle crashes
- Sports accidents
- Medical mistakes
- Firearm incidents
- Drowning accidents
- Playground accidents
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Amusement park accidents
- Dangerous or defective products
- Dog bites or another animal attacks
If your child has sustained an injury due to someone’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing, a proactive Reno lawyer at Shook & Stone could help you seek justice by filing a civil lawsuit for damages.
Common Injuries and Available Damages
Given the many types of accidents involved in child injury cases, the physical outcomes associated with these situations can be equally wide-ranging. Because children’s minds and bodies are not yet fully developed, the likelihood of them suffering prolonged or even permanent damage as a result of a serious accident is extremely high. Common forms of child injuries include:
- Burns
- Poisoning
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage or failure
- Suffocation or asphyxiation
Most personal injury cases in Nevada have a two-year filing window. However, when a child is injured, that two-year period will not typically begin to run until they turn 18, giving them until their 20th birthday to initiate a lawsuit. In situations where the child’s injury was caused by medical negligence, the law affords three years from the incident to file a lawsuit—or two years from the time the child’s parents find out about or should have learned of the injury—whichever happens earlier. A well-practiced Reno child injury attorney could advise as to the most appropriate filing deadline for a specific case.
Nevada law allows injured parties to recover the value of their economic and non-economic losses in a successful personal injury claim. Economic damages include specific costs like medical bills, while non-economic damages are intangible losses such as pain, suffering, and mental distress. In some cases, punitive damages may also be recoverable where the at-fault party or parties acted with egregious or willful negligence.
Speak With a Reno Child Injury Attorney About Your Legal Options
Establishing liability is only one piece of a child injury claim. The process of building a case for compensation and achieving maximum compensation from the responsible parties can be extremely complex.
You need to work with an attorney with the resources, negotiation skills, and courtroom experience to seek the most favorable case results while ensuring your interests remain at the forefront. Call today and set up your free, confidential case consultation with a Reno child injury lawyer at Shook & Stone.
