St. Petersburg Child Injury Lawyer
Florida is ranked the third most dangerous state in America, according to ABC Action News. While crime probably comes first to most people’s minds, some of the greatest threats include car crashes, car versus pedestrian injuries, and slip and falls. While adults are certainly prone to serious injuries caused in traffic collisions and within unsafe premises, children are at even more risk due to their small stature. In fact, unintentional injuries is the leading category of cause of death among children aged one to 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely, our St. Petersburg child injury lawyers help enforce the rights of one of the most vulnerable age groups by filing personal injury claims against negligent drivers, daycare facilities, schools, toy makers, business owners, and others. If your child was injured by another person’s negligence, we can help.
Common Types of Child Injury Claims
As the parent or legal guardian of a child, you can file a personal injury claim on his or her behalf. Common types of personal injury claims in which children are the victims include the following:
- Car crashes;
- Bicycle collisions;
- Scooter, rollerblade, skateboard, or pedestrian injuries;
- School injuries;
- Daycare injuries;
- Playground injuries;
- Sports injuries;
- Dog attacks;
- Premises liability claims; and
- Dangerous or defective product liability claims.
What Kind of Compensation is My Child Owed?
Child injuries qualify for almost all of the same damages present in adult personal injury claims, with one major exception: lost wages and lost earning capacity. Because children do not work, or if they do work as teens it is part time at a low wage, children are not able to file for lost wages. Similarly, it is very difficult to estimate what a child would have earned in his or her lifetime had he or she not suffered a disabling injury. As such, estimating lost earning ability is complex when it comes to child injuries. However, an experienced attorney can help you recover the following damages:
- Medical expenses;
- Projected future or lifetime medical costs associated with the injury;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of joy of life;
- Emotional distress;
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement;
- Lost wages of the parent/guardian due to taking care of the injured child;
- Property damage; and
- More.
Contact an Experienced St. Petersburg Child Injury Lawyers Today
There is nothing more devastating than seeing your child get hurt by another person’s carelessness. Whether the at fault party is a car seat manufacturer, drunk or distracted driver, or corner-cutting business owner, you have the right to sue them for compensation. Unfortunately, there is no telling what type of permanent injuries or disabilities a child may develop later in life due to the injuries they sustain now, which is why rushing to a quick settlement is a poor decision. Only an experienced St. Petersburg child injury lawyer will be able to recover maximum compensation for your child. Contact the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely today at (727) 550-8800 to schedule a free case evaluation.