When a child suffers serious injuries because of another party’s negligence, it can impact the entire family. Not only do children often face high medical costs because of severe injuries, but providing needed care may require parents to miss work, leading to income losses during a period that already proves difficult for the family to navigate. A Jackson child injury lawyer can help the parents of injured children understand their rights and how to pursue compensation for the damages suffered by the child. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to support your claim.
A serious injury to a child can cause immense damages. As part of the child injury claim process, a Jackson attorney will work with the parents and child to identify all the damages associated with the accident. That may include:
A lawyer can make sure that parents and children fully understand their rights and can pursue all relevant damages.
In Mississippi, when the court awards damages over $25,000 in a child injury claim, the court will order the creation of a guardianship account. These accounts require the approval of the court or an appointed guardian before spending any money in the account. Most of the time that means parents will need to petition the appointed guardian before withdrawing money from the account for any purpose. The guardian will generally approve withdrawals that are in the best interests of the child or intended to meet the child’s needs. This helps provide needed financial protection for children who have suffered serious injuries, including ensuring that any spending is in their best interests.
In injury claims involving adults, the Mississippi statute of limitations allows for three years after the date of the accident for the injured individual to file a claim. However, when a child suffers injuries, the statute of limitations is paused, or tolled, until their twenty-first birthday. Minors cannot file a claim for themselves; however, parents can file a claim on behalf of a minor child before their eighteenth birthday. Adults under the age of 21 can file a claim on their own. A child injury lawyer in Jackson may also be able to identify further exceptions to the statute of limitations, including injuries that cause diminished capacity or prevent an injured child from understanding their rights.
If your child suffered injuries because of another party’s negligence, an injury claim can hold them responsible for those losses and provide much-needed compensation that can help your family manage medical expenses and other costs related to the accident. At Weldy Law Firm, we understand the challenges your family faces and the difficulty you may deal with in navigating insurance claims. Contact a Jackson child injury lawyer at our firm today for a free consultation that will help you better understand your family’s options.
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