Chicago Child Injury Lawyer

If you’re in Chicago, IL, and have a child who’s been injured in an accident, seeking counsel from a dedicated and experienced child injury attorney can be invaluable towards securing the justice and compensation your family deserves.

The right legal team will not only stand up against negligent parties but also alleviate your stress by managing paperwork, deadlines, negotiations with insurance companies, and more.

If your child has suffered any type of injury, including a Chicago dog bite injury, spinal cord injury, Chicago burn injury, broken bones injury, or a catastrophic injury due to negligence or intentional harm, an experienced Chicago child injury lawyer from Zayed Law Offices can help.

Contact in Chicago our Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, you can call (312) 726-1616 to schedule a free consultation with a Chicago child injury lawyer.

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How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help If Your Child Is Injured in a Chicago Accident

Childhood accidents and injuries can be a traumatic, life-altering event for both the victim and their families. Our team has extensive experience in representing injured children and working with their families to secure compensation.

Here’s how our Chicago personal injury lawyers can assist:

Investigation

We work diligently on every case to gather the complete facts about your child’s injury. We will visit the accident scene, talk with eyewitnesses, search for video footage, and recover any evidence that we think may be relevant to your claim.

Expert Witness Consultation

Our office works with reputable medical professionals who examine your child’s records, diagnose conditions following an accident, and project any future complications that may arise. This helps us determine the compensation you and your child may be entitled to.

Negotiation with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies aim for the lowest possible settlement figures. We aggressively negotiate on your behalf, ensuring these corporations compensate you appropriately. If a settlement can’t be reached, we will take your case to trial.

If your child has been injured in an accident in Chicago, Illinois, working with an experienced personal injury lawyer is essential. Contact our personal injury law firm today to set up a free consultation.

What Is My Chicago Child Injury Case Worth?

The value of a child injury case can vary greatly depending on the circumstances surrounding it. In most scenarios, there are a few particular areas considered while determining what compensation you may be entitled to:

Medical Expenses

This is often the largest and most crucial component of a child injury case. Medical expenses could include costs for immediate treatment, follow-up care, and physical therapy, among other expenses. The higher your child’s medical costs, the higher the settlement or award is likely to be.

Insurance Policies

An insurer’s policy limits can impact how much you may be able to receive. If your child’s damages are higher than the policy limit, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party to recoup the rest of your costs.

Strength of Evidence

The stronger your evidence demonstrating that another party was liable for causing your child’s injuries, the higher the compensation might be. Insurance companies, judges, and juries are more likely to pay out high amounts when it’s clear that someone else is responsible for the injury.

Determining the value of a child’s injury case is complex and challenging. It is best handled by an experienced personal injury lawyer who will look at all aspects to ensure fair compensation for your loved one.

What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims in Chicago, IL?

When you or your child has been involved in an accident, understanding the types of damages available can help you understand what to expect. There are three major categories:

Economic Damages

Economic damages encompass quantifiable losses incurred due to the defendant’s negligence.

This category includes medical expenses (past and future), lost wages or earning capacity resulting from your inability to work following the accident, costs associated with rehabilitation or physical therapy, property damage-related repair costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses that are directly related to the accident and injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are less concrete and involve subjective losses that don’t have explicit price tags attached. Examples include pain and suffering caused by physical injuries, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life, among others.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not designed to compensate the victim but rather to punish the defendant and deter others from similar conduct.

These damages can be awarded when it’s proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s behavior showed a callous disregard for the victim’s safety — where an act was committed with an evil motive or with a highly unreasonable risk of harm.

These are the categories of damages, but each case is unique, and the types and amounts of compensation recovered will vary.

Can My Child Recover Compensation if They’re Being Blamed for a Child Injury Accident in Illinois?

Yes, usually, your child can still recover compensation even if they’re partially blamed for the accident in Illinois. The state operates under a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that an injured party can recuperate damages as long as they are less than 51% at fault.

That said, it’s important to know that the standards of blame tend to be different where children are involved. For example, Illinois law generally presumes children under seven are incapable of contributory negligence or being legally responsible for causing an injury.

In cases where fault may be shared between parties—especially when those parties include minors—the claim becomes more complex and potentially contentious. Therefore, it’s always wise to consult with a personal injury lawyer who has experience in dealing with accidents involving minors.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Child’s Injuries

Understanding injuries that children often face aids in prevention and prompt treatment. Some of the most common injuries include:

Head injuries
Fractures and broken bones
Burns
Dog bites
Scrapes and bruises
Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord and back injuries
Internal injuries

This is not an exhaustive list of injuries, but represents some of the most common. If your child has experienced any type of injury, it’s critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

What Causes Most Child Injury Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?

Child injury accidents are unfortunately far too common in Chicago, Illinois, and across the country. Various situations and hazards can lead to these incidents, which may sometimes result in severe injuries. Some of the most common causes include:

Falls
Swimming pool accidents
Dog bites
Car accidents
Daycare accidents
Amusement park accidents
Sports and other physical and recreational activities

No matter what the cause of the accident is, it’s essential to speak with an experienced attorney to determine if your child is entitled to any type of compensation as a result.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Child Injury in Illinois?

Understanding how to prove negligence after a child injury is essential for the success of your claim. Here are the general steps:

Duty

First, you need to identify that there was a duty of care owed by the defendant to your child. An example would be school staff or caregivers.

Breach

It must then be established that this duty of care was breached. Perhaps the caregiver or responsible party failed to provide adequate supervision, didn’t follow safety protocols, or acted recklessly under the circumstances.

Causation

This requires proving a direct causal link between the breached duty and the accident that caused your child’s injury. In other words, it has to be proven that your child’s injuries would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s breach of duty.

Damages

Finally, you must demonstrate that your child has suffered actual damages as a consequence of the accident. This could be physical harm, emotional distress, or financial loss like medical bills.

Negligence can be complex to prove, and each case is unique – so it’s recommended you consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can guide you through presenting and compiling evidence effectively for a successful outcome in your child’s injury claim.

How Long Does My Child Have To File a Lawsuit After a Child Injury Accident in Illinois?

In Illinois, children under the age of 18 do not have the legal authority to file a lawsuit on their own. A parent or guardian generally represents them in these cases.

Normally, personal injury claims in Illinois must be filed within two years from the date when you first became aware of your injuries, but exceptions are made for minors.

If a parent or guardian is filing the lawsuit on behalf of their child, it must be done within two years of the injury. However, if the child wants to wait until they’re 18 to file their own personal injury lawsuit, the two-year statute of limitations won’t start until they are 18, meaning they must file by the time they turn 20.

The legal landscape can be complex, and there are often exceptions to these rules. Notably, medical malpractice claims have different rules, particularly in the context of minor victims.

This makes speaking with a personal injury lawyer essential in such cases.

Contact Our Chicago Child Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Cases involving child injuries can be complex, emotionally charged, and fraught with legal complexities. It’s crucial not to navigate these issues alone. By choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent your interests, you can focus on your family’s healing and leave the arduous legal tasks to us.

If your child has been injured in the area, contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation with a Chicago child injury lawyer.

Our personal injury law firm in Chicago, IL also provides: