Finding the right personal injury lawyer to represent your child after they have been injured can be a challenging process. One child dies every hour because of an unintentional injury. In addition to this, there are a further 1,000 ER visits and 29 kids hospitalized for every child that dies.
If your child gets injured, whether at nursery, school, or at a friend’s house, you want someone who is experienced, trustworthy, and will fight to get your child the compensation they deserve. Here are some tips on picking the best personal injury lawyer for your child’s case:
In This Article
Look for Experience Handling Similar Cases
When looking for a lawyer, Bill Winters, a personal injury lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, a law firm based in Clearwater, FL, recommends to find someone with specific experience handling cases similar to your child’s. Ask the lawyer how many cases they’ve handled involving injuries to children. Also, ask about their success record in recovering compensation in those cases. An experienced child injury lawyer will understand the unique legal issues when a minor is hurt through another’s negligence. They’ll know how to maximize your child’s settlement or court award.
Find a Lawyer Who Specializes in Personal Injury
While any lawyer can technically handle a personal injury case, you’ll want one who focuses specifically on personal injury and wrongful death litigation. These lawyers handle injury cases day in and day out, so they know how to prove liability, negotiate fair settlements, and take cases to trial if needed. A PI lawyer will be up to date on injury laws and have good relationships with medical experts who can evaluate your child’s injuries and recovery needs. Child unintentional injury rates may have decreased by 11% between 2010 and 2019, but more than 7k children still died in 2019.
Look for Strong Investigation Skills
Building a successful injury case starts with a thorough investigation of the accident that caused your child’s injuries – sporting injuries at school are a common factor, with 261k kids injured playing basketball between 2017 and 2021.
Make sure any lawyer you consider has a team of investigators who can recreate accident scenes, interview witnesses, preserve evidence, and find all liable parties. Their investigation will uncover the negligence and hazardous conditions that led to your child being harmed.
Consider a Lawyer with Trial Experience
There is a chance your child’s case could end up going to court if insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement. Therefore, when choosing a personal injury lawyer, consider those with extensive trial experience. This shows they have the litigation skills to win injury cases in court if needed. Their track record of trial verdicts and settlements will be strong negotiation leverage during settlement talks.
Find Someone You Can Trust
A simple case where liability is admitted can be settled in a few weeks, but because personal injury cases often take months or years to resolve, you’ll be working closely with your lawyer for quite some time. Make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with and who you can trust to fight for your child every step of the way. Genuine compassion, responsiveness to calls and questions, and clear communication are signs you’ve found the right lawyer-client fit.
Vet Potential Lawyers Thoroughly
Don’t choose a personal injury lawyer based on flashy advertising alone. Look into their credentials, reviews, professional memberships, and certifications from respected lawyer organizations. Confirm they are licensed in your state with no history of disciplinary issues. Meet with a few top candidates before making your decision.
Choosing the right lawyer to pursue injury compensation for your child is important. Do your research to find an experienced child injury attorney who will work tirelessly on your behalf. With the right lawyer, you can feel confident your child’s legal rights are protected as they recover from their injuries.
