A summer winds down and fall approaches, many families and children are getting ready for a new school year. While this is often an exciting time for both parents and students, it also exposes kids to the risk of serious injury. Unfamiliar situations can often turn dangerous, especially when children are experiencing new freedoms or activities for the first time. Fortunately for children who are injured in preventable accidents, Florida tort law often allows them to recover significant financial compensation to help cover past, current, and future expenses. In addition, the law seeks to compensate people for their non-economic losses as well, which may include physical and emotional pain and suffering or loss of future earning potential.
An experienced attorney can help parents of injured children recover on their behalf. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call the Dolman Law Group today at 727-451-6900.
Pedestrian accidents
Pedestrian accidents injured an estimated 76,0001 people during 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Children are particularly vulnerable to being hit by motor vehicles, as their smaller size makes them more difficult to see and they are more prone to unexpected behavior like running out into the street. If your child walks to school, he or she is at an increased risk of involvement in a pedestrian accident, especially if he or she is walking a new route or has just started walking alone.
Playground injuries
While playgrounds are an excellent place for school-age children to get exercise and learn important social skills, they also pose a significant risk of injury. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates2that emergency departments around the country treat over 200,000 children 14 and under for injuries sustained in playground accidents. Schools often have playgrounds on their premises, and when they are negligently designed or maintained, the consequences can be extremely serious. In many cases, the fact that an accident was the result of defective playground equipment or negligent design may not be apparent to a person without legal training. As a result, anyone whose child has been injured should have their case reviewed by an experienced attorney.
School bus accidents
NHTSA reports3 that school buses are the safest way to get students to and from school. Unfortunately, each year, accidents occur that leave children with serious injuries. When these accidents are caused by the negligence of others, victims can often recover.
Inadequate supervision
The faculty and staff that work at your child’s school have a duty to ensure that they are safe and are not exposed to an unreasonable risk of injury. When they fail to adequately discharge this duty and an injury results, victims can often recover compensation. Negligent supervision claims often arise in one of two ways:
· The adult that should be supervising the child fails to do so and the child is injured in an accident that could have been prevented had he or she been supervised, or
· The adult fails to adequately supervise another child that the adult knew or should have known had the potential to cause injury to the child who was injured.
Parents should not wait to retain an attorney
Parents of children who have been injured in accidents should be aware that there is a limited amount of time in which a person can file a personal injury claim due to Florida’s statute of limitations4 on tort claims. Consequently, parents of children who are involved in accidents should retain legal counsel as soon as they can.
Contact a Clearwater personal injury lawyer today to discuss your case
The lawyers of the Dolman Law Group are dedicated to helping people who have hurt in preventable accidents recover for their injuries. When children are injured, financial compensation can often help pay for current and future medical expenses and ensure that they have financial security when they reach adulthood. As a result, parents of children who have been injured in accidents caused by the negligence of others should retain legal counsel as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Clearwater personal injury attorneys, call our office today at 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
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