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Children are less cautious than adults and more susceptible to getting into accidents. For these reasons, they need to have close adult supervision and guidance. Often, accidents occur and children sustain injuries because of the negligent actions of an adult. Fortunately, the child will usually recover from their injuries and live a normal life.
However, if the accident is severe enough, it may leave them with a lifelong disability or might potentially even be fatal. If your child was in an accident because of the careless behavior of an adult, contact an Oak Lawn child injury lawyer to schedule a consultation.
Any situation that can injure an adult can also pose a threat to children. Some of the most common ways children sustain severe injuries include the following.
Auto accidents are the leading cause of severe or fatal injuries for young people. When a motorist’s negligent action causes a minor to sustain injuries, the court could hold them financially responsible. This also includes school bus accidents.
Children are more susceptible to dogs or other animal bites and attacks, especially minors under ten years of age. The attacks can lead to permanent scarring.
Children commonly sustain injuries on playgrounds, and many occur because of a fall. When a young person suffers injuries while playing without adult supervision, the negligent adult may be liable for the damages.
Swimming pool accidents and drowning are possible if someone does not keep their pool area fenced in. Children are especially susceptible when they are between the age of one and four. State law could hold an adult responsible when they leave a child unsupervised and that child is harmed on their premises.
There is a civil law in Illinois, the parental responsibility law, that describes the extent of parental liability after an accident involving a child. Per 740 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 115/, the court could potentially hold parents or legal guardians liable for damages if minors sustain injuries.
If a child is between the ages of 11 and 19 years old and the court finds the adult’s malicious or willful actions caused damages, the court could hold them financially accountable. If the civil court finds a parent or legal guardian liable, they could order them to pay economic and non-economic damages, as well as attorney fees. An Oak Lawn child injury attorney could answer questions related to that statute.
There is a time limit to file a civil lawsuit in Illinois. In most cases, when a person sustains damages because of negligence, they must sue within two years of the day they suffered injuries. However, the rules significantly vary for child injury cases. Under 735 ILCS § 5/13-202, the plaintiff in a child injury legal action must file with the civil court within two years of the date that the child turns 18 years old.
If the injured party does not file within the statute’s guidelines, they will lose the opportunity to collect compensation for damages. A seasoned child injury lawyer in Oak Lawn could handle the legal paperwork and filings for the plaintiff.
There is no worse feeling for a parent than watching a child suffer after sustaining a severe injury. It is even more upsetting when the adult who was watching them was negligent and the injuries are entirely avoidable.
If an adult’s careless actions caused your child to suffer injuries in an accident, you have the legal right to hold them responsible. Call an experienced Oak Lawn child injury lawyer to schedule a time to meet and go over the details.