Seeing your child hurt is every parent’s worst fear. Beyond the emotional impact, a serious injury can require ongoing treatment, lead to long-term complications, and put significant financial strain on your family.
If someone else was at least partly responsible for your child’s injury, you may be entitled to make a child injury compensation claim. A successful claim can provide financial support for treatment, rehabilitation, and other costs — helping your child recover and easing the pressure on your family.
Below, we explain how child injury claims work, who can make them, what compensation can cover, and how Injury Lawyers 4u can help.
Can I make a child injury claim?
If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to make a compensation claim on their behalf. Because children under 18 cannot bring a personal injury claim, a parent, guardian or court-appointed “litigation friend” can do so for them.
There are specific time limits for child accident claims. A parent or guardian can start a claim at any time before the child turns 18. If no claim is made by then, the child has three years from their 18th birthday to bring a claim themselves — meaning they have until they turn 21. For more information, take a look at our guide to personal injury claim time limits.
To make a valid claim on behalf of a child, the following usually applies:
- The injury must have been caused, at least in part, by someone else’s negligence, such as a failure in their duty of care towards your child.
- You must be legally able to represent the child as a parent, guardian or litigation friend.
- The claim must be made within the relevant time limit.
Negligence can take many forms, from poor supervision and unsafe equipment to dangerous driving. If you think your child’s injury was avoidable and caused by someone else’s actions (or inaction), it’s important to seek expert legal advice as soon as possible.
What types of child injury claims can we help with?
Unfortunately, there are many ways children can be injured due to someone else’s negligence. Some of the most common include:
- Accidents at school, nursery, or college: Educational settings have a legal duty of care towards children. Injuries can happen due to inadequate supervision, unsafe play equipment, poorly maintained premises. Accident at school claims can also include claims for children injured playing sports.
- Unsafe outdoor play areas: Playgrounds, parks and recreational spaces should be designed and maintained with child safety in mind. Faulty equipment, uneven surfaces or a lack of supervision can all lead to accidents. Playground injury claims often involve injuries due to trips and slips.
- Accidents at play centres and soft play areas: Indoor play centres must be regularly inspected, properly maintained and supervised. If a child is injured due to negligence, you may be able to make a claim.
- Road traffic accidents: Children are particularly vulnerable as pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers in vehicles. Whether your child was hit by a negligent driver, injured while cycling, or hurt in a car accident, you may be able to claim compensation for a road traffic accident involving a child on their behalf.
- Accidents in public places: Supermarkets, shopping centres, restaurants, and other public venues are legally required to maintain safe environments. Hazards like wet floors or sharp edges can lead to injuries and potential claims.
- Faulty products and defective toys: Manufacturers and retailers have a responsibility to ensure that the products they sell, especially those intended for children, are safe to use. Deficient toys, faulty car seats, and unsafe playground equipment can cause serious injuries, leading to claims made for defective products.
- Accidents on holiday: A family holiday should be a time of fun and relaxation, but accidents at hotels, swimming pools, or activity centres can quickly turn it into a traumatic experience. If your child was injured on holiday due to someone else’s negligence, it may be possible to make an overseas holiday claim, even if the accident occurred abroad.
What can be included in a child injury compensation claim?
A successful child injury claim can provide financial compensation to support your child’s recovery and safeguard their future. Child compensation payouts typically cover:
General damages
General damages cover the pain, suffering, and long-term effects of an injury. The severity of the injury, its impact on the child’s quality of life, and any lasting consequences will be carefully assessed when calculating general damages.
Special damages
Special damages recompense you for your direct financial losses incurred as a result of an injury, such as:
- Medical expenses: The costs of treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, or mobility aids.
- Travel costs: Expenses associated with hospital appointments, therapy sessions, and other treatments.
- Loss of earnings: Where parents or guardians have had to take time off from work to care for their injured child.
- Home adaptations: Costs of modifying the home to accommodate a child’s needs, such as wheelchair access or specialist equipment.
- Psychological support: Therapy or counselling to help a child cope with emotional trauma.
For an estimate of what your claim could be worth in general damages, take a look at our online compensation calculator.
How does the child injury claims process work?
At Injury Lawyers 4u, we aim to make the process of making a child injury claim as simple and stress-free as possible. While every case is different, here’s what you can generally expect if you make a child injury compensation claim:
- Free initial consultation: Contact us for a free, no-obligation case assessment. We’ll listen to what happened, offer clear legal advice, and let you know if you have grounds to make a claim.
- Gather evidence: If you decide to go ahead, we’ll help collect the evidence needed to support your case, which may include:
- Medical reports
- Accident reports
- CCTV footage
- Your own photographs
- Witness statements
- Receipts that show your financial losses
- Assessing fair compensation: Our experienced solicitors will assess the full impact of your child’s injuries, including how they’ve affected your family’s life and finances. We’ll make sure no aspect of your claim is overlooked.
- Negotiation and settlement: We’ll deal directly with the other party’s insurer and work to secure a fair settlement. Most child injury claims are resolved without going to court, but if a hearing is needed, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
What happens to the compensation?
If a child injury claim is successful, the compensation is usually held in a court-approved account until the child turns 18. This helps ensure the funds are protected and used for the child’s benefit.
In some cases, a portion of the compensation can be released early to cover essential costs, such as medical treatment, ongoing care, or home adaptations.
Parents may also choose to set up a Personal Injury Trust. This can help ensure the compensation doesn’t affect the child’s eligibility for means-tested benefits in the future. Our team can guide you through this process and explain how it works.
Why choose Injury Lawyers 4u for a child injury claim?
We understand how devastating it can be when a child is injured. Our team of specialist solicitors has decades of experience handling child injury claims and has successfully secured compensation for thousands of families across the UK.
We offer you compassionate and expert support from our experienced solicitors, a proven track record of success, and a hassle-free claims process. We’ll guide you through every step of the personal injury claim process, clearly explain your role as a parent or guardian, and fight to get the best outcome for your child.
With our no-win, no-fee promise, you won’t have to pay us anything until you win your case.
Frequently asked questions about children’s personal injury claims
Can I claim if my child was partially responsible for the accident?
Yes. In some cases, claims can proceed under split liability rules. This means the compensation may be reduced, but a claim can still be successful.
What if my child’s injury happened years ago?
If your child is still under 18 years old, you can make a claim at any time. If they are over 18, they have until their 21st birthday (three years) to start a claim.
Will making a claim affect my child’s future?
No. Compensation is designed to support your child’s recovery and long-term wellbeing, and won’t have a negative impact on their future.
Will my child have to go to court?
Most child injury claims are settled out of court. If a court appearance is needed to approve the settlement, we’ll guide and support you through every step.
Who pays the compensation for child injuries?
Compensation is usually paid by an insurance company, such as an employer’s liability insurer, motor insurer, or public liability insurer.
Start your child injury claim today
If your child has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence and you’re considering a no-win, no-fee claim, don’t delay. Compensation can make a real difference to your child’s recovery, future wellbeing, and your family’s financial stability.
Contact our experienced solicitors today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us on 0333 400 4445 or fill in a contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.