Parents can potentially sue those who are to blame for a crash if their child is hurt in an accident. In Michigan, the law allows parents to file a personal injury claim on behalf of their child. If someone else’s carelessness caused an accident, an affected child’s parent has the right to ask for money to help pay for the child’s injuries, medical bills, suffering and certain other ongoing care expenses related to the accident-related harm.
Children can get hurt in many types of accidents. Car crashes, bicycle accidents, school injuries, dog bites, playground accidents and falls are some of the most common ways that kids get hurt because another person, a business or even the government didn’t take the kind of care it should have. No matter the type of accident, if someone else is to blame, parents may be able to take legal action.
Pushing forward
When a child is injured, their parent(s) can file a lawsuit as the child’s “next friend.” This means the parent acts on the child’s behalf because the child is too young to do it themselves. Money received from a lawsuit can be used to help the child now and in the future.
In a personal injury case, a parent can ask for money to cover:
- Medical bills and future medical care
- The pain and suffering the child went through
- Any changes in the child’s ability to enjoy life
- Costs related to counseling or therapy
- Special education or care if the injury caused long-term damage
Sometimes, parents can also sue for money they spent or lost. For example, if a parent has to miss work to take care of their child, they may be able to recover that lost income.
It’s important to act quickly. Michigan has time limits, called statutes of limitations, that apply to personal injury cases. In most cases involving children, the time to file a lawsuit is extended until the child turns 18, but it’s still best to seek legal support as soon as possible. The sooner a case is started, the easier it is to collect evidence and protect a child’s rights.
