Can we recover the medical and other costs in a lawsuit if my child was injured?
When a child suffers a serious injury from negligence or wrongful actions such as physical or sexual assault, the medical and other costs can be high. Even if the responsible person is found criminally guilty, any fines issued in a criminal case usually are not given to the victim. The costs to a victim from someone else’s behavior can be financially devastating if they don’t get the help that they need.
A civil lawsuit allows survivors and families to seek compensation in the form of damage awards. Regardless of whether there were criminal charges or a conviction, survivors of childhood injuries have a right to pursue the costs of the injury through a civil suit.
Damages in a Child Injury Case
There are two key types of damages available in a civil case: economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are for the more tangible and direct expenses related to the injury. These expenses can be extensive in a child injury case, especially when the injuries carry life-long consequences.
Some examples of these types of damages include:
- Previous, current, and future hospitalization costs
- Any surgeries related to the injury
- Doctor’s visits
- Physical, occupational, speech, or other therapy treatments
- Psychological counseling
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injuries
The costs of these expenses over the course of the child’s lifetime can add up to a severe financial burden on a family unless they seek recovery from the person or institution responsible for the injury.
Survivors are also entitled to seek non-economic damages. This includes awards for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other less tangible costs the trauma inflicted upon the victim.
How to Get Legal Help
To begin the process of recovering damages for a child injury, contact an attorney who has experience handling cases like yours. Don’t wait too long or the time period to file a lawsuit could expire. This legal expert will investigate your claim and provide options to seek financial recovery for the life-changing injuries that you or your child suffered.
It’s important to act as quickly as possible after the injury to ensure your legal right to seek compensation is fully protected. To arrange a free consultation about your child injury situation with a legal professional, contact DRZ Law today by phone, or use the convenient form on this page and find out what we can do for your family.