Key aspects of injury claims for minors
Parents strive to protect their children at all times; unfortunately, this is not always possible. Thankfully, parents may be able to seek restitution from those parties that cause injuries to their children.
To have a successful claim, it is important to understand its different elements. In particular, there are a few key aspects to be aware of in regards to injury claims for minors.
Types of injuries
Parents may pursue a claim for several different types of injuries to their children. Some common options include the following:
- Defective toys and child products
- Auto accidents
- Playground accidents
- School or school bus accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Animal bites
In all of these cases, the responsible party did not uphold the proper duty of care, which led to the accident and injury. In short, that is what makes the claim valid.
Missouri law
Each state has its own ways of handling specific legal processes. In the state of Missouri, the law allows parents and guardians to settle a claim for a child. It does limit their abilities and utilization of the award, however. To understand the stipulations and allowances adequately, it may be helpful for guardians to review the law in full.
Understanding the time limitations
It is important that a claim is filed within the statute of limitations, or the judge may throw out the case altogether. This timeframe is different depending on the party that is filing. If a guardian is filing for a child, the guardian has a two-year timeframe to file after discovering the injury. On the other hand, if children file for themselves, they have up to two years after becoming legally able to represent themselves, or in other words, until they turn 20.
Understanding and utilizing these key aspects may help in creating a robust injury claim. Take some time to review the claim process to determine the best course of action.