Dealing with the reality that your child suffered a significant injury is every parent’s worst nightmare. But once the initial panic fades and the medical bills start arriving, you may start asking yourself tough questions. Who is responsible? How will we afford treatment? Will my child fully recover? Most importantly, what can I do to protect their future?
We know that your immediate concern after your child suffers an injury is making sure they are alright. But, the earlier you contact attorneys and start the legal process, the greater the chance you have to find success and receive proper, just compensation. Probinsky & Cole is here to help.
How to Help Your Child After a Serious Injury
Florida children have the same legal rights as adults to seek compensation after they are injured because of another person’s negligence—whether it’s a reckless driver, a careless property owner, or an unsafe children’s toy or product. However, because minors cannot generally take legal action against others on their own, the responsibility falls on the parents or legal guardians to take action on their behalf.
Florida specifically does not allow children under 18 to represent themselves in court or handle their own personal injury claims. In addition, other unique aspects of Florida law might come into play if your child is the one suffering from an injury:
- If your child is awarded a settlement under $15,000, you can accept it on their behalf. However, for settlements above this amount, Florida law requires court approval and some oversight to make sure the funds are managed in the child’s best interest. For most serious injuries, the settlement or judgment amount will far exceed this dollar amount.
- Typically, Florida law allows two years to file a personal injury claim. However, when the victim is a minor, certain exceptions and additional time periods may apply, depending on the type of personal injury.
When your child is hurt, your priority is obviously their health. However, it’s important to think about the future. Securing their financial security can’t be overlooked, as medical bills and associated costs can ramp up quickly. Working with experienced personal injury attorneys at Probinsky & Cole eliminates the need to take the focus off your child, putting the burden of winning in court or negotiation battles on our shoulders. Focus on your child, and we can handle the rest.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Your Family
When you work with a personal injury attorney, all the bases are covered. Experienced attorneys have handled cases just like yours and know the best way to help. Here are some of the ways the Probinsky & Cole team will make the process of filing a Florida personal injury claim for your child as easy as possible:
Investigating the Injury: Lawyers gather all necessary evidence, review accident reports, speak to witnesses, and consult medical experts to build a strong case.
Handling All Legal Aspects: Instead of worrying about when to bring a case, what information to include, or how much to ask for, empower our attorneys to make the Florida legal system work for you.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies: Before you get to court, insurers will pressure you to accept low settlements that don’t account for long-term medical needs. Our attorneys eliminate the risks associated with not knowing the value of your case and will never accept a subpar offer.
Securing Court Approval for Large Settlements: Large settlements require legal guardianship protections, which our attorneys are skillful at managing and helping you set up.
Fighting for Maximum Compensation: You should never accept anything less than the actual value of your child’s case, especially when these funds will directly be used to care for your child and help them recover. Probinsky & Cole has decades of experience in negotiations and court proceedings, and we will use this experience to fight for what is right.
Don’t delay due to confusion or hesitancy. Florida law allows you to take action when someone else’s negligence harms your child – call today to get the justice and support you deserve.
