Because young children have not grown enough to understand and look out for their own well being, the law grants some concessions to minors, which are not provided to adults. Read on to learn more about the discrepancies in the way personal injury cases are handled when a minor is involved.
The age of majority varies from state to state, but most states consider this to be 18. By virtue of parent responsibility laws enacted by the states, parents have a legal duty to control their minor child. Therefore, until the child reaches the age of majority, a parent can be held legally responsible for the acts of their children.
Separate guidelines are applied to children of different ages. The concept of carefulness requires understanding the innate consequences associated with certain risks. Children aged seven years and younger cannot be expected to understand this concept, and are therefore not legally answerable for accidental injuries they cause, however, the parents might be.
Children who have reached an age of greater understanding of wrong and right can be held liable for injuries and damage they deliberately cause. School children can be held liable for injuries inflicted on schoolmates, and once a child reaches the age of fourteen, they are generally considered to be responsible for their own actions in the same way adults are.
If a teenager under the age of 18 injures someone while driving a car, either the minor’s or the parent’s insurance will compensate the victim. If there is little or no insurance coverage, and the minor is the registered owner of the vehicle, most states allow claims to be filed against the parent, requiring their insurance to compensate the victim.
Children, clearly, are not capable of negotiating claims; however, parents may do so for the child, and may file a claim for compensation of medical expenses paid on behalf of the child.
The methods for recovering damages for a child differ among the states. Generally speaking though, a minor is eligible to recover compensation, just as an adult, for disability and pain and suffering.
Injuries suffered by minors have unique legal and emotional implications. These injuries, if not treated properly, can turn into lifelong medical conditions or disabilities for your child and could damage their future employment opportunities. Any compensation you receive should reflect such possibilities.
If your minor child is involved in a personal injury case for any reason, our compassionate personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and experience to guide your family through this trying ordeal.
Contact Our Superior Personal Injury Attorneys
If your teenager or someone you love has been injured in Thornton, Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More