San Diego Child Injury Accident Lawyer

The number one cause of unintentional death in children aged 5 to 19 is motor vehicle-related. In contrast, for young children under 4, drowning is the most significant cause of fatality. Slips and falls are behind at least half of all non-fatal child injuries. Thanks to the inquisitive nature of children, some situations can become dangerous. Improper supervision can lead to school, daycare, or playground injuries, and contact with everyday items can harm a child. Other leading causes of injuries in children include:

• Motor vehicle accidents (pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, car accidents, school bus accidents).
• Falls (wet floors, playground accidents, faulty railings on balconies or stairwells, windows).
• Poisoning (medications, cleaning products).
• Suffocation (usually only in infants and small children).
• Burns (kitchen incidents).
• Drowning (bathtubs, swimming pool accidents without supervision).
• Non-traffic-related accidents involving cars (small children left in car seats in hot vehicles, driveway accidents).
• Dog bites.
• Defective toys or other play equipment (playground equipment, for example).
• Sports-related injuries (traumatic brain injuries like concussions becoming more common).
• Choking on food or small items.
• Abuse (physical, emotional, psychological, sexual).
• Shaken-baby syndrome (abuse by an adult).

If your child has experienced an injury from any of these factors or one not listed here, contact a San Diego personal injury attorney at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys. We will review your case with you, gather evidence, and handle all communication with opposing parties. At the same time, you can focus on your child and their recovery.

Insurance companies usually want to close any personal injury case involving a child quickly, so it doesn’t draw public attention. They often reach out and give an injury settlement amount lower than what would begin to cover your costs. An experienced child injury lawyer like those at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys can review your case with you and put together an estimate of a settlement amount.

Instead of letting an insurance company set the terms, our personal injury attorneys will fight for your best interests. We will take your case to trial if necessary. We know that hidden costs are involved with a child’s injury, not just past medical expenses. There are also future medical expenses and emotional effects to consider.

Economic damages from a child injury can involve:

• Medical expenses, both past and future.
• Rehabilitation or therapy.
• Long-term care or home health aides.
• Modifications to a living space and transportation to accommodate a disability.
• Necessary equipment like a wheelchair.
• Loss of income or earning capacity of a caregiver.

On top of economic damages, we will also help estimate non-economic costs. These may involve:

• Pain and suffering.
• Emotional distress.
• Disfigurement or scarring.
• Loss of a limb.
• Lowered enjoyment and quality of life.
• Adjustment to catastrophic injury and loss of potential independence.
• Humiliation.

The damages that result from a serious injury to a child may be long-lasting and not just harm your child. To help your entire family recover, you will want compensation for your hardship. Contact us at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation on your claim.

When putting together a case for liability in the case of a child’s injury, the same rules apply to other personal injury and medical malpractice claims. To prove liability, the following must all be true:

1. The person or persons in question had a duty of care to protect your child.
2. The person or persons in question breached that duty of care with their actions (or lack of action).
3. The breach of the duty of care caused the injury to the child.
4. The child suffered damages as a result of the injury.

There may be the added issue of shared fault for your child’s injuries, and your child may have played a role in the accident. In California, we operate under a pure comparative fault rule, meaning the percentage of fault splits between the defendant and your child. This percentage is then applied to the amount of damages you receive. Our child injury lawyers are the best in San Diego and can provide legal advice when we meet for a free initial consultation. Our personal injury experts can help establish if your case proves liability.