Parents often struggle to know what to do next after their child suffers a serious injury because of someone else’s careless or reckless conduct. Every case differs, but often taking the following steps can help protect your and your child’s rights.
Seek Appropriate Medical Care Immediately
Never wait to seek care for a child’s injury. What may seem like no big deal could pose serious risks to your child’s health and wellbeing. And you cannot necessarily trust a child to describe symptoms accurately or completely—young children often lack the words to explain what feels wrong, and older kids may try to brush off or play through an injury.
As soon as your child suffers an injury or potential injury, get an examination by a qualified medical professional. This protects your child’s health, but it also ensures that medical records will document the connection between an accident or incident and the injury. This documentation can provide valuable evidence if you later decide to seek financial compensation.
Be Wary of Insurance Investigators
The party who caused an injury to your child likely carries liability insurance that could serve as a payment source for your damages. The company that issued that insurance, however, has a strong incentive to minimize its financial exposure.
An insurance investigator may try to contact you to talk about your child’s injury, or to offer you a quick cash settlement. Beware of these advances. They may seem friendly enough, but they undermine the value of your child’s potential legal claim or take advantage of you during a difficult moment.
If possible, decline to speak with any investigator who calls until you have an experienced child injury lawyer representing your child. Never agree to a recorded interview, sign any papers, or say yes to money the insurance company offers without first consulting a skilled lawyer.