A child can only be held responsible for their actions up to the point that it’s reasonable for their age and mental capacity.
Illinois courts have found that children the age of seven and under are incapable of contributory negligence. This means that, for minors under age 7, any settlement or verdict amount in their child injury case cannot be reduced since they cannot contribute to their injury. Further, there is a rebuttable presumption that children ages 7-14 are incapable of negligence.