Columbia, SC Child Injury Lawyer
We all want to protect young people from serious injuries, but unexpected circumstances can spoil our attempts to keep children safe. When children suffer serious injuries and someone else is responsible, we can make sure that they are held responsible for the costs of that injury.
At The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers, we help clients with children who have suffered injuries because of another party’s negligence. If you want to talk about your case to explore your legal options, we encourage you to contact a child injury lawyer to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Child Injuries are a Serious Problem in the U.S.
Injuries are the leading killer of children in the U.S., and more than 9 million unintentional injuries of young people are treated in emergency departments every year. Vehicle accidents, drowning, suffocation, poisoning, falls and fire are among the biggest threats to people ages 0 to 19. These injuries are preventable; and though the overall fatality rate for children has decreased over the past several years, unintentional injuries continue to be the greatest danger for children.
These injuries are unintentional, but that doesn’t mean that no one is at fault for the harm children suffer. Children often suffer injuries because someone is careless, and it sometimes stems from the fault of drivers, caretakers or other parties that do not include parents or the children themselves.
If your child was hurt by the negligence of an at-fault party, know that you can hold them accountable for the many costs you face.
Types of Child Injury Cases
Children can suffer injuries in any setting, but a few of the most common that result in legal action include…
- Vehicle accidents
- Product liability
- Premises liability
- Birth Injuries
- Negligent child care
If any of these case types might be applicable to your situation, contact a Columbia child injury lawyer at The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers to learn how we can help.
Common Injuries Children Suffer
Children are incredibly vulnerable to serious injuries and illness, especially when compared to most adults. Though every child’s injuries are unique, some of the most common we have seen include…
- Head or traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns or scalding injuries
- Fractures
- Extensive soft tissue damage
These injuries are almost always avoidable, which makes them all the more tragic. As parents, an injury to our child is one of the worst imaginable scenarios. You might feel helpless or overwhelmed by the fallout of your child’s injury, but you should know that you have legal options available. No amount of compensation will heal wounds, but it will ensure that your child and your family have every opportunity to overcome the challenges presented by a child’s injury.
Why Child Injuries are Different
Children are not only more vulnerable to serious injuries than adults, they are also in a critical developmental stage. A serious injury can curb this development and cause lingering emotional or psychological trauma that persists for years after an injury occurs.
From a legal perspective, cases involving child injuries are also unique. Because a child has a much longer life in front of them than an adult suffering a similar injury, they’ll also encounter greater costs if the injury is severe. A spinal cord injury might require 20 years of ongoing care for a 50-year-old, but the same spinal injury will impact a 10-year-old for another 70 years.
Additionally, a serious, debilitating child injury might impair life’s opportunities. If the injury disrupts a child’s physical, mental or psychological well-being for the long term, then they might struggle in the classroom and, eventually, in the workforce. These byproducts of injuries have serious financial ramifications that a skilled attorney will consider when determining how much a client is owed in compensation.
How Can We Prevent Injuries to Children?
We can decrease the occurrence of child injuries by raising public awareness of key safety issues, enacting laws that protect young people and holding at-fault parties responsible for their negligent actions. By filing personal injury cases on behalf of our children, we make sure that a negligent person or business doesn’t repeat the same mistakes and cause other children serious injuries.
People need to understand that there will be consequences when they cause harm to children. This is not an issue of punishing someone for malicious intent or violent actions — it’s simply about fairness. Even if someone didn’t mean to cause a child’s injuries, they need to be aware of the consequences for reckless behavior.
The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help
If your child has suffered a serious injury and you want to know more about your legal options, contact a South Carolina child injury lawyer at the The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers. We believe that families should never carry the burden of someone else’s negligence.
