Norfolk Child Injury Lawyer

If your child has been hurt and you believe that negligence contributed to the injury, as a Norfolk personal injury lawyer, I will help you pursue maximum compensation. While the insurance company may already be seeking a court-approved settlement, as the child’s parent, you have a right to an attorney and do not have to settle.

Contact me, Ed Atkinson, before talking to an insurance adjuster or agreeing to a settlement. I have experience handling personal injury claims for infants, children, and their parents. As your Norfolk child injury lawyer, I will protect your rights and fight for full and fair compensation.

Common Child Personal Injury Cases in Norfolk, VA

Children are typically more vulnerable to accidents than adults, leading to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones,and other common injuries. However, when someone else’s negligence or recklessness causes these incidents, the victim or their representative may take legal action against the at-fault party.

Child injury cases can involve a wide range of accidents, so you need an experienced and versatile lawyer. I have handled various claims during my legal practice, enabling me to develop proven strategies for many distinct situations.

Common personal injury cases involving children include:

• Dog bites
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Daycare accidents
• Birth injury
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and fall accident

As a child injury lawyer in Norfolk, I understand that cases involving minors can be emotionally devastating for the entire family. Therefore, as your attorney, I will provide a safe space where you and your child can share and discuss their traumatic experience.

The Wrongful Death of a Child

Losing a young life is devastating and can leave parents and loved ones struggling to find solace. Losing a child due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness only multiplies your pain and sorrow. As an experienced child injury attorney in Norfolk, VA, I approach wrongful death cases with the utmost compassion.

As your attorney, I will help you file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party and recover damages. Also, I will use all of my resources to understand the circumstances surrounding your child’s untimely death and to prove the legal and emotional elements of your loss.

Maximum Medical Improvement in Norfolk Child Injury Cases

It is important to ensure that all of your child’s physical injuries are apparent and clearly understood. Ideally, their condition should be at maximum medical improvement (MMI) before discussing settlement numbers. MMI means your child has recovered as much as possible and his or her condition will not likely improve further.

Reaching MMI is critical in child injury cases in Norfolk because children’s bodies are still developing, and the full extent of their injuries may not be immediately apparent.

It’s essential to give your child’s injuries enough time to fully manifest so they can receive proper medical treatment and care. Rushing to settle a case before the child reaches MMI can result in inadequate compensation for their injuries and future medical needs.

Financial Compensation for Norfolk Child Injury Claims

Recovering damages after your child’s accident is essential to help cover your financial losses and provide for the child’s future needs. As your personal injury attorney, I will calculate your accident-related expenses and provide an accurate estimate of expected future costs to help you fully recover.

To do this, I will rely on a wide variety of evidence, from medical records to witness testimony. I may also consult medical and psychology experts to identify any underlying developmental issues that might impact your child’s future.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, you may claim:

• Expenses for past medical care
• Special education costs
• Cost of future care
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Rehabilitation
• Loss of future earning capacity

Recovering damages may be a complicated and lengthy process, so you should seek legal support. By working with a dedicated lawyer like me, you can focus on your child’s recovery while I handle the legal aspects of your case.

Every child’s life is precious; together, we can fight for justice and hold the responsible parties accountable for the harm they’ve caused. As an experienced injury attorney, I will work with you and your child’s healthcare providers to ensure that all injuries and future needs are documented and taken into account when pursuing compensation.

Court-Approved Settlements for Child Injuries

As a personal injury attorney, I have handled hundreds of court-approved settlements between injured children, their families, and insurance companies. Insurance agents often try to settle claims involving minor children; however, this is not a matter of simple generosity.

Insurance companies are usually apprehensive of claims made on behalf of infants and minors. Specifically, they fear a jury might sympathize with an injured child and their parents and potentially award large monetary damages at a trial.

Don’t Accept Lowball Settlement Offers — Let Me Help You Get Fair Compensation

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to settle child or birth injury claims without the family being represented by an attorney, offering what may seem like fair compensation.

However, insurance companies often offer lowball settlement amounts hoping the family will accept the offer and forego further legal action. Unfortunately, these settlement amounts often won’t fully compensate for your child’s injuries, pain and suffering, and other future needs.

I will review any offers and assess whether they are fair and adequate. I will also negotiate with the insurance company to secure a favorable settlement that accounts for all of your child’s medical and rehabilitative requirements.

Deadlines for Virginia Personal Injury Lawsuits

Under Virginia Code § 8.01-243, injured adults must take legal action within two years of the accident. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the right to sue. However, there are a series of circumstances that impact the standard statute of limitations.

In cases involving minors, there is a special rule. The statute of limitations is delayed until the minor reaches 18. This means an injured child has two years from their 18th birthday to bring suit against the responsible party for damages.

While the victim may not file a lawsuit as a minor, the child’s parents or guardians might file suit on their behalf during this period. As a Norfolk child injury attorney, I will help you understand how Virginia law applies to the case and make an informed decision to protect your family’s future.

Call My Norfolk Law Office Today

If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed and anxious. However, as an experienced personal injury lawyer, I will guide you through this difficult period.

Atkinson Law is dedicated to helping injured victims throughout Virginia seek justice and recover compensation. As your child injury attorney in Norfolk, I will fight for the resources you need to protect your child’s future.

Contact me today to discuss your case in a free, no-obligation consultation. During the initial session, you can address the most pressing issues of your case, and I will direct you toward the right approach in your legal battle.