Has your child been seriously injured in an accident in Baltimore, MD due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct? Call the compassionate legal team at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for assistance. We will help you understand your legal options and what steps you should take to protect your child’s rights.
If you decide to pursue a claim, our Maryland law firm will serve as an advocate for you and your child by building your claim, negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement, or taking your case to court if necessary. You will never have out-of-pocket expenses for the legal counsel you need. Contact our Baltimore office to schedule a free consultation, you can give us a call at (410) 837-2144 to speak with an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers.
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Why You Need an Experienced Baltimore Child Injuries Lawyer
Seeing your child suffer serious injuries is any parent’s worst nightmare. As you struggle to help your child through this difficult time, the last thing you should worry about is fighting an insurance company for the fair compensation your child deserves.
The Baltimore personal injury lawyers at William G. Kolodner will work with you to protect your child’s rights and seek the maximum compensation they deserve to protect their financial future and get the medical care they need. Insurance companies employ teams of attorneys and claims adjusters who work to minimize claims, especially high-value claims involving serious injuries. It’s our job to serve as your advocate.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers is a family law firm that has fought for injury victims in Baltimore for over three generations. We strive to hold responsible parties accountable and secure maximum compensation for our clients. We regularly secure high-value settlements and awards for injury victims and their families.
Common Types of Accidents That Cause Child Injuries in Baltimore
While children are often injured in the same types of accidents that injure adults, such as traffic accidents, many cases involving child injuries are unique. Children may be hurt in a range of scenarios at school, at home, on the sidewalk, as a passenger of a school bus or passenger car, or while playing in their neighborhood.
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent children and parents in many types of cases including the following.
School Bus Accidents
When your child rides a school bus to or from school, you trust that they will be transported safely. Unfortunately, school bus accidents are more common than many parents believe and may be caused by negligent bus drivers, improper bus maintenance, or other negligent drivers.
Many cases of school bus accidents have made the news in Maryland in recent years including a Charles County crash with a dump truck that injured 13 students and five crashes involving Carroll County Public School buses within just 11 days.
School bus accidents are notoriously complicated and many parties may be liable for a child’s injuries including:
- The school district
- A private bus company
- The manufacturer of a defective part
- Another driver
If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, the experienced Baltimore child injuries attorneys at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers will help you explore your legal options.
Car Accidents
In 2017 alone, about 116,000 children were injured and 675 children 12 and younger were killed in traffic accidents. Most car accidents are caused by negligent drivers including drivers who are drowsy, drunk, distracted, or speeding. If your child was injured in a car accident caused by another driver, WGK Personal Injury Lawyers will help you with a free case evaluation to explore your options.
Swimming Pool Accidents
Drowning is the top cause of unintentional death in children under 4. Every day, about 2 children 14 or younger die in drowning accidents. Fatal drowning isn’t the only risk of swimming pools. However; non-fatal drowning can cause permanent injuries and diving board accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries and brain injuries.
If your child was injured in a swimming pool accident on someone else’s property or a public pool, you may have a premises liability claim against the owner or management company. A personal injury attorney in Baltimore can investigate the accident and potential issues of liability such as improper supervision, a lack of signage, or improperly installed diving boards.
Playground & School Accidents
Playgrounds are supposed to be fun havens for children but they often lead to serious injury. Every year, about 200,000 children in the U.S. visit an ER due to playground injuries. About 79% of playground injuries involve falls and 58% of fatalities occur due to strangulation.
Playground injuries can occur on private or public playgrounds or at a school. In fact, a child is 9 times more likely to suffer an injury at school than be a victim of violence.
Along with playground accidents, injuries at school can also occur during organized sports. Football has the highest rate of injuries of school-related sports.
Dog Bite Injuries
Over 50% of dog bite victims are children and many of them are very young. The typical dog bite victim is a boy between 5 and 9 years old. Unfortunately, children are naturally curious and unable to recognize signs that a dog may be dangerous, upset, or ready to bite. About 26% of children need to go to the ER or see a doctor after a dog bite and injuries tend to be very serious.
Children are most often bit in the face, head, and neck which can lead to serious and life-changing injuries. In addition to treatment for the injury, which may involve surgery, there are risks of complications including infection and disfigurement. Many children also need plastic surgery.
Maryland Code 3-1901 covers personal injury or death by dog. In Baltimore, the owner of the dog is liable for any injuries the dog causes under a strict liability rule, even if the owner did not know the dog would be aggressive or if the owner took reasonable steps to avoid injuries. There are only a few exceptions to this rule.
Medical Malpractice
Pediatric medical malpractice can come in many forms. It may involve a physician who fails to diagnose a child’s condition, delays diagnosis, misdiagnoses the child, or makes errors in treatment. It can also involve birth injuries such as cerebral palsy that may occur due to improper use of forceps, delays in ordering a necessary C-section, and other critical mistakes.
If you believe your child was injured due to the negligence or carelessness of a medical provider, you may have a medical malpractice claim.
Dangerous Products
Children can be hurt by unsafe products such as toys, playground equipment, and even furniture. For example, recalled IKEA dressers have been linked to the deaths of at least nine children as well as many injuries in topover accidents. A crib that is poorly designed by collapse without warning, even with correct assembly.
Companies that manufacture and sell products have a duty to ensure products are safe when used as intended. Manufacturers can be held liable for dangerous products that cause child injuries due to:
- Defective design
- Improper marketing
- Inadequate warning
- Improper assembly
If your child has been injured by a dangerous product, you may be eligible to file a products liability claim.
Common Child Injuries in Baltimore
When a child sustains injuries due to someone else’s intentional conduct or negligence, you may have a personal injury claim against the responsible party. To successfully recover compensation for your child’s injuries, you and your child injuries lawyer in Baltimore must show that the defendant was negligent and this negligence caused the injuries.
When an injury claim involves negligence, you must prove several elements of your case:
- The defendant owed the child a duty of care
- The defendant failed to act according to the standard of care
- The defendant’s negligence caused your child’s injuries
For example, motorists owe others a duty of care to obey traffic laws and exercise caution behind the wheel. If your child was injured in a car accident, it isn’t enough to show that the other driver was speeding. Your attorney must also show that the other driver’s speeding caused or contributed to the accident and your child’s injuries are a result of the crash.
Depending on the type of accident, multiple parties may be liable for your child’s injuries. The liable parties may include:
- Manufacturers of playground equipment, toys, or defective products
- Property owners
- Dog owners
- School officials, coaches, or team players
- Health care professionals
- Drivers
- Other parents
The Baltimore child injury lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers will work tirelessly to investigate your child’s accident to uncover evidence and determine liability. We leave no stone unturned to find out how and why your child was injured and who is at fault. Our goal is to hold the responsible parties accountable and seek maximum compensation to safeguard your child’s future.
Damages in a Child Injury Case in Baltimore
If your child has suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a claim for damages against the at-fault party. A Baltimore child injury attorney at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers will fight for maximum compensation to cover your child’s past and future medical expenses and safeguard their future.
Depending on the damages you and your child have suffered, you may qualify for the following types of damages:
- Medical expenses. This includes your child’s current medical bills and anticipated future medical expenses. You are entitled to compensation for everything from surgery and prescription medications to medical devices, ambulance rides, and counseling.
- Lost wages for older children who missed work
- Reduced earning capacity if your child suffered a permanent injury that will prevent him or her from working in the future
- Pain and suffering which includes emotional and mental distress
Note that Maryland caps non-economic damages like pain and suffering for wrongful death and personal injury cases. The cap is $875,000 but increases by $15,000 every year.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Child Injury Claim in Baltimore
You may feel overwhelmed after an accident involving your child and your focus should be on seeking the best medical treatment possible for your child. However, it’s crucial that you do not delay in filing a claim for damages against the at-fault party when your child’s injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence.
Maryland has a strict statute of limitations on personal injury cases. This is the deadline you have to file a case but the sooner you begin working with a child injuries lawyer, the better. By delaying, critical evidence proving liability may be lost.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is three years from the date of the accident although this statute is shortened for claims against government entities. For medical malpractice claims, the statute of limitations is 5 years from the date the act or omission caused the injury or 3 years after the injury was discovered.
When the victim is a minor, the statute of limitations is 3 years after the child reaches the age of 18.
Contact a Baltimore Child Injuries Lawyer Today
As horrible as it would be to find yourself hurt due to someone else’s carelessness or misconduct, nothing compares to the horror and fear of seeing your child injured. While all you want to do is take away your child’s pain, you may feel powerless, especially if they have suffered a serious injury that requires hospitalization or surgery.
Unfortunately, children are more susceptible than adults to serious injury in many accidents including dangerous products, school accidents, pool accidents, traffic accidents, and more. If your child has been seriously hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a claim for damages to help your child receive the medical treatment and counseling they need to recover from their injuries.
A Baltimore child injuries lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers will help you explore your legal options and hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact our team to schedule your free consultation today.
Our Baltimore, MD personal injury law firm also offers:
- Car Accident Lawyers in Baltimore, MD
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Baltimore, MD
- Baltimore, MD Dog Bite Lawyers
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Baltimore, MD
- Baltimore, MD Aviation Accident Attorneys
- Baltimore, MD Medical Malpractice Lawyer
- Maritime Accident Lawyers in Baltimore, MD
- Baltimore, MD Wrongful Death Lawyers
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office In Baltimore, MD
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Baltimore Office
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 837-2144