A child’s injury runs parents through fear and paperwork simultaneously. The playbook below orders it — and leans on the good news built into Pennsylvania law: children’s claims carry protections adults’ don’t.
- 1. Medicine first, thoroughly: children mask symptoms and head injuries evolve — err toward evaluation, and follow up on behavior changes.
- 2. Document like it matters: photos, witnesses, the incident’s setting — school and daycare incidents get written reports requested; government settings (public schools, city property) start the six-month notice clock for related claims.
- 3. Sign nothing: insurer releases and ‘small settlements’ for children’s claims typically require court approval anyway — quick-check offers are the tell of an undervalued claim.
- 4. Know the protections: extended minor deadlines, court-supervised settlements protecting the funds, and age-calibrated fault rules that shield children from adult blame standards.
- 5. Get the free read: when to escalate has honest thresholds — and prevention covers the before side.
Frequently Asked Questions
I feel like the injury was partly my fault for not watching closely enough. Does that hurt my child’s claim?
Legally, a parent’s claimed inattention doesn’t bar the child’s claim against the negligent party — and the guilt most parents carry is rarely matched by any legal reality. The claim is the child’s.
Where does settlement money for a child actually go?
Under court supervision — typically protected until adulthood, with documented exceptions for the child’s needs. The system guards the child, including from everyone’s good intentions.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.