Child Injury Lawye in Richmond, VA
Get help pursuing compensation for your child’s medical care and the lasting effects of an injury.
No Recovery,
No Fee
80+ Years Combined
Attorney Experience
4.7 Stars
on Google
Practicing Personal Injury Law
Since 1973
Find Out Whether Your Child Has a Claim
After a child is hurt, parents may be dealing with treatment, missed school, and questions from an insurance company. Collier & Collier can review what happened and explain whether another person’s negligence may support a claim. You do not need to know who is legally responsible before calling.
An injury alone does not establish fault. A claim generally requires evidence that someone failed to use the care the law required and that this failure caused your child’s injury. The circumstances matter, including your child’s age, the setting, and the responsibility of the person or business involved.
Accidents Involving Children
A child may have a claim after a vehicle accident, a dog bite, or an injury involving an unsafe property condition. Injuries at a swimming pool may also raise questions about safety precautions and supervision.
When the injured person is a minor, the case also needs to address who can act for the child, how future needs are considered, and how a settlement will protect the child’s interests.
A Claim Should Account for Your Child’s Future
Medical bills show part of an injury’s cost. An injury may also affect a child’s comfort, activities, or ability to take part in school. If the effects are expected to continue, a settlement should be evaluated with those needs in mind.
Depending on the evidence and applicable law, recoverable losses may include:
- Medical expenses and reasonably expected future treatment or rehabilitation.
- Physical pain, mental anguish, and inconvenience caused by the injury.
- Scarring, disfigurement, and lasting effects on health.
- A supported loss of future earning capacity when the injury is expected to affect the child’s ability to work as an adult.
Future losses need evidence. An attorney can assess what the medical records and other information support without assuming that every childhood injury will cause permanent limitations. Medical bills paid by a parent also need to be addressed correctly within the claim; payment does not automatically create a second recovery for the same expense.
Bringing and Settling a Child’s Case
A minor can bring a Virginia lawsuit through an adult acting as a “next friend,” often a parent or guardian. That person helps pursue the child’s rights. The claim still belongs to the child.
Virginia provides a court-approval process for settlements involving minors. The court considers the child’s interests and directs how approved settlement proceeds are paid or protected. Do not assume that a parent’s signature alone will resolve every issue or that all settlement funds will be available for unrestricted use.
If we represent your child, we can explain the steps that apply, handle communications with the insurer, and evaluate an offer against the losses supported by the case. You should understand both the proposed recovery and the effect of settling before making a decision.
Have the Deadline Checked Early
Virginia’s ordinary personal-injury filing period is generally two years, but special rules apply to minors. Minors’ statute of limitations is extended for many claims. Medical-malpractice claims involving children follow different rules, and claims involving government entities can have special notice requirements.
Do not assume every claim can wait until your child turns 18. The type of claim, the parties involved, and any related claims need individual review. Early contact also gives an attorney a better opportunity to identify evidence before it becomes harder to obtain.
Talk With Collier & Collier
Our family-operated Richmond firm represents injured people and families in the surrounding area, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. We can discuss your child’s circumstances and whether the firm can help pursue a claim.
Case reviews are free. Attorney fees are payable only if the case settles or is won. Case expenses are separate; the written fee agreement should explain how they are handled.
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Discuss Your Child’s Injury With an Attorney
Get help understanding the claim, the deadlines, and what an insurance offer would mean for your child. Contact Collier & Collier for a free case review.
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