Child Injury Lawyer in Sarasota

Was your child injured because of another person’s careless actions? Children are especially susceptible to harm, and negligence in everyday situations—whether they take place at home, in classrooms, or on the playground—can put kids at risk of serious injuries.

When children are harmed in circumstances like this, they can end up sustaining severe damage that yields long-term consequences. At Viles & Beckman, we can represent you as your Sarasota personal injury lawyer as you seek justice on behalf of your injured child.

With over 40 years of experience, our attorneys have recovered more than $100 million in compensation. Let us provide you with legal guidance as your child injury lawyer in Sarasota. We’ll handle the legalities of protecting your child so that you focus on helping them heal.

Common Causes of Child Injuries

Children are naturally curious beings, and unfortunately, their curiosity can mean that they might encounter risks that adults wouldn’t consider to be hazards. That’s why it’s important to know about the common causes of child-related injuries:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Children may be injured as passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Sarasota’s busy intersections and high-traffic areas, such as those near schools, can place children at greater risk. Florida law requires child safety seats and booster seats, but collisions can still cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord damage.

Playground and Recreational Accidents

While Sarasota offers many beautiful parks and recreational areas, poorly maintained equipment, inadequate supervision, or unsafe surfaces can contribute to accidents. Falls from playground equipment are one of the leading causes of child fractures and concussions.

School and Daycare Injuries

Parents trust teachers, administrators, and caregivers to protect their children during the day. However, negligence in supervision, unsafe environments, or failure to address bullying and unsafe behavior can result in injuries.

Sports-Related Injuries

With Sarasota’s active community and emphasis on youth sports, injuries from football, soccer, baseball, and gymnastics are common. While some injuries are unavoidable, others occur due to unsafe conditions, inadequate safety equipment, or improper training.

Defective Products

Children’s toys, car seats, strollers, cribs, and other products are required to meet strict safety standards. Unfortunately, defective designs or manufacturing flaws sometimes lead to recalls only after children have been harmed.

Premises Liability Incidents

Slips, falls, or exposure to dangerous conditions at someone else’s property can result in injuries. Children are particularly vulnerable under Florida’s “attractive nuisance” doctrine, which holds property owners responsible if a child is harmed by a hazardous condition on their property, such as an unsecured swimming pool.

Florida State Laws Designed to Protect Injured Children

Florida law treats cases involving child injuries differently from those involving adults in several important ways.

Statute of Limitations

In many cases, Florida allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, when a child is injured, the statute of limitations may be extended, since minors cannot bring claims on their own.

While parents or guardians may file on their child’s behalf, a lawsuit must still be filed no later than seven years from the date of the incident that caused the injury, regardless of the child’s age at that time.

Comparative Negligence

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If a child is partially responsible for their injuries—for example, by engaging in risky behavior—the court may assign a percentage of fault. However, due to the limited capacity of children to recognize danger, courts often assign less responsibility to them compared to adults.

Parental Responsibility Laws

Florida law also recognizes the duty of parents and guardians to protect their children. While this does not eliminate a negligent third party’s liability, it sometimes becomes a factor in how responsibility is divided in injury cases.

Attractive Nuisance Doctrine

Florida imposes special responsibilities on property owners if they maintain features that are likely to attract children, such as swimming pools, trampolines, or abandoned vehicles. Owners can be held liable even if the child was trespassing, recognizing that children cannot always appreciate certain dangers.

Types of Injuries Common in Child Injury Cases

The nature and severity of injuries sustained by children often differ from those of adults because their bodies are still developing. These are examples of common injuries seen in Sarasota child injury cases:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Falls, vehicle accidents, or sports collisions can lead to TBIs. For children, these injuries can disrupt normal brain development, potentially leading to learning disabilities, behavioral changes, or long-term cognitive impairments.
• Fractures and broken bones: Children are especially prone to fractures due to playground accidents, falls, and sports activities. While many fractures heal well, severe breaks can affect growth plates, leading to long-term complications.
• Spinal cord injuries: Though less common, spinal injuries can be catastrophic, leading to paralysis or loss of motor function. These injuries can permanently alter a child’s mobility and independence.
• Burns: Children may sustain burns from hot liquids, household accidents, or defective products. Burn injuries often result in scarring, infection risks, and emotional trauma.
• Internal injuries: Accidents involving blunt force trauma, such as car crashes, can cause internal bleeding or organ damage that may not be immediately visible but can be life-threatening.
• Emotional and psychological trauma: Beyond physical injuries, children may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression following an accident, particularly if they experienced neglect, abuse, or a frightening event.

Our Sarasota Child Injury Law Firm Can Represent You and Your Child

If your child has been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, you don’t have to go through such a difficult time by yourself. Your child’s injuries have likely turned your family’s world upside down, and we sympathize with the amount of stress you’re facing as a result.

We know how scared and worried you are, especially if your child is still recovering from the damage inflicted upon them. However, we want to remind you that you’re not alone. At Viles & Beckman, our Sarasota child injury lawyers are here to stand by your side.

With the help of our Sarasota child injury attorneys, you can protect your child’s rights and pursue the compensation you deserve to make sure they can receive all the care they need. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. Reach out to us today for help.