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 90 years of combined 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 while you focus on helping them heal.

Why You May Need a Lawyer After Your Child Is Hurt

When your child is injured, your first focus is their health. That is exactly how it should be. But while you are scheduling doctor visits and worrying about recovery, the legal side of things keeps moving. Insurance companies may start calling. Reports have to be filed. Deadlines apply to child injury claims in Florida.

A child injury attorney in Sarasota protects your family’s rights. Having experienced personal injury attorneys on your side means you are not left guessing about what to say, what to sign, or what your case is truly worth.

Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side

After a car accident, another motor vehicle crash, or even a serious playground or swimming pool accident, an insurance company may contact you quickly. They might sound helpful. They may even offer a fast settlement.

But their goal is to limit how much they pay.

A Sarasota child injury lawyer makes sure the insurance company does not take advantage of your stress or lack of legal experience. Your lawyer will:

• Handle all communication with the insurance company
• Review settlement offers before you agree to anything
• Push back against unfair blame or low payouts
• Make sure long-term medical needs are included in any demand

This is especially important in cases involving dog bites, serious car accidents, or complex situations such as a child injured at school.

Investigating What Really Happened

Child injuries often happen in places that should be safe. That includes:

• Playground accidents caused by broken equipment
• Swimming pool accidents involving unsafe conditions or poor supervision
• Daycare negligence, where a daycare accident lawyer investigates staffing and safety practices
• Injuries caused by dangerous toys for kids, which may involve defective products

A lawyer gathers evidence and determines who is legally responsible. In legal terms, this means identifying who failed in their duty to act safely.

Building a Strong Claim for Your Family

Experienced personal injury attorneys know how to calculate the full value of a case. Child injury claims are not just about today’s medical bills. They may include future care and the impact on your child’s daily life.

We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. That allows you to get legal help without adding financial pressure.

Common Causes of Child Injuries

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

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Children may be injured in motor vehicle accidents as passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists. If your child was injured in an auto accident, we can help you pursue compensation. Florida law requires child safety seats and booster seats, but collisions can still cause serious injuries.

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 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

Children can be injured by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, such as an unfenced construction site or wet floors that cause a fall. They are especially vulnerable to drowning accidents in unsecured swimming pools.

Under Florida’s “attractive nuisance” doctrine, property owners may be held responsible if a child is harmed by a hazardous condition that could attract children, like an unfenced pool.

Florida Laws That Can Impact Your Case

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.
• Fractures and broken bones: Children are especially prone to fractures due to playground accidents and sports activities. 
• Spinal cord injuries: Though less common, spinal injuries can be catastrophic, leading to paralysis or loss of motor function. 
• Burns: Children may sustain burns from household accidents or defective products.
• Internal injuries: Accidents involving blunt force trauma, such as car crashes, can cause internal bleeding or organ damage.

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 child injury attorneys in Sarasota are here to stand by your side.

Through our 5-Star Promise, you can expect clear communication, honest answers, and a team that treats your family with the same care we would give our own. If you are ready to talk, contact us today for a free consultation.