Children's Accident Claims

Children have accidents all the time - it’s part of growing up. Most of these injuries are nobody’s fault but sometimes children are hurt because the proper safety measures weren’t in place. We’re here for you if your child has been injured in an accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence, and could help you make a child injury claim.

Our children’s accident solicitors understand that your child’s health and wellbeing will be your number one priority, so we’ll help you access the rehabilitation and support your child needs. We can offer support to your entire family, working hard to get you the compensation and justice you deserve.

We could help if your child has been injured:

At school, college or nursery (including school trips)
In a road traffic accident
In a public place (e.g. supermarkets, shopping centres, parks and play areas)
Due to medical negligence

Our child injury lawyers could accept your claim on a No Win No Fee basis which means that you can concentrate on your child’s recovery without having to worry about legal fees*.

If you’re interested in making a claim on behalf of a child who has been involved in an accident, or you’d like to claim for an injury you yourself sustained before you turned 18, call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact our solicitors online. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your child accident claim and how we could help.

No Win No Fee*

Largest personal injury team in the UK

Offices across the country

Help with rehabilitation and educational support

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0800 056 4110

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Sally Rissbrook Partner Meet the team

Children's Accident Claims - More Information

The compensation means that I can have the care that I really need rather than what’s provided as a bare minimum."

Rosie, client

Children's Accident Claims – Jack's Story

“The settlement is a massive relief for us as it means he can get some specialist help with equipment and also some therapies to help him in future. This is vital funding which means we can look positively to the future and help Jack to get the very best from life.”
- Deborah, Jack's Mother

"Jack will be likely to need help for the rest of his life and the settlement is based on expert medical evidence about his potential future needs. Hopefully it will give the family peace of mind that he will now receive the help he needs to realise his full potential." - Rebecca Maddock, Associate

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Make A Claim On Behalf Of A Child?

Claims on behalf on a child under 18 must be made by a ’litigation friend’. The court can appoint anyone to be a litigation friend, including:

Parents and guardians
Family members and friends who are over 18
Solicitors
Professional advocates (e.g. an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate - IMCA)
Court of Protection deputies
Someone who has lasting power of attorney

The court will always check if you’re suitable to be a litigation friend and will ensure that your interests don’t conflict with those of the child. They will also make sure that you can make decisions relating to the case in a fair and competent way.

If the court grants you permission to be a litigation friend, we’ll always contact you with any information regarding your child’s case. You’ll also be responsible for telling them what’s happening and listening to what they want and how they feel about the case.

If you would like to make a claim on behalf of a child, contact us free today on 0800 056 4110 to find out more.

What Will Happen To My Child’s Compensation?

Compensation awarded in child injury cases is normally kept in a protected account until the child turns 18. Any amount awarded to the child has to be agreed to in an infant approval hearing before any funds can be paid out.

During infant approval hearings, the judge will consider all of the evidence in order to see if they agree with the amount of compensation which is being offered. The judge could ask you, as the litigation friend, for information on matters such as your child’s recovery and likely care costs you’ll incur.

Your child might need to attend these hearings but this can depend on their age and the severity of their injuries.

The court will hold any compensation that’s awarded to your child until they turn 18: at this point they will then receive their settlement as well as any interest. If your child needs to secure some of their compensation early - to cover care costs, for example - we can help you make an application to the court and the judge will decide whether this is in the child’s best interests.

Personal injury trusts

We can also help you set up a personal injury trust on your child’s behalf. Personal injury trusts can be helpful as they can mean that your child’s compensation won’t affect any means tested benefits that they receive when they turn 18.

Money put into a personal injury trust can mean that your child has security in the future and. Money placed in a trust can only be accessed by those who are appointed trustees. You can make yourself a trustee and in a case involving a child, the other trustee must be a solicitor. In order to get money out of the personal injury trust, all trustees must agree to its release.

For more information on setting up a personal injury trust, contact our personal injury trust experts on 0800 056 4110.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

By making your child’s personal injury claim with us, you’ll be working with experienced lawyers with access to the support network you need at this challenging time.

If your child has been left with a disability because of their accident, your family’s lives can change significantly. Our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators can help put in place measures to make this time a little easier, such as:

Organising assessments of your child’s immediate and long term needs
Co-ordinating services for your family to help with any changes to your lifestyle
Sorting practical support with day-to-day issues such as budgeting, coping strategies and support with ongoing rehabilitation
Monitoring progress of rehabilitation and implementing improvements

Public Law

We also have an in-house Public Law department who can help with any issues regarding your child’s education and disability entitlements. Our lawyers have helped children and their families with a range medical and social care issues, such as:

Community care assessments
Decision making on behalf of a child
Home care
Personal budgets
Access to specialist schools/education
Children’s rights under Part 3 or the Children and Families Act 2014

While handling your child’s personal injury claim we’ll always suggest other areas where we could support you and your family. For more information on making a claim with us, call 0800 056 4110.

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Children's Accident Claims

Call us for a free initial consultation

Children's Accident Claims - More Information

What Will Happen When I Make A Claim?

What Can Compensation Pay For?

How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim?

Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim?

Meet The Team