London and Birmingham based solicitors specialising in Personal Injury & Accidents at Work, Education, Disability and Crime

Children will have accidents. It is part of a child's natural development to fall over now and then. If a child has an accident and suffers a trivial injury such as a bruise we do not advise you to consider making a claim. Luckily, children recover very well from minor injuries. If your child suffers a significant injury which you believe was caused by someone else's negligence we can advise you on whether or not you can make a claim on behalf of your child.

 

Children wil have accidents that are no one's fault.  If that is the case, no claim can be made. If there is evidence of negligence then a claim can be made.

 

Typical accidents involving childrren include:-

Fairgrounds and playground equipment should be properly maintained. If your child suffers an injury because fairground or playground equipment was not in a safe condition your child can make a claim.

 

 

Accidents at school need careful consideration. The duty of the school is to act in loco parentis. This means that the teachers at the school should take the same care of the children in their class as a parent would do.  With some activities extra care should be taken. For example, school trips should be planned properly. If they are then it is unlikely that an accident will happen.  Thousands of school trips pass off without a hitch, but sometimes things go wrong as has been the case in a number of high profile cases. If the trip was not properly planned or was reckless or ill advised or the equipment or instruction was inadequate there may be a claim.

 

Games and PE lessons involve some risk of injury. PE equipment should be used properly and maintained in a good condition.

 

 

If your child is injured whislt cycling or a pedestrian he or she may have a claim.

 

You should make sure your children follow the Green Cross Code and know how to cross the road safely. Cycling proficiency classes are also a very good idea. Many local authorities have staff who promote safe cycling. Contact your council for information in your area.

 

When a child is injured in a road accident the starting point is to consider how the accident happened. Car drivers should also keep a good look out for children especially in built up areas and near schools.  Sometimes children will cross the road without looking and as a resuilt of this an accident may happen, but it may also be said that the car driver should have seen your child, sounded the car horn, braked or swerved to avoid a collision.

 

Our team of specialist solicitors deal with many accident claims for children and therefore they are able to help you if your child has an accident due to someone else’s fault. 

 

Children can make claims at any time up to their 21st birthday for accidents that occurred before they were 18.  Until the child is 18 the child needs an adult to make the claim for them. Once the child is 18, he or she can pursue the claim him or herself. There are some exceptions to this with some cases and it is not a good idea to wait before making a claim as evidence may no longer be easily obtainable. Therefore, you should take advice as soon as you reasonably can after your child's accident.

 

 

Newcastle City Council has been fined after rotating fan blades in an interactive exhibit seriously injured a five-year old girl.

A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after apparently falling through the roof of his school, police have confirmed.

More than 40 children who sustained serious injuries to their fingers in the hinges of Maclaren's folding pushchairs are to receive compensation.

The trial of two former Thomas Cook employees who are accused of manslaughter is set to resume in Corfu.

The company responsible for the design and installation of a set of electric gates that crushed a young boy to death has been fined £80,000.

The owner of an unmanned tanning salon where a 14-year-old girl was badly burned has admitted five health and safety related charges.

The school of a girl who lost most of her fingers after putting her hands in a bucket of plaster of Paris during an art lesson has been ordered to pay £19,000.