One of the worst nightmares for parents is their children getting injured or hurt. If your child was involved in an accident or sustained an injury in DuPage County, IL, you might feel helpless and alone. However, that is not the case. Your child could be entitled to compensation for damages from the party who caused their injury. We are here to help you make that happen.
Our team of lawyers at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid has more than 75 years of legal experience between them. They are dedicated legal advocates for the rights of injured parties in Illinois. Their dedication to our clients and legal expertise has won them top ratings on Avvo and Google Business Reviews.
With a winning track record, insurance companies know that our lawyers are serious trial lawyers and aggressive negotiators. Since opening our law firm, we have recovered more than $150 million in settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of our clients.
We want to help you get justice for your child. Contact our law firm at (630) 428-4040 to schedule a free consultation with one of our DuPage County child injury lawyers. We are here to help when you need a strong legal advocate for your child.
How the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid Can Help if Your Child Has Been Injured in DuPage County, Illinois
Children sometimes sustain injuries that aren’t anyone’s fault. However, some child injuries are caused because of another party’s negligence or intentional torts. When that happens, Illinois personal injury laws help parents recover compensation for their children from the party responsible for their child’s injury.
Our DuPage County child injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid are passionate about personal injury law. They have won numerous awards from leading national organizations. These include recognition from Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, Expertise.com, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Attorneys Mark W. Mathys and Mark T. Schneid founded our law practice to help injured victims and their families. They lead of a team of dedicated legal professionals who can help your child receive the compensation they deserve after a tragic accident or personal injury.
When you hire our award-winning, top-rated DuPage County personal injury lawyers, you can trust we will:
- Explain how Illinois personal injury laws impact your child’s personal injury claim
- Discuss legal options for filing claims and pursuing compensation for damages
- Investigate your child’s claim to determine how your child was injured and who is responsible
- Collect evidence to build a case for liability, including working with expert witnesses when necessary
- Document your child’s damages to calculate how much their case is worth
- Aggressively negotiate settlements for insurance claims and personal injury claims
- File a lawsuit and have a seasoned trial lawyer argue the case in court if that is in your child’s best interest
You want dedicated, experienced, and fierce legal advocates to handle a child injury case. Look no further than the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid. Contact us now for a free case evaluation with an experienced child injury lawyer in DuPage County, IL.
Common Causes of Child Injuries in DuPage County, Illinois
The leading cause of death for children in the United States is unintentional injury. Nearly 30 million children are treated for injuries in emergency rooms each year, which does not include child injuries treated by private medical practices.
Causes of child injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Choking and suffocation
- Falls
- Drownings
- Poisoning
- Burns and fires
- Playground accidents
- Injuries caused by defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Swimming pool accidents
- Violence and child abuse
- Animal attacks and dog bites
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Daycare and school accidents
- School bus accidents
- Injuries at amusement parks and resorts
- Exposure to dangerous and hazardous substances
One or more parties could be liable for your child’s injuries. Our legal team at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid will help you hold those parties accountable for the pain and suffering your child has experienced.
We Handle All Types of Child Injury Cases at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid
Our attorneys have experience handling all types of child injury cases. Common injuries children sustain include:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Concussions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Back injury
- Internal organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Crushing injuries
- Electrical injuries
- Drowning
- Nerve damage
- Knee injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Severe burns
- Loss of limbs and amputations
If your child is injured, seek immediate medical treatment regardless of the severity of the injury. Children may not be able to communicate their symptoms accurately, so a medical examination is the best way to determine the types of injuries your child might have sustained.
Prompt medical treatment also improves your child’s chances of recovering a fair personal injury settlement. Insurance companies and at-fault parties use delays in medical care to allege they are not responsible for causing your child’s injuries.
Parties Who Could Be Liable for a Child Injury Claim in DuPage County, IL
Any party who contributed to the cause of your child’s injury could be liable for damages. The cause of the injury and other factors help us determine who to pursue a child injury claim. Some common parties named in child injury lawsuits include:
- Property owners (premises liability claims)
- Negligent drivers
- Daycares and schools
- Medical providers and healthcare facilities
- Manufacturers, sellers, and distributors (product liability claims)
- Government entities
- Dog owners
- Babysitters
- Sports programs
- Entertainment venues
- Amusements parks and resorts
- Sports programs
- Religious institutions
Identifying all liable parties in a child injury case is essential. It ensures that we maximize the chance of recovering compensation for the full value of your child’s damages.
What Damages Can My Child Recover for a Personal Injury or Accident in DuPage County, IL?
Children are entitled to receive the same types of compensation as adults in personal injury cases. Therefore, you and your child could receive economic damages to reimburse them for monetary losses such as:
- Past and future medical bills, rehabilitative therapies, and skilled nursing care
- The cost of personal care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Future lost wages and decreases in earning capacity
- Your lost wages and costs from taking time away from work to care for your injured child
- The cost of modifications to your home and vehicle to accommodate a permanent impairment
- Expenses related to special needs and education your child might need now or in the future
In addition to financial damages, your child can recover compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced because of the accident and injury. They can also recover non-economic damages for ongoing trauma and pain they might experience. Examples of these damages include:
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Embarrassment and anxiety about disfigurement or impairments
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Permanent disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In some situations, a child might be entitled to punitive damages at trial. We evaluate your child’s injury case to determine if the facts of the case justify an award of punitive damages. If so, we discuss the options with you to ensure we pursue all possible avenues of compensation for your child.
Children can sustain physical, developmental, cognitive, and emotional impairments that might not be immediately known after an accident or personal injury. These conditions could have a significant impact on the value of your child’s injury claim.
Your child’s personal injury claim could be worth much more than the insurance adjuster or at-fault party offers for settlement. However, once you agree to a settlement and sign the forms, your child loses the right to pursue other claims and compensation. Therefore, before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company or other party, talk with one of our DuPage County child injury lawyers.
How Long Do Children Have To File Personal Injury Claims in Illinois?
The Illinois statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the injury date. However, there are exceptions to the general rule.
Children do not have standing to file a personal injury lawsuit or settle an insurance claim on their own. For that reason, the statute of limitations is extended until the child’s 20th birthday in most cases. The child has the chance to file a claim when they are an adult.
However, parents and legal guardians may file a personal injury claim on behalf of their minor children. Generally, it is better to file a claim as soon as possible after the injury instead of waiting. The longer you wait to pursue a personal injury case, the more challenging it can become to secure evidence proving your case.
The deadline for a child injury case can be tricky to calculate in some cases. You can protect your child’s rights by seeing legal advice from a DuPage County child injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident or other injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our DuPage County Child Injury Lawyers
We understand the enormous trust you place in us when you hire the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid to advocate for your child. Our lawyers take that trust seriously. We will fight for the best possible outcome for your child’s injury claim.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with one of our experienced DuPage County child injury attorneys. We are available to speak with you 24/7 about your child’s case.
