No matter how much you may want to, you can’t watch your child twenty-four hours a day. Even the best parents have children who get hurt. And if your child plays a sport,  they probably get hurt a little more often than other children.

You probably already know this. But when an accident actually happens, it’s a different story, especially if the injury is serious. As the parent, what do you do?

Sports injuries in children

While it would be nearly impossible to prevent all injuries to athletes, even the youngest and smallest ones, your children deserve to be protected. Just because you and your child made the choice to play a sport doesn’t mean the negligent party is off the hook.

If you have evidence that your child’s injury was preventable, you may have the option of suing the person or organization it felt to prevent it. But there are a few ways that personal injury law is different when the injured person isn’t an adult.

  • Children can’t sue. If you want compensation for your child, you’ll have to file the claim on their behalf. Teenagers are considered children for this purpose, so if your child is a high school quarterback, you’ll still have to bring the claim yourself.
  • Despite this fact, age does matter. The youngest children are the most legally protected,  whereas older children and teenagers may, in some cases, be held responsible for injuries they’ve sustained. Children under the age of 6 are considered to not be accountable for their actions.
  • Your child might not see the money,  and you might not, either. It stands to reason the children are able to manage their own finances, so you probably won’t object when the judge doesn’t hand over the settlement tell your child. However,  parents may have limited rights in this situation as well. Settlements over $15,000 may be held in a guardianship account until the child turns 18. In other cases, a neutral third-party, known as a guardian ad litem, is given the responsibility of managing the settlement funds.

Because of the many legal protections children are given,  you may want to consult an experienced legal counselor who knows the ins and outs of personal injury law. Call, email, or text us, and we can schedule a free consultation to help you get started today!