Tampa Child Injury Lawyer

Has your child been injured in Tampa, FL? An experienced child injury lawyer at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you fight for compensation to cover medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. 

Our legal team has been fighting to protect the rights of families in the Tampa Bay area since 1992. We’ve recovered over $500 million in compensation to date. If your child was injured, you can count on us to determine the best strategies for recovering a fair financial settlement.

Our experienced lawyers offer a free case review so you can get the legal advice you deserve. Contact our law offices in Tampa, Florida, or call us at (813) 222-8656 to schedule your free consultation today.

Overview of Child Injuries

Overview of Child Injuries

Children get hurt every day. It’s a simple part of growing up. Kids generally aren’t able to assess risks in the same way as adults can.

On the other hand, some children are hurt because adults fail to keep them safe. In these cases, our attorneys are here to hold the responsible parties financially accountable. Negligent caretakers, drivers, and even product manufacturers can all be on the hook for your child’s financial and emotional losses. Multiple parties might even share the blame under Florida’s shared fault rules.

The consequences of a serious child injury can be long-lasting. You deserve to recover the maximum compensation possible in your case. At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, we have the experience and resources to help you accomplish just that.

Types of Child Injuries

At Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of child injury cases in Tampa, including cases involving:

If your child was hurt, call our law firm today to schedule a free case review. We’ll sit down and listen to what happened so that we can help you understand your legal rights and options.

How Common Are Child Injuries?

Child injuries are unfortunately common. According to CDC research, more than 12,000 kids die from an unintentional injury every year. 

Here are some other frightening statistics on child injuries

In the state of Florida, 12 children died in drowning accidents in February and March of 2020 alone. In fact, drowning deaths in Florida increased 70% in 2020 when compared with 2019.

Children Often Suffer Serious, Life-Changing Injuries

Children are still developing and growing. Young children can be particularly susceptible to the most serious types of injuries.

Our team at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers will help you fight for fair compensation for all of your child’s injuries, including:

Watching your child suffer any one of these injuries can be overwhelming. Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of your emotional stress. Our Tampa child injury lawyers are here to force the insurance company to take your case seriously.

What Causes Most Child Injuries?

Child injuries often occur because an adult was negligent. 

To recover financial compensation based on negligence, you’ll have to prove:

  • The responsible party owed your child a duty of care
  • The adult made a mistake and breached that duty
  • The breach caused your child’s injuries
  • The amount of damages you’re entitled to receive

There are almost countless ways that an adult’s actions can cause your child to get hurt. The basis for your child injury lawsuit will depend on how your child was injured. 

Premises Liability

Property owners are required to keep their property reasonably safe for customers and guests–including kids. 

Business owners are required to:

  • Fix any hazardous conditions
  • Inspect the property to identify hidden dangers
  • Provide adequate warning about unsafe conditions that can’t be fixed immediately

If children often visit the property, owners are required to take special precautions to keep children safe. For example, daycare providers, schools and amusement parks must consider how dangers could impact kids. 

Even private property owners have to take steps to keep kids safe under certain circumstances–even if the child is trespassing. If there is an attractive nuisance on the owner’s land, the owner has to take precautions to keep trespassing kids safe. For example, homeowners are required to install fences or gates around their pools to protect young kids from drowning accidents. 

Product Liability

Manufacturers who make products for kids have to ensure that the product is manufactured, designed, and marketed as safely as possible. Companies have to consider the fact that a child will be using the product. They can be held strictly liable for selling defective toys, car seats, and even children’s furniture.

Negligent Caretakers

When your child is in school, daycare, or camp, you expect that the adults in charge will protect them. If your child’s caretakers fail to properly monitor your child, they can be on the hook for damages when your child is injured. Schools, daycare centers, school bus drivers, coaches, and teachers can also be liable for damages based on negligent supervision.

What is My Tampa Child Injury Case Worth?

Parents are often curious about what their child injury case is worth. You might already have an insurance settlement offer on the table–or you might simply want to know whether taking legal action is worth the trouble.

The value of your personal injury claim will depend upon the specific facts of your case. Children that are seriously injured tend to recover higher settlements than children who will make a quick recovery. However, that’s not always the case. 

Several different factors will influence the overall value of your case, including:

  • The nature and cost of your child’s medical treatment
  • Whether your child will suffer a permanent disability, scarring, or impairment
  • The injury’s impact on your child’s future education and career prospects
  • Whether your career will be impacted if you have to stay home to care for your child
  • Any emotional trauma your child has suffered

The future impact of a child’s injuries can be difficult to predict. Our Tampa child injury lawyers will bring in experts and specialists to help us evaluate the overall cost of the injury. We’ll use their insight to fight for the maximum compensation available.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Child’s Injuries in Tampa, Florida?

Injuries to children can cause both short-term and long-term consequences. Because your child is young, it isn’t uncommon for child injuries to be particularly expensive. Your child could require treatment for years or even decades for the most serious injuries.

Our legal team at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers will work hard to hold the responsible parties accountable.

You deserve to be compensated for all of your out-of-pocket expenses, which are called economic damages. 

Common types of economic damages in a child injury case include:

  • Medical bills
  • Future medical expenses
  • Diminished future earning potential
  • Rehabilitation
  • In-home care
  • Medications and medical devices
  • Counseling

You also deserve compensation for the overall impact that a serious injury can have on your child and your family. 

These non-economic damages can be significant in a child injury case, and could include money for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of a normal childhood
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Depression and PTSD
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring

If your child was killed in a fatal accident, our Tampa child injury attorneys can also help you file a wrongful death lawsuit for damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Child Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in Florida is two years. That means most victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long can mean risking your right to recover damages.

Child injury cases are a bit different. You may have more time to file a lawsuit because your child was a minor when the injury happened. 

Regardless, it’s always a good idea to start building your case as soon as possible after an injury. It can take time to evaluate your child’s injury and the impact the injury will have on their future. Call today to learn more about how an attorney client relationship can help.

Contact a Tampa Child Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Was your child injured in Tampa? You could be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills and more. An experienced Tampa personal injury attorney can help you maximize your financial settlement.

Our legal team at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers has over 28 years of experience helping families like yours. Over the years, we’ve recovered more than $500 million dollars in compensation for accident victims and their families.

If your child was injured due to negligence, don’t hesitate to call our law offices to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our Tampa child injury lawyers today.