Child Injury Claims
We help families across the UK claim compensation for injured children. No win no fee, free assessment.
Who Can Make A Child Injury Claim?
Child injury claims can be made by a parent, guardian, or appropriate adult on behalf of any child who has suffered an injury due to someone else's negligence. This includes injuries sustained at school, in public places, on the road, or due to medical negligence. The claim is brought by a 'litigation friend' who acts in the child's best interests throughout the process.
Claims can be submitted for children injured as pedestrians, passengers in vehicles, during supervised activities, or while lawfully present on someone else's property. Common claimants include children injured at school, nursery, playgrounds, or healthcare settings. The three-year limitation period does not begin until the child reaches 18 years of age.
Parents or guardians can submit claims on behalf of children under 18. Legal responsibility is established through negligence or breach of statutory duty. Evidence such as medical records, witness statements, and incident reports help support the assessment of liability and the value of the claim.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Child Injury?
Child injury claims can result in compensation ranging from £1,000 for minor injuries to over £500,000 for severe, life-changing injuries. Compensation is assessed based on the Judicial College Guidelines and includes general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, as well as special damages for financial losses.
Factors affecting potential compensation include the severity of the injury, the impact on the child's quality of life, any permanent disability or scarring, psychological trauma, and the effect on future education and employment prospects. Special damages may cover medical treatment, rehabilitation, care costs, and lost future earnings.
Claims are operated on a No Win, No Fee basis, subject to a success fee and insurance costs where applicable. This means there are no upfront costs, and fees are only deducted if the claim is successful. Contact us to get an estimate of your child injury claim value.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Child Injury Claims?
Child injury claims commonly arise from road traffic accidents, where children are injured as pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers. Negligent driving, failure to observe children near roads, and inadequate safety measures often contribute to these incidents. Children are particularly vulnerable in these situations due to their smaller size and limited awareness of road dangers.
School and nursery accidents represent another significant category, including playground injuries, sports accidents, inadequate supervision, and exposure to hazardous materials. Educational institutions have a duty of care to protect children in their charge, and breaches of this duty can lead to valid claims.
Medical negligence affecting children, including birth injuries, misdiagnosis, and surgical errors, can result in serious, lifelong consequences. Public place accidents, dog bites, and injuries from defective products also contribute to child injury statistics. Each case requires careful assessment to establish liability under applicable laws.
How Do I Start A Child Injury Claim?
To start a child injury claim, relevant evidence should be gathered including medical reports documenting the injury and treatment, photographs of visible injuries or the accident scene, witness statements from those who saw the incident, and any official reports such as police or school incident records.
The claim process begins with an assessment of the circumstances to determine if there are grounds for compensation. This includes reviewing the evidence, establishing who was at fault, and evaluating the extent of the child's injuries and their impact. The case can then be referred to appropriate legal representation to handle the claim.
Once the case is assessed, a letter of claim is sent to the responsible party or their insurers. The defendant has a fixed period to respond. If liability is admitted, negotiations proceed. If denied, further evidence may be gathered, and court proceedings may be issued. Compensation is sought through settlement or court action.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Child Injury Claim?
Child injury claims are subject to a three-year limitation period. However, this period does not begin until the child reaches 18 years of age. This means a child has until their 21st birthday to bring a claim, regardless of when the injury occurred during their childhood.
Claims made on behalf of children under 18 must be submitted by a parent or guardian acting as litigation friend. This allows families to pursue compensation promptly whilst the child is still young, ensuring that funds are available for treatment, rehabilitation, and educational needs during their developmental years.
If the injured person lacks mental capacity, there may be no time limit until capacity is regained. It is advisable to pursue claims as soon as possible after an incident whilst evidence is fresh and witnesses can be located. Early action often leads to better outcomes.
What Evidence Is Required For A Child Injury Claim?
Child injury claims require proof of injury and evidence establishing that someone else was at fault. Documentation should include medical records from hospitals, GPs, and any ongoing treatment providers, photographs of injuries taken at the time and during recovery, and witness statements from anyone who saw the incident occur.
Additional evidence may include school or nursery records, police reports for road traffic accidents or criminal incidents, expert medical reports on the prognosis and long-term impact, records of previous similar incidents, and evidence of financial losses such as travel costs and lost earnings for parents providing care.
Providing comprehensive evidence helps support the assessment of the claim and ensures a smoother process. The more documentation available, the stronger the case for establishing liability and calculating appropriate compensation. All evidence should be preserved and organised from the earliest opportunity.
How Long Does A Child Injury Claim Take To Settle?
Child injury claims typically settle within 6 to 18 months when liability is admitted and medical evidence is complete. Straightforward cases with minor injuries and clear liability may be resolved more quickly, whilst complex cases involving serious injuries or disputed liability can take longer.
Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or the need for long-term prognosis assessment may take over 24 months. For children with developing conditions, it may be necessary to wait until their condition has stabilised before finalising settlement to ensure all future needs are properly accounted for.
Claims involving urgent medical costs may qualify for interim payments before full settlement. This allows families to access treatment, rehabilitation, and support whilst the claim is ongoing. Settlements for children must be approved by the court to ensure they are fair and in the child's best interests.
Claims Involving Uninsured Or Unknown Parties
Child injury claims are still possible if the responsible party is uninsured or unknown. In road traffic accident cases involving uninsured or hit-and-run drivers, compensation may be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which provides a scheme of last resort for victims of uninsured motorists.
For incidents in public places or involving unidentified parties, claims can sometimes be pursued through local authorities, public liability insurance, or other statutory schemes. Evidence such as police reports, CCTV footage, and witness statements become particularly important in these cases to support the claim.
Claims involving unidentified parties must establish liability through available evidence and legal mechanisms. An assessment can help determine the best approach for pursuing compensation based on the specific circumstances of each case.
What Damages Can Be Claimed?
Child injury claims can include general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, as well as special damages for financial losses. General damages are assessed based on the nature and severity of the injury, its impact on the child's daily life, and any long-term consequences affecting their quality of life.
Special damages may include medical expenses for private treatment, rehabilitation costs, travel expenses for attending appointments, equipment and aids required due to the injury, care costs provided by family members or professionals, and educational support or therapy. Future losses such as ongoing care and lost future earnings can also be claimed.
The court must approve any settlement for a child to ensure it is fair and appropriate. Compensation is typically invested in the Court Funds Office until the child reaches 18, though early release can be approved for specific needs. This protects the child's interests and ensures funds are available for their future.
No Win No Fee Explained
No Win, No Fee means you only pay if your claim is successful. There are no upfront legal costs to pay. If successful, a success fee capped at 25% of your damages, plus any agreed After the Event (ATE) insurance premium, may be deducted from your settlement.
This arrangement makes legal representation accessible to families regardless of their financial circumstances. It removes the financial risk of pursuing a claim, as no fees are payable if the claim is unsuccessful. The success fee reflects the risk taken by the legal team in handling the case.
ATE insurance protects against the risk of having to pay the defendant's costs if the claim fails. The premium for this insurance is typically only payable if the claim succeeds, and is often deducted from the settlement along with the success fee. This ensures families can pursue justice without financial worry.
Why Choose Us For Your Child Injury Claim?
We help families across the UK pursue compensation for child injuries. Our experienced team manages the full process from initial assessment to final settlement, ensuring that each case is handled with care and attention to detail. We understand the challenges families face when a child has been injured.
We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no financial risk. Our service includes gathering evidence, assessing liability, calculating compensation, negotiating with insurers, and representing the child's interests throughout. We aim to achieve the best possible outcome for every client.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment to see if we can assist you with your child injury claim. We can provide guidance on the claims process, likely timescales, and potential compensation values. Our team is ready to help you secure the compensation your child deserves.
Areas We Cover
We provide child injury claims services across the entire United Kingdom, covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether you are in a major city, town, or rural area, we can assess your case and help you pursue compensation.
Our service covers all counties and regions, from Greater London and the South East to Scotland and Northern Ireland. We have experience handling claims from diverse locations and can connect you with appropriate representation wherever you are based.
Use the search function below or browse our areas covered to find your location. We can help with child injury claims throughout the UK, providing the same high standard of service regardless of where the incident occurred or where you are located.
Areas We Cover
We provide child injury claims services across the entire UK. Search or select your area below.
Greater London
10+ areas
Greater Manchester
6+ areas
West Yorkshire
5+ areas
West Midlands
5+ areas
Merseyside
5+ areas
South Yorkshire
5+ areas
Tyne and Wear
5+ areas
Kent
5+ areas
Essex
5+ areas
Hampshire
5+ areas
Lancashire
5+ areas
Surrey
5+ areas
Hertfordshire
5+ areas
Nottinghamshire
5+ areas
Derbyshire
5+ areas
Leicestershire
5+ areas
Staffordshire
5+ areas
Somerset
5+ areas
Norfolk
5+ areas
Suffolk
5+ areas
Northamptonshire
5+ areas
Cambridgeshire
5+ areas
Oxfordshire
5+ areas
Berkshire
5+ areas
Bristol
5+ areas
Devon
5+ areas
Cornwall
5+ areas
Cheshire
5+ areas
Durham
5+ areas
Northumberland
5+ areas
Cumbria
5+ areas
Lincolnshire
5+ areas
Worcestershire
5+ areas
Warwickshire
5+ areas
Buckinghamshire
5+ areas
East Sussex
5+ areas
West Sussex
5+ areas
Gloucestershire
5+ areas
Shropshire
5+ areas
Herefordshire
5+ areas
Isle of Wight
5+ areas
What Our Clients Say
"After my daughter's injury at school, I didn't know where to turn. The team guided me through every step and secured a settlement that will help with her future needs."
Sarah M.
Manchester
"Professional and incredibly thorough. They handled everything efficiently and achieved a result that exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend their service."
James W.
London
"The no win no fee arrangement meant we could pursue justice without financial worry. The compensation has made a real difference to our child's recovery."
Emma T.
Birmingham