Virginia child injury attorneys

Helping you get the resources you need after your child is injured in Virginia

We all want to protect our children and make sure they’re safe. But sometimes, bad things happen that are out of our control.

If someone harms your child, your child’s life and your family’s lives are changed forever. You may look to faith, family, and community for support. And you likely will take all the legal help you can get to care for your child and protect their future.

Ken Gibson and John Singleton are dedicated family men with children of their own. If your child was harmed by someone’s careless actions, we will do everything possible to make sure your child gets the best medical treatment and that you are not worried about the costs. We will leave no stone unturned to get you the money you need to care for your child now and in the future. You will always be treated like our neighbor, never like a number.

Let us help you find the best path forward—call our Virginia child injury lawyers at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation today.

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What can cause injuries to children?

When we send our children out into the world, we trust others to look after them, including teachers, bus drivers, medical workers, and even other parents in our community. But sometimes, people make careless mistakes that harm children. And as hard as it is to think about, some people intentionally harm children.

When someone fails to take the necessary steps to protect your child, the results can be devastating. Countless children are harmed every day by others, and more than 7,000 children are killed yearly due to unintentional injury.

Some of the most common types of injuries that children experience include:

• Traffic accidents
• Dog bites
• Swimming pool injuries
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Physical abuse
• Playground injuries
• Severe burns
• Sexual abuse
• Bicycle accidents
• Poison
• Slip-and-falls
• School and daycare abuse
• Sports and recreational injuries
• Unsafe toys or household products

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Who is responsible for your child’s injuries?

Adults are supposed to stay vigilant when children are present. Everyone has a duty of care to take reasonable precautions to prevent others from being harmed. But sadly, many people can and do harm children through their careless behavior.

Reckless, distracted, and intoxicated drivers threaten the safety of everyone on the road. Schools, businesses, and private organizations that work with children don’t always take the proper steps to safeguard their facilities, screen new employees, and provide the necessary employee training and supervision to protect kids.

Everyone whose actions affect the lives of children has a responsibility to prevent injuries from occurring. This includes:

• Motorists
• Business owners
• Bus and van drivers
• Pet owners
• People with swimming pools
• Daycare owners and operators
• Churches and religious organizations
• Manufacturers of toys and playground equipment
• Public and private school teachers, personnel, and administrators
• Medical care workers

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What are common injuries suffered by children?

It’s painful to watch anyone you love suffer, but it’s almost unbearable when a child is the victim of a senseless accident. Children aren’t capable of properly assessing risks and avoiding dangerous circumstances. That’s why it’s important for everyone to take the necessary precautions to protect children.

A child can be hurt in many ways, and childhood injuries can be devastating. Injuries that frequently result when children suffer accidents and mistreatment include:

• Severe burns
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Amputation
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Eye injuries
• Facial injuries
• Paralysis
• Food poisoning
• Broken bones
• Lacerations

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How do I prove negligence when a child is injured?

When you meet with GibsonSingelton Virginia Injury Attorneys for your free consultation, we will advise you about the best way to move forward with your case. We will investigate the situation to find out who is responsible for your child’s injuries by interviewing witnesses, reviewing an accident report, collecting physical evidence, and examining accident photographs and surveillance camera video if applicable.

After we complete our investigation, the experienced team at GibsonSingelton Virginia Injury Attorneys will file a claim or lawsuit against anyone whose negligent behavior contributed to your child’s injuries.

We will also assess whether the negligent party may have any defenses to a claim of negligence. For adults, a common defense is contributory negligence, meaning if the defense can prove that the injured party was also negligent, the claim fails. Fortunately, in Virginia, a child under seven is considered incapable of contributory negligence, and children between seven and 14 are “presumed to be incapable of exercising care and caution for their own safety.”

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What types of damages can families recover after a child is injured?

Childhood injuries often require specialized treatment because kids are still growing and developing. If your child is injured, it’s critical to get him or her the proper care to minimize the harm they suffer now and later.

Physical and mental disabilities caused by injuries during childhood may require treatment that includes educational intervention, medical treatment, and assisted living care. Accidents like dog bites and car crashes often leave scars that require several rounds of reconstructive and plastic surgery.

Children are more sensitive than adults, and injuries sustained during childhood can have a long-term psychological impact. It’s crucial for victims of childhood trauma to receive the necessary psychological counseling.

A child injury claim or lawsuit filed by GibsonSingelton Virginia Injury Attorneys will include these types of damages:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Long-term care
• Medical devices
• Time missed from parents’ work
• Loss of future earning capability
• Wheelchair access
• Medications
• Reconstructive surgery
• Occupational therapy
• In-home care
• Educational assistance
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death

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How can I prevent my child from being injured?

Many of the injuries that children suffer every year could be eliminated if everyone followed the law. For example, dog owners are required to obey local leash laws and prevent dangerous animals from roaming the streets.

Pool owners in Virginia are legally required to follow state and local laws that include safeguards, such as having a fence at least four feet above the ground surface that completely encloses the pool and having self-closing and self-latching gates.

In Virginia, children under eight traveling in motor vehicles must use a properly installed car or booster seat, and these safety seats must meet the standards of the Department of Transportation.

Car accidents are a leading cause of child injuries. That’s why motorists must always drive safely, obey traffic laws, be extra alert in school zones, eliminate distracted driving, and never drive while intoxicated.

It’s never too early to start talking to your children about safe behavior, including the following precautions:

• Do not approach a new dog without your parents and the owner’s permission.
• Don’t approach a stray dog.
• Don’t tease a dog or pull its tail.
• Don’t disturb a dog while it’s eating.
• Don’t take a toy or treat away from a dog.
• Do not accept a ride in a car from anyone without your parent’s permission.
• Do not go swimming or play near a swimming pool unless an adult is present.
• Always wear a seatbelt or ride in a car seat if still required.

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Who can help me if my child is injured in Virginia?

It’s heart-wrenching when a child is harmed by another person’s actions or inaction. If someone hurt your child, the experienced trial lawyers at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys are here to walk with you until you and your child get the justice you deserve.

We understand that the road to recovery may be long, and your child may require extensive medical treatment and even ongoing care. Your child’s injuries could limit his or her future income and employment opportunities.

That’s why at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, our Virginia personal injury lawyers hold firm when negotiating with insurance companies. We understand the importance of getting a financial settlement that fully covers the short- and long-term expenses that can result from childhood injuries.

We consider it our calling to help people who have been harmed by the careless actions of others. And you can count on us to serve you with excellence and compassion every step of the way.

No parent should have to worry about costs when their child is suffering. That’s why we offer you our Zero Fee Guarantee—you don’t pay anything unless we win your case.

Call us at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation today. We’re here to help.

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Additional Information

• How can your child receive money from a personal injury claim?