When your child is injured, your main priority is making sure they get the care they need to make a full recovery. However, if they were harmed due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, you may need help from a child injury attorney in Las Vegas. At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we will work to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and secure the compensation you and your child need. Let our Las Vegas child injury lawyers get to work today.
When your child is injured, you need an attorney you can trust completely, both personally and professionally. At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we take the time to develop close relationships with our clients.
Injuries to children often involve serious incidents that could lead to large settlements. Because of this, you can be sure the at-fault party will push back against a lawsuit. They may even blame you or your child for the injuries. Your Las Vegas child injury attorney will not let this happen. They will:
File a Legal Claim If Your Child Suffered an Injury
Seek Help From a Child Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas
If your child has sustained an injury that was caused by the careless, negligent, or intentional actions of another person, seek legal assistance today. A Harris & Harris personal injury lawsuit attorney exudes a compassionate and experienced team that is dedicated to securing compensation for those in your situation. This could include:
Possible punitive damages against the negligent party if there is evidence that the defendant (at-fault party) acted with an extremely reckless disregard for the safety of others. However, these damages are rarely awarded.
Nevada law requires additional safeguards to protect compensation awarded to injured minors. Courts do not allow children to receive or control settlement funds directly.
Court Approval of Settlements
Any settlement involving a minor must receive court approval. Judges review the settlement to ensure it serves the child’s best interests and adequately accounts for future medical care, education needs, and long-term limitations.
Protected Financial Arrangements
Once approved, compensation is typically placed into one of the following:
These protections ensure settlement funds remain available for the child’s future and are not misused. Proper management of compensation is critical in child injury cases, particularly when injuries result in permanent disability or lifelong medical needs.
The National Committee of Injury Prevention and Control describes a child injury as “unintentional or intentional damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to thermal, mechanical, electrical, or chemical energy or the absence of such essentials as heat or oxygen.”
In and around Las Vegas, it is not uncommon for a child to sustain an injury in the following ways:
Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children aged 5 – 18. Children who survive a collision can suffer severe injuries, such as bone fractures, head or brain injuries, seat belt injuries, airbag injuries, car seat injuries, neck injuries, cuts and lacerations, PTSD, and more.
Falls cause around 8,000 children injuries each day in the U.S. Causes of falls vary by age, for example, infants when they begin to roll, take their first steps, or tip over in a baby walker. Toddlers, preschoolers, and older children are at a higher risk of falling from furniture, playground equipment, or from windows.
Suffocation is common in infants. It can happen when they are sleeping on soft bedding, if blankets are against their face, or if they get trapped between two objects, such as a mattress and the wall. Suffocation can also occur when children are allowed to use toys or eat unsupervised. They can easily choke on small parts from a toy or pieces of food. Often, negligent daycare providers are responsible for these injuries.
Drownings are the most common cause of death in children aged 1 to 4. Tragically, these accidents are preventable and often happen when children are allowed near swimming pools unsupervised, even if it is only briefly. A drowning can also occur if, for example, a victim’s hair, swimsuit, or limbs gets caught in an improperly covered drain.
Swimming pool accidents can cause other child injuries besides drowning; for instance, a brain, neck, or spinal cord injury can happen from a fall near a pool or from diving into the shallow end.
Poisoning incidents send more than 300 children to the hospital each day. Some of the most common items that poison children include household cleaners, chemicals, and medications.
Burn injuries also send approximately 300 children to the hospital each day. They are often caused by hot liquids or steam, from water boiling on the stove, hot soups or beverages, and overly hot tap water, baths, or jacuzzis. However, child burn injuries can also occur from chemicals, kitchen appliances, curling irons or straighteners, overheated batteries, electrical toys, flammable materials, or toxic materials used in manufacturing.
Liable parties will vary by case, and who can be held responsible for your child’s injury will depend on its cause. However, here are examples of commonly named defendants:
A child injury attorney will help you determine who is liable for your child’s injury. They will investigate the facts surrounding your case and collect evidence of fault.
Nevada law provides added protections for children injured by another party’s negligence.
Statute of Limitations for Minors
Nevada tolls the statute of limitations for injured children. Under NRS 11.250, “the period of disability is not a part of the time limited for the commencement of the action.” A child generally has until two years after turning 18 to file a personal injury claim. Parents or guardians may pursue claims sooner to preserve evidence and secure needed compensation.
Comparative Negligence and Children
Nevada applies modified comparative negligence under NRS 41.141, but evaluates fault differently for minors. Courts consider a child’s age, maturity, and ability to understand risk. Very young children are rarely assigned fault, and older minors are judged based on what a reasonable child of similar age and experience would have done.
Attractive Nuisance Doctrine
Nevada recognizes the attractive nuisance doctrine, which holds property owners responsible for dangerous conditions likely to attract children. Liability may arise when a property owner knew or should have known children could access a hazard and failed to take reasonable steps to secure it. Common examples include swimming pools, construction sites, heavy equipment, and unsecured machinery.
To establish negligence, a claim must show the following elements:
Proving negligence in a child injury case differs from adult injury claims because Nevada law recognizes that children do not have the same judgment, awareness, or ability to avoid danger. Courts apply a higher duty of care to adults and entities responsible for a child’s safety.
The steps you take after your child is injured are critical to their health and your ability to pursue a claim on their behalf. Here is what is recommended to do:
Lastly, speak to a Las Vegas child injury attorney as soon as possible. They can help you determine your legal options and how to go about obtaining compensation.
More than 100 children are killed in Nevada each year due to preventable causes.
If you need a Las Vegas injuries to children attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by calling us at (702) 718-5501 or toll-free at 1 (800) 393-2350.