Child Injury Lawyer

Hilton & Somer, LLC Child Injury Attorney

The most traumatic personal injuries are those sustained by our children. No one wants to see a child suffer. At Hilton & Somer, LLC, we fight aggressively for the compensation children need to recover from their injuries.

Has your child suffered an injury? Contact our child injury lawyer at Hilton & Somer LLC today to see if you have a case against the negligent party. Call our Fairfax child injury attorneys at 703-560-0700. Se habla Español.

Child Injury Claims in Virginia at a Glance

• Deadlines work differently for children. In Virginia, the statute of limitations for a minor’s injury claim is generally paused until the child turns 18 (Va. Code § 8.01-229). Medical malpractice claims for young children have special rules.
• Settlements require court approval. Virginia requires a court to approve the settlement of a minor’s injury claim to protect the child’s interests (Va. Code § 8.01-424).
• Parents may have their own claim. Parents may be able to recover the medical expenses they paid for their child’s injury, which is a separate claim with its own deadline.
• Common cases include car seat and school bus crashes, dog bites, playground and daycare injuries, swimming pool accidents, defective toys and birth injuries.

Children’s bodies and minds are more susceptible to devastating injuries. Because children’s bodies and minds are in the process of development, children who sustain a serious injury can face significant physical and emotional challenges because their bodies and minds are still developing. It is essential to have an attorney who knows how to handle these types of cases.

Common Cause of Injuries to Children

Children and adolescents are at high risk for many injuries including those caused by:

• Cars and other motor vehicle accidents
• School bus accidents
• Household fires
• Swimming-related accidents
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Defective toys
• Falls
• Fireworks
• Playground equipment
• Ingestion of household products such as cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning substances, pain relievers, foreign bodies, and plants

For more than four decades, our firm has focused exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases. This concentration has provided our attorneys with the knowledge, skill and experience needed to prepare a strong and compelling case against the negligent party.

Areas We Serve

Hilton & Somer is based in Fairfax, Virginia and represents injured clients throughout Northern Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland, including:

• Northern Virginia: Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Springfield, Manassas, Annandale, McLean, Falls Church, Centreville, Leesburg, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, plus Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fauquier and Culpeper Counties
• District of Columbia: Washington, DC
• Maryland: Bethesda, Silver Spring, Oxon Hill and College Park, plus Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick and Washington Counties

Child Injury FAQ

How long do I have to file a claim for my child’s injury in Virginia?

For the child’s own claim, the deadline is generally paused until the child turns 18. However, the parents’ claim for medical expenses and cases involving government entities or medical malpractice follow different rules, so it is best not to wait.

Does a court have to approve my child’s injury settlement?

Yes. In Virginia, a settlement of a minor’s injury claim must be approved by a court, which reviews whether the settlement is fair and how the money will be protected for the child.

Who can be held responsible when a child is injured?

Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include a negligent driver, a property owner, a daycare or school, a dog owner, or the manufacturer of a defective product.

How much does it cost to hire a child injury lawyer?

Hilton & Somer handles child injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family, and the first consultation is free.