A Child injury can have long-term effects and require careful monitoring into adulthood.
These examples show the range of cases we’ve handled on behalf of children and their families.
Ten-Year-Old Child Suffers Major Injuries In Rear-End Auto Accident
The Case:
Alicia, a 10 year old girl, her mother and grandmother were on their way to church one Sunday morning. As they were stopped on a secondary road waiting to turn left into the church parking lot a man driving a large pick-up truck and pulling a boat crashed into the rear of Alicia’s car. Alicia, who was in the back seat, suffered a fractured skull, an injury to her brain, and other orthopedic injuries.
The Investigation:
Our attorneys retained engineers to re-construct the accident to help show the significant impact of the collision. They also put together a team of medical and other experts to prove the significant damage suffered by the little girl. In addition, they were able to find significant insurance coverage and personal assets of the negligent driver to compensate Alicia for her injuries.
The Results:
Our attorneys were able to settle Alicia’s case at a mediated settlement conference. The settlement will provide medical care, and educational and living support for Alicia for the remainder of her life.
Part Of Child’s Foot Amputated In Go Cart Accident
The Case:
Allison, a 9-year-old girl, had never operated a go-cart before, but met the track height requirement to do so. While operating the cart, she got stuck against a rail on the track. She waited for a track attendant to come and help, but when no one came, Allison got out of the go-cart and attempted to free it herself. Unable to free it, she was getting back into the cart when another cart ran over her left foot. None of the track attendants saw Allison get stuck, wait, get out of the cart, attempt to free it, and finally get struck when she was getting back in.
As a result of the accident, Allison suffered an injury to the front of her foot as well as severely broken and displaced toes. She was transported to the hospital for surgery in an attempt to save her toes. Unfortunately, due to poor circulation, the tissue in her toes died, and there was no option other than amputation of the front third of her foot. Since then, Allison has had several corrective surgeries on her foot.
The Investigation:
Our attorneys and go-cart experts found that the track was negligent for failing to continuously monitor all sections of the track as required by North Carolina Law and industry standards. One of the attendants had left his post to retrieve a shoe on the track and two others were on a lower level at the garage talking to one another and not paying attention to the track. Due to her young age, our attorneys were able to overcome the defendant’s claim that Allison was also responsible for her injuries.
The Results:
The monetary recovery that our attorneys obtained during the week-long trial will help ensure that this young girl’s needs will be taken care of and her life will be made easier, despite her injury.
High-School Student Struck By Dump Truck While Exiting School Bus
The Case:
Trevor, a high school senior, was assigned by his school system to use a city bus as his daily transportation to and from school. This bus did not have the safety mechanisms present on a traditional school bus. On the third day of school, Trevor exited the bus in the morning and, while crossing the street towards his school, was hit by a dump truck that was owned by the school system. He suffered a severe brain injury as a result.
The Investigation:
Our attorneys hired accident reproduction engineers and found that the driver of the dump truck was going 10mph over the speed limit, causing nearly 100 feet of skid marks before his vehicle hit Trevor. Our investigation also uncovered the dump truck driver’s bad driving record, including recent complaints against him for driving recklessly in a school zone. our attorneys were able to show that the school system was accountable for hiring the driver with full knowledge of his driving history. Our attorneys also held the school system accountable for not providing Trevor with transportation that met required safety standards. And they showed that the simple and inexpensive purchase of a hand-held stop sign and crossing guard vest would have been an effective preventative solution.
The Results:
Trevor collected damages that will pay for his past and future medical and living needs. The settlement will also cover the costs of his special needs for the remainder of his life. We also worked to set up a special needs trust that will protect the government benefits he receives.
NOTE: Names of clients have been changed for confidentiality reasons.