Was your child seriously injured in an accident in Kansas City, Missouri? Contact Cohen Law Firm for a free consultation at 816-323-0955. Our Kansas City child injury lawyers can help you file a claim for maximum compensation against everyone who shares legal responsibility.
Our trusted personal injury law firm has 7 years of combined experience. To date, our lead attorney, Zach Cohen, has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients. Your case will be in capable hands throughout the legal process if you decide to hire us to represent you and your family.
Call today or reach out online to learn more. We’ll be able to advise you on your next steps during your free consultation.
Why Hire Cohen Law Firm for My Child’s Injury Case in Kansas City, Missouri?
If your child has been involved in an accident, finding the right attorney isn’t just about experience; it’s about finding someone who understands what’s at stake and who will put your family first. Cohen Law Firm is exactly that firm for families across the Kansas City, MO, area.
We know that child injury cases involve unique legal procedures, including court-supervised settlements and special protections that exist to safeguard a minor’s financial future. A few further reasons to consider hiring our legal team for your case include:
- Our founding attorney has recovered tens of millions of dollars for accident victims in his time practicing law
- Zach Cohen has also been named a “Top 10 Under 40” personal injury attorney on two separate occasions by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- We can hire leading expert witnesses to strengthen your claim as much as possible
- We’ll prepare your case as though it may go to trial so that you’ll be set up for success during settlement negotiations
We won’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you and your loved ones. Contact our Kansas City personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.
How Child Injury Claims Work in Missouri
Child injury claims are handled differently from adult personal injury cases under Missouri law. A parent or legal guardian generally files the claim on the child’s behalf, and many settlements require court approval to ensure they are fair and in the child’s best interests. Depending on the circumstances, settlement funds may also be protected until the child reaches adulthood.
In addition, the child and the parent may have separate legal claims. While the child can seek compensation for injuries such as pain and suffering and future damages, a parent may also be able to recover certain losses, including medical expenses paid on the child’s behalf. An experienced Kansas City child injury lawyer can explain how these rules apply to your family’s case.
We Can Help With Any Type of Child Injury Case in Kansas City, MO
Children can be injured in a wide range of situations, and the responsible party isn’t always obvious. Our Kansas City child injury attorneys handle cases involving:
- Car accidents and other motor vehicle crashes
- Premises liability incidents, such as playground injuries and swimming pool accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Daycare and school injuries caused by negligent supervision
- Defective products, including toys and car seats
- Birth injuries resulting from medical negligence during delivery
- Injuries caused by the negligence of another child’s parent or guardian
Every case involving a child is personal to us. No matter how the injury happened, our attorneys will fight to make sure your family receives the full amount of compensation you deserve. Reach out to our team today to discuss the details of your situation.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Kansas City Child Injury Case?
If your child was injured because of someone else’s negligence, both your child and you as the parent may be entitled to compensation. Your child’s claim and your parental claim can be pursued at the same time, and together they can cover a broad range of losses.
Your child’s claim may include non-economic damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Long-term disability
Your claim as a parent may include economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills you’ve already paid for your child’s treatment
- Future medical expenses your child will need as they grow
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury
- Loss of your child’s services
In rare cases, punitive damages may also be available. These apply when the defendant’s conduct was especially egregious, and they require clear and convincing evidence of intentional wrongdoing or extreme recklessness.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Child Injury Lawyer in Kansas City?
Most child injury attorneys in Kansas City work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay anything up front to get started, and you won’t be billed an hourly rate while your case is being handled. Instead, your lawyer only collects attorney’s fees if they successfully recover compensation for your family.
This setup makes it possible to hire experienced legal representation regardless of your financial situation. It also means your lawyer has every incentive to maximize the value of your case, because their payment depends on the outcome as well.
How Much Is My Kansas City Child Injury Case Worth?
Each child injury case is different at the end of the day, and there’s no simple formula for calculating what yours might be worth. Cases involving the most severe injuries tend to produce the highest recoveries, but that’s far from the only factor.
Some of the things we’ll evaluate as we assess your case include:
- How serious your child’s injuries are and whether they’ll require ongoing care
- Whether your child is expected to make a full recovery
- The total cost of medical treatment so far and what future treatment may be needed
- How the injury has affected your child’s daily life and emotional well-being
- The strength of the available evidence linking the responsible party to the harm
- Whether any applicable insurance policy limits may cap the recovery
During your free consultation, we can give you an initial sense of what your child’s case may be worth based on the information you share with us. From there, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers will conduct a full investigation to build the most robust claim possible on your behalf.
What if My Child Is Being Blamed for the Accident?
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault statute. Under this system, your child can still recover compensation even if they are found to be partially responsible for the accident. There is no threshold that bars the claim entirely. Instead, the total damages are simply reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to your child.
For example, if a jury determines that your child’s damages total $200,000 but assigns 10% of the responsibility to your child, the recovery would be reduced to $180,000. This is a more favorable rule than what exists in many other states, where being found even 50% or 51% at fault can eliminate the claim altogether.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Child Injury Claim in Missouri?
Missouri’s statute of limitations for general negligence claims is five years. However, when the injured person is a minor, the clock doesn’t start ticking right away. Under RSMo § 516.170, the statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 21. From that point, the child has five years to file, which means the deadline extends until their 26th birthday for most types of claims.
However, note that there are important exceptions to this general rule that can change the time limit for your specific case. It’s best to contact our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible so that we can help you file your claim on time.
Contact Our Kansas City Child Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Cohen Law Firm is here to take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on helping your child heal after an accident in Kansas City, MO. Lead attorney Zach Cohen has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients and brings the same level of dedication to every case we take on.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss what happened and learn about your family’s legal options. Remember that since our Kansas City child injury attorneys work on contingency, we only receive payment for our work if we win compensation for you.