Playground Injury Attorneys
Serving Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs & Lee’s Summit
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), playground injuries are extremely common among our nation’s children. The CDC estimates that nearly 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are involved in playground accidents each year at schools, public parks, daycare centers and other locations.
If your child has been injured in a playground accident, The Horn Law Firm, P.C., believes it is important to seek help from a lawyer who has experience in dealing with these unique cases.
An attorney with a background in representing child playground injury victims will know, for example, how to be both aggressive with insurance companies and sensitive to the needs and emotions of a child and parents who have gone through a traumatic experience. The lawyer also will know how to investigate these cases, assess injuries and structure a settlement that will serve the child’s best interests.
The Horn Law Firm, P.C., has recovered more than $17.2 million in settlements, judgments, awards and appeals over the past five years for clients throughout Kansas City, Missouri and surrounding areas. Our results include cases that have involved representing minors and working closely with their parents.
If you would like to know more about how we can serve you, call us today toll-free or contact us online. We can provide a free and confidential consultation.
Who is at Fault in Your Playground Injury Case?
The first step we will take in your case is determining how your child’s playground accident occurred and who should be held legally responsible.
For example, your child may have been injured due to:
- Falling on an unsafe or damaged surface or falling because of a broken rope, ladder or swing
- Getting cut on an exposed edge or rusty climber, slide or overhead ladder
- Becoming entrapped in a tunnel or other enclosed area
- Colliding with another child.
If your child’s playground injury occurred at a school, daycare center or other location where an adult should have been supervising the activity and ensuring that the children played on safe equipment, that individual and/or the employer could be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit.
In some cases, a city, county or state agency may have been negligent in the maintenance of the playground equipment. A manufacturer of defectively designed or manufactured equipment could also face liability for your child’s injuries.
The Horn Law Firm, P.C., will review the entire circumstances surrounding your child’s injury. We will work with investigators and experts, interview witnesses and collect evidence until we get satisfactory answers on why your child’s accident occurred.
As our firm knows from experience working with child victims, they are prone to suffering more severe injuries than adults. This is because of the child’s size, weight and the fact that their bodies simply are not as durable as adults.
The CDC says that the most common injuries reported in playground accidents are:
- Fractures
- Contusions/abrasions
- Lacerations
- Strains and sprains
- Internal organs
- Concussions.
In many cases, the injury may be as severe as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). The child may be forced to face life with a permanent disability.
The Horn Law Firm, P.C., will work with medical, rehabilitation, educational and life-care planning experts to determine the extent of your child’s injuries and the care and treatment the child will need to live as normal of a life as possible in the future. We will seek compensation for these costs as we pursue a settlement or jury verdict on your child’s behalf.
Dealing with Unique Issues in Child Injury Cases
Our experience in child injury cases can make a difference. The lawyers of The Horn Law Firm, P.C., know the ins and outs of the process and how to handle the unique issues that arise with child victims.
For instance, we can walk you through the process of being appointed as a guardian ad litem, or one who will be legally in charge of making decisions on your child’s behalf.
We can also work on negotiating settlements that will meet your child’s needs. For instance, we have experience securing structured settlements for children, which allow the child to receive tax-free payments from the settlement fund over an extended period of time. Our goal will be to ensure that your child’s medical, educational and living needs are met well into the future.
Get Legal Help for Your Child’s Playground Injury
As a general rule, a personal injury claim must be filed in Missouri within five years after the date of the injury. However, when the injury involves a child victim, the child will have until five years after his or her 18th birthday to file a personal injury lawsuit.
While this rule allows flexibility and may give parents more time to observe and detect the precise nature of the injuries their child may have suffered in a playground accident, The Horn Law Firm, P.C., believes that delays in taking action can often do more harm than good. It’s important to get to work right away on the case in order to preserve evidence and contact witnesses.
When you are ready to get started on your case, contact us by calling our toll-free number or taking a moment to fill out our online form. We are available to provide a free and confidential consultation about your case.
