If you are here today, chances are your child has been hurt and you’re feeling scared, angry, and unsure of what to do next. As parents, we want nothing more than to protect our children, and when something terrible happens, it can turn our world upside down. At times like these, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. You may be wondering how this happened, who is responsible, and how you can make sure your child gets the help they need. You’re not alone, and we want you to know that help is available.
Child injuries can be very serious. They can happen in places where your child is supposed to be safe—like school, daycare, parks, or even in someone else’s home. When a child is hurt because an adult or company did not act carefully, it may be considered negligence. Proving that someone was careless and caused harm is what makes it possible to hold them responsible and recover money for medical bills, future care, and your child’s pain and suffering.
Understanding What Negligence Means in a Child Injury Case
Negligence is when someone doesn’t act with the level of care that a reasonable person should use in that situation. In a child injury case, this means looking at what the adult or company did or didn’t do, and how that action (or lack of action) led to your child’s injury. In Ohio, four main things need to be shown to prove negligence. First, there must be a duty of care, which means the person or company had a responsibility to keep your child safe. Second, there must be a breach of that duty, which means they failed to take proper care. Third, there must be proof that this breach directly caused the injury. And finally, there must be actual damages, like injuries, medical bills, or emotional trauma.
For example, if a daycare leaves cleaning chemicals where a child can reach them and the child gets sick, that daycare may be negligent. They had a duty to keep dangerous items away from children. By leaving the chemicals out, they broke that duty, and if the child got hurt as a result, the daycare could be held responsible.
Elizabeth Fitzgerald
Paralegal
Our objectives remain clear in every case we pursue: To give every client, without delay, excuse or equivocation, our full attention, sound advice and forceful representation.
About Our Firm
What Makes Child Injury Cases Different
Child injury cases are different from other injury cases. Children don’t always see danger the way adults do. They might not know that something is risky, like running in a parking lot or playing near a sharp object. Because of this, the law often requires adults and businesses to take extra care when children are involved. This is known as a higher duty of care.
Also, children don’t usually file lawsuits themselves. Their parents or guardians take legal action on their behalf. Ohio law gives families time to take action, but it’s important to move quickly. Evidence can disappear, and memories can fade. Waiting too long could hurt your case.
Common Places Where Child Injuries Happen
There are many places where children can be hurt due to someone else’s carelessness. Some of the most common include daycare centers, schools, school buses, playgrounds, swimming pools, and private homes. Injuries may happen because staff were not watching the children, equipment was broken or unsafe, or rules were not followed.
In some cases, products like toys or baby gear can also be dangerous. If a product was made badly or had no warning labels, and your child was hurt because of it, the company that made or sold the product might be responsible.
What You Need to Prove in Court
To win a child injury case in Ohio, you have to prove several things. First, you must show that the person or company had a duty to protect your child. For example, a teacher has a duty to keep students safe in the classroom. Second, you need to show that they failed in that duty. Maybe they left kids alone on the playground or didn’t fix a broken swing. Third, you must prove that your child’s injury happened because of that failure. Finally, you need to show how your child was hurt—this could include doctor’s reports, hospital bills, or records of how your child’s life changed after the injury.
You don’t need to do all this on your own. Collecting evidence, talking to witnesses, and knowing what the law says can be difficult, especially when you’re also trying to care for a hurt child. This is where having legal help makes a difference.
The attorneys at Ryan Injury Lawyers treat you like family. They are extremely professional, kind, respectful and intelligently know the law. Highly recommend. They are well above par.
- Zora S.
Great service and very professional. They actually make themselves available when you call. I will be referring Ryan to all of my friends and colleagues.
- Lashawn H.
How Parents Can Help Build a Strong Case
There are some steps you can take right away if your child has been hurt. First, make sure they get medical help. Keep copies of any doctor visits, treatments, or hospital stays. Second, write down everything you remember about how the injury happened. Who was there? What did people say? Were there cameras nearby? Were there other children or adults who saw what happened?
If possible, take photos of where the injury happened and of your child’s injuries. All of this can be helpful in proving your case later. Try not to talk to insurance companies or sign anything before getting legal advice. They may try to offer you money quickly to settle the case, but it might not be enough to cover all the long-term effects of the injury.
Why Proving Negligence Can Lead to Better Support for Your Child
Winning a negligence case can help you pay for your child’s care now and in the future. Some injuries need long-term treatment or therapy. Your child might need counseling, special equipment, or help at school. The money from a case can help with all of this. It can also give your family peace of mind, knowing that the people who were responsible have been held accountable.
More than that, filing a case can also help make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to another child. When businesses or people are held responsible, they are more likely to make changes that improve safety.
What to Expect When You Take Legal Action
When you work with a lawyer to file a child injury case, they will usually start by investigating what happened. They will collect records, talk to people, and look at laws that apply. Then they will try to get a fair settlement from the insurance company or the person who caused the injury. If that doesn’t work, the case may go to court. In court, a judge or jury will listen to the evidence and decide what should happen.
The process can take time, but you don’t have to go through it alone. You will have someone guiding you every step of the way, answering your questions, and standing up for your child’s needs.
How the Right Help Can Make a Difference
Having someone on your side who knows what to do, understands the legal process, and truly cares about your child’s future can take a lot of pressure off your shoulders. It allows you to focus on your child and their healing. When families face situations like these, they often feel powerless. But the law gives you the right to speak up, to ask for help, and to get justice.
We know how much you love your child. We know how painful it is to see them suffer. And we know that you’re here because you want to do the right thing—for them, for your family, and for your peace of mind.
If your child has been hurt because someone else didn’t do their job, it’s time to take the next step. Reach out to
Ryan Injury Attorneys today. We understand how difficult this is, and we are here to help you get through it. Let us guide you through your case with care, clarity, and strength. Together, we can work for the outcome your child deserves.
