Parent of an injured child
Your child was hurt in a road accident, and you are trying to hold everything together at once.
Your child was hurt, and you are managing the hospital, the police, work and everyone’s questions at once. One thing can come off your plate today: there is no legal rush.
You do not have to decide about a claim today
A child’s own injury claim generally does not start its clock until they turn 18.[1] The claim can usually still be brought years from now.
Right now your energy can go toward your child’s recovery.
What matters most now
Medical care comes first. When you can, keep copies of hospital records and the police report as they arrive. Do not chase them today if today is too much.
If you feel guilty about what happened
Many parents replay the moment and wonder what they could have done differently. That feeling is common, and it is not legal fault.
A court looks at the driver’s actions and the facts of the crash, not a parent’s feelings. A young child’s own actions are judged with their age in mind, not against an adult standard.[2]
Practical things worth doing
- Keep hospital and police documents together as they come in.
- Note down any witnesses while contact details are easy to get.
- Photograph the scene if you can, or ask someone who was there.
- Write a short note of what your child remembers, in their own words, while it is fresh.
None of this needs to happen today. It only needs to happen before memories fade.
When you are ready
Child road accident claim explains the fuller process. Child pedestrian accident covers that situation if it applies to your family.
When you want help, an independent lawyer can take the claim on for your child. Send the accident date, where it happened, your child’s injury status (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Do we have to sort out a claim while my child is still in hospital?
No. Your child's own claim generally does not need to start until they turn 18.[1] Right now, your attention belongs with their care, not a deadline.
I feel like I should have prevented this. Does that affect the claim?
A parent's guilt is not the same as legal fault, and a court does not weigh your feelings this way. Fault is worked out from the driver's actions and the facts of the crash.
Could my child's own actions count against them?
A young child is judged with their age in mind, not held to an adult standard of care.[2] This can reduce an award in some cases, but it does not end a claim.
What can I actually do right now, without adding pressure on myself?
Keep hospital and police paperwork together as it comes in, and note any witnesses while it is easy to do so. That is enough for now. The rest can wait.
Sources
- Thomas Philip, on s.24 Limitation Act 1953 (disability) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Low & Partners, on s.12 Civil Law Act 1956 (contributory negligence) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.