If a person or company fails to take appropriate steps to protect you, you may know that you have legal options that allow you to hold them responsible. However, if harm comes to a minor, they cannot bring a claim on their own. What should parents know after the negligence of another party harms their child?
In Pennsylvania, parents can sue on behalf of their child.
While underage children cannot file a lawsuit independently, Pennsylvania law allows parents or legal guardians to file a claim for them. This can provide immediate financial support for families struggling with the financial impact of a child’s injuries.
How long do people have to file a claim for a child’s injuries?
It is also important to remember that personal injury lawsuits involving minors are subject to two different statutes of limitations. Parents representing their child have two years after the date of the accident to bring a claim.
However, in Pennsylvania, when a young person files a lawsuit on their own behalf, the statute of limitations does not begin until their 18th birthday. This means that young people would have until the age of 20 to file a claim on their own if their injuries occurred while they were a minor. While this offers more time to take legal action, delaying a lawsuit also delays the compensation it can provide.
Whether parents choose to file a claim on their child’s behalf or a wait until their child can file a lawsuit on their own, families may want guidance as they explore their legal options. With careful consideration, they can determine which path forward will offer the financial and medical support their child needs to heal.