Child Injury Attorney in Galveston, TX
Children are amongst some of the most vulnerable members of Galveston’s population. When they sustain an injury due to another party’s negligence, they require compassionate support. These injuries can leave the child and their families dealing with overwhelming emotional, physical, and financial burdens. Whether your child’s injuries have occurred at a property along West Bay or near San Jacinto Park, a Galveston child injury lawyer is here to support you.
The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates: Here to Protect the Rights of Your Child
At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, an experienced Galveston personal injury lawyer knows just how difficult the aftermath of a child injury can be, not only for the victim, but for the entire family. The founder of our firm, Tad Nelson, is a born-and-raised Texan and is proud to be a lifelong resident of the Galveston area. We are invested in our local community and care deeply about our neighbors, especially in cases of serious injury.
Outside of our legal practice, we are active in the Galveston Rotary Club and the League City Lions Club, as well as being proud sponsors of Bowl for Kids’ Sake and the Meals on Wheels yearly Christmas fund drive. To us, community is everything, and we are here to protect you and your loved ones when the unthinkable happens.
Our attorneys have been honored with Super Lawyer designations for 10 consecutive years and bring this level of legal excellence and community dedication to every case that comes across our desks. Keep in mind that awards and recognition do not guarantee future results; selection criteria vary by organization.
The team at The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates knows how challenging this time is for your family and is here to help you in whatever way we can. Now is the time to seek justice and compensation and hold the at-fault party liable for what your child has suffered.
Common Causes of Child Injuries in Galveston
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an injured child is brought into an emergency room somewhere in the United States every four seconds. While many accidents may simply be unavoidable, there are other cases where a negligent party is to blame for the harm your child sustains. In these cases, families have the right to seek compensation.
At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we are here to help these families secure damage recovery and justice in child injury cases caused by the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents are the cause behind one in every four unintentional injury deaths for children in the United States. Parents are required to properly secure their young children and babies inside vehicles, but even with this preventive measure, accidents can still have devastating results. These accidents tend to be caused by other negligent drivers, including those who are guilty of intoxication, speeding, or distraction.
- Animal attacks or dog bites. Many young children do not always understand how dangerous an animal can be. For example, when a child is bitten by a neighborhood dog, it can leave the child suffering from a range of diseases, infection, broken bones, internal organ damage, puncture wounds, and even death. At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, we can help bring a liability claim against the dog’s negligent owner.
- Premises liability accidents. Property owners in Texas hold a duty to keep their property safe and in good condition. This might require routine inspections and maintenance at several local tourist attractions. If your child is another property belonging to another and suffers injury due to a dangerous condition that should have been reasonably addressed by the property owner, you may be able to file an injury claim.
- Medical malpractice. At The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, our attorneys are here to represent parents and children when healthcare professionals make catastrophic mistakes that cause your child to sustain injuries. When a doctor or hospital system fails to care for a child or respond to a dangerous condition, such as oxygen deprivation, horrific injuries can occur that can change your life and the life of your child.
- Attractive nuisance accidents. In Texas, property owners are required to take certain steps that will prevent a child from exploring potentially hazardous areas — known as “attractive nuisances” — on their property, such as trampolines, pools, and other attractions, even when that property is private.
- Product defects. Products meant for children need to be safe, and the manufacturers of the product have a duty to test all products for safety before placing them on the consumer market. An attorney is here to help should your child suffer injury due to an unsafe or defective product, such as a food or beverage item, medications, clothing, children’s furniture, bicycles, packaging, or other items that can cause harm.
- School events. School staff and the school system are required to know and be aware of any dangers posed to children. Recreational activities, such as outdoor recess, should be supervised by an adult, and any complaints need to be taken seriously until the truth is discovered.
- School bus accidents. In a single year, school bus-related crashes resulted in the death of 128 people nationwide in 2023. These accidents might be caused by negligent driving, poor or inadequate safety measures, negligent hiring practices, or defective bus equipment or components.
- Sexual abuse. There are many organizations and individuals we trust to care for the safety and well-being of our children who, unfortunately, betray that trust in the worst possible ways. When a child is sexually abused, whether at school, after-school care, or by adults in positions of leadership — such as a teacher, coach, Boy Scout leader, or a member of the clergy — the attorneys at The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates are here to help.
- Daycare accidents. As parents, you entrust your child’s care to local daycare centers and childcare facilities. Unfortunately, injuries and even death can often occur in these programs. These injuries can be caused by negligent, unsafe property conditions, or inadequate supervision and include the ingestion of objects, children wandering away from the property, or being subjected to physical, verbal, or sexual abuse.
If a negligent party caused your child’s injury, The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates is here to help you seek the justice and compensation you and your loved ones deserve.
Compensation You and Your Family May Be Entitled to Receive
In cases of child injury, there are several forms of compensation you may be able to recover, depending on the severity of your child’s injuries and the cause of the accident. Compensation can include:
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering damages
- Psychological pain
- Future care costs
- Possible punitive damages
- When applicable, wrongful death damages
FAQs
Q: How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take in Texas?
A: In Texas, personal injury case timelines can vary, ranging from a handful of months to several years. There are various factors that will play into the timeline of a personal injury case, including the complexity of the case, the availability of the evidence, the availability of the court system, and the willingness to cooperate shown by all involved parties.
Q: What if My Child Is Blamed for the Accident?
A: Even in cases where a child might be to blame, at least partially for the accident, you may still be able to pursue monetary compensation for their injuries, due to the state’s law of modified comparative negligence. Under this law, your child may still be able to recover compensation if they were not more than50% responsible for the accident.
Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations on Child Injuries in Texas?
A: Texas operates under atwo-year statute of limitations for almost all personal injury claims. This means that you have two years from the date of your child’s injury to file your official injury claim. However, there is an alternative in cases of minors, where a child can file the claim on their own within two years of their 18th birthday. If neither timeframe is followed, the case will likely be dismissed, and no damages will be recovered.
Q: What Are the Most Common Types of Child Injuries?
A: There is a wide range of common injuries a child can face in Texas, depending on the exact circumstances that led to the injury. The most common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, which could result in partial or complete paralysis, severe burn injuries, traumatic amputations, whether at the scene of the accident or in cases where it is medically necessary, scarring and disfigurement, broken bones, and vision loss.
Hire a Child Injury Lawyer Serving Galveston Families Today
When a child suffers physical, emotional, or psychological injury, the family is likely entitled to compensation from the party at fault. When you hire a child injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates, you can gain the confidence that comes from knowing you have the right team of experienced, compassionate advocates in your corner. No child deserves to experience the pain and suffering of injury, but when such a tragedy occurs, we can help.
Contact our offices today to learn more about our legal services and to schedule your initial consultation. Let us put our decades of experience and community care behind your case today.