Personal Injury Hotline.com | Personal Injury Lawyers | 24/7

free legal consultation

Get Free Legal Consultation
24/7, Evenings & Weekends
CALL NOW: 1-800-234-5529
TEXT US AT: 516-268-3959
  • Home
  • About Us
  • The PIH Difference
  • Types of Cases
  • FAQ’s
  • Blog
  • Contact
You are here: Home / News / Accidents Involving Minors

Accidents Involving Minors

May 31, 2015 by Personal Injury Hotline Leave a Comment

ID-10063235In nearly every state, a minor is defined as any individual under the age of 18. Minors are legally unable to file personal injury claims on their own behalf. It is up to the minor’s parent or guardian to file a claim for them.

A child (minor) is entitled to the same legal rights as an adult with respect to personal injury claims and civil suits. A minor has an equal right to compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, and permanent disability in the same way, and for the same amounts, as an adult injured in an accident.

Once a settlement is reached on a minor’s claim, in most states, the settlement needs to be approved by a judge. The lawyer representing the child will petition the court for approval, and if the judge agrees that the settlement is proper and in the best interest of the child, he or she will sign off on the settlement.

Typically, the judge will direct that the child’s settlement proceeds be deposited into a bank account until the child reaches the age of majority. At that point, the money will become the sole property of the former minor. It is not, nor will it ever be, the property of the parent or guardian.

While the child’s money is securely deposited in an account, the parent cannot touch the money. However, there are ways for the parent to petition the court for access to the money. This is often based on a showing that the withdrawal is necessary to meet parental expenses over and above the ordinary ones of parental obligations, such as unusual medical costs. After all, the money is the child’s money. Parents have the obligation to spend money to raise their children and the courts will generally not allow the parents to use their children’s personal injury awards to cover the ordinary expenses of raising a child.

Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Related

Filed Under: News

Personal Injury Hotline

About Personal Injury Hotline

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

step1
Speak with a lawyer… CALL 1-800-234-5LAW
step1
Email us your question… CLICK HERE
step1
Get more information… CLICK HERE

Related

Recent Posts

  • Playground and School Accidents
  • How Does Having a Dog Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Rates
  • Will my insurance rates go up after an accident?
  • Should I go to the hospital / doctor after an accident?
  • Proving Negligence in your Personal Injury Case

Categories

  • Featured
  • News
  • Sliders

Welcome to Personal Injury Hotline.com

We are personal injury lawyers ready to answer your most basic legal question … “Do I have a case?”

Every minute of every day, someone is injured in an accident. And every minute of every day accident victims can find out their rights, and how to protect them, by calling, or emailing, Personal Injury Hotline.com.

No matter which method of communication you choose, the consultation is always fast, easy and FREE.

Personal Injury Hotline.com… where getting answers to your legal questions is as easy as 1-2-3.

Related

step1
Speak with a lawyer… CALL 1-800-234-5LAW
step1
Email us your question… CLICK HERE
step1
Get more information… CLICK HERE

Related

About Us

Personal Injury HotlinePersonal Injury Hotline was established in 1987 as a toll-free number 1-800-234-5LAW for accident victims in the New York/Metro area who wanted immediate answers to legal questions
Read More…

Recent Articles

  • Playground and School Accidents
  • How Does Having a Dog Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Rates

For Personal Injury Lawyers

If you are an established personal injury lawyer or law firm that:
(1) understands the Internet;
(2) have your own website and
(3) would like to learn more about how to increase your practice by becoming part of our group, please drop us an email.

Contact Us

Email us today for a Free Legal Consultation

Toll Free Number::
1-800-234-5LAW
Copyright © 2021 PersonalInjuryHotline.com · disclaimer · privacy policy
Personal Injury Hotline.com is a service of the law firm of Jeffrey S. Kimmel.
The Personal Injury Hotlinesm and PersonalInjuryHotline.comsm are servicemarks of Jeffrey S. Kimmel.