Child Injury Lawyers in Colorado Springs

When a child is hurt because an adult or a business didn’t take the care it should have, the child has a claim of their own, brought on their behalf by a parent or guardian. The law treats children differently in three ways that matter: how carefully others must act around them, the deadlines, and how a settlement is approved and protected.

Schools

Public schools are government entities. Colorado’s Governmental Immunity Act protects them from many claims, but allows some, including claims arising from dangerous conditions of public buildings and facilities, and from school vehicles. Any claim against a public school district requires written notice within 182 days of discovering the injury. That deadline is easy to miss while a family is focused on a child’s recovery, and missing it can end the claim.

Private schools are not covered by the Act and are treated like other businesses, responsible for reasonable supervision and safe premises.

Daycare and childcare

Licensed childcare providers must meet state standards for staffing ratios, supervision, and facilities. A violation of those standards is strong evidence that care fell short. Falls, playground injuries, choking, injuries from other children, and injuries during transport are the most common cases. Inspection reports and prior complaints about a licensed facility are often available and are among the first things to request.

Other places children are hurt

• Playgrounds with broken equipment or unsafe surfaces.
• Swimming pools at apartment complexes, hotels, and private homes.
• Car crashes, including crashes where a child restraint failed or was installed incorrectly by someone else.
• Dog bites, which injure children more often than adults and more often in the face.
• Defective toys, furniture that tips, and other consumer products.
• Sports and camps, where waivers may apply.

Deadlines for children

Children generally get more time than adults. When no court has appointed a legal representative for the child, the deadline runs until the later of the normal limitations period or two years after the child turns 18. Don’t assume that extra time applies to the 182-day notice for public school claims. The parents’ own claims, such as for the child’s medical bills, may run on a different clock. The safest course is to act as though the ordinary deadline applies.

Settlements for children

A child can’t settle a claim on their own, and a settlement for a child usually needs protection so the money is there when the child needs it, often through a court-approved arrangement. A settlement should also account for future treatment, such as surgery for scars that must wait until the child has grown.

How we handle children’s injury claims

We calendar any government notice deadline immediately, get school, daycare, and licensing records, document the child’s injuries and future care with their doctors, and structure any recovery so it is protected for the child.