Child accident & injury claims

If your child has been hurt in an accident, you may be able to make a child accident compensation claim on their behalf. Our specialist team is here to help you.

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Author

Caroline Morris

Managing Director of Serious Injury

Reviewer

Ben Priestley

Partner & Solicitor

Last Updated

16th July 2026

Can I make a child accident claim?

You can make a child accident compensation claim when your child has been injured as a result of someone else’s failure to keep them safe. Children get bumps and scrapes – but when a more serious injury is caused by another person’s actions, that is a very different matter. Our personal injury team specialises in child accident claims, and we can guide you through the process with care.

If your child was injured at school or on a school trip, in a road traffic accident, in a public place, or in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence at home or in another setting – we may be able to help you understand what went wrong and who might be held accountable. Crush injuries, falls, head injuries, and accidents involving unsafe equipment or premises are all situations where a claim may be possible.

Even if you’re unsure whether the accident was entirely someone else’s fault, or if some time has passed since it happened, it’s still worth speaking to us. In most cases, the time limit to make a claim is three years – but for children, this works differently. The three-year period does not begin until your child turns 18, which means there is often more time than people realise. We’ll explain clearly what applies to your situation.

Example of a child accident claim

Imagine a child who trips and falls on a broken, uneven surface in a school playground that had been reported as a hazard but never repaired. The fall results in a head injury requiring hospital treatment and time away from school. If the school was aware of the risk and failed to act, this could form the basis of a valid child accident claim.

Common child accident claims we support

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What compensation can help with

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Funding your child's recovery and easing pressure on your family.

Naturally, any parent’s priorities will be to relieve their child’s pain and suffering and get the urgent treatment and rehabilitation they need. Our experienced team of child injury solicitors are members of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. Many of our team are also parents of young children, so we know how heart wrenching it can be when your child is injured and understand that you won’t want to leave their side for a moment.

Compensation can help relieve some of that pressure. It’s about making sure you have everything in place to help your child recover as fully as possible – and that your family is not left out of pocket as a result of someone else’s negligence.

A successful child accident injury claims may help fund:

Medical treatment, specialist consultations and ongoing healthcare
Rehabilitation and physiotherapy to support recovery
Home tuition and additional educational support during time off school
Psychological support and counselling for your child and your family
Home adaptations and specialist equipment where needed
Loss of earnings for parents who have had to take time off work to provide care
Travel costs related to treatment and appointments
Ongoing care and support needs into the future

Understanding the potential value

We secured a six-figure settlement in a claim where both a mother and her son suffered injuries as they were hit by a vehicle, whilst they were walking to school. The value of a child accident compensation claim depends on the nature and severity of the injury, the long-term impact on your child’s development, education, and daily life, and the financial losses your family has faced. More serious injuries – including head injuries or those with lasting effects – can result in significantly higher settlements that account for lifetime care and support needs. We’ll always be open with you about what we think is achievable, based on the details of your case.

Understanding interim payments

In more serious cases, we may be able to secure interim payments before the final settlement is reached. This means your child can access the treatment, rehabilitation, or equipment they need without having to wait until the end of the claims process. We’ll explore this option wherever it’s possible, so that your child’s recovery is not delayed by legal timescales.

Specialist child accident solicitors

Why choose Fletchers for your child accident claim?

Child accident claims are often deeply personal and emotionally charged. The team around you matters enormously. At Fletchers, our solicitors specialise in serious personal injury claims - including those involving children - and bring together legal expertise, clinical insight, and genuine understanding of what families go through. We’re here to take on the hard work, so you can focus on your child.

Expertise you can rely on

Specialist child injury solicitors, members of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
Experience handling complex child accident and head injury claims across England and Wales
Access to leading children’s medical experts and rehabilitation specialists
Ability to secure funding for urgent medical treatment before liability has been accepted, so your child’s recovery is not delayed
National award-winning team with a track record in landmark serious injury cases
Flexible and family-focused – we can speak by phone or come to you at home or in hospital
Rated excellent on Trustpilot by the clients we’ve supported
No win, no fee, so you can pursue your child’s claim without financial risk

You're not alone

We understand what you and your family are going through.

We know that a serious childhood injury affects the whole family. Parents often have to take time off work, rearrange their lives, and manage the emotional weight of seeing their child suffer. The financial pressure – from lost income, extra care costs, and the practicalities of adapting daily life – can feel relentless at a time when your energy should be going elsewhere.

Many of the families we’ve supported felt exactly the same way when they first came to us. Naturally, your focus is on their recovery. But you may also be juggling with financial stresses and concerns about what the future holds. The last thing you need is to feel lost in a legal process you did not ask for, or to worry about how you’ll afford the support your child needs.

We understand this, and we want to help take some of the load. We’ll handle every part of the claims process, keep you informed at every stage, and fight for compensation that truly reflects the impact this has had on your child and your family.

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Rehabilitation support

We go beyond legal advice to support you, not just your case, making sure the right care and practical help are in place throughout the compensation claim process.

A message from our Rehabilitation and Wellbeing Team

We work alongside Fletchers Solicitors’ legal experts – listening carefully to your needs, helping you understand what support is available and creating a personalised recovery plan.

Led by rehabilitation manager Julie Chorlton, we bring together expertise across healthcare, therapy and welfare support, and can help arrange access to treatment and financial support. We also work with accredited mental health professionals, giving you and your family access to counselling quickly.

OUR REHABILITATION & WELLBEING TEAM

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FAQs about child accident claims

How long do I have to make a child accident claim?

For most personal injury claims, the time limit is three years from the date of the accident. However, child accident claims work differently. Where the injured person is under 18, the three-year period does not start until their 18th birthday – which means a parent or guardian can bring a claim on a child’s behalf at any point before then, or the child themselves can bring a claim up to their 21st birthday.

There are some exceptions to these rules, so it’s always worth speaking to us about the specifics of your situation. We’ll give you clear, honest advice on where you stand.

How much does it cost to make a child accident claim?

We work on a no win, no fee basis – sometimes called a conditional fee arrangement. This means you’ll not pay us anything if we don’t secure compensation for your child’s injury. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to take out after-the-event (ATE) insurance as part of the process. We’ll explain exactly what this means for you before anything is agreed.

What evidence is needed for a child accident claim?

The evidence needed will depend on how and where the accident happened, but typically includes medical records and reports documenting your child’s injuries, any accident or incident reports (for example, from a school or public body), photographs of the scene or any hazards involved, and witness statements where available.

We’ll guide you through exactly what is needed in your case and help gather the evidence required, including commissioning independent medical expert reports where appropriate.

What support is available during my child's claim?

We understand that your priority is your child’s wellbeing, not the legal process. Our team can call on leading children’s medical experts and can often secure funding for urgent treatment before the other side has even accepted liability – so your child does not have to wait.

We’re also happy to talk over the phone, or to travel to meet you at home, in hospital, or wherever is most convenient for you. Throughout the process, we’ll keep you informed and make sure you always know what is happening and what comes next.

Can I claim if the accident was partly my child's fault?

Possibly, yes. If another person or organisation was at least partly responsible for the accident – for example, through unsafe conditions or a failure in their duty of care – a claim may still be possible even if your child’s own actions played some role. This is sometimes called contributory negligence, which means the level of fault is shared, and it can affect the final settlement amount.

We’ll look at all the circumstances of the accident and give you an honest view of whether a claim is likely to succeed.

What types of injury can a child accident claim cover?

Child accident claims can cover a wide range of injuries, from fractures, soft tissue injuries, and burns to more serious conditions such as head injuries, spinal injuries, and injuries with lasting psychological effects. The important factor is not the type of injury itself, but whether it was caused by someone else’s negligence or failure to keep your child safe.

If you’re unsure whether your child’s injury qualifies, speak to us. We’ll listen to what happened and give you clear, straightforward advice.