Sacramento Child Injury Lawyer
Experienced Child Injury Attorneys in Sacramento
The child injury attorneys at Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys have spent decades guiding families through personal injury cases. When a child suffers harm because an adult or institution didn’t act responsibly, parents deserve a legal team that knows how to take over and protect their child’s future. Our attorneys work case by case—we don’t use templates or cut corners—because every child’s situation deserves full attention. We represent families in all child injury matters, including cases involving children who need ongoing or specialized care.
We approach these cases with focus and care. Parents are already dealing with medical issues, school interruptions, and the emotional stress that comes with watching their child suffer. That’s why we stay involved and responsive, making sure you’re kept in the loop and not left guessing about next steps.
We’re based here in Sacramento and we represent families throughout the area. Whether the injury happened on public property, at a private business, or somewhere else entirely, we’re ready to help. If you’re looking for legal help after a child injury, reach out to Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys.
If your child has been injured, don’t wait to take action. Contact us now for your free consultation — you pay nothing unless we win compensation for your family.
Types of Child Injury Cases We Handle
At Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys, we’ve guided families through many different types of child injury cases. We know children can get hurt in countless situations, and when someone else’s negligence is to blame, families deserve to take action right away. Our personal injury attorneys handle child injury claims throughout California, working closely with each family to understand what happened and to build a path forward that protects their child’s future.
Here are some of the case types we regularly see:
- Daycare and school injuries: When staff fail to supervise or maintain a safe environment, children are left vulnerable. These claims often involve broken bones, falls, or worse.
- Playground accidents: Whether due to poorly maintained equipment or lack of oversight, these injuries often require immediate legal steps.
- Car accidents involving children: As passengers, child pedestrians, or bike riders, children often suffer severe harm in vehicle collisions.
- Dog bites: These cases often involve scarring, trauma, and liability questions that need fast investigation.
- Medical negligence affecting minors: Errors in pediatric care can change a child’s life and may involve long-term treatment costs.
- Defective toys and products: Some products fail to meet safety standards or carry hidden dangers, especially for younger kids.
- Premises liability incidents: Falls, exposure to hazards, or unsecured areas can all result in serious injuries to children.
A Sacramento child injury attorney at our firm can help you understand your rights and what legal steps may be available if your child was hurt in any of these situations.
Sacramento, California Playground Injury Attorney
Children can run, climb, and play freely in playgrounds, which are designed to be places of enjoyment and exploration. What should be a happy place can quickly become the scene of a serious accident when safety is neglected, whether as a result of inadequate maintenance, faulty equipment, or a lack of supervision.
Nothing is more distressing to a parent than witnessing their child get hurt, especially if it could have been avoided. You have every right to inquire and possibly file a lawsuit if your child was injured on a California playground as a result of someone else’s carelessness.
We at Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys recognize that this is more than just a legal issue. It’s intimate. For this reason, we take the time to listen, clearly explain your rights, and work to hold those who are at fault accountable.
What frequently results in playground injuries, the kinds of injuries we see most frequently, and how compensation works when you choose to pursue a claim are all covered below.
Typical Reasons for Playground Accidents
Not all injuries sustained on the playground are the result of negligence. Children fall. Getting scrapes and bruises is a normal part of growing up. However, it’s a different matter entirely when a major injury occurs as a result of someone failing to perform their duties, whether that person is a manufacturer, a private daycare center, a city maintenance crew, or even a school district.
Some of the most common causes of preventable playground injuries include the following:
- Poor maintenance: Playground equipment ages. Things like loose bolts, broken swings, rotting wood, rusted metal bars, or cracked plastic surfaces pose a serious risk to children. If the property owner or caretaker failed to conduct regular maintenance or inspections on the equipment, they could be held legally responsible.
- Inadequate supervision: Many accidents happen when kids are left alone, especially in daycare or school settings. Workers have a responsibility to supervise children and intervene when unruly play occurs. If an adult’s absence contributed to your child’s injury, they might be able to make a claim.
- Risky Playground Design: Some playgrounds were poorly designed from the start and lacked essential safety features like guardrails, age-appropriate play areas, and shock-absorbing surfaces. Equipment that is too advanced for younger children can quickly become dangerous in the absence of safety barriers.
- Equipment flaws: Manufacturers are occasionally at fault. If a design or manufacturing flaw causes the playground equipment to malfunction, the manufacturer could be held liable. These types of product liability cases are entirely legal, but they require technical research.
- Dangerous Surfaces: The surfaces underneath and around play areas should be made of impact-absorbing materials like sand, mulch, or rubber matting. A child is more likely to sustain broken bones or brain trauma if they fall on concrete, asphalt, or degraded grass.
Playground Injury Types
Although playground injuries vary in severity, many of them are much more serious than a simple bump or bruise. We have assisted families whose children were seriously harmed by unsafe conditions on a financial, emotional, and physical level.
Some of the more serious injuries we see are as follows:
- Bones Broken: Falls from monkey bars, slides, and climbing structures can easily cause fractures. Even a minor wrist fracture may require surgery or continuous physical therapy because a child’s bones are still growing.
- Trauma to the Head: Two of the most concerning are concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). If a child falls and hits their head, or worse, is struck by unstable equipment, the damage may not be immediately noticeable, but it can have long-term effects.
- Internal Damage: In rare cases, trauma to the chest or abdomen from swings, zip lines, or spinning equipment may cause internal bleeding or damage to organs. These injuries often require emergency care.
- Lacerations and punctures: Broken materials, sharp edges, or exposed screws can easily result in deep cuts or punctures. These wounds could become infected and leave permanent scars if they are not properly treated.
- Sprains and Dislocations: When children fall awkwardly, joints like the elbows, shoulders, and ankles are especially susceptible. A child’s activity level may be restricted for months after even minor dislocations, which can take weeks to heal.
- Traumatic Emotions: Damage is not always physical. Following an accident, some kids feel scared or anxious, particularly if they were hurt by bullying or a lack of adult supervision, or if they fell from a height. Compensation may also include emotional distress.
Compensation for Playground Injuries
You shouldn’t have to pay for your child’s injuries when someone else’s carelessness causes them to be hurt. This is especially true when you have to deal with medical visits, missed work, and the psychological toll of witnessing your child’s suffering.
You might be eligible for reimbursement under California law for:
- Medical costs (such as prescription drugs, follow-up care, surgery, ER visits, and physical therapy)
- Future medical requirements (rehabilitation, mobility assistance, or ongoing treatment)
- Anguish and distress (both mental and physical)
- Lost income (if you had to take time off work to look after your child)
- Loss of enjoyment of life (for chronic injuries that prevent your child from playing, interacting with others, or engaging in activities)
The claims procedure is somewhat different if the injury occurred on government property or at a public school. It’s crucial to move fast because you have a limited amount of time—usually only six months from the date of the injury—to file a notice of claim.
We at Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys take care of all the documentation, inquiries, and legal planning so you can concentrate on what really counts—your child’s healing. You don’t have to pay us anything unless we win your case because we operate on a contingency-fee basis.
Although playground injuries are tragic, you don’t have to face them alone. We are here to support you in your fight for justice if someone’s failure to provide a safe environment caused your child to suffer serious harm.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, get in touch with the accident and injury attorneys at Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys right now.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Child’s Injury?
When a child is seriously hurt, figuring out who’s legally responsible is one of the first steps in protecting your family’s rights. A thorough investigation is usually needed to understand what happened, who was involved, and how the injury could have been prevented. In many cases, more than one party may be at fault.
Individuals and Caregivers
Sometimes, a child is harmed because a babysitter, teacher, coach, or other adult didn’t provide proper supervision or acted recklessly. When an adult fails to act with reasonable care, they may be held legally responsible in a children’s injury lawsuit.
Schools and Daycare Centers
Facilities that care for children on a daily basis—like schools or daycare centers—can be held liable if they ignored safety policies, failed to maintain safe premises, or hired unqualified staff. A Sacramento child injury attorney can help investigate whether staff negligence contributed to your child’s harm.
Property Owners and Businesses
If a child is injured on someone else’s property, including swimming pools, the owner might be liable under California premises liability law. This includes stores, apartment complexes, or even neighbors if they failed to address known hazards that could hurt a child.
Manufacturers and Product Designers
When defective toys, cribs, or child-specific products lead to injury, liability may fall on the manufacturer or distributor. These cases often require technical investigation to show how the design or warning labels were unsafe.
Because child injury cases can involve more than one responsible party, working with a Sacramento child injury attorney helps ensure no detail is missed.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Child Injury Lawsuit?
When a child is seriously hurt, families may be entitled to seek child accident compensation through a legal claim. A Sacramento child injury lawyer can help identify all the losses that should be included, both financial and emotional.
Economic Damages
- Medical Expenses: This includes hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, therapy, medication, and any assistive devices the child may need now or in the future.
- Ongoing Care Needs: If the injury results in long-term health complications, compensation may also cover future treatments, in-home care, or rehabilitation.
- Educational Support Costs: In some cases, an injury may lead to learning difficulties or delays. These damages can include special education or tutoring.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain caused by the injury is compensable, especially when it results in prolonged discomfort or permanent limitations.
- Emotional Trauma: Children who’ve experienced serious injuries often need counseling or other mental health care to cope with the event.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If a child can no longer participate in activities they once enjoyed, that loss is also considered when calculating compensation.
- Disfigurement or Disability: Permanent scarring or long-term impairment may justify additional damages based on the impact it has on the child’s daily life.
How Are Child Injury Cases Different from Adult Injury Claims?
Filing a personal injury claim for a minor comes with additional legal steps that don’t apply to adult cases. Because minors cannot represent themselves in court, a parent or legal guardian typically brings the case on the child’s behalf. In some situations, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem—a neutral third party who makes sure the child’s best interests are protected throughout the legal process.
Unlike adult injury claims, any proposed settlement in a child’s case must be reviewed and approved by a judge. This extra layer of oversight ensures that the agreement truly serves the child’s long-term needs, not just the short-term convenience of the adults involved.
Another key difference involves time limits. While most injury cases must be filed within a strict deadline, the statute of limitations for a child is often extended, giving families more time to pursue justice. A Sacramento child injury attorney can explain how these rules apply to a specific situation.
What to Do After a Child Injury Accident
When a child gets hurt, emotions can take over quickly, but there are a few steps you’ll need to take right away to protect their well-being and preserve any potential legal claim:
- Get medical attention immediately: Even if the injury doesn’t seem serious at first, a full exam is important both for your child’s health and for any documentation that may be needed later.
- Take photos and notes as soon as possible: If the scene is safe, try to capture where it happened, what conditions may have contributed, and any visible injuries. This kind of evidence may become key in a claim later on.
- Report the injury to whoever is responsible: That could be a school, daycare center, business owner, or property manager—whoever had a duty to keep your child safe should be formally notified.
- Don’t sign anything without legal guidance: You may be contacted by an insurance company or other party asking for a statement or agreement. It’s best to hold off until you speak with a child injury attorney.
- Reach out to a lawyer with experience in child injury cases: A qualified attorney can help you understand what your rights are and what steps to take next.
Can I Sue a Daycare or School for a Child’s Injury?
Yes, you may be able to sue a daycare or school for a child’s injury if the facility failed to act with reasonable care. These institutions have a legal duty to keep children safe while under their supervision. When that duty is violated—whether through negligent supervision, hazardous conditions, or failure to respond to known dangers—parents have the right to take legal action.
Negligence in these settings might involve leaving children unattended, ignoring warning signs of bullying or abuse, failing to maintain safe play areas, or hiring unqualified staff. If that negligence leads to harm, it can form the basis of a claim.
Parents who choose to sue a daycare for child injury are also protected by specific state laws that allow them to pursue compensation for medical care, pain, emotional distress, and long-term effects. Because these cases often involve government-run schools or complex insurance policies, speaking with an attorney early in the process is essential. A lawyer can help determine who’s responsible and ensure the case is filed correctly within the legal deadlines.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim on Behalf of a Minor
A parent or legal guardian has the authority to bring a personal injury claim on behalf of a child who has been hurt. The first steps in this process are to collect evidence, record the injury, and determine who might be at fault. A Sacramento child injury lawyer can then assist with submitting the formal claim, all the while safeguarding the child’s legal rights.
A guardian ad litem may be appointed to act in the child’s best interest throughout the legal proceedings because minors are unable to represent themselves in court. To guarantee that the settlement fairly supports the child’s future needs, the court must approve any settlement reached in the case.
Working with an attorney makes this process more manageable, even though it may initially seem overwhelming. A lawyer will manage the legal paperwork, steer the case from beginning to end, and make sure your child gets the money they are due.
California Laws That Protect Injured Children
California has laws specifically designed to protect children who are harmed due to the carelessness of others. These guidelines provide families with a way to hold the appropriate parties responsible and pursue just compensation.
Negligence and the Duty of Care
Anyone in charge of watching over or interacting with children, including teachers, daycare providers, and property owners, is required by law to exercise reasonable care. A personal injury claim could hold someone accountable if they violate this obligation and cause harm to a child. Because the law acknowledges children’s greater vulnerability, the standard is higher when they are involved.
Extended Statute of Limitations for Minors
In California, you usually have two years from the date of the incident to file an injury claim. To give families more time to take legal action, the deadline is usually extended until the child turns 18 when the injured party is a minor.
Legal Protections for Families
The purpose of these laws is to provide families with an equitable chance to pursue justice. A Sacramento child injury lawyer can guarantee that your case is handled correctly from the start and assist you in understanding how the law applies to your child’s circumstances.
Why Choose Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys for Your Child’s Injury Case?
When your child is hurt because of someone else’s mistake, the lawyer you choose matters. At Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys, we bring decades of focused experience, a deep connection to the Sacramento community, and a personal commitment to every family we represent.
Over 50 Years of Proven Results
Our firm has spent more than five decades handling serious injury cases across California. We understand what it takes to win a personal injury case involving a minor, and we don’t back down from complex or sensitive claims.
Rooted in Sacramento
We’ve built long-standing relationships with local schools, medical providers, and court systems. That local knowledge helps us move faster, gather key details, and protect your family’s best interests.
Compassionate and Results-Driven
We know how overwhelming it is when your child is recovering from an injury. That’s why we take a hands-on, family-first approach to every case—offering clear guidance, open communication, and full support from start to finish.
No Fees Unless We Win
You won’t pay anything out of pocket unless we recover compensation on your behalf. We take child injury cases on a contingency basis so you can focus on your child’s recovery, not legal costs.
Speak with a Sacramento Child Injury Lawyer Today
If your child was hurt and you’re not sure what to do next, we’re here to help. At Arnold Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys, we understand how hard this situation can be for families, which is why we make the legal process as straightforward and supportive as possible. Whether your child was injured at school, by a careless driver, or because someone failed to take safety seriously, our team is ready to listen and offer clear next steps. Explore our client testimonials to understand why so many families trust us as Sacramento’s leading child injury accident attorneys.
There’s no risk in reaching out—your consultation is free and completely confidential.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation by calling (916) 777-7777 or filling out the contact form on our website.