Yes. Either parent may sue for the child. However, there are particular requirements for how the lawsuit must be worded, and failure to comply with those requirements can be fatal to the case.
Importantly, the procedure for filing suit to recover for medical bills incurred by the parent or parents can be different from the action for injuries suffered by the child. Typically these two actions are combined in one lawsuit but not always.
Finally, different statutes of limitation can apply to each action-generally two years after the child reaches the age of 18 (the child’s 20th birthday) for the injury claim but only five years after the accident for the parent’s recovery of incurred medical bills if the parent pursues that claim separately. If this sounds confusing, it can be. For this reason, it is highly recommended that anyone pursuing a claim on behalf of an injured child be represented by an experienced attorney. Consult with an attorney early on in the process to avoid potential pitfalls.
Written By Kellam T. Parks
Kellam founded what is now Parks Zeigler, PLLC in 2012 to embrace modern technologies to best serve clients. This passion for technology led to the formation of the Cybersecurity/Data Privacy practice area making the firm a leader in helping businesses protect themselves and respond to incidents. When he’s not practicing law in this area and handling high-asset divorces, Kellam manages the firm with his co-owner, Brandon Zeigler, contributes to local and state-wide Bar associations, and frequently writes and speaks to audiences across a variety of sectors and geographic locations, including nationally on the topics of Cybersecurity/Data Privacy, digital evidence, law firm management, and technology/AI.
