Adoption 101: The Legal Fundamentals

Adoption 101: The Legal Fundamentals

Was Your Child Badly Injured While Driving With Another Parent? What To Do

Brayden Miles

If your child was in a car with another parent driving and they were in a bad accident and injured, you need to contact a personal injury attorney -- like Spiegal And Barbato LLP. If the parent driving wasn't cited for the accident and no one is taking responsibility for your child's medical bills, you need to get legal help. You shouldn't have to pay for the accident, and you need to make sure that your child's expenses are covered even though you weren't behind the wheel and it wasn't your auto insurer's responsibility. Here are things to take with you when you meet with an attorney.

Proof of the Injuries

You need to have proof of all the medical injuries your child is dealing with because of the accident and all the bills from treatment. If there were ambulance costs, x-rays and other image tests, along with doctor's appointments, medications, and more, bring the statements for all these things. You will have the proof needed to show your child was badly injured and the information needed for your lawyer to see how much you've had to pay for the accident so far.

The Police Report

Get the police report from the accident so your lawyer has the personal information from both parties involved and the statement that describes the accident. The report will help your lawyer get in contact with the other driver and possibly their legal professional and will also be the evidence needed if you take the case to court.

Documentation of Miscellaneous Expenses and Trauma

Did you have to take time off work to get your child to and from the doctor and to take care of them while they were recovering? Is your child now afraid to ride in a car or do they have nightmares about the accident that took place? These are all different things that show you deserve to be compensated because of the driver's reckless behavior. Since some of these issues -- like your child having anxiety -- fall under emotional damages, they can be harder to prove; so, it's important that you document and date these issues in a journal. Make sure you document missed days at work and any other changes you've made to accommodate your child.

Your lawyer will first get in touch with the auto insurance provider of the driver that caused the accident to see if they are going to pay for all of the damages that occurred. If they don't have insurance, then your lawyer may have to get the money from the insurance company that represents the driver of the car your child was riding in, so you don't get stuck with the bills. The sooner you take action the faster you can get compensated. 


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Adoption 101: The Legal Fundamentals

If you've decided that you want to adopt a child, the first thing you should do is reach out to a family law attorney. While it may not seem logical to get an attorney involved from the start, it's important that you protect yourself legally from the beginning. After making the decision to adopt, I have been through the process several times. I created this site to help other adoptive parents understand what they can expect from the entire process, including the legal support you're likely to need. I hope this information helps you feel more confident in this major life decision.