However, if a child under the age of eighteen has been injured as a result of someone else then as a parent you need to know what your options are, quickly.
First of all, although a child is not allowed to make a personal injury claim for themselves, as their parent you can decide if you would like to make a claim on their behalf.
Alternatively you can leave the decision for them to make when they reach eighteen years old. Your child will then have three years in which to make a claim, assuming a claim has not already been made.
It’s normal for a personal injury claim to have a time limit of three years, after which a person is not normally permitted to pursue a claim. However for children who have suffered a personal injury or accident, the law applies this three-year limit from the date of their eighteenth birthday.
If you decide to pursue a compensation claim on behalf of your child, and a compensation payment is awarded, then that sum is likely to be held in a special investment account that can be accessed when the injured child turns 18. However the court may release funds before that time if it can be shown that the injured child needs money for matters directly relating to the injury; such as specialist equipment or education.