$36.0M
Fresno pedestrian accident settlement: a commercial delivery van struck a child crossing the street, causing a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries.
Personal Injury
California Child Injury Lawyer
Was your child hurt because of someone else’s negligence? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help California families pursue compensation for medical bills, future care, and pain and suffering. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Child Injury Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that has represented thousands of injured Californians and their families. Our attorneys handle every conversation with the insurance companies, investigate what happened to your child, and build your case for maximum recovery — all with compassionate, personalized attention and bilingual (Spanish) support. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Most serious child injuries trace back to preventable negligence by another party. The causes we see most often include car, truck, or bicycle accidents; playground and school incidents; defective toys or products; dog bites and animal attacks; and unsafe premises or a lack of proper supervision. Establishing who was negligent is central to your claim, and our attorneys handle that investigation for you.
Families of an injured child in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include current and future medical expenses and rehabilitation, the cost of ongoing or lifelong care, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your family's losses during a free case review.
In most California injury cases the deadline is two years from the date of the incident (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1), but for a child the clock is generally paused during minority. Under CCP §352, the statute of limitations is typically tolled until the child turns 18, giving them until roughly age 20 to file in many cases. Claims against a government entity have much shorter deadlines — often six months. Because these rules vary, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Our attorneys treat a child injury case with the sensitivity it deserves while pursuing full accountability. We keep communication clear throughout the claim, work to hold every negligent party responsible, and prepare each case thoroughly so your family is never negotiating from a position of weakness. Your consultation with a legal professional is always free.
Meet Our Child Injury Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.PartnerRecent wins
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$28.7M
Victorville pedestrian accident settlement: a car struck a child waiting to cross the street, causing catastrophic injuries. Defendants included the driver, a business and three public entities.
$6.3M
Riverside County sexual abuse case.
$4.0M
Lancaster sexual abuse case.
$3.0M
Riverside County sexual abuse case.
$2.8M
Shasta County premises liability settlement: a child fell from an open hotel window that had no safety bars, suffering serious head, arm and other injuries.
$2.5M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
$2.5M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
$2.2M
Los Angeles County bicycle accident settlement: a food-delivery driver turning left hit a cyclist wearing a helmet, causing head pain and dizziness plus arm and leg pain.
$2.0M
San Diego County premises liability settlement: scalding tap water left a child with extensive burn injuries in a rental apartment where tenants had complained about the water temperature.
$1.3M
Los Angeles County sexual abuse case.
$350K
Kern County premises liability settlement: a restroom stall door left unrepaired for over a year caused a serious injury to a child.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If My Child Has an Injury Claim in California?
Three factors determine whether your child has a valid injury claim — fault, damages, and proof. Fault means another party's negligence caused the harm, such as a careless driver, a property owner, or a defective-product maker. Damages are your child's losses, including medical bills, future care, and pain and suffering. Proof includes medical records, photos, incident reports, and witness statements. Because a child's filing deadline is generally tolled during minority under California law, contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
Start Your Free Child Injury Case Review
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- Hablamos Español
- Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse Team
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No fees unless you get paid.
Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Child Injury FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
A child cannot file suit on their own, so a parent or legal guardian generally brings the claim for them, often through a guardian ad litem the court appoints. A parent may also have a separate claim for medical expenses they paid on the child's behalf.
The standard deadline is two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, but for a minor the clock is generally paused until the child turns 18, so a child often has additional time after reaching adulthood. Different rules apply to claims against government entities and to medical malpractice, so confirm the exact deadline promptly.
In California, a settlement involving a minor generally requires court approval to protect the child's interests, often through a "minor's compromise" petition. This step can add time, but it ensures the funds are properly managed for the child's benefit.
California follows pure comparative negligence, so a child can still recover even if partially at fault — recovery is reduced by their share of responsibility rather than barred. A child's actions are also considered in light of what is reasonable for a child of similar age.