What Happens When a Minor Child is Hurt in a Utah Car Accident?

Does the Minor Child Have a Utah Injury Claim?

When kids are injured in Utah, they have an injury claim just like their adult parents do. The difference is that a court must be involved in insuring that the children’s settlement is fair and that the money is safeguarded in a monitored account.

Common Minor Children Accidents

Car Accidents. Car accidents happen every day in Utah. Child are injured in car accidents just like parents. Luckily, child are very resilient to injury due to their youthful vigor, but they can still be injured and still deserve compensation.

PIP Benefits for Kids. Just like adults injured in a car accident, kids can also be benefit from personal injury protection benefits. “PIP” Benefits are mandatory on every consumer car policy of insurance. PIP benefits apply to each injured person in the car collision, not just the adults or the driver.

Example. 2 Kids and Parents Rear-Ender. Husband and wife are driving on Orem State Street and are rear-ended. Their 2 minor children are in the back seats. Each injured person in the car has up to $3,000 in PIP medical pay available to them to help with their injuries. It is not limited to $3,000 for all people in the car, or just for the adults.

Dog Bites (video). Dog bites can be mentally and physically devastating for small children. Dog owners who allow their dogs to hurt children are required by Utah law to pay for the damages they cause.

Premise Liability Medical Payments. No-Fault medical payments in car accidents is called “PIP” or personal injury protection benefits. Often homeowners or commercial premise liability insurance policies have no-fault medical payment available also. These homeowner’s medical payments act just like car accident PIP payments.

Who Can File the Claim for the Child?

Only parents or legal guardians can file claims or lawsuits on behalf of minor children.

What Happens to the Money for the Minor Child’s Injuries?

All minor children injury settlements over $15,000 must obtain district court approval before settling the case. All money distributions must be approved by a Utah district court judge before any compensation is given to the minor or the attorneys who worked the case.

Conservatorship. The district court judge nearly always requires that a minor conservatorship be established to monitor the money so it goes for the benefit of the child. Often no distributions orders are in place and all financial planning with the money must be approved by the district court judge.