| Can I file an injury claim for my child Injury for my child after a Bellevue accident? A parent or legal guardian can bring a Bellevue child injury claim, and your child’s own deadline is paused until they turn 18 under RCW 4.16.190, which gives most children until age 21 to sue. Any settlement for a minor must be approved by a King County judge. Acting early protects evidence on roads like 148th Avenue NE with the help of a trusted personal injury lawyer. |
When a child is hurt, the insurance company does not slow down. An adjuster may call within days, ask for a recorded statement, or dangle a fast check before anyone knows how the injury will shape your child’s future. What looks like help is often an early move to close the claim cheaply. Your family needs someone who understands how children’s cases work and who can act quickly.
For nearly four decades, the Bellevue child injury attorneys at Bernard Law Group have stood up for hurt people across Washington. We understand what a child’s claim is truly worth, and we know how to guard it while your family focuses on healing.
Why families across Bellevue turn to Bernard Law Group
Families pick a child injury lawyer in Bellevue based on results, real courtroom experience, and no cost to begin. Our firm has offered Washington parents all three for years, and our attorneys treat every child as a person, never a file number.
- More than $500 million recovered. We have won some of the largest personal injury verdicts and settlements in Washington’s history.
- A 98% case success rate. That number reflects the cases we have resolved and tried, not a marketing line. You can also read honest client reviews from families we have served.
- No fee unless we win. Your family pays no attorney fees up front and owes nothing unless we recover money for your child.
- Always reachable. A child’s injury keeps no schedule, so we answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Because many child injuries begin with a crash, our team also brings deep car accident experience to passenger and pedestrian cases. When you are ready, you can contact us any time for a free review.
What should you do right after your child is injured in Bellevue?
Get your child medical care first, then document everything and protect the evidence. The steps you take in the first hours can shape the entire claim.
- Get emergency care. For a serious injury, call 911 or go to the Overlake Medical Center Emergency Department at 1035 116th Ave NE, the Eastside’s first Level III Trauma Center. Children with severe injuries are often treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Seattle Children’s at Overlake offers pediatric care in Bellevue.
- Follow up, even if your child seems fine. Children do not always show pain right away. A concussion or internal injury can appear days later. Prompt medical records also tie the injury to the accident.
- Report the incident. For a traffic crash, a Bellevue Police Department officer will respond and write a report. For an injury at a business, park, or daycare, ask for a written incident report and keep a copy.
- Photograph the scene. Take pictures of what caused the injury, whether that is a car, a broken slide, an open gate, or a wet floor. Conditions change quickly.
- Collect names and details. Get contact and insurance information from any driver, property owner, or witness, and note the exact street, park, or address.
- Do not give a recorded statement. Speak with an attorney before talking to any insurer, including your own. Early words can be used to reduce your child’s claim.
Local reality: How Bellevue reports and records work
After a Bellevue crash, the Bellevue Police Traffic Unit investigates and prepares the report. You can request a copy through the Bellevue Police public records system, by online request or by mail to the Police Record Unit. If the crash happened on a state highway like I-405, S R-520, or I-90, the Washington State Patrol may hold the report, available through the WSP collision records section for a small fee. Records can take a few weeks to arrive, so it helps to request them early.
What actually happens when you settle a child’s injury claim?
A child’s settlement is not handled like an adult’s. In Washington, a court must review and approve a settlement involving an unemancipated minor under SPR 98.16W, with additional procedures under King County Local Civil Rule 98.16
The process typically involves a petition for approval and, when required, a Settlement Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or independent attorney who evaluates whether the proposed settlement is in the child’s best interests. The court then reviews the settlement, including the proposed distribution of the funds. In King County, these matters are handled through the Ex Parte and Probate Department.
If the settlement is approved, the child’s funds may be placed in a blocked account, trust, or structured annuity, depending on the circumstances and the court’s order. King County provides specific forms for each of these arrangements and for later requests to disburse the funds.
This extra step exists to guard your child’s interests. It also takes skill to prepare, which is one reason a child’s claim benefits from a lawyer who has handled minor settlements in King County.
What causes most child injuries in Bellevue?
Most child injuries in Bellevue come from a handful of preventable causes: careless drivers, unsafe property such as unfenced pools, poor adult supervision, dangerous products, and uncontrolled dogs.
The Washington State Department of Health reports that injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for people in Washington ages 1 to 44, and national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the pattern clearly: drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, which is why an unfenced pool is such a serious hazard; and motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children, youth, and young adults ages 5–24.
- Distracted and speeding drivers, especially near schools, parks, and crosswalks.
- Unsafe property, such as an unfenced pool, a broken stair rail, or a hazard a child can reach.
- Poor supervision at a daycare, camp, school, or party where an adult was responsible for the child.
- Dangerous or defective products, including recalled toys, faulty car seats, and furniture that tips.
- Careless dog owners who fail to control or contain an animal around children.
What injuries do children commonly suffer in these accidents?
Children often suffer injuries that affect growing bodies in ways adult injuries do not. Because a child is still developing, some harm does not become clear until years later, which is why careful medical documentation matters so much.
- Traumatic brain injuries. A blow to the head can affect a child’s learning, behavior, and emotions long after the accident.
- Broken bones and growth plate injuries. Fractures near a growth plate can affect how a limb develops as the child grows.
- Spinal cord injuries. These can require surgery, therapy, and lifelong care.
- Burns and scarring. Burns can leave lasting physical and emotional marks on a young child.
- Dental and facial injuries, which are common in falls and crashes.
- Emotional and psychological harm. Anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress are real, compensable injuries in children.
Who can be held responsible for a child’s injury in Bellevue?
The person or company whose carelessness caused the harm is responsible, and often more than one party shares the blame. To recover compensation, we must show four things: that the party owed your child a duty of care, that they broke that duty, that the breach caused the injury, and that your child suffered real harm as a result.
Depending on how the injury happened, the responsible party may include:
- A driver who hit a child walking, biking, or riding as a passenger
- A property owner may be responsible when a dangerous artificial condition attracts or is likely to be encountered by children. Washington’s attractive nuisance doctrine can impose a duty to protect children from certain hazards when the owner knows or should know children are likely to encounter them and the danger is one they may not understand, such as an inadequately secured artificial pool.
- A school, daycare, or camp that failed to supervise or protect a child in its care
- A product maker whose defective toy, car seat, or equipment caused or worsened the injury
- A dog owner whose animal bit or knocked down a child
- A government entity, such as a city or public school, when unsafe design or maintenance created the danger
Legal Tip from an Attorney
Identifying every responsible party often makes the difference between a partial recovery and a full one. When a public school, city park, or other government body may be at fault, Washington adds a step: under RCW 4.96.020, you must file a formal tort claim with that entity and wait 60 days before you can sue. Missing that step can end an otherwise strong claim, so it is worth involving a lawyer early when a public entity is involved.
What compensation can your family recover for a child’s injury?
In Washington, the affected family can recover both the costs you can add up and the harm that has no receipt. In a child’s case, the future often matters as much as the present, because an injury can affect your child for decades.
Costs you can calculate include:
- Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Physical therapy, counseling, and rehabilitation
- Medical equipment and future care your child will need as they grow
- Travel and out-of-pocket expenses tied to treatment
Harm without a receipt includes:
- Your child’s physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, fear, and anxiety
- Loss of the normal activities and experiences of childhood
- Scarring and permanent disability
Parents also have their own rights. Under RCW 4.24.010, a parent can recover the child’s medical expenses and, in serious cases, damages for the loss of the child’s love, companionship, and support. Insurance companies routinely undervalue these losses. A large part of our job is building the records that make them impossible to ignore.
How long do you have to file a child injury claim in Washington?
A child’s personal injury claim is generally tolled until they turn 18. Washington’s general three-year deadline under RCW 4.16.080 is paused during the child’s minority under RCW 4.16.190, meaning the child generally has three years after turning 18 to bring their own claim. However, exceptions may apply depending on the type of claim, so the exact deadline should be confirmed for each case.
That extra time does not mean waiting is wise. Evidence fades fast. Video is often erased within weeks, memories blur, and unsafe conditions get repaired. The sooner an attorney can preserve the report, photos, and witness accounts, the stronger your child’s case will be.
Pitfall alert: The parent’s own deadline is different
Many parents assume the child’s extended deadline covers everything. It does not. A parent’s own claim, including the claim for a child’s medical bills under RCW 4.24.010, generally runs on the standard three-year clock from the date of injury and is not paused. If you wait years to act, your child’s claim may survive while your own claim quietly expires. When a public school or city is involved, the 60-day government claim step under RCW 4.96.020 adds another timing trap. Confirm your exact deadlines with an attorney rather than assuming you have until your child turns 21.
Why does a child injury case need a lawyer in Bellevue?
An insurance company’s goal is to pay as little as possible, and a family focused on a hurt child is an easy target. A child injury attorney in Bellevue levels the field by handling the insurer, preserving the evidence, and documenting what your child will truly need over time.
A lawyer protects your family by:
- Taking over insurer contact so no one talks your family into a low settlement.
- Preserving proof such as the police or incident report, scene photos, surveillance video, and product evidence before it disappears.
- Documenting the future, including long-term medical needs, therapy, and how the injury may affect your child’s schooling and later work.
The opponent’s playbook
In child cases, insurers lean on a few predictable moves. They may argue the child “darted out” or caused the crash, or that the injury will not really affect the child’s future, or they may push a fast, low offer before a doctor can say how the child will heal. Washington law limits how far these tactics go. Under the state’s pure comparative fault rule in RCW 4.22.005, a child’s recovery is reduced by their share of fault but not erased, and courts judge a child’s care by what is reasonable for their age, not an adult standard. Very young children usually cannot be blamed at all. Washington courts have also held that a parent’s supervision generally cannot be used to cut a child’s recovery. We answer these tactics with the report, medical records, and expert opinions that show what really happened.
What makes a child injury claim legally complex?
Child cases carry layers that adult cases do not, which is why they call for careful, experienced handling. The main sources of complexity include:
- Court approval of any settlement, with an independent Settlement Guardian ad Litem, under SPR 98.16W and King County LCR 98.16
- Predicting how an injury will affect a still-growing child, which often requires a life-care plan
- Sorting out multiple responsible parties, such as a driver, a property owner, and a product maker
- Extra rules and deadlines when a public school or city is involved, under RCW 4.96.020
- Separate claims for the child and for the parent, each with its own timeline
How our attorneys prepare a child’s case for trial
We build every child’s case as if it may go before a King County jury, because that is what earns serious settlement offers. Our preparation includes preserving physical evidence early, working with pediatric medical specialists and life-care planners to document long-term needs, and organizing the record so a judge or jury can clearly see the impact on your child. Most cases settle, but insurers offer their best numbers when they know a firm is ready and willing to try the case in King County Superior Court.
What does the child injury claim process look like?
A child’s claim generally moves through six stages, from a free first call to a court-approved resolution. Most families never see a courtroom, but we prepare each case as though they will.
- Free consultation. We review what happened and tell you honestly whether your child has a claim and what it may involve.
- Investigation. We gather the police or incident report, request video, interview witnesses, and collect your child’s medical records.
- Medical treatment. We wait for your child’s condition to stabilize so we understand the full injury before valuing the case.
- Demand package. We document every loss, present and future, and send a full demand to the insurer.
- Negotiation. We handle the back and forth and refuse low offers.
- Court approval or trial. If the claim settles, a King County judge reviews it for your child’s protection. If the insurer will not be fair, we are ready to take it to trial.
How do you choose the right Bellevue child injury lawyer?
Look past advertising to real results, real trial experience, and real familiarity with how child cases work in King County. A few questions can help you choose well.
Do they handle cases like your child’s? Ask whether the firm regularly takes on your type of case, whether it is a pedestrian crash, a pool injury, or a defective product. Bernard Law Group has represented Washington families for close to four decades.
Do they know King County courts and the minor settlement process? A lawyer who understands King County Superior Court, local judges, and the Settlement Guardian ad Litem process brings a real advantage to a child’s claim.
Are they ready to try the case? The strongest offers come when the insurer knows your attorney will go to court. Firms that always settle get offered less, and insurers know which firms those are.
When a child is injured, the legal process should not add more stress to an already difficult situation. Bernard Law Group brings decades of experience representing Washington families, with the trial experience and resources to protect your child’s interests from the initial investigation through resolution.
What our clients say
Our clients’ words tell the story better than we can. The reviews below reflect individual experiences with our firm.
“As a result of the settlement that Bernard Law Group won for me, I’m able to put myself through school and plan a wedding. I’m doing really well financially!”
– Kirk Henderson
“When I got out of the vehicle, I was rear-ended. I had a broken leg, broken in three places; my knee was broken in two places. It was professional all the way through, and that was very helpful. If I had it to do over again, I would definitely hire the Bernard Law Group.”
– Alice Johnson
“I was in a head-on car accident, and the person that hit me had no car insurance. I had uninsured motorist insurance, but my insurance company didn’t return my phone calls, didn’t seem to care, so I called Kirk Bernard. Kirk Bernard did more than get justice for me. He hit a home run!”
– James Parshall
You can read more verified reviews on our testimonials page.
Disclaimer: Client reviews are individual experiences and are not a guarantee of any particular result.
You Were Hurt. We Can Help.
Over $500 Million recovered for our past clients. Let us help YOU! Call 24/7 for your FREE injury consultation.
Case results that reflect real experience
Bernard Law Group has represented Washington families in serious cases involving children. A few past results:
- $27 Million Jury Award. City of San Francisco Municipal Railway truck crash that killed a 4-year-old girl and injured and severely traumatized her mother, the little girl’s best friend, and her best friend’s grandmother.
- $4,400,000 Settlement, inclusive of a lifetime annuity. Automobile accident involving a defective seat belt. The plaintiff child was a passenger in an automobile operated by his parents. The vehicle was involved in a head-on collision, causing traumatic brain injury to the child.
More outcomes are listed on our case results page.
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a future outcome. Every case is unique and depends on its specific facts and legal circumstances.
Areas we serve
As a Washington child injury lawyer, Bernard Law Group represents families throughout these locations:
- Seattle
- Bellevue
- Bellingham
- Everett
- Federal Way
- Kent
- Kirkland
- Olympia
- Redmond
- Renton
- Spokane
- Tacoma
- Vancouver
- Wenatchee
- Yakima
Local resources after a child’s injury in Bellevue
The resources below may help after a child is hurt in Bellevue or King County. Bernard Law Group does not endorse and has no financial relationship with any of these organizations.
Medical care
- Overlake Medical Center (Level III Trauma Center), 1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 | (425) 688-5000
- Seattle Children’s at Overlake, 1231 116th Ave NE, Suite 385, Bellevue, WA 98004
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 | (206) 987-2000
Reports and records
- Bellevue Police Department, Police Records Unit, request through the online Public Records Center or by mail to P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA 98009
- Washington State Patrol collision records, for crashes on I-405, SR-520, I-90, and other state routes
Courts
- King County Superior Court (handles child injury lawsuits and minor settlement approval), 516 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
- King County District Court, East Division, Bellevue Courthouse, 1309 114th Ave SE, Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004
Safety
- City of Bellevue Vision Zero and Safe Routes to School programs
Frequently asked questions
Who can bring a lawsuit for an injured child in Washington?
A parent or legal guardian brings the claim on the child’s behalf. Under RCW 4.24.010, a parent can also recover the child’s medical costs and, in serious cases, damages for lost companionship. When a case settles, a King County Superior Court judge and a Settlement Guardian ad Litem review it to protect the child’s interests.
Will my child have to appear in court?
Usually not. Most child injury claims settle without a trial, and the child rarely needs to attend. If a settlement is reached, a King County Superior Court judge reviews it at an approval hearing under SPR 98.16W, but that hearing is short and is meant to protect your child, not to question them.
How much does a Bellevue child injury lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. Bernard Law Group handles child injury cases on a contingency basis, which means we are paid only if we recover money for your child. The first consultation is free, and there is no out-of-pocket risk to call and learn whether your family has a claim worth pursuing.
What if my child was hurt at someone else’s home or by another child?
You may still have a claim. Many home injuries, such as a dog bite or an unfenced pool, are covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy rather than the family personally. A Bellevue child injury lawyer can identify which policy applies and pursue that coverage without turning it into a personal dispute between families.
What if my child’s symptoms show up later?
This is common with children, and it is a strong reason not to settle too soon. Head injuries and emotional trauma can surface days or weeks after an accident. Because RCW 4.16.190 gives a child extra time, there is usually room to let a doctor understand the full injury before valuing the claim.
Need Justice? Reach Out Today for Legal Counsel
Ready to talk? Get a free case review.
If your child was hurt in Bellevue because of someone else’s carelessness, do not wait to get answers. The insurance company is already protecting itself. Let us protect your child.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us or fill out our online contact form, and we will call you right back. There is no fee unless we win.
Bernard Law Group
900 Aurora Ave N, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-984-3974
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case depends on its own facts.
Attorney review and office information
This page has been prepared for review by Washington-licensed attorneys at Bernard Law Group to reflect current Washington State law, including RCW 4.16.080 (three-year deadline), RCW 4.16.190 (deadline paused for minors), RCW 4.24.010 (parents’ claim for injury to a child), RCW 4.22.005 (pure comparative fault), and SPR 98.16W and King County LCR 98.16 (court approval of minor settlements). Legal services are provided by attorneys licensed in the State of Washington and California.
