Child injury lawyer in Los Angeles: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
A child's treatment plan can change as the child grows. We investigate the accident while your family focuses on care, without treating the first hospital bill as the whole claim.
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At a Glance
- What it is: a claim for a child's injury when another person's conduct or an unsafe condition caused harm.
- Where we help: our Los Angeles office assists families after school, daycare, playground and other childhood accidents.
- Why us: David Lederer and John Nojima bring their former insurance defense experience to evaluating disputed injury claims.
- Proof: the firm has a 4.5-star rating from 41 Google reviews.
- Next step: request a free consultation at (310) 312-1860 to discuss evidence and the applicable deadline.
Quick Answer
A child injury claim requires proof of responsibility, a connection between the unsafe conduct and the injury, and evidence of the child's losses. Treatment comes first, but families should preserve records before witnesses forget details or operators erase video. Public entity claims can require notice within six months, even when the injured person is a child.
Child injury lawyer in Los Angeles from Lederer & Nojima is for parents whose child suffered a preventable injury and want answers about responsibility and future care, so you can make informed decisions while protecting your child's claim.
Children can suffer injuries in cars, near pools, around dogs, on unsafe property or while adults should be supervising them. Schools, daycares and playgrounds raise questions about who controlled the hazard and what precautions that person should have taken. A local child injury lawyer must investigate the setting rather than assume that an injury proves negligence. We examine the conduct that preceded the accident and the evidence linking it to harm.
A young child may struggle to describe pain or explain a frightening event. Medical notes, changes in school participation and observations from caregivers can help document the effect without asking the child to repeat the story to multiple insurance representatives. Follow-up treatment may include counseling, scar revision or therapy. Doctors and other qualified experts can explain possible future needs; an adjuster's early estimate cannot replace that assessment.
Our office is at 12100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025. David Lederer and John Nojima formerly defended insurers and now represent injured people. We use that experience to examine defenses about supervision, medical causation and fault before advising a family about settlement. We work on contingency, with no attorney fee unless we win.
Former Insurance Defense
David Lederer and John Nojima used to defend insurers. Now they use that knowledge to pressure carriers that try to delay, discount, or deny injury claims.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay no upfront attorney fee. Our attorney fee comes from the recovery. If we do not recover, there is no attorney fee, and the written agreement explains how case costs are handled.
Free Consultation 24/7
Call any time after an injury. We can protect evidence, deal with insurers, and explain your next move before deadlines pass.
What needs attention first after a child suffers an injury?
Video before it disappears
A camera may show the moments before an injury rather than the impact itself. We identify nearby cameras, request preservation and seek incident reports and witness names. A photograph taken after staff move the equipment may miss the condition your child encountered.
The adult responsible for supervision
Responsibility can turn on an assignment, a handoff or a known danger. We review who agreed to watch the child and whether that person had notice of the risk. A school's involvement does not excuse a contractor's separate failure to act with care.
Treatment beyond the emergency visit
The first discharge note may not address a developing scar, missed milestones or persistent anxiety. We gather follow-up medical records and ask treating providers about recommended care. A claim should reflect supported future needs rather than speculation about what might happen years later.
Attempts to blame the child
An insurer may emphasize an impulsive act while ignoring an adult's responsibility to anticipate ordinary childhood behavior. We examine the child's age and the circumstances. California comparative fault can affect recovery, but an adjuster's accusation does not decide who bears legal responsibility.
Protecting a child's settlement
Resolving a child's case involves safeguards that differ from an adult's agreement. We explain the required approval process and how proposed terms address the child's interests. Parents should understand the release and the treatment outlook before deciding whether to seek a settlement.
What evidence and losses matter in a child injury claim?
- Medical records that connect the accident to the injury, including specialist visits and any recommendations for continued care.
- Dated photographs of wounds, casts or scars, kept with notes explaining when you took them and what changed during recovery.
- Reports, witness contact information and communications showing who supervised the activity or controlled the unsafe property.
- Bills for emergency care, surgery, therapy and counseling, with a clear distinction between incurred expenses and proposed future treatment.
- School records documenting missed classes or needed support, plus factual observations about activities the child can no longer do.
- Records of care-related work absences and other family expenses for review, since which losses belong in which claim requires legal analysis.
How do California deadlines affect a child's injury case?
Most California personal injury claims have a two-year filing period. Rules for minors can extend some court deadlines, but parents should not assume that every deadline waits until adulthood. A claim involving a public school, city park or other public entity can require written notice within six months. We identify the defendant and the legal basis of the claim before calculating dates, including any separate claims belonging to a parent.
California uses comparative fault, so fault assigned to an injured person can reduce recovery. The child's age, conduct and the adults' responsibilities require individual analysis. A settlement involving a minor also requires court approval in the circumstances covered by California's minor settlement rules. That protection does not establish liability or guarantee compensation; it gives the court a role in reviewing the proposed resolution of the child's claim.
What should parents do while the child receives care?
- 1
Follow the medical plan
Obtain urgent care when needed and follow the treating provider's instructions. Tell the provider about symptoms that appear after the initial visit rather than relying on the accident report's description of the injury.
- 2
Record the location
If another adult can do so without delaying care, photograph the scene and any equipment involved. Keep original files and avoid entering an unsafe area to obtain a picture.
- 3
Request the incident information
Ask the school, business or property operator for its report and the names of people who witnessed the event. Make your request in writing and save the response.
- 4
Keep an organized recovery record
Store medical paperwork, receipts and messages together. Write brief factual notes about missed school and activity restrictions, separating what you observed from what someone else told you.
- 5
Review insurer requests before agreeing
Do not rush into a recorded statement, broad medical authorization or settlement release. Ask a lawyer to explain what the document permits and whether evidence still needs preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we call before knowing how serious the injury is?
Does an accident at a friend's house qualify?
Will my child need to speak to an adjuster?
Where is the Lederer & Nojima office?
Our office is at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Call (310) 312-1860 to schedule a free consultation, or see our Google Business Profile for directions and reviews.
Legal references
General information, not legal advice. Primary sources for the rules described on this page:
- Judicial Council of California: CACI civil jury instructions (PDF)
- California Government Code section 911.2
- California Business and Professions Code section 6147
- California Supreme Court: Li v. Yellow Cab Co.
- California Probate Code section 3500
- California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
- California Code of Civil Procedure section 352
Related Practice Areas
Lederer & Nojima, LLP
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 312-1860
Results may vary. Every case is unique. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Call Lederer & Nojima at (310) 312-1860 for a free consultation about your child's injury and the next steps for your family.
Former insurance defense attorneys. No fee unless we win.