A child’s injury case is never simple, and it’s never just a smaller version of an adult claim. Washington law handles these cases differently for a reason: a child’s recovery affects not just today, but every year that follows.

When a business, driver, or property owner causes harm, their insurance company moves fast. Adjusters and defense lawyers are trained to close cases quickly and cheaply. That first settlement offer may sound helpful, but it rarely reflects the full cost of medical care, emotional recovery, or the lasting impact on your child’s growth and future opportunities.

You don’t have to take that risk or handle it alone. At Narwal Injury Law, we take on the legal and administrative burden so you can focus entirely on your family. We gather medical evidence, calculate long-term needs, and negotiate for compensation that truly reflects your child’s future.

If you’re worried about what comes next, call (425) 474-2714 for a free, confidential consultation with a Redmond child injury lawyer. We’ll explain your options and help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.

Start a Free Consultation

Redmond Child Injury Guide

Why Choose Narwal Injury Law to Represent Your Family?

A Foundation of Courtroom Experience

Gurjot Narwal attorney for Child Injury in Redmond

Gurjot Narwal, Redmond Child Injury Lawyer

Our founding attorney, Gurjot “Gurj” Narwal, spent years as an Assistant State Attorney General and an Assistant Seattle City Attorney. He was in the trenches, handling complex cases and learning how large organizations and government bodies operate from the inside.

This background gives our team a distinct advantage: we intimately understand the playbook of the other side. We anticipate their moves, counter their arguments, and know how to build a case that stands up to scrutiny, whether at the negotiating table or in front of a jury.

Our Commitment to You

When you work with our team, you get a clear, straightforward process:

  • A Free Case Review: We will sit down with you, listen to what happened, and explain your legal options in plain English. There is no cost and no obligation.
  • A No-Win, No-Fee Promise: Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis. Simply put, you owe us nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for your child.
  • Direct and Personalized Attention: Your case will not be handed off to a paralegal. You have a direct line to our attorneys and receive regular updates. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions.

Our Redmond Roots

Our office is located at 7981 168th Avenue NE, Suite 110, Redmond, WA 98052, just a short drive from the Redmond Town Center.

We are familiar with the local court system, the schools, and the specific parks and intersections where these incidents regrettably happen. This local knowledge is a powerful asset when building your case.

What Compensation Can a Claim Provide for an Injured Child?

The goal of a legal claim is to provide the financial resources your child needs for a complete recovery and to account for what was taken from them. Washington law allows for the recovery of damages, which fall into two main categories.

Economic Damages: The Measurable Costs

This is compensation for every verifiable financial loss tied to the injury. Our first job is to meticulously document every single expense. This includes:

  • All Medical Bills (Past and Future): This covers everything from the initial emergency room visit and surgeries to ongoing physical therapy, assistive devices, and any medical care your child is projected to need for years to come.
  • Parents’ Lost Wages: A child’s serious injury means a parent must take significant time off work for care. We can pursue compensation for this lost income.
  • Rehabilitation and Therapy: This could include speech therapy after a brain injury, occupational therapy to relearn daily tasks, or psychological counseling to help your child process the trauma.
  • Home and Vehicle Modifications: If your child suffers a permanent disability, your home and transportation may need to be made accessible. These costs are included.

Non-Economic Damages: The Human Impact

These damages address the non-financial ways the injury has rewritten your child’s life. They are more personal but just as real. They include:

  • Pain and Suffering: This acknowledges the physical pain and emotional distress your child has been forced to endure.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: An injury might stop a child from playing soccer, riding their bike, or engaging in the social activities that are pillars of a happy childhood.
  • Disfigurement or Scarring: Compensation for the emotional impact of permanent physical changes.

How Does “Comparative Fault” Affect Your Child’s Claim?

Washington follows a rule called “pure comparative fault.” This rule means that any compensation award is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured person.

Insurance companies sometimes try to argue that a child was partially responsible for their own injury to reduce what they have to pay. Our role is to build a case that shuts down these arguments and demonstrates the other party’s full responsibility, preventing any blame from being unjustly shifted to your child.

Why a Child’s Injury Claim is Fundamentally Different

WSAJ EAGLE 2025 BadgeThe legal system recognizes that children are not just small adults, and their claims require a much different approach for several key reasons.

Proving Future Needs is More Complicated

For an adult, calculating future lost wages is relatively straightforward; you can look at their job, education, and earning history. But how do you calculate the lost future income of a 10-year-old? What career path was she going to take? What was his earning potential?

We work with vocational experts and economists who analyze factors like the parents’ education and careers, the child’s academic performance, and statistical data to project a future that was taken away. This is a detailed, evidence-based process necessary to show the full extent of the financial loss over a lifetime.

The same goes for future medical care—we consult with life care planners to create a comprehensive, long-term projection of all medical needs.

The Standard of Care is Different

The law doesn’t expect a five-year-old to have the same judgment or awareness of danger as an adult. Legally, the “standard of care” is adjusted for a child’s age and developmental stage.

This means that what might be considered “contributory negligence” for an adult may not apply to a child. We ensure the court and the insurance companies respect this distinction and don’t hold a child to an unfair standard.

Court Approval is Required for Settlements

In Washington, a parent cannot simply accept a settlement offer on behalf of their child and walk away. Every settlement for a minor must be formally approved by a judge to ensure it is fair and truly in the child’s best interests. This is a safeguard built into the system to protect children, and it’s a process we manage from start to finish.

The Settlement Process for Minors: Court Approval and the Guardian ad Litem (GAL)

The court-approval process is the single biggest difference between child and adult injury claims in Washington. It adds a layer of protection and procedure that is designed entirely to safeguard your child’s future.

Here is what that process looks like.

  1. A Settlement is Negotiated: First, we negotiate a settlement offer with the at-fault party’s insurance company. We do not accept an offer until we are confident it fully addresses your child’s current and future needs.
  2. The Court is Petitioned: Once we have an offer we believe is fair, we file a petition with the court. This formally presents the settlement and asks for a judge’s approval.
  3. A Settlement Guardian ad Litem (SGAL) is Appointed: The court will appoint an SGAL, who is a neutral, independent attorney. The SGAL’s only job is to represent the child’s best interests. They are not on our side or the insurance company’s side; they work for the court to ensure the settlement is adequate.
  4. The SGAL Conducts an Investigation: The SGAL reviews all the evidence: medical records, expert reports, the circumstances of the accident, and the terms of the settlement. They will also speak with you and your child. They then write a confidential report to the judge with their recommendation.
  5. The Approval Hearing: A hearing is scheduled where the judge reviews the SGAL’s report and our petition. If the judge agrees that the settlement is fair, they will approve it.
  6. The Funds are Protected: The approved settlement funds belong to your child, not to you. The money is placed into a blocked bank account or a structured settlement annuity that your child cannot access until they turn 18. This ensures the funds are protected and available for their future education, housing, or whatever they need as a young adult.

Start a Free Consultation

Where Do Child Injuries Tend to Happen in Redmond?

An injury can happen anywhere, but certain locations in and around Redmond present known risks for children.

Common Locations for Child Accidents

  • Playgrounds and Parks: Community hubs like Marymoor Park and Grass Lawn Park are wonderful, but they can also be sites of injury. These incidents frequently involve poorly maintained equipment, hard surfaces under climbing structures, or inadequate supervision at public or private facilities.
  • School Zones and Crosswalks: Areas around Redmond High School or Horace Mann Elementary can get congested before and after school. We handle cases involving drivers who are distracted, fail to obey reduced speed limits, or do not yield to children in crosswalks.
  • Daycare Centers: Parents put their deepest trust in daycare providers. Injuries in these settings are commonly related to insufficient supervision, unsafe toys, or a failure to maintain a safe environment as required by state licensing.
  • Retail and Public Properties: A spilled drink in a grocery store or an unsecured display at the Redmond Town Center can cause a serious fall for an unsuspecting child. All property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.
  • Neighborhood Streets and Driveways: Many pedestrian and bicycle incidents involving children happen in familiar residential areas where a driver is backing up, speeding, or simply not paying close enough attention.

Local Statistics Paint a Clear Picture

According to the Washington State Department of Health, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teens in our state. And while overall collisions have decreased, King County traffic data from one recent year shows there were still 518 injury collisions and 20 involving pedestrians on county-maintained roads. Roads like Redmond Way and Avondale Road frequently have a high volume of traffic, increasing the risk for everyone, especially child passengers and pedestrians.

Understanding the Types of Child Injury Claims We Handle

Washington State Bar Association LogoA child injury claim arises when another person’s or company’s carelessness, known in legal terms as negligence, causes harm. This means they failed to act with reasonable care, and that failure led directly to your child’s injury. Our practice is equipped to handle a wide range of these cases.

Common Categories of Child Injury Cases

  • Motor Vehicle Accidents: Involving a child as a passenger, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist hit by a car.
  • Premises Liability: This applies when a child gets hurt on someone else’s property due to an unsafe condition. This includes slip and falls, swimming pool accidents, or injuries at trampoline parks.
  • Dog BitesWashington law holds dog owners strictly liable for most bites, meaning their insurance is responsible regardless of the dog’s history.
  • School or Daycare Injuries: These cases hinge on proving the institution failed in its duty to provide a safe environment and proper supervision.
  • Defective Products: When a toy, car seat, or piece of playground equipment is designed or manufactured poorly, it may cause serious injury.
  • Medical Malpractice: Including birth injuries, failure to diagnose an illness, or surgical mistakes that harm a child.

Frequently Asked Questions About Redmond Child Injury Claims

What is the statute of limitations for a child injury claim in Washington?

For most personal injury claims, an adult has three years from the injury date to file a lawsuit. For a minor, however, Washington law pauses this deadline until the child’s 18th birthday. This generally means they have until their 21st birthday to file a claim. However, acting sooner is always better, as evidence can be lost and memories can fade.

Can my child really be blamed for contributing to their own injury?

It depends on the child’s age and maturity. Washington law recognizes that a very young child is incapable of negligence. For older children, their ability to understand risk is evaluated based on their age and development. Any attempt by an insurance company to unfairly blame a child is something we would aggressively fight.

What if my child was injured at a friend’s house? I don’t want to sue my friends.

This is a common and understandable concern. The claim is made against the friend’s homeowner’s insurance policy, not against them personally. This is precisely why people carry liability insurance: to cover accidents and injuries that happen on their property. The process is handled between their insurer and us, protecting your personal relationship.

What if my child was hurt on public property, like a city park in Redmond?

Claims against government entities operate under a completely different set of rules and have much shorter deadlines. Before you can file a lawsuit, you must file a specific “tort claim form.” After filing, you must wait 60 days before a lawsuit can be started. Because of these strict procedural requirements, it is critical to contact an attorney right away in these situations.

Will we have to go to court?

The vast majority of personal injury cases, more than 95%, are settled out of court. Our goal is always to secure a full and fair settlement for your child without ever having to step inside a courtroom.

However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This meticulous preparation is what puts us in the strongest possible position to negotiate and shows the insurance company we are ready to fight if their offer is not fair.

Let Us Help You Protect Your Child’s Future

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE - The Association for Trial Lawyers BadgeAs a parent, your jobs right now are to be a caregiver, a source of comfort, and your child’s biggest advocate. You do not have to be a legal strategist, too. That’s our job.

You have a right to hold the responsible party accountable for the future they jeopardized. Don’t let an insurance adjuster decide what your child’s future is worth.

The next step is just a conversation. Let us answer your questions and lay out a clear plan. Call a Redmond personal injury lawyer at Narwal Injury Law today for a free, no-pressure consultation about your family’s options. Let’s move forward, together.

Call us now at (425) 474-2714.

Start a Free Consultation

Request a Free Case Evaluation

phone number
fax
logo (360)-859-8413


    Privacy Policy

    Office Locations

    Redmond, WA
    Bellingham WA