One moment, your child is safe; the next, you’re rushing to the hospital trying to make sense of what just happened. A gate left unlocked. A wet floor with no warning sign. A driver who ran a red light. A daycare stretched too thin to watch every child in its care.
These aren’t accidents. They are the result of negligence, and Florida law recognizes that children deserve special protection.
At Aigen Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers represent injured children and their families across Miami and Miami-Dade County. We know the legal path forward for you, and we’re ready to walk it alongside you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Common Types of Child Injuries
At the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, a young girl suffered life-altering leg injuries after a camp counselor lost track of swimmers and struck her with a boat propeller. Her parents are now filing a $10 million lawsuit over the incident. It’s a painful reminder of how quickly negligence can derail a child’s entire future.
Children across Miami suffer serious, preventable harm every day, including:
Catastrophic Physical Injuries
Physical injuries can take several forms, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and broken bones. These injuries can affect a child’s physical development, and, in the most severe cases, their ability to move independently.
Burn Injuries
Burns are incredibly painful and often leave lasting physical and emotional scars. Children are especially vulnerable because their skin is thinner and more sensitive than adults. When a burn injury is caused by a defective product, an unsafe property, or a caregiver’s failure to take reasonable precautions, that negligence doesn’t disappear because the victim is a child.
Drowning and Near-Drowning
Miami’s warm climate means pools are everywhere, and so is the risk. Near-drowning incidents can cause serious brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Under Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, property owners are required to have proper barriers and safety measures in place. When they neglect those responsibilities and a child is harmed, they can be held liable.
Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites are more common in children than most people realize, and the injuries can be severe. In February 2025, a one-year-old was at Beach View Park in Miami Beach with her father when a dog lunged at the right side of her face, leaving her with nearly 40 stitches and injuries that almost cost her an eye. The family has since hired a lawyer.
Cases like this child’s are a reminder that dog owners have a responsibility to control their animals, especially around children. Florida’s strict liability dog bite statute means that a dog owner can be held responsible regardless of whether the dog had ever shown aggression before, making it harder for negligent owners to escape accountability.
Daycare Injuries
Every day, parents have the expectation that the daycare centers or in-home daycares they trust with their child will be safe. Unfortunately, there are many hazards that can lead to a child being injured if providers are not careful. Falling due to spills on the floor or off of broken playground equipment can cause broken bones or head injuries. A lack of supervision, even for a moment, could lead to a burn from a hot stove.
Playground and Recreational Injuries
Playgrounds, sports fields, and recreational facilities should be safe spaces for children. When equipment is poorly maintained, improperly installed, or unsafely designed, and a child is hurt as a result, that points directly to negligence on the part of the property owner, operator, or manufacturer.
Types of Compensation Available in a Miami Child Injury Case
When a child is injured due to someone else’s negligence, Florida law allows families to pursue compensation that reflects the full weight of what their child has been through and what lies ahead. This can include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Adaptive equipment and home modifications
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
Challenges in Child Injury Cases
Child injury cases aren’t always easy, and many things can complicate what otherwise might be a straightforward settlement. These can include:
Your Child Can’t Always Explain What Happened: Young children may not be able to clearly describe how an accident occurred or express the extent of their pain. As a result, building a strong case often depends on gathering evidence from medical records, witnesses, and expert analysis rather than relying on the child’s account alone.
Estimating the Impact on Your Child’s Future: Because children are still developing, it can be difficult to fully understand how an injury will affect them long term. Determining future medical needs, potential limitations, and overall quality of life often requires input from medical professionals, economists, and life care planners.
Some Injuries Take Time to Appear: Not all injuries are immediately visible. Conditions like brain injuries or growth-related issues may only become clear months or years later, which makes it risky to settle a claim too early before the full extent of the damage is known.
Children Cannot File Claims Themselves: A parent or guardian must bring a claim on the child’s behalf, and in some cases, the court may appoint an independent representative to protect the child’s interests. Settlements also require court approval, adding another step to the process.
What to Do After Your Child Is Injured in Miami
Get Medical Care Immediately
Your child’s health comes first. Seek medical attention right away, even if the injuries appear minor. Miami has several excellent pediatric medical facilities equipped to handle child injury cases, including:
- Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial Medical Center
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Report the Incident
Depending on how and where your child was injured, you may need to file a report with the appropriate authority. This creates an official record that can be critical to your case.
- Car accidents: Report to the Miami Police Department or Florida Highway Patrol
- School or daycare injuries: Report to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the facility’s administration
- Child abuse or neglect: Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873, as required under F.S. § 39.201
- Public park or premises injuries: Report to Miami County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
- Dog bites: Report to Miami Animal Services
- Product defects: Report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Document Everything
Take photographs of the scene, your child’s injuries, and anything else that may be relevant. Keep every medical record, receipt, and correspondence related to the incident. Write down everything you remember about what happened while it is still fresh.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after the incident. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer before speaking to an attorney. What you say in those early conversations can be used against your family later.
Contact a Miami Child Injury Lawyer
The sooner you get legal representation, the better. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and filing deadlines are stricter than most families realize. At Aigen Injury Lawyers, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Why Hire Aigen Injury Lawyers for Your Child Injury Case
Child injury cases are not like other personal injury claims. They require a deeper understanding of Florida’s child safety laws, pediatric medical evidence, and the long-term implications of injuries on a child’s development and future.
At Aigen Injury Lawyers, we bring all of that to the table. We also understand that behind every case is a family going through one of the hardest experiences of their lives. We handle the legal complexity so you can focus on your child. Contact Aigen Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Your child deserves justice, and we’re ready to fight for it.