Nearly every day, there is a news story about an accident on the state's roadways. Any serious injury or loss of life in a car accident is devastating, but when Texas residents hear that a child was the victim, they tend to want justice to be swift and harsh. If you are the parent of that child, you may exercise your right to file a civil action against the party or parties believed to be responsible for the serious or fatal injuries suffered, even if no criminal charges are filed.
Understandably, your first priority to is to take care of your child if he or she survived the accident. If you lost your child in the crash, you will most likely need time to grieve. However, it makes good sense to contact an attorney at the first opportunity in order to protect your legal rights.
An independent investigation into the accident is nearly always better when the information is still fresh in the minds of any witnesses. In addition, any physical evidence at the scene -- such as skid marks, if any -- could be eroded by traffic and weather conditions. The sooner that this inquiry takes place, the more likely it is that more reliable information can be gathered. Other avenues will also be explored to identify all of the parties who may bear some responsibility for your child's injuries or death.
During this difficult time, you'll benefit by having an attorney in your corner who can aggressively seek justice for you and your child while understanding that you and your family need compassion and kindness. Your attorney will advocate on your behalf and work diligently to establish negligence, which is the first hurdle to confront in a civil action. If a Texas court determines that your child's injuries were caused by the negligence of another, you may be awarded damages often seen in other car accident cases involving children.