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Was your child injured?Talk to a lawyer for free.

A child usually has until 20 to sue, but a claim against a public school or agency is due in six months.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
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Months later they reached out to inform me that they lowered some of the medical bills and were issuing another payment.
Anthony R.Valero Law Group clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, among them people with nerve and spinal injuries.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $2.1MTruck accidentFor a client with spinal and orthopedic injuries after a crash with a commercial truck.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

After a child is injured,what to do first.

Six steps for parents, from the first report to the deadlines that matter.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Get the incident in writing
    Ask a school, camp or store for its incident report. A licensed child care center must report an injury needing medical treatment to state licensing by the next working day, and in writing within seven days. It must tell you too. Dog bites go to animal control; car accidents to the police.
  • Keep every record and bill
    Emergency visits, follow-ups, therapy and counseling all count, and so do school notes about missed days or new struggles. Children keep developing for years, and the records show what the injury cost them over time.
  • Look up the daycare's record
    The state's Community Care Licensing facility search covers licensed child care centers and family child care homes, with about five years of information, including complaint investigation reports.
  • Keep the product, check recalls
    If a crib, toy, car seat or other product failed, keep it with its packaging and receipt, and check recalls with the CPSC (or NHTSA for car seats). Unsafe products can be reported at SaferProducts.gov. Photograph the place too: the playground, the pool gate, the broken step.
  • A judge approves any settlement
    A parent can't finally settle a child's claim alone: it's valid only once a judge approves it. A lawyer's fee in a minor's case needs the court's approval too, and is paid from the settlement only as the judge allows.
  • Six months for a school or agency
    Public school districts, city parks and other agencies usually have to receive a written claim within six months, and being a minor doesn't extend that. Past it, a late claim may still be possible within one year of the injury, and the agency must allow it if the child was a minor the whole six months.

When a child is injured,what can a claim recover?

Usually two claims: the child's own, and the parents' claim for the medical bills they pay. Any settlement for a minor needs a judge's approval.

The child's own claim

Losses that reach past 18

  • Pain, suffering and emotional distress
  • Scarring, disfigurement and lost enjoyment of life
  • Care the child is reasonably certain to need as an adult
  • Lost earning capacity, even before a first job

The parents' claim

Costs while the child is a minor

  • Hospital, doctor and therapy bills paid for the child
  • Prescriptions, medical equipment and changes at home
  • Care at home that the injury requires
  • Repayment to you, from the settlement, of what you paid
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12 offices, one team

Child injury lawyersnear you, anywhere in California.

Every one of our offices handles child injury cases. Pick yours below, or call: if you can't come to us, we'll come to you.

Also serving Los Angeles, Ontario, Oakland and communities statewide. In Washington, see our Tacoma office.

All office locations

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromclients and their families.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
I want to thank Luz. My sister was in a accident and Luz was very helpful and met all expectations and made the process great…
Jeanettefff G.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
…My daughter and I were kept in the loop as to what was happening. My car was repaired quickly and the doctors that treated me were very professional and caring.
Isela O.Google review
Many thanks to the ladies at Valero. They were very kind to my husband and me.
Katherin R.Google review
A man and a boy in traditional Colombian hats and jerseys holding Valero Law Group signs at a community event

Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a child is injured.

How long do we have to file for a child?
For the child's own claim, the two years to sue usually start at 18 (Code of Civil Procedure §352), so most children have until their 20th birthday. Claims against public agencies don't get that extra time. A medical negligence claim for a child generally allows three years, or until age 8 for a child injured before 6, whichever is longer. Medical bills a parent pays are normally the parent's claim, so it helps to call early.
Who brings the claim, a parent or the child?
A parent or guardian, for the child. In a lawsuit, the child appears through a guardian ad litem the court appoints, often a parent. The parents' claim for the medical bills they pay is normally theirs, but it's often included in the child's case and repaid from the settlement with the judge's approval.
Where does the settlement money go?
Where the judge orders. Approved bills, costs and the lawyer's fee are paid first (Probate Code §3601). The rest usually goes into a blocked bank account or a deferred annuity that can't be touched without the court's permission, or, for a lasting disability, a special needs trust. A blocked account is generally released at 18.
My child was injured at school, daycare or a playground. What changes?
At a public school or a city park, the claim is against a public agency, so the six-month deadline usually applies. A private school, a daycare, a store or a neighbor's home follows the usual rule for children. A licensed daycare's complaint history is public on the state's facility search.
A dog bit my child. Is the owner responsible?
Usually, yes. In California a dog's owner is responsible from the first bite when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. Children are more than three times as likely as adults to be bitten on the head or face, so scars and future treatment are often part of the claim. Our dog bite page explains more.
What do California's car seat rules require?
Children under 8 generally must ride in a car seat or booster in the back seat, and children under 2 must face the rear unless they're at least 40 pounds or 40 inches tall. A child under 8 who is 4 feet 9 inches or taller may use a seat belt (Vehicle Code §§27360, 27363). NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe accident, so keep the old one for the claim.
What does a child injury lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

Our easy 3-stepcase review process.

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  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
  2. Review your caseOur experienced attorneys investigate and evaluate your case to build the strongest claim possible.
  3. Injury litigationWe fight for maximum compensation, in negotiation or in court.
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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a child injury lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

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