By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 12th August 2025. Welcome to our child car accident claims guide, where we’ll explain how to claim accident compensation.
Children that have been injured in a car accident, whether they were a passenger in a car, or a pedestrian, have as much right as an adult to claim personal injury compensation for the injuries they have sustained. However, the claims process is a little bit different when the claimant is under 18. The claimant would need a parent or guardian to claim on their behalf and act as a litigation friend.
You’ll find more information about this further on in the guide. You can contact our advisors to ask questions about claiming. To get in touch, you can:
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If your child is in a car accident and suffers an injury. As a result, they could receive accident compensation. To get help with this, you can ring us and speak to a member of our professional team.
You can ask us as many questions as you need to regarding the claims process for a car accident involving children. Once we have discussed your case, we can begin your claim. All our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. You usually don’t need to pay any legal fees unless your case is a success.
Sometimes, a local medical assessment is a necessity. We can arrange this for you at a time that is convenient for you. We can discuss this and more in more detail during your free consultation.
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If you want to make a car accident claim on behalf of your child, you must prove that the third party was responsible for causing your child’s injuries.
To establish liability in child car accident claims, you must provide evidence of how the third party owed your child a duty of care and how this became breached, resulting in their injuries. Some examples of evidence you may use to do this include:
Medical reports that show the nature of your child’s injuries
A police report if they were called to the scene
Contact details of any witnesses of the accident
Third-party contact and insurance details, if they were collected at the scene
If you are struggling to find evidence to support your child’s claim, you do not need to worry. Our experienced solicitors may help you obtain any important evidence.
Contact our friendly advisors today to start a car accident claim on behalf of your child or to learn more about the average settlement for a child in a car accident.
What Is A Litigation Friend?
If you want to make a claim for accident compensation on behalf of a child under your care, you can do so by acting as a litigation friend. In this section, we’ll explain what this role involves.
A limitation friend is someone authorised by the court to represent the claimant (litigant in person) and conduct their case on their behalf. A litigation friend is usually required in such circumstances where the litigant in person is under 18, is someone with a mental disability, or has requested a litigation friend.
There are two types of litigation friends:
1). A McKenzie Friend (Applies In Scotland only)
These support and accompany the claimant in court. They do not necessarily have to know or be a friend of the claimant and often have some training and/or knowledge in the relevant area of law. Claimants’ do not automatically have the right to a McKenzie friend, but courts usually allow them if requested.
Besides giving moral support, a McKenzie friend can also take notes during court proceedings, discreetly give the claimant advice, and generally improve your experience.
However, they are not allowed to speak out in court proceedings, act on behalf of the claimant or act as their agent or manage the case outside of court.
2). A Litigation Friend (England and Wales)
These are people who are not legally qualified but can accompany the claimant to court. They are also allowed to represent the claimant and present the case to the court on their behalf. The claimant must be in court as well, though, for them to do this. A Lay Representative is usually either the claimant’s parent, guardian, spouse, friend, colleague or partner.
The court will need to be advised beforehand that a Lay Representative will present the child car accident claims.
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Personal injury claims have time limits in which they must be started, or they may be statute-barred. The usual time limit to start an accident claim in the UK is typically 3 years from the date of the accident. This, however, does not apply if the claimant is under 18.
The time limit it suspended in these cases. Meaning you could be able to start a claim for an accident after 3 years for a minor, providing they have not yet turned 18. If they have turned 18 and a claim has not been started on their behalf by a litigation friend, they will have the usual 3 years in which to start a claim.
You can speak to one of our advisers for any questions you may have about the time limit to start a claim and whether you could be able to do so outside the usual time limit.
Types Of Accidents Involving Children
There are a variety of situations that can give rise to child car accident claims. We have provided a list of examples below, which may enrich your understanding:
While a child pedestrian is walking, a drunk driver swerves onto the path and knocks them over. They suffer a head injury and internal bleeding.
Your child is a passenger in your car when you have an accident on the road. Another driver pulls out at a junction without looking, causing them to crash into the side of your car. The child experienced severe whiplash injuries.
A driver fails to stop in time at a red light as a child is crossing the road. They hit the child and cause them to suffer from several injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist.
Your 17-year-old child has recently passed their driving test and drives safely on the road. Another driver is speeding on the road and crashes into the rear-end of their car. Your child suffers a whiplash injury and a mild concussion.
If none of these scenarios align with your child’s experience, do not worry. You can contact our advisors today to find out whether you can start a car accident claim for your child.
What Is The Average Settlement For Child In A Car Accident Claims?
You may want to know the average settlement for a child in a car accident claim. However, establishing an average figure is difficult, because compensation is awarded on a case-by-case basis. Various factors of each claim will affect how much is awarded. For example, some claimants recover the financial losses caused by their injuries under special damages.
If the claim made on behalf of your child is successful, they will be awarded general damages. This compensates them for whatever physical pain and mental suffering has been caused by their injuries.
Those who value child in a car accident claims may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides a list of guideline compensation brackets for various injuries.
The table below includes certain entries in the JCG which may be relevant to a child in a car accident compensation claim. You can view it for guidance purposes, but please note that the first entry is not based on the JCG.
Special Damages In Claim For A Child Injured In A Car Accident
If your child was injured in a car accident, you may also be able to claim special damages on their behalf. This head of claim relates to any financial harm or monetary losses caused by their injuries. You’ll be required to provide evidence of any losses or expenses you wish to include in your child’s car accident claim.
Examples of special damages that might be included in a road traffic accident claim include:
Care costs – if your child is injured, you may require a carer to look after them whilst you are in work.
Prescription fees – you may have to pay for your child’s medication, or for any over-the-counter pain relief for your child.
Travel expenses – for example, if you have to pay for taxis for yourself and your child to travel to and from hospital or GP appointments relating to their injury.
Loss of earnings – you may have been required to take time off work to care for your child and their injuries.
Contact our advisors today to receive a free valuation for your child’s personal injury claim. They can also offer you free advice.
No Win No Fee Child Car Accident Claims
Our panel of specialist solicitors always handle claims on a No Win No Fee basis. So, unless your claim is a success, there are no additional solicitor costs for you.
Therefore, there’s no financial risk in the claims process as there aren’t surprise legal bills or upfront fees. We only charge if we win your case, with the payment being a set percentage of the compensation. With No Win No Fee claims, what do you have to lose?
If your child has been injured after being involved in a car accident and wants to claim accident compensation on their behalf or have any questions, all you need to do is call us on 0800 073 8804.
Our team will be more than happy to help you in any way possible. They can talk you through the claiming process, so you can better understand how to begin.
We are friendly and very approachable and will be empathetic to your situation. And we will fight your corner and do all we can to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
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Again, this links one of our guides about claiming as a passenger in a car accident. So, it could be particularly helpful if claiming on behalf of a child in an accident.
Check out our whiplash injury compensation claims calculator. If you have any questions on whiplash compensation amounts for your child’s whiplash claim, contact us today.
Thanks for reading our guide on how to claim child car accident compensation. Please get in touch if you have any further questions about child car accident claims.
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