If a faulty product has injured your child, you may be able to make a claim. In the UK, you can bring a child injury claim if a faulty or unsafe product causes harm. This may help, even if the situation feels unclear or overwhelming for parents.
Every year, thousands of children are injured by everyday items such as toys, household appliances, and food products. Many are also involved in road traffic accidents. These incidents lead to over 72,000 hospital admissions for accidental injuries in children aged 0–14. Over one million children visit Accident & Emergency departments each year.
For many parents, the key question is simple: can you sue if a product hurts your child, and who is responsible? This guide explains when you can claim, who may be liable, and what steps to take to protect your child’s rights.
Table of Contents
Key takeaways:
- Claims must be filed before the child turns 18 or within three years of injury
- You can claim compensation for your child’s injury caused by a defective product
- Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors are responsible for unsafe products that harm children
- Compensation covers medical costs, pain, lost earnings, and future care needs
- Early action, including seeking medical help and preserving evidence, strengthens your case
- Even if your child shares some responsibility, you can still receive partial compensation
- Seek legal advice early to protect your child’s rights and ensure fair compensation
What are child injury claims?
Child injury claims arise when someone else’s negligence or a defective product harms a child. In the UK, a parent or legal guardian can bring a claim on a child’s behalf to seek compensation. This may include a personal injury claim for a child. Injuries may result from unsafe products, accidents, or a failure of duty of care.
These claims can involve incidents such as faulty toys, dangerous household appliances, or unsafe food products. They may also arise if a child is injured at school or in another supervised environment due to a breach of duty of care. In such cases, a school accident claim may be possible.
Children cannot usually make legal claims themselves. A parent or guardian acts as a “litigation friend” to manage the claim on the child’s behalf.
Key legal terms to understand:
Shared responsibility
This means the injured party may share some responsibility for the incident. In child injury claims, courts may reduce compensation if a child is partly at fault. However, courts do not usually reject the claim altogether.
Duty of care
This is a legal responsibility to keep others safe. It applies to manufacturers, schools, and organisations responsible for children. For example, if a child gets injured at school, the staff may be responsible if they do not maintain a safe environment.
UK law recognises that people can share responsibility. This means you may still claim compensation, even if the situation is not entirely clear.
When can you sue for product-related injuries?
You can bring a claim if a defective or unsafe product has caused harm to your child. In many child injury claims, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers may be held legally responsible if their product was not safe to use.
Injuries linked to defective products commonly fall into the following categories:
- Toys and baby products: choking hazards, sharp parts, or toxic materials
- Household appliances: burns, electric shocks, or fire risks from faulty devices
- Food and drinks: allergic reactions caused by mislabelled ingredients or contamination
A product may be considered defective if it fails to meet expected safety standards. Liability can arise in cases involving:
- Faulty design or manufacture
- Inadequate safety warnings or instructions
- Failure to recall or remove dangerous products from the market
If any of these factors contributed to your child’s injury, you may be entitled to seek compensation through a product liability claim.
How contributory negligence could affect your claim
In some child injury claims, a child may be found partly responsible for the incident. This is known as contributory negligence.
UK courts usually reduce compensation based on the level of responsibility rather than rejecting the claim entirely, unless the child was fully at fault. This means the amount you receive may be lower, but you can still make a claim.
Client story
A toddler suffered poisoning after consuming a snack that contained undeclared nut allergens. The parents contacted Claim Time Solicitors, who investigated and identified a failure to properly label the product, establishing manufacturer liability.
Although the court considered contributory negligence, the claim succeeded. Compensation covered medical treatment, therapy, and related expenses.
What to do after your child is injured by a product
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Preserve the product and packaging as evidence
- Report the incident to relevant authorities, such as Trading Standards or the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
- Document everything, including photos, medical reports, and witness details
- Get legal advice from specialists such as Claim Time Solicitors
Taking these steps early can strengthen your claim and help protect your child’s rights.
How Claim Time Solicitors can help
Claim Time Solicitors provide UK-wide expertise in child injury claims, including cases involving defective products. As experienced personal injury solicitors, we help families pursue claims without upfront costs through a no-win no-fee policy.
We:
- Provide clear, practical advice tailored to your situation
- Handle investigations and legal paperwork on your behalf
- Pursue fair compensation, including cases involving partial fault
- Guide you through the process from start to finish
Compensation breakdown
Compensation in child injury claims may include:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (impact on quality of life)
- Future care and additional support needs
- Travel and related expenses linked to treatment
Depending on the circumstances, an accident compensation claim can cover both immediate and long-term costs.
Even where contributory negligence applies, you may still be entitled to partial compensation.
If your child was injured by a faulty product, Claim Time Solicitors can advise you on your options and help you understand what your claim may be worth. You can use our claim checker to assess eligibility or try our claim value estimator to estimate potential compensation.
Contact us today for a free no win no fee consultation.
FAQs
What is the time limit for making a claim on behalf of a child?
In the UK, the limitation period for a child’s personal injury claim is different from adult claims. A parent or guardian can usually make a claim at any time before the child turns 18. After that, the child typically has three years to bring a claim themselves.
Will I have to go to court?
Usually not. In most cases, parties settle child injury claims out of court. However, if you cannot reach a settlement, your solicitor will prepare your case and support you through the court process.
Are injuries from sports covered?
In some child injury claims, negligence may cover injuries that occur during sports. Many sports injuries are accidental. However, a claim may be possible if a school, coach, or organisation fails in its duty of care. This could include unsafe equipment or inadequate supervision.
What if my child is injured at school by another child in the UK?
If a child is hurt at school by another child in the UK, the school may still be responsible. This can happen if it did not supervise properly or keep the school safe. In these situations, a claim may be possible where there has been a breach of the duty of care.