Pediatric Law is a term I invented in 1999. It describes the practice an attorney who emphasizes the representation of Oregon children and their families injured by dangerous products, negligence, medical malpractice, or other causes.

Compared to claims for adults, there are many additional issues to consider when children are hurt.

• Strategic issues include: Who should be the legal conservator or guardian ad litem: one parent, both parents, or someone else?
• Legal issues include: What happens if the defendant alleges that the parent was at fault in causing the injury to the child? If the parent signed a waiver or consent form for sports or for camp, may the child still sue for injuries? What are Oregon’s time limits for children to sue?
• Evidentiary issues include: how do you prove the lost earning capacity of someone who has never worked?
• Practical issues include: what happens to the money? Does some of it go the parents? How is the rest handled?

Each family is different. So, the answers to all of the above questions, and dozens of others, require individual attention by an Oregon attorney who has thought about these issues for over a decade.

What is not different from family to family is that injured children need the help of specialized medical and rehabilitation professionals. Specialists cost money. Too often, insurance companies will not provide the money without a fight.

I offer in-home and in-hospital appointments because, often, getting everyone to a lawyer’s office is way too hard. Call me for free at 503-665-4234.