Children's Injuries in Houston
Houston child injury cases have a longer tail than adult cases. We document not just what the injury costs today but what it will cost over a lifetime, future medical care, educational accommodations, lost earning capacity, and ongoing therapy.
Texas law that governs injuries to children cases
How children are injured in Houston
Harris County is the most common location in Texas for child drownings: 37 children drowned in the Greater Houston area in 2023, out of 90 statewide. Texas led the nation in child drownings as recently as 2019. A Rice University Baker Institute study of Houston found that 67% of child pedestrian and cyclist injury victims were male and 56% were age 12 or older; critically, 20 of 21 fatal child pedestrian crashes studied occurred outside of an intersection, meaning children are being struck mid-block on streets lacking adequate crosswalks or sidewalks, not only at marked crossings.
Playground injuries add to the picture: a substantial share of playground injuries are serious (fractures, concussions, dislocations), and many occur on public playgrounds, including Houston ISD campuses and Harris County park facilities. Texas pauses the two-year filing deadline until a child turns 18 (CPRC § 16.001), so the legal window is long, but pool surveillance, school incident reports, and business cameras typically operate on 30-day retention cycles. Acting early preserves what the statute allows you to use.
Where you're treated and where your case is filed both matter. Houston has two Level I adult trauma centers, Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center / Red Duke Trauma Institute (6411 Fannin St) and Ben Taub Hospital (Harris Health System, 1504 Taub Loop), both in the Texas Medical Center complex. The TMC is the largest medical complex in the world, handling over 10 million patient encounters a year. Houston-area cases are filed in Harris County's civil courts at 201 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77002. Harris County is the most litigated personal injury venue in Texas, with 115,173 reportable crashes and 579 traffic deaths recorded in 2024 alone, more crashes than any other county in the state by a factor of two.
What we investigate in a Houston child injury case
- Harris County leads Texas in child drownings: 37 Greater Houston child drownings in 2023 (90 statewide)
- Baker Institute/Rice study: 20 of 21 fatal child pedestrian crashes occurred outside an intersection, mid-block
- Playground injuries: many are serious (fractures, concussions) and commonly occur on public playgrounds including HISD campuses
- CPRC § 16.001 tolls SOL until age 18, but evidence (surveillance, incident reports) is overwritten in 30 days
Common injuries we see in Houston
- Car accident injuries (passenger, pedestrian, cyclist)
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Playground and recreation equipment injuries
- Pool drownings and near-drownings
- School and daycare negligence
- Defective toy and product injuries
- Sports-related injuries due to negligence
- Birth injuries
Compensation we pursue
- Current and future medical care
- Surgical and reconstructive procedures
- Rehabilitation and ongoing therapy
- Mental health treatment (PTSD)
- Future earning capacity reduction
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and disability damages
- Educational accommodations and special services
Frequently asked questions for Houston clients
Who files a personal injury lawsuit when the victim is a child?
A parent or legal guardian files on the child's behalf as "next friend" under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 44. Settlements involving minors typically require court approval to protect the child's interests.
How long does my child have to file a Houston personal injury claim?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.001, the statute of limitations is tolled for minors. The two-year clock begins running on the child's 18th birthday, giving them until age 20 to file. Parents should still act early, evidence degrades fast.
Where does the settlement money go?
Settlement proceeds for a minor are not just handed to the parent. They're typically placed in a court-supervised registry, structured annuity, or trust until the child reaches majority. Some courts allow disbursements for documented medical care and education in the interim.
How long do we have to file a child's injury claim in Houston?
Texas tolls (pauses) a minor's personal-injury limitations period until they turn 18 under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, so the two-year clock generally doesn't start until then. But surveillance footage at schools, daycares, pools, and commercial premises in Houston is commonly overwritten on 30-day cycles. The legal deadline is long, the evidence window is very short. Contacting us promptly preserves the evidence the statute ultimately allows you to use.
My child drowned at a neighbor's or apartment complex's pool, is the owner liable?
Often yes. Texas's attractive-nuisance doctrine holds property owners responsible for hazards like an unfenced or inadequately fenced pool that foreseeably attract young children who cannot appreciate the danger. Harris County sees more child drownings than any other county in Texas; pool-fence compliance is a documented issue at both residential and apartment-complex pools. A homeowner's or commercial liability policy is almost always the source of compensation.
Court venue for Houston cases
Personal injury cases arising in Houston are typically filed in Harris County (county seat: Houston), in the District Courts or County Courts at Law. We're familiar with the local procedures and carrier tendencies in this venue.
Getting from Houston to our Houston office
Our Galleria-area office is in the heart of Houston at 2401 Fountain View Dr, Suite 830, minutes from downtown, the Medical Center, and the 610 Loop.
Newman Injury Law
2401 Fountain View Dr, Suite 830
Houston, TX 77057
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