No. The insurance company will often act like a parent can just sign the papers, take the check, and move on after a child is hurt.

What is actually true in Rhode Island is that a minor's injury claim belongs to the child, not the parent, and bigger settlements usually need court approval before they are final. If your child was hit riding near Thames Street, hurt in a summer bike crash on J.T. Connell Highway, or injured at a Newport school or daycare, a parent can usually start the claim and deal with the insurer, but the parent does not always have the last word on settlement.

In Rhode Island, settlements for minors are commonly reviewed through the Probate Court in the city or town where the child lives. The court may require paperwork showing the injury, medical treatment, the proposed settlement amount, and how the money will be protected for the child. In many cases, funds are put into a restricted account until the child turns 18, unless the court approves limited use earlier.

Another point insurers leave out: the time limit is different for kids. Rhode Island's normal personal injury deadline is usually 3 years, but for many minors the clock is effectively paused, and the child may have until 3 years after turning 18 to sue. That can extend the filing deadline to age 21. Do not assume every related claim gets that extra time, though. A parent's own claims for medical bills or lost wages may have the regular 3-year deadline.

If the injury happened at a public school or involved a city or town agency, special notice rules can come up fast. And if it happened at a daycare, the licensing and incident history may matter, including records tied to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.