Child Seriously Hurt, 9 Others Injured in Crash on Rte 173 in Bethlehem, NJ

Bethlehem, NJ (August 11, 2026) – A child was seriously hurt, and nine others were hurt on Monday afternoon, August 10, after a two-vehicle collision on Route 173. 

The crash happened around 4:34 p.m. when a car rear-ended an SUV as it made a right turn, according to the New Jersey State Police.

The child, who was riding in the back seat of the SUV, suffered serious injuries. The driver and six other passengers sustained minor injuries.

Authorities continue to investigate this wreck. 

We hope the child and everyone else involved have a full and speedy recovery.

How Do Injury Claims Work When a Child Is Hurt in a Crash in Bethlehem, NJ?

When a child is seriously hurt in a crash, New Jersey law requires a parent or legal guardian to file any injury claim on the child's behalf, since minors cannot bring a legal claim on their own. 

This applies regardless of how the crash happened or how many other people were involved. The parent or guardian acts as the child's representative throughout the process.

New Jersey also extends extra time for a child's claim compared to an adult's. While adults generally have two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury claim, the statute of limitations for a minor's claim is generally paused until the child turns 18, which gives families more flexibility to decide how and when to move forward. 

This distinction can matter significantly in a case that involves a young child with a serious injury, since the full impact of that injury may not be clear for years.

Any settlement reached on behalf of an injured child typically requires court approval before it becomes final. A judge reviews the proposed settlement to confirm it's fair given the child's injuries and that the funds are properly protected, typically through a structured settlement or a court-supervised account, until the child reaches adulthood. 

This extra layer of oversight is meant to protect the child's long-term interests, since a settlement reached too quickly may not account for injuries or costs that surface later.

Because a child's injuries can take time to fully understand, medical documentation gathered early and consistently frequently plays a central role in building the claim. A car accident lawyer can help parents navigate the court approval process, coordinate with the child's medical providers, and account for future needs like ongoing therapy or long-term care when discussions about compensation come up. 

At Metro Law, we know that handling a child's injury claim comes with extra steps that most parents haven't dealt with before. We can help New Jersey families understand what court approval and filing deadlines look like when a child is involved. We can take the time to walk parents through each part of the process. 

If your child was hurt in a crash, call Metro Law at (800) 469-6476. Our team is here to help you walk through the legal journey.