Parental and Filial Consortium Claims

H 3953 would allow unemancipated minors and their parents to seek compensation through lawsuits when a third party's intentional or negligent act causes injury that disrupts the parent-child relationship. Specifically, it permits a minor to recover damages for the loss of a parent's companionship, aid, society, and services if the parent was injured, and a parent to recover for the loss of a minor's companionship, aid, society, and services if the minor was injured. The bill prevents double recovery by excluding any damages already received by the injured parent or minor. This legislation would expand available damages in personal injury cases involving minors and their families in South Carolina.