Getting into a car accident is devastating. What’s even scarier is getting into an accident with a child. Vehicular accident injuries can significantly affect your child’s development and cause pain, discomfort, disability, trauma, and other chronic issues. With this, it’s crucial to be knowledgeable about the things that may happen when you get into a car accident with your child and the steps to take to maximize your child’s chances of recovery and getting the proper compensation.
Car Accident Claims Involving Children
A child isn’t entitled to make a compensation claim until they’re 18 years. To seek compensation, they need to find a representative to do it on their behalf. The representative can be the child’s parent, guardian, or professional advocate who can act in the child’s best interest.
There’s a difference in the limitation period between car accident claims involving adults and children. The limitation period for an adult’s compensation claim is three years from the date of the injury, while that of a child’s compensation claim is from the date of the injury up to the date they turn 18 years old. For instance, if your child is injured at the age of 10, the limitation period is eight years.
Remember that hiring the right lawyer is crucial when making a claim and getting the proper compensation for your child. For instance, for motorcycle accidents, hiring a motorcycle accident attorney in NJ or your local area would be the best option. In your case, if you get into a car accident, consider hiring a car accident attorney.
You must also ensure you’re hiring a skilled lawyer. This is because child injury claims need the court’s approval. This is because courts will always have the child’s best interest in mind. The court will appoint a representative to analyze the case files and reports to ensure the child’s representative acts accordingly. With a skilled attorney, you increase your chances of your claim getting approved.
Common Injuries Children Suffer In Car Accidents
The impact of a car crash can cause long-term injuries or death, especially to children. Therefore, if you get involved in a car accident with your child, seek medical care immediately. Prompt medical care helps improve recovery and also helps build a solid compensation claim.
The common injuries children involved in a car accident include:
Head and Neck Injuries:
Neck and head injuries are the major injuries sustained by children in car accidents. These injuries include concussions, traumatic brain injury, contusions, and whiplash. These injuries can lead to temporal or permanent behavioral and development issues.
Fractures:
Since kids have soft bodies, fractures to their arms, pelvis, legs, and other bones are common in crashes. Although some fully recover from these fractures, others have permanent disability that limits their movement.
Psychological Trauma:
Trauma and injuries associated with the crash can lead to psychological conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, and other medical conditions.
Chest Injuries:
The collision impact, failure to wear seatbelts, or tightening restraints can lead to broken ribs, lung injuries, or internal bleeding.
All the injuries will require different medical attention and care. So, visit the hospital immediately for proper medical care.
Steps To Take When Involved In An Accident With A Child
Knowing what to do when you get into a car accident with a child is crucial. This section highlights the steps to take if your child is hurt in a car accident:
Check For Injuries
The first thing you should do is check on your child for any injuries. If your child is hurt, complaining of pain, or stuck under a vehicle or large object, don’t remove them, as this could worsen their injuries. Instead, call for help and wait for emergency medical professionals to assess and provide the necessary care. While waiting for the emergency team to arrive, consider taking the necessary precautions to prevent a secondary crash.
Call The Police
Once you’ve ascertained no one sustained severe injuries, call the police. They can protect the accident scene by blocking off the road to ensure the space is free from traffic. This creates a safe space for you to talk to the police, the other driver, and witnesses and for the ambulance to park. Finally, doing so is essential to get a police report necessary when filing an injury claim for your child.
Gather Evidence
As you wait for the police to arrive at the scene, gathering relevant evidence to protect your child’s legal rights is essential. This way, you’ll have the upper hand when taking legal action. This includes the other driver’s contact information, including their name, contact details, address, and insurance details. You should also get the contact details of witnesses available at the scene. Additionally, take pictures and videos of the scene and the vehicles involved.
Seek Medical Attention
Even with no visible injuries, you and your child should see a doctor immediately. This is because some injuries may take several hours or days to manifest. Therefore, avoid taking any chances and get them assessed by a medical professional. Moreover, seeking medical attention allows you to get the medical reports you need to file a compensation claim for your child.
Hire A Car Accident Attorney
If your child is injured in a car accident, you must reach out to an experienced lawyer to put your mind at ease and ensure your child receives proper compensation. While you can pursue your child’s compensation independently, car accident claims are complex and challenging. If you violate a law during the process, your child’s claim can be rejected. Therefore, you should hire an experienced attorney to pursue the case as you and your child recover from car accident injuries.
Conclusion
Getting into a car accident with a child can be terrifying and devastating. Although it’s almost impossible not to panic in such circumstances, staying calm and following the above steps is advisable to ensure your child is safe, recovers from accident injuries, and gets the proper compensation.
