Pursuing Compensation When Your Child Is Injured in a Car Accident

 Posted on September 19, 2018 in Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents do not just harm adults. In fact, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that car crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, with hundreds of children under age 12 killed each year. Many thousands more are severely or permanently injured. If you are a parent and facing such a situation, it is important to understand your options for pursuing compensation.

Injuries Commonly Sustained by Children in Car Crashes

Because of their smaller size and developing bodies, children are often more prone to severe injury than adults are. Even more concerning is that serious injuries may not always be immediately evident in young children. This is especially true for traumatic brain injury (TBI), which just so happens to be the injury most commonly sustained by children in a crash. Other common injuries include those to the thoracic area and spine. Children can also experience fractures, soft tissue injuries, and lacerations, much like adults can.

What to Do After a Crash

If you are involved in a crash and your child is with you, it is critical that you contact emergency personnel so that your child can be immediately checked for serious injury. You should also avoid moving your child if you have any suspicion that they may have experienced an injury to the head, neck, or spine (unless not moving them would likely cause more harm). If emergency personnel have cleared your child, you should still take them to their regular doctor or to a pediatric trauma center for further evaluation. Again, some injuries may not be immediately evident following a crash. The follow-up will help reduce the chances that an injury is missed.

Pursuing Compensation for Your Child

Although pursuing compensation for a child is much like pursuing it for an adult, it is critical to recognize that there may be some key differences. In particular, children are more vulnerable than adult victims; they need extra protection from insurance companies that may attempt to discount the severity or impact of their injuries. Further, parents are burdened with meeting the extraordinary needs of their child, which can make it more difficult for them to handle the claims process alone. For this reason, parents should always seek the assistance of a skilled legal professional with their claim.

With many decades of combined legal experience, team at Schwartz Injury Law has the skills and knowledge to effectively represent you and your child. Contact one of our dedicated Orland Park personal injury lawyers to discuss your case in a free, no-obligation consultation. We will work to ensure that your rights are fully protected every step of the way. Call 708-888-2160 for an appointment today.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811325