Injuries to Children in Car Accidents
Author: Auger Law | October 19th, 2017
When a person is involved in a car accident, the immediate aftermath can be one of stress and anxiety, even fear. A car accident can be disorienting, and it may take a moment to gain control of your thoughts in such a way that you can react appropriately. If you have a child in the car with you, the moments following an accident can be even more stressful.
While children do die because of illness, they are far more likely to pass away as the result of a fatal injury such as that sustained in a vehicle accident. In fact, accidents of all types are the number one cause of childhood death in the United States. It’s important to know more about children and car accidents if you will be driving with little ones in tow.
1. Children are More Likely to be Injured
A child is more likely to be injured in a motor vehicle accident than an adult. Common injuries include chest and back injuries, organ injuries and head injuries. Head injuries are serious for any victim, but can be especially serious for young children whose brains are still developing. Children under the age of one were more likely to experience head injury than older children.
2. Injuries Are Not Always Apparent
When a child is involved in a car accident, they may be understandably shook up. As a parent, you’ve got to do your best to remain calm. Seek medical attention for your child even if they are not apparently injured. A head injury, more specifically a brain injury, is invisible.
If you believe that your child may have been injured, don’t remove them from the car. Let emergency responders handle that task. Moving an injured person of any age puts them at greater risk of permanent injury in the case of spinal or head injuries.
3. Children in Car Seats Can Be Injured
People hold the belief that children in car seats are less likely to be injured in a car accident. The truth of the matter is that a car seat may protect a child from several types of injury, but injury is still possible. Where your car was hit and the severity of the impact both factor in to whether or not your restrained child is injured and how serious the injury is.
If you and your child are involved in a car accident, call 911 immediately. A child may not be able to verbalize their injuries, and failing to seek medical attention can have devastating consequences.
When you are involved in a car accident, you have legal rights. If the other driver is found to be at fault, our Charlotte auto accident attorneys can assist you in recovering any compensation you are entitled to. Call our office today to schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. We will review the details of your accident and advise you of your rights under current state law.
