In 2015, 37 children aged 14 and younger lost their lives in Kentucky accidents. This included 10 children under the age of four. Additionally, 13 children aged four and younger were hurt and another 14 suffered potential injuries in Kentucky crashes. Injuries were also reported for children between the ages of five and 14. Since you can never predict when a crash will occur, it is important to be prepared so that you can help your child during this type of emergency.
Ten Ways to Protect Your Child From Car Crash Injuries
During the chaos of a car accident it can be difficult to tell whether your child is crying because she is hurt, because she is startled, or because she senses that you are scared. Accordingly, it is important to take steps to protect your child’s physical wellbeing before an accident and immediately after an accident. If your child is hurt, then it is also important to take additional steps to protect her future after a crash.
Specifically, you can:
- Prepare for a crash before an accident occurs. You can take steps now to protect your child in case of a crash. If your child is under the age of eight, then it is important to make sure that she is in the appropriate car seat for her age and size. Additionally, it is important to have any critical medical information—such as allergies or medical conditions—written on the car seat so that first responders immediately know of these things if you are too hurt to talk or if you are not with your child at the time of the accident.
- Call 911. Do not move your child before first responders arrive. While you can offer comfort to your child, it is important to let first responders remove her from her car seat so that you don’t risk hurting her further. While you wait for first responders to arrive, make sure to put on your emergency lights and set up cones or flares if you have them to alert other motorists of your presence and to avoid a second crash.
- Get information from the other driver(s) and document the crash. It can be difficult to concentrate on anything other than your child, but it is important to take all of the steps that you would if your child had not been in the car with you. This includes taking pictures of the accident scene and getting information such as the other driver’s name, insurance information, and license number. This information may be important to your child’s legal recovery.
- Make sure your child gets the immediate and ongoing medical care that she needs to recover. This is the most important thing that you will do. You may start with emergency room doctors or your child’s pediatrician, and you may need to follow up with specialists as recommended.
- Take care of your child’s emotional needs. A car crash can be scary. Children of different ages react in different ways to the stress of a car accident. If your child is fearful of getting into a car or is showing signs of stress or trauma then it is important to talk to your child’s pediatrician about whether your child would benefit from professional counseling.
- Replace the car seat, if necessary. Even if your child’s car seat looks okay, it may be structurally compromised and it may not be able to keep your child safe in another accident. The cost of a car seat replacement may be included in your insurance settlement.
- Plan for your child’s education if she is going to miss school. If your child’s injuries will keep her from attending school, then it is important to consider her educational options so that she will not be behind when she returns to school. A tutor, for example, may be important.
- Let teachers, relatives, and other caregivers know what happened. Encourage them to report any signs of physical or emotional pain to you immediately so that you can take action.
- Plan for your child’s future. If your child has been seriously and permanently injured, then it is important to consider your child’s future and to make sure that any car crash recovery includes compensation for future medical needs, lost income, and other damages.
- Consider your child’s legal options. You may lose time from work. Your child’s medical bills may be expensive. These expenses are going to add up, and your child may have the right to recover damages for her injuries. An experienced lawyer can help you negotiate a settlement with the insurance companies or get a fair recovery in court.
Your child is counting on you to take action. If you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Louisville car crash lawyer then we encourage you to contact us via this website or by phone at any time. We would be happy to help you protect your child’s rights and make sure that your child gets the fair and full recover she deserves.
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