Being in a California car crash is a very upsetting experience, and it can be especially upsetting if your child has been injured. As a parent, your first concern is the safety of your child. It’s important to stay calm if you find out your child is injured or if you are present when the injury happens so that you can think clearly enough to do whatever needs to be done.
Immediately After an Accident
Getting immediate medical attention is the first course of action you need to take if your child has been hurt. Assess your child’s injuries as well as your own and call 911. Even if your child does not appear to be injured at first, have them checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
Some symptoms may not appear immediately after an accident, but if they start a day or two later, don’t hesitate to take your child to a medical professional. Symptoms that may indicate an injury include:
- Dizziness
- A headache
- Inability to focus
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
If your child is a baby and begins crying inconsolably or loses interest in eating soon after a car accident, take the baby to the doctor right away.
Car Accidents and Car Seats
Children who are not properly restrained in car seats are at much higher risk than those who are properly positioned and buckled in. After a moderate to a severe car accident, it is a good idea to replace your child’s car seat, because the impact of a crash can actually bend the frame of a car seat. Even if your child wasn’t in the vehicle at the time of the accident, a car seat may have been damaged though it may not be apparent when you look at it.
If a crash was minor, the seat may not have to be replaced. A minor crash is one in which the airbags didn’t deploy, the car is able to be driven away from the crash, there were no injuries and there are no visible damages to the seat.
Child Car Crash Injury Statistics
It’s an unfortunate fact that thousands of children are injured in car accidents each year. While some happen while traveling as passengers in an automobile, other children are injured while riding school buses, bicycles or even walking on the sidewalk or crossing the street.
According to the CDC, over 600 children in the U.S. aged 12 and younger died as passengers in car accidents in 2015. In 2014, more than 120,000 were injured. As many as one-third of children who died in a car crash in 2015 were not wearing a seatbelt.
Getting Legal Help
If your child has been injured in a California car crash due to the negligence of another driver, don’t hesitate to talk to an expert personal injury lawyer. If you delay taking this step, it may hurt your case. This is especially important if your child’s injuries are extensive because you will want to make sure that compensation is obtained for all medical costs as well as pain, suffering and possibly future lost wages.
Your child will not be able to obtain legal representation on his own and is not able to think strategically like an adult. As the parent or guardian, you will have to make decisions on your child’s behalf, which includes soliciting legal help. Contact Megeredchian Law Firm using the form on this page. Our experienced legal team will get in touch with you promptly to evaluate your case and help you be sure you obtain the best legal representation possible for your child.
Related Reading:
- California Child Car Seat Safety Laws
- An Introduction To California Personal Injury Claims
- Handling An Accident With An Uninsured California Driver