As parents, we do our very best to protect our children from injury and harm. Unfortunately, no matter how much we try, our children are still at risk, especially when it comes to car accidents. Even with a car or booster seat that is installed and being used correctly, children can still be seriously hurt in crashes.
Injuries Children Often Sustain in Crashes.
According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children were particularly at risk for head injuries in crashes. These injuries include concussions, contusions, lacerations, and skull base fractures. Babies who are under the age of one are at an extremely high risk for concussions, as well as at an increased risk of rib fractures. Children between the ages of one and seven are at an extremely high risk for skull base fractures.
Treatment for Young Car Crash Victims
If you have been in a crash with your child, even if it seems like a minor one and no one appears to be hurt, you should still seek medical attention for your child immediately. Not all injuries show symptoms right away and any delay in diagnosing and treatment can not only be dangerous, it can end up being fatal.
When a child is injured in a car crash, multiple studies have shown that when they are treated at pediatric hospitals, the success rate of recovery is much higher. If there isn’t a pediatric facility nearby, you should still go to the nearest emergency room.
Contacting a Carolinas Injury Attorney
When an adult is injured in a crash caused by another driver, they can file a claim and pursue financial compensation. The same holds true for children. Many parents may not realize that they can pursue an injury claim for their child and instead all of the child’s medical bills are submitted to their own insurance carrier.
However, a North Carolina accident attorney can pursue damages against the at-fault driver for the medical costs of treating your child. If you missed time from work in order to care for your child, you can be compensated for that, as well. A car accident claim can also seek damages for the pain your child suffered, the emotional distress, and any other negative impact and losses the injuries have caused.