What to Do if Your Child Is Injured in a Car Accident

Parents and legal guardians have an obligation to keep their children safe. However, that does not mean you can protect them every moment of every day. Accidents happen.

When someone else’s negligence in a car accident causes your child injuries, you can hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The steps to take immediately after the accident could have a substantial impact on your ability to maximize the compensation you recover for your child’s damages. With help from an experienced car accident attorney, you could demand the liable party be brought to justice.

Get Your Child to Safety

Immediately after your car accident, one of the first things you must do is get your child to safety. If your vehicle is in the middle of the road, do what you can to move the car over to the side of the road so you are not obstructing traffic or at risk of further injury. If you cannot drive the vehicle, it may be in your best interests to remove your child from the car so they are not stuck waiting for emergency responders and healthcare providers to arrive at the accident scene.

Call Emergency Responders and Collect Valuable Evidence at the Scene

Even if the accident initially seems minor, contacting 911 and emergency responders should be a top priority. Having law enforcement officials at the accident scene can only support your case. When emergency responders arrive, they will file a formal police and crash report that can be used as evidence in your claim against the liable party.

Often, law enforcement officials will determine liability at the scene as part of their accident report. You will need this evidence when you file an insurance or civil claim. It is not unusual for those responsible for causing accidents to attempt to avoid calling the police, as they could have an adverse impact on their lives if they are not insured, do not have a valid driver’s license, or do not have sufficient insurance coverage to meet your needs. However, you must prioritize your interests and that of your children before that of the liable party.

While you wait for healthcare providers to arrive at the scene, you should also begin to gather as much evidence as you can. That is the perfect time to start taking photos of your child’s injuries, the traffic conditions at the time of the accident, and any property damage that may be prevalent at the same time. You should also make a note of any businesses or homes nearby that might have caught the collision on camera.

Get the Contact Information of Witnesses and Involved Parties

As part of the evidence you collect at the scene of your car accident, you should also obtain the contact information and personal details of the involved parties and any witnesses to the accident. Some of the most important information just to try to explain include:

• The name and phone number of the driver that hit you
• The liable driver’s license number and insurance information
• The responsible party’s phone number or other contact details
• The names and contact information of anyone that witnessed the accident

Although your lawyer can thoroughly investigate and obtain much of this information, the sooner we have access to it, the better. This way, we have the information we need and are readily available to establish liability and devote more of our resources towards building a case against them.

Get Your Child Medical Help

If you have not already done so, make sure your child is seen by healthcare providers. Even if your child’s injuries initially seem relatively minor, having medical records that show you received treatment for your child immediately after the accident can go a long way in proving the severity of your child’s injuries and your right to compensation.

If you wait to get medical help, your child’s condition could rapidly worsen, and the liable party will have an opportunity to argue your child’s injuries did not occur in the accident or that you are exaggerating the extent of your child’s injuries.

It is not uncommon for children to suffer from delayed symptoms after a car accident. As soon as you notice your child has significant injuries, make sure to bring them to urgent care, your primary care provider, your child’s pediatrician, or the emergency room for medical help as soon as possible.

Connect with a Child Injury Lawyer ASAP

As soon as you have a chance to do so, make sure you hire a child injury attorney to review the details of your case. Once you have a personal injury lawyer advocating for your child’s rights, you do not need to worry about anything other than taking care of your child physically and emotionally.

Your child injury lawyer will be responsible for conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of your car accident. This way, you can file your civil claim against the liable party and recoup your damages in full.

Although you are not legally obligated to hire an attorney, when your child is struggling to cope emotionally, and physically, and your family is struggling with the financial implications of your child’s injuries, having a legal advocate on your side could be invaluable if you hope to escape financial ruin.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer at GKBM for Help Today

Child injuries are often substantially more impactful than injuries to adults. Between the severe psychological distress and physical impairments that could be long-lasting, it is crucial to get your child the compensation they deserve and cover their medical costs so you are not drowning in debt for the foreseeable future.

An experienced car accident lawyer at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC is here to help you demand justice. Contact our team for a 100% free consultation and learn more about who to sue for your child’s damages in the value of your child’s losses. You can reach us by phone or through our convenient contact form to get started as soon as today.