What Should You Do If Your Child Was Injured In A Car Accident?

As parents, we feel obligated to keep our children safe, but we can’t protect them from every possibility, especially as they get older and gain more independence. 

One of the most dreaded moments in any parent’s life is when children get hurt. If your child was injured in a car accident (whether that was your young child in the backseat, your pre-teen in the front seat, or your teenage driver), you are likely feeling devastated, overwhelmed, potentially guilty, and unsure of what to do next. You can’t go back in time to stop them from being in harm’s way, and you may not be able to restore what has been taken away from them; however, if the accident was someone else’s fault, you can take steps to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable, and you can take steps to ensure that you receive the monetary compensation necessary to give them the best care possible. 

Here are a few things you need to know about what to do if your child sustained serious injuries in a car accident that was caused by another driver!

Ensure Your Child Is Safe First.

The moments immediately following when your child was injured in a car accident are the most vital but also the most challenging. Your child’s safety is the top priority, so ensure your child is completely safe before addressing other elements of the situation. If you were in the car at the time of the crash, remove your child safely from the vehicle if possible and seek to stabilize their injuries or call 911 for ambulatory care. If you aren’t physically with them – if you receive a phone call from them, or another passenger who was in the car with them – stay as calm as possible and give them directions to call 911 for an ambulance if the injuries are pressing. 

Call The Police & If Possible, Document The Scene

Whether or not your child is with you at the time of the crash, you should call the police for them, but this is especially true if they are a teenager and aren’t with you. Even if they don’t seem seriously hurt, and even if the damage to one or both cars is minor, the police should always get a formal accident report. This can come back to help your child later. In some cases, the other party may try to dissuade your child from calling the police because they don’t have insurance, or they are undocumented, or they are at fault; they may try to intimidate your child into thinking they were at fault and scare them into not calling the police. However, if there is no official report made (even if your child wasn’t driving perfectly), the other driver could make accusations later that are simply their word against your child. It’s always best to have the police get an accurate picture of what happened and record evidence!

If your child is able to, and if you are able to (if you are with them and they don’t need urgent medical care), have them take pictures and videos of the scene (or do so yourself). This could also provide critical evidence at a later date.

If Possible, Collect The Information Of The Others At The Scene

The police will do this if they come, but for your personal records, you or your child should get the name, phone number, and insurance information of everyone involved in the collision. You should also do the same for witnesses, if there are any who stopped and who would be willing to share that with you. 

Seek Medical Attention For Your Child If You Haven’t Already

Even if your child seems fine, if your child was injured in a car accident, they should see a doctor as soon as possible. Some serious injuries take days or weeks to present themselves, and the longer you wait to seek medical attention for them (and for yourself, if you were involved in the accident) the less likely you will be to be able to recover full damages from your insurance company later on. For their health and your financial well-being, get help right away! Take them to a doctor or even local urgent care to get a full medical checkup and have that documented. This could be a potentially life-saving action. 

Call An Experienced Local Car Accident Attorney

At The Florida Law Group, we provide caring and compassionate legal representation for Florida parents whose child was injured in a car accident. We handle the legal matters – including all of the insurance paperwork and communications – so our clients can focus on tending to their child’s injuries and well-being.

Our law firm has years of experience handling complex car accident injury claims involving children and can help you fight for the compensation your child deserves to be paid for the pain and suffering they endured. We can fight for justice and hold the negligent party responsible! You can schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and get answers to your questions. We don’t charge parents for our legal fees unless and until we recover damages on their child’s behalf. Call The Florida Law Group to speak with an attorney today!