Unfortunately, if your child was injured in a car accident you are in good company. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of three and 14. Although seat belts and properly selected and installed car seats can go a great deal towards minimizing injuries, even the most diligent of safety precautions do not always provide complete protection for children. In many cases when a child is injured in an accident, however, the child is not properly restrained. It’s critical that as a parent, you use the proper car seat for your child’s age and size in every single trip in an automobile.Â
The most common injury to children in automobile accidents is head injuries. The younger the child, the more likely he or she is to suffer from a head injury in an automobile accident. Some other common injuries in automobile accidents are broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, lacerations and bruises, and soft-tissue injuries. Many young children who suffer from traumatic brain injuries can have long-term health effects as a result of the injury.
Many parents believe that the safest place for their child is the backseat, and while that may be true for some children, having a small frame when combined with sitting in the backseat can carry a lot of risks. Backseat riders are more prone to head injuries than front seat riders. Children can also be very susceptible to injuries in the backseat when a rear-end collision occurs. For most children, the middle seat in a vehicle is the safest because it helps to avoid danger zones.
If your child has been injured in an automobile accident caused by the negligence of another driver, it’s important that you stand up for your child’s legal rights. Your child has a right to receive proper medical treatment, and the person responsible for the accident and/or his or her insurance company must pay for that treatment. In addition, your child may have lifelong issues as a result of the accident, and he or she deserves to be compensated. As your child’s parent, it’s your responsibility to pursue compensation on his or her behalf. If you wait until your child is old enough to pursue his or her own legal case, it’s very likely that the statute of limitations will have passed and your child will be unable to recover for his or her injuries.
If your child has been injured in an automobile accident in the metro Atlanta area, call the Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Holston & Huntley. We will provide you with a free consultation on your case, and if we choose to take your case you pay us nothing unless we obtain a recovery for you. Call us today at (404) 620-3337 consultations are free and you are under no obligation to use our services. We serve Metro Atlanta Georgia as well as Birmingham Alabama including surrounding areas.
