Children Injured in Car Accidents
Hi, I’m Ed Smith, a West Sacramento car accident lawyer. If you and your child have just been involved in a car accident, your first instinct might be to panic. It’s natural to be worried about the health and safety of your child, but it’s important if you really want to do what is best for them, to think rationally and calmly. There are steps you should follow after a car crash has occurred to minimize the damage that your child could potentially suffer.
Here is what you should do after an accident:
- Stay calm. Freaking out doesn’t do anyone any good – take some deep breaths, and make sure that you are in a rational state of mind to carry out the next steps. See if you can get out of your current position. If you can’t get out of your car because you’re trapped by the seatbelt, the car itself or any debris from the outside, stay in your seat and call 911 for help after turning on your hazard lights. If you can get out and the collision is minor, try to move the car to a safe spot away from traffic if this is legal in your state.
- Check for injuries. Make sure to check yourself as well as your child. If you are physically injured and movement is difficult, do not cause more harm to yourself by trying to move around to help your child. Ask your child to explain how he or she is feeling; not all injuries are apparent from the outside, so note down any descriptions of dizziness or pain.
- Give details when calling 911. If there are injuries, the dispatcher will ask you who is injured, what kind of injuries they have and where you are located. All of these will help when sending an ambulance to help you. Even if it is a minor collision, sometimes people involved in a car accident still call the police to make sure that all laws are being followed and that the accident is being dealt with properly. If this is the case, give details such as who is involved in the crash and what you have done since it happened.
- Follow up with a doctor. Even though you might get a cursory physical examination when emergency services arrive on the scene, you should follow up with a doctor to make sure that your child is not exhibiting signs of internal injuries such as a concussion, altered mental status, or significant pain. This should be done even if there are no outward injuries and the police are not called to the scene because concussions often do result even from minor accidents. Look for signs of a concussion at home, such as dizziness, confusion and difficulty performing everyday tasks. Then take your child to the doctor for a closer look.
Contact an attorney before your insurance company if you or your child is injured in a car accident.
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I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in West Sacramento, If you or your child have been injured in a car accident call me today for free friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or toll free at (800) 404-5400.
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