Tips for Parents After a Car Accident  

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Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers provide advice for parents who have been in a car accident with their kids in the vehicle. Car accidents are upsetting and stressful under the best of circumstances. When your child is in the car, the stress or anger you might have felt immediately turns to panic when you are faced with the possibility that your child has been seriously injured in the wreck. Ideally, this is a situation that no parent ever wants to face. However, over the course of a year, over 120,000 children aged 12 and younger are injured in car accidents. Knowing what to do if you are ever in this unfortunate situation will help protect both you and your child until help arrives.

After an accident, a parent’s first instinct is to check on their child. However, the very first thing you should do is move your vehicle out of harm’s way, particularly if your car is in the middle of the road. A secondary crash could occur if another vehicle hits your car before you were able to move it out of the way. Once you are in a safe area, check on your child and immediately call 911. Do not attempt to move your child out of his or her car seat, as difficult as this may be. The spinal cord is particularly vulnerable in babies and toddlers, so moving them out of a car seat can aggravate an injury. Comfort your child and try to remain calm until emergency medical technicians arrive.

Symptoms to Look for After a Car Accident

If your child has been taken to the emergency room, make sure that you request a copy of the medical records so that you can provide a copy to your pediatrician. If your child’s injuries do not require emergency medical attention, make an appointment with the pediatrician as soon as possible to rule out any undetected injuries. Watch for the following symptoms: 

  • Severe Headaches: If your child’s headache is severe and persistent, it could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury.
  • Back Pain: Rear-end accidents and side-impact accidents often cause lower back pain.
  • Stomach Pain: This may be a sign of internal bleeding, which can become serious if undetected.
  • Neck Pain: This is often a side effect of whiplash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate to severe car accident. If the wreck was minor, your child’s car seat should be inspected to make sure that it meets the safety requirements. An accident is considered minor if the following occur:

  • The vehicle was able to drive away from the scene of the accident
  • The car door closest to the car seat was not damaged
  • No passengers were injured
  • The airbags did not deploy
  • There is no visible damage to the car seat

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Compensation for Car Accident Victims

If your child has been injured in a car accident, we understand how devastating this can be. The Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton will determine who is responsible for causing the accident and hold them liable for their actions. Our skilled and compassionate team will obtain the maximum financial compensation you deserve, ensuring that your rights are protected. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.