Child Car Accident Attorney Serving LA County
Auto accidents are a leading cause of child injuries. It is one of a parent’s greatest fears. It starts when our children are completely helpless as babies and persists through their teenage years. There are things we can do to prevent auto accident injuries and things we can do to help our children when the negligent acts of others cause their accidents.
Child Auto Injury Accident Statistics
- Roughly 150 children, every hour, are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes
- For children between the ages of 5 and 19, auto accidents are the most common cause of death
- Studies have shown as many as 618,000 children under 12 ride in vehicles without the use of a child safety seat or booster seat or a seat belt at least some of the time
Your Child’s Rights as an Auto Accident Victim
As parents, one of our worst fears is that our child may be injured. Auto accidents can be especially traumatizing to young children. Children’s bone structure and soft tissues respond to crash forces differently than fully developed adults.
The designs of cars and restraints used in cars have different impacts on children and adults. Young children do not react to serious traffic accidents in the same way as adults. Children involved in a car accident, school bus accident, or truck accident are often left with long-term injuries and disabilities.
If the auto accident that caused your child’s injury was due to the negligent acts of another party, you have a right to recover damages. Responsible parties may include; the driver of the other car, the manufacturer of the other car, a municipality that had a responsibility to maintain a street or safety sign, or the employer of the other driver who failed to properly maintain the car. It is critical to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help understand your rights and assess your case.
The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky child injury lawyers have worked on a wide variety of personal injury cases. We secure evidence and interview witnesses. We consult with doctors, including your child’s pediatrician. We work hard to protect your child’s rights.
We want to help, call us at (626) 604-6973 or complete the issue form by following this link.
Recoverable Damages In Child Auto Accident Cases
The months following your child’s injury can be difficult. We want you to focus on the health of your child. Not how you plan to pay for your child’s injuries or how the injury will affect the quality of your child’s life. Your child should receive the best medical treatment and the best chance of recovery. We can help hold those responsible for your child’s injury accountable and recover damages. Recoverable damages in these types of cases include:
- Medical expenses: for hospital, doctor, test, therapy, ambulance, emergency room expenses
- Future medical expenses: continued care costs
- Pain and suffering: based on severity and duration of pain
- Mental anguish: mental and emotional distress related to accident may be recoverable
- Loss of earning capacity: if your child’s earning capacity has been affected by the accident
- Others
If your child has suffered a serious injury that may have been caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you should contact us for a free consultation at (626) 243-5598 or send us an inquiry by completing the form.
Child Auto Accidents Safety Tips
The most important prevention tip is to use safety devices in your cars such as seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats that are appropriate for your child’s age and weight. Age appropriateness is also important.
Always read the instruction manual. Many organizations and car dealerships conduct or know where you can see an installation demonstration.
| Age | Type of restraint |
| 0 to 2 | Rear-facing car seat. |
| 2 – 5 | Forward-facing car seat. |
| 5 – 9 | Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should move to booster seats. |
| Older children | Once adult seat belts fit a child properly, they should move from a booster seat to the seat belt. |
Back Seat is Safest – All children under 12 should ride in the back seat. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat or in front of an airbag. Place children in the middle of the back seat when possible.
Teenagers – Sign a Driving Agreement specifying when your teenager can ride in another person’s car
Teen Drivers – Sign a Teen Driving Agreement with your teen to limit risky driving situations, such as having multiple teen passengers and driving at night.