What Should I Do After My Child Is Hit By A Car? A Texas Lawyer Answers

As a parent, there's no worse experience that receiving the news that your child suffered injuries after being hit by a car. Unfortunately, here in Texas, parents get this call all too often. Although parents are flooded by emotions for the minutes, hours, and days following the car accident, it is imperative to also take the necessary steps to protect your child's right of recovery against the negligent or unsafe driver.

It sometimes takes months, or even years to resolve a personal injury claim after a car accident. However, what you do for your child in the following the tragic event will dramatically impact your chances of successfully recovering compensation on behalf of your minor child. Oftentimes, parents are mindful of the an accidents immediate impact of their child, but you must also consider the future implications of a serious injuries and what your son or daughter might require moving forward.

Our legal practitioners regularly assist families of children that have have been struck by cars and have compiled this list of steps to help families through the challenges that surround their child's claim and recovery options.

1. Call The Police

If your child has been hit by a car, it is important to call the police as soon as possible. Your child may be injured and will need medical attention. The police can also help to investigate the accident and determine who was at fault. If the driver of the car is found to be at fault, they may be liable for damages. The police report can also be used as evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim. Therefore, if your child has been hit by a car, it is important to call the police right away.

2. Seek Medical Attention

After learning that your child was stuck by a motor vehicle, it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible. Kids rarely voice the extent of their injuries, so having an emergency department examine your child. Although medical injuries such as lacerations, paralysis, broken bones, eye injuries, sternum fractures, and amputations are easy to detect, complications involving the spine, spinal disks, shoulder, are more illusive, but can be detected by emergency room physicians and x-ray imaging.

If your child is unconscious or appears to be suffering fainting spells after an accident, it is possible that your child suffered a significant head trauma. If you are unable to take your child to the emergency room, consider an urgent care facility, or you can call your child's pediatrician and have them contact an emergency department for you.

3. Photograph The Scene

After a child-pedestrian accident, it is imperative to take photos of the accident scene. This will help to document the location of the collision and any damage that may have occurred. Photos can also be used to document the position your child was in and the vehicles involved in the accident. This information can be important when it comes to reconstructing the accident and determining who may be at fault. In addition, photos can help to identify witnesses or potential witnesses who may have seen the accident.

In many cases, the driver will be at fault. However, sometimes insurance companies will try to blame the child for the accident. They may claim that the child was not paying attention or that they darted out into the street without looking. This can be incredibly frustrating for the parents, who have to deal with the financial and emotional fallout from the accident. If you are in this situation, it is important to know that you are not alone. There are experienced child injury and accident attorneys who can help you fight for the compensation your child deserves.

4. Collect The Contact Information of Any Witnesses

After a traffic accident, it is important to collect the contact information of witnesses. Their testimony can be invaluable in helping to determine what happened and who was at fault. In addition, witnesses can provide valuable information about the other driver, such as their name, insurance company, and contact information. This information can be essential in filing a claim or taking legal action. Furthermore, witnesses can help to establish that the other driver was at fault, which can result in lower insurance rates. So, if you are involved in a traffic accident, be sure to get the contact information of any witnesses. Their testimony could make all the difference.

5. Do Not Discuss The Case With An Insurance Adjuster

Again, after an auto accident, you are not required to provide an insurance adjuster a recorded statement. If you have been injured, it is best to seek the counsel of a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. It is important to have an attorney present before giving any statements, as anything you say could be used against your child later on. An attorney will also be able to help your family navigate the complex legal process and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

6. Watch For Additional Medical Symptoms

After seeking medical attention, you’ll want to make sure your child is healthy, or begins recovering. According to NBC News’s Today.com, there are specific symptoms to look out for in a child after a car accident, and if your child experiences more than two, you should contact a medical professional again. These symptoms include:

• Loss of consciousness

• Excessive crying

• Restlessness

• Trouble sleeping

• Lack of appetite

• Vomiting

• Bowel irregularities

• Lack of interest in toys

• Abnormal breathing

• Bleeding from nose, mouth, or ears

• Vision issues

• Speech issues

• Lack of strength

7. Contact A Child Injury Lawyer

A child injury lawyer is a type of personal injury lawyer who represents minors who have been injured due to the negligence of another party. These lawyers often specialize in cases involving automobile accidents, daycare accidents, birth injuries, medical malpractice, playground accidents, and more. Child injury lawyers work to obtain compensation for their clients' medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages and have experience handling claim in which a child has been hit by a car. In some cases, they may also pursue punitive damages against the responsible party. Child injury lawyers typically work on a contingency basis, meaning they only receive payment if they are successful in obtaining a settlement or verdict for their client.

If you child have been hit by a car in Texas, contact attorney Brit Mitchell by calling 866-434-0014.

Attorney Brit Mitchell is a child injury attorney that has successfully represented hundreds of children struck by motor vehicles across our State. Brit is familiar with the laws protecting kids at play, whether the child is within a neighborhood, near a school, playing within an apartment complex, or anywhere else a child might by reasonable expected to be at play. Call Sneed & Mitchell LLP today for a free no-obligation case consultation. And remember, you owe us nothing until we are victories in obtaining a settlement on behalf of your son or daughter.