How can I keep my children as safe as possible during a car accident?

It is tragic enough when an innocent adult gets hurt in a wreck caused by someone else’s carelessness, but what about when children are the victims of the accident? If you have a child or teenager who is in your family’s car, you will need to learn how to keep them safe from harm. Here are some things that you should be prepared to do in case you get into a car wreck.

Understand Child Safety Seat Best Practices

Babies and young children need to be securely restrained in an approved car seat that is appropriate for their age and weight. There are two different kinds of seats to buy for this purpose: rear-facing seats and forward-facing seats. The best way to make sure your child is in a properly installed and used rear-facing seat is to ask your doctor or pediatrician to help you choose the best for your child. 

There are also many child safety seat installation stations around Florida that will help you install it properly once it’s installed. Don’t put your baby in a forward-facing seat until you’re sure that your doctor recommends it for your particular child’s size and weight.

Preventing a Car Accident is Key to Keeping Children Safe

First, you should never leave young children alone in the vehicle. This includes even if it is just for a few moments while you run into the store. No matter how much you think your kids understand about safety while alone in a vehicle, they might still not be aware of what is going on around them. It is best to keep them with you and keep an eye on them at all times. Convenience should never come before safety.

Another thing that you should do to keep children safe is driving in a defensive manner. There are many things that can happen when you are not aware of them because you let your guard down. For example, you might be using too high of a speed and not even be aware of it as your mind wanders. Always make sure that you are always paying attention to how fast you are driving.

Talk to Kids About Car Safety

Kids can often be a distraction while driving. They may be playing loudly or fighting with one another in the backseat. If you feel like your kids are playing too rough, pull over at a safe location, and get them out of the car for a few minutes to let them stretch. Then, discuss the dangers of being loud or obnoxious in the vehicle while you’re driving. 

Next, talk to your children about what happens if they are ever in a car accident. Explain to them what could happen. They should know how serious a situation it is and what kind of immediate injuries they could suffer. Don’t sugarcoat it, because your children will need to be prepared to respond if something happens to you after an accident. Keep everything you say in a serious tone and never joke around it. 

If you have an older child or young teen, ask them how they would feel if someone was seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Ask them what they would do if they knew someone close to them was hurt. This will help them understand the gravity of a situation and the importance of always thinking of the other person’s safety.

While unfortunate, car accidents are something that most people will experience at least once in their lives. The best way to try to avoid them is to make sure that you are a good driver and that you drive safely. You also need to prepare ahead of time to take the appropriate actions if an accident were to occur. Driver improvement courses are a great idea for teens and even experienced drivers. 

My Child was Injured in a Car Accident. Should I Hire an Attorney?

Having a child injured in a car accident is traumatizing and terrifying. It’s one of the biggest emotions any parent can face. We know the pain and suffering, the bad news and the good news. We know how the medical bills are stacking up and how the loss of your vehicle will affect your life and your transportation needs for years to come. 

If you or your child have been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you don’t want to try to handle the matter on your own. You should hire an experienced car accident attorney to handle the negotiations so you can focus on taking care of your child. 

At Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd, we understand how scary it can be when a child is injured. Our focus is solely on helping you manage the complexity of insurance claims while you keep your attention on your child’s needs. Contact us online or call us at (866) 460-1990 to privately discuss your case right over the phone or via a video conference call from the comfort of your home or hospital room. We’ll help guide you through the process and handle the tough details so you can focus on what matters most.