Auto accidents are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths a year, hundreds of which are children under the age of 12. Thankfully, parents and guardians who educate themselves on road safety can reduce the risk of serious injury and death considerably. Here’s what you should know to protect your children every time you get behind the wheel. 

How Collisions Cause Injuries 

Motor-vehicle collisions can cause several kinds of injuries. If glass, metal, or other sharp debris pierces the skin, for example, penetrating wounds will result. Forceful impacts can also cause bruising and broken bones. And because of the internal collisions they can prompt—the brain against the skull, for example—organ damage is also likely. 

While many car accident injuries are immediately apparent, like lacerations and fractures, some do not manifest any symptoms for hours or even days. For example, whiplash, which is a soft tissue injury that affects the neck and shoulders, may not become apparent for 24 hours or more. Likewise, the most troubling symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not appear for weeks.

As such, it’s important to take the whole family in for a medical evaluation following an auto accident. Even if certain individuals appear perfectly fine, they may have sustained injuries that simply have latent symptoms, and without prompt treatment, complications could arise. 

How You Can Protect Your Family 

While there's no foolproof way to avoid motor-vehicle collisions short of staying off the roads entirely, there are ways parents can reduce the risk of their children getting seriously hurt in an auto accident.

For example, researchers estimate that using a proper car seat can reduce the risk of death by 70% for infants under 1 and by more than 50% for children between 1 and 4 years old. Because car seats are so effective, in fact, every state has laws mandating their use. In Alabama, for example, children must be restrained in an age- and weight-appropriate car seat or booster seat until they have reached the height of 4’9”.

In addition to buckling everyone in before heading out, following the rules of the road will increase your family’s safety en route. This includes eliminating distractions, traveling at a safe speed for the conditions, and maintaining your vehicle to a reasonable standard. 

If one of your children gets hurt in an auto accident despite your best efforts to keep them safe, turn to Carey & Hamner, P.C. Located in Dothan, AL, and serving clients throughout Ozark, Enterprise, and the surrounding areas, this firm is in a league of their own. By limiting their scope of practice and representing only injured and disabled parties, their attorneys can provide the most in-depth, relevant, and up-to-date counsel possible. Backed by nearly 30 years of experience, they have what it takes to secure sizable payouts for accident victims. To request a free case review, call (855) 435-4797 or reach out online.