Cars are helpful, but can also turn dangerous, for all your family. It’s essential to use them with care, especially when you drive your kids around to protect them because putting your children’s safety first, should be your priority. Depending on your location, your local roads might also be dangerous, especially if you live in a busy place. Some of the most common road risks are drivers under the influence, trucks, road conditions, speeding, and various distractions.
The risk of getting into a car accident is real, and you should learn how to prevent it, and what to do in case you’re getting involved in one, with your kids in the car.
Let’s start by learning how to protect your children when they travel with you in the car
Teach your children it’s important to stay in their special seats
Understandably your children want to stay close to you while in the car, but child safety seat laws exist for a reason – to protect both you and your kids, so it’s paramount to follow them. Infants should always stay in their carrier, and kids younger than eight should stay in a booster seat. Yes, it might be annoying to constantly move the car seats every time you travel with your kids, but they offer an extra layer of protection if you get involved in a car accident. And while the kids might argue they don’t want to use them; it’s your role to explain how they are safer.
Prepare your vehicle
Unexpected events can happen at any time, and you should add to your car all necessary supplies to deal with an accident. Your car should be in its best condition when you’re hitting the road, so keep up with the maintenance checks, and verify the oils, wheels and tires periodically.
Maintaining the car it’s even more critical during the cold season when the roads tend to be more dangerous due to rain and ice.
Avoid distractions when driving
You should always stay focused on driving, but now that you have a child with you in the car, you should be even more careful. Distraction is unfortunately one of the most common causes of car accidents, as the road offers multiple kinds of distractions and your attention can easily slip. The nature of distractions differs, as some come from inside the car while others are external. Generally, car accidents due to distractions occur when you take your eyes off the road or remove your hands from the wheel.
Therefore, when you drive next time take these precautions:
- Don’t get distracted if something falls inside the vehicle
- Pull over if you need to make an emergency call or use hands free mode
- Turn off phone notifications
- Don’t use your phone
Driving with a young child in the car will present you with more distractions than on a normal drive as they are known for throwing things around and crying because they find travelling in a car uncomfortable. However, it’s essential to maintain your calm and keep your eyes on the road, as it’s more dangerous to pay attention to the child.
Activate child safety locks
Should we tell you about the risks of leaving the car doors unlocked? Or how dangerous it can be to drive with the windows down when your child rides with you? You have most likely heard countless stories of how children injured themselves in such situations, and you are aware that you should always be cautious. Therefore, you should activate the child safety locks when your kids are riding in the backseat to protect them, and drive with peace of mind.
Buckle kids up
Placing children in their special seats isn’t enough, you should always make sure they don’t get down or move around the car while you’re driving. After placing them in their chairs, secure them with the seatbelt and check if it fits their small bodies properly. In case they manage to remove the seatbelt while you’re driving, pull over immediately as you find it safe and buckle them back in again. Don’t use a single seatbelt for more than one child, and don’t allow a passenger to ride with a child in their lap. Everyone should ride in their seats and wear their belts accordingly.
What to do in case of a car accident?
Immediate actions at the scene
If the child is awake and alert, it is important to speak to them in a reassuring and comforting tone in order to prevent them from becoming more frightened or anxious than they already may be.
In the event that the child appears to be seriously injured, it is crucial to avoid moving them unless there is an immediate and life-threatening danger present, such as a fire, fuel leakage, or a high risk of another vehicle colliding with the accident scene. Moving a child who may have sustained injuries to their neck, spine, or head could potentially worsen their condition, which is why it is best to wait for trained emergency medical professionals to arrive and handle the situation properly.
Checking for injuries
While visible wounds, bruising, swelling, or bleeding are immediate indicators that medical attention is necessary, it is also important to look for more subtle signs that could suggest internal injuries, such as difficulty breathing, excessive drowsiness, unresponsiveness, or unusual behaviour.
If the child was seated in a car seat at the time of the collision, it is generally advised not to remove them unless absolutely necessary, as car seats are designed to provide crucial support and protection in the event of an accident, and improper removal could result in unintended harm. In cases where immediate removal is required due to an urgent hazard, it is essential to do so as carefully as possible, supporting the child’s head, neck, and spine to minimize the risk of further injury.
Seeking medical attention
Even if a child appears to be physically unharmed following an accident, it is always in their best interest to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible, as certain injuries, including concussions, whiplash, and internal bleeding, may not present obvious symptoms right away. A thorough medical examination can help identify any hidden injuries and ensure that the child receives the necessary treatment to prevent potential complications from arising in the future.
Claiming Compensation for a Child’s Injuries
If the car accident was caused by the negligence of another driver, parents or guardians have the legal right to pursue compensation to cover any medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and emotional trauma that the child may have suffered as a result of the incident. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in car accident cases involving minors like https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/personal-injury-solicitors/car-accident-solicitors/ can help ensure that all legal steps are followed correctly and that the child’s best interests are fully protected throughout the claims process.
Final Thoughts
Caring for a child in the aftermath of a car accident involves a combination of swift action, medical attention, and emotional reassurance to help them recover from both the physical and psychological effects of the incident.
