What Should a Parent Do When a Child is Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?
Every parent’s worst nightmare is something happening to their child. Unfortunately, this is the painful reality that too many parents experience when their child is hit in a pedestrian accident. Pedestrian accidents can occur for a wide range of reasons, from a child crossing the street at an inappropriate place or time to a driver texting and not paying attention.
Regardless of what led to your child’s accident, you may have a long road to recovery ahead. Learn more about your legal options during this trying time by reaching out to Reeves & Mestayer at 228-300-2754.
Don’t Let Your Child Interact with the Driver
After your child is struck by a vehicle, you’ll likely be by their side within seconds. Do not let them talk to the driver. Most drivers feel terrible when they realize they hit a child, and they may come out and ask your child if they’re okay, if they’re hurt, and more. Even if the driver is well-meaning, keep your child near you and tell them to talk to you.
You would hope that an insurance company would not use the words of a child against them when deciding whether or not to pay out a claim, but you simply cannot trust insurance companies to do what is right. Report the accident to emergency services, swap contact and insurance information with the driver, and move to the next step.
Get Medical Care Right Away
Your child needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. Even if they don’t appear hurt or only have minor pain, it is worth your peace of mind to know that they are safe. Children are surprisingly resilient and may not even notice injuries or pain until hours or days have passed. Some injuries require immediate care and putting off a checkup could impact your child for the rest of their life.
Speak to Specialists
If your child sustains injuries, do not be afraid to seek out the advice of medical specialists. Bone breaks, organ injuries, and brain damage can all impact children in very different ways. Children’s growth can be a big advantage when it comes to injuries, but it can also make them more prone to severe injuries that require ongoing care. If necessary, consult with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pediatric orthopedic specialists.
Connect with an Attorney
One of the first things you should do after ensuring that your child is safe is to reach out to a personal injury attorney. Helping a child recover from an injury can be expensive. In many cases, they have to stay out of school until they are able to get around comfortably. This means lost work days and lost income for mom or dad, not to mention a possible loss of job security. That’s on top of the medical bills and equipment you may have to pay for as a result of the accident.
If the accident was caused by the other party’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation. However, to do this effectively, you need to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. Insurance companies are very good at turning things on victims to make it seem like they are in the wrong. Before you know it, you can go from asking for compensation to arguing that you shouldn’t be responsible for damage to the driver’s car.
An attorney can help you navigate this process and minimize your stress level. Your child will likely be scared, in pain, and struggling with the healing process. Trying to handle phone calls, negotiations, and paperwork on top of that is a recipe for disaster. An attorney lets you focus on your child while they handle your legal matters.
Turn to Us for Help with Your Pedestrian Accident Case
At Reeves & Mestayer, our goal is to help every single client get what they deserve after they are harmed by someone else’s negligence. We believe you shouldn’t have to go through these challenging times alone. If your child has been the victim of a pedestrian accident, let us help. Call us at 228-300-2754 or get in touch online to set up a free consultation now.
