All parents have one thing in common: protecting their children is their top priority. Tragically for many parents throughout the United States, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among American children. Even when parents take steps to protect children’s safety, such as ensuring that young children are properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat or that older kids are wearing their seat belts, children may still suffer serious injuries in accidents caused by the negligent actions of another driver. If your child has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, you will want to work with a personal injury attorney to determine how you can receive compensation for these injuries.
Addressing Car Accident Injuries to Children
While child fatalities caused by motor vehicles have been on the decline since 1975, the disturbing truth is that this is still a massive safety problem throughout the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 880 children died in car accidents in 2018. 73% of children who were fatally injured were passengers in motor vehicles, while the remaining victims were pedestrians and cyclists. As mentioned above, parents can take safety precautions to protect children’s safety, and these measures are largely responsible for the decline in child fatalities. However, even when parents take every possible step to protect their children, accidents can still occur when other drivers act negligently or recklessly, and these collisions can result in serious injuries to children.
There are a wide variety of ways drivers can be responsible for motor vehicle accidents. Some common forms of negligence include speeding through a residential area, texting while driving, or drinking and driving. If your child has been injured because of a driver’s negligence, our attorneys can help you pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation for the damages suffered by your family. We will take steps to obtain evidence of driver negligence, including police reports, witness statements, security camera footage, or other information related to the incident.
Since a car accident can have both immediate and long-term effects on your child and your family, we can help you understand the full extent of your damages in these cases. In addition to emergency medical treatment, your child may need ongoing medical care or therapy, and the need to provide care for a child with an injury or disability may affect your ability to earn an income. We will help you gather the necessary evidence to demonstrate that these damages were the direct result of a driver’s negligence, and we will work with you to pursue compensation that fully addresses the harm your family has suffered.
Sometimes, unfortunately, an accident may be caused by the mistake of a parent, relative, or friend who was operating the vehicle that a child was in. In Wisconsin, a claim can be brought against the liability insurance company for the person who caused the accident only, without bringing the claim against the at-fault person (this is because Wisconsin is what is known as a “direct action” state). When a child is injured because of the negligence of someone close to the child, bringing a claim may seem touchy, but an ethical, experienced lawyer can help protect the child’s rights and interests while also balancing the very real emotional dynamics of the familial relationships involved as well. If you, your spouse, or a family friend or relative caused an accident that injured a child and want to ensure that your child is treated compassionately, and the important personal relationships within your family are respected, be sure to call a Herrling Clark Law Firm attorney to help navigate these challenges.
Contact an Appleton, WI Car Accident Lawyer
The attorneys of Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. understand that injuries to a child are a parent’s worst nightmare. As you and your family focus on your child’s recovery, we will do everything in our power to secure the compensation your family deserves. To schedule a free initial consultation with a skilled Green Bay personal injury attorney, call our office today at 920-739-7366.
Sources:
https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/children