Your Child Was Injured In A Car Accident. Now What?

Protecting your children is, of course, every parent's number one goal at all times. So it can leave you feeling incredibly upset if you are in a car accident with your child or children in the vehicle. If your child is injured, your first priority will, of course, be to seek out medical attention. But after the initial nightmare is over, you may be looking to seek justice through the court system. Your child can be compensated for his or her injury just like an adult can, the only difference is that you will be the one filing the lawsuit. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

You need to have a car accident attorney on your side if you want any chance of success in the courtroom or at the negotiating table. Hiring someone with specific experience litigating car accidents is key, and you might want to specifically seek out someone who has assisted with cases dealing with kids.

You are likely highly emotional in the aftermath of your child's injury and it can be very helpful to have a lawyer on your side to help you stay focused and see things clearly. He or she will make sure all of your paperwork and documentation is accurate and can talk to you off the ledge if your emotions about the situation are steering you towards a bad decision.

Don't Fall for a Low Settlement Offer

Insurance companies aren't dumb. They know the optics of a child getting injured in an accident will not play well for the negligent party in court. If this is the case, they might be eager to settle your case and keep you and your child out of the courtroom in order to avoid any public embarrassment for themselves or the negligent party.

The catch here is that they will likely start you out with a lowball offer. You will want an attorney on your side so you play hardball at the negotiating table. If the optics are clearly in your favor, don't be afraid to push for more money.

Maximize Your Claim

The exact results may vary based on the laws in your state and the age of the child at the time of the accident, but there may be additional ways to maximize your claim, settlement, or payout. If your child is actually a teenager who was soon about to enter the workforce, you might be able to get money for future wages lost. Talk to your attorney about additional ways to maximize the amount of money you are entitled to.

For more information on how to proceed after an accident, reach out to a car accident lawyer today.