Motor Vehicle Accidents And Child Head Injuries
As a parent, you are always doing everything to keep your child safe. If you have your child in the car, you will take extra precautions to ensure your child’s safety. For example, maybe you always drive below the posted speed limit when your child is in the car. Unfortunately, a car accident can happen when your child is in the car because of no fault of yours. There are many negligent drivers out there.
When a child gets into a motor vehicle accident, they could suffer different injuries. Among the various injuries children suffer in motor vehicle accidents are head injuries. Here is some crucial information you need to know about motor vehicle accidents and child head injuries.
Head Injuries Are the Most Common Injuries Sustained by Children in Motor Vehicle Accidents
According to a study conducted by the NHTSA, head injuries are the most common injuries sustained by children in auto accidents. Indeed, using child safety seats effectively reduces the incidence rates of head injuries in motor vehicle accidents. However, using child safety seats does not eliminate the risk of a head injury in the event of a traffic crash.
Types of Head Injuries Children Suffer in Motor Vehicle Accidents
A head injury occurs when there is damage to the scalp, skull, or brain. A head injury can also arise when there is damage to other tissue and blood vessels in the head.
Children sustain different types of head injuries in motor vehicle accidents. However, the following are some of the most common head injuries suffered by children in motor vehicle accidents.
Concussion
This is a traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Concussions usually occur because of a blow to the head. A concussion can result in a loss of alertness or awareness for some minutes or hours.
The following are some of the symptoms of a concussion;
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Ringing in the ears
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
It is crucial to note that symptoms of a concussion may not show up immediately after an accident. Therefore, it is vital to be keen in the coming hours or days after an auto accident.
Contusion
This injury results in bleeding and swelling inside the brain around the place where the head was struck. A contusion arises when the head is directly impacted.
Some of the common symptoms of a contusion include;
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Sleep pattern changes
Skull Fracture
This injury arises when there is a break in the skull bone. There are different types of skull fractures. They are;
- Depressed skull fracture
- Linear skull fracture
- Basilar skull fracture
- Diastatic skull fracture
Warning Signs to Watch Out for
After an auto accident, your child may not be able to communicate how they are feeling or the symptoms they are experiencing. As a parent, the following are some of the warning signs you should look out for to identify a head injury;
- Change in eating habits
- Persistent crying
- Irritability
- Change in sleep habits
- Inability to pay attention
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
Contact a Coral Springs Child Injury Lawyer
If your child sustained an injury in a motor vehicle accident because of another driver’s negligence, contact our Coral Springs child injury lawyers at Lyons & Snyder. We can help you recover compensation.
Source:
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811325
