When your child has been in an accident, it can be tricky to deal with. In this article, we will
explore exactly how to be prepared if an accident affects your family.
Imagining your child in an accident is the last item on any parent’s agenda. Unfortunately, many
children are involved in accidents every year, whether it be grievous bodily harm or a traffic incident.
You must know the steps to take if such an event occurs.
Your priority must always be ensuring the safety of your child. Before anything else, seek medical
attention. Only then should you research GBH solicitors or other legal professionals to help decide
the correct course of action.
A traumatic time like this is bound to bring lots of stress. This article intends to supply all the
information you need to make the process as easy as possible, in the unfortunate case it becomes
necessary.
Always Seek Medical Attention if Your Child is Involved in an Accident
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to contact emergency medical services in the case
of an accident. Some parents may be less inclined to make that phone call if their child seems okay,
but this is a huge mistake. Many serious injuries, such as brain bleeds, can be invisible to the
untrained eye.
No matter what, always contact a medical professional as soon as the accident takes place.
Remain Calm at the Scene of an Accident
After seeing your child suffer an injury, it may be instinct to lash out at the person responsible. You
must keep control over your emotions and stop yourself from doing this. When confronting the
person responsible, refrain from swearing and never resort to violence.
Any reactionary abuse, verbal or physical, can be used against you. You may weaken your case when
you file an injury claim or even receive a case against you. If you cannot approach the person
responsible calmly, then wait until you can.
Filing a Child Accident Claim
Once your child has received all proper medical attention, you can begin to file a claim to receive compensation for your child’s trauma. The first step in this process is to contact a solicitor or hire a Houston personal injury law firm (depending on where you are), who will advise you throughout your case. Make sure you give all information to them so they can provide the correct advice for your specific situation.
Firstly, it will be decided what type of claim you and your child are eligible for. It is helpful to collect
as much evidence as possible to make this decision quicker and easier. Taking photos of the accident
scene once safety has been ensured is a good idea.
If the accident is a motor accident, your legal expert will then contact the insurance team of the
person responsible. They will then investigate themselves until both parties have all the details clear.
You will then receive a compensation offer you can either accept or challenge.
Keep in mind, although you are filing a claim on behalf of a child, you must be over eighteen years
old to do so.
What if Your Child is Involved in an Accident in School?
When your child is under your direct supervision, their safety is your responsibility. If an accident
occurs in a school environment, it is the school’s duty to control the situation. All schools have a
legal obligation to contact a child’s guardian in the case of injury, and failure to do so could result in
compensation.
There are many ways a child could hurt themselves during school hours. Some examples include:
- Slips and trips
- Fights with other children
- School bus accidents
- Sports-related injuries
- Food poisoning from school dinners
- Falls from playground equipment
Sometimes the school may not be at fault for your child’s injury. In these instances, so long as the
school enacts the correct procedures after the accident, they will not be forced to offer
compensation.
However, a lack of suitable supervision is a leading factor in most schooltime accidents. Schools can
also be held liable for any slips or falls due to poorly maintained facilities. In these cases, do not
delay in making a school injury claim.
If your child experiences an accident that the school is unaware of, you must report it once you find
out. It is not always the school itself that holds liability for an injury. For example, an accident on
board a school bus could be the bus driver’s fault.
Make sure you have it clear who is to blame for an accident before filing a claim.
Follow All the Right Steps in the Case of an Accident
Whilst any child accident will be a painful time for all involved, you can guarantee it is not any harder
than it has to be. If this unlikely misfortune occurs in your life, face it knowing you are doing
everything right.
Please be advised that this article is for general information purposes only and should not be used as
a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a lawyer/solicitor if you’re
seeking advice on the law. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon
the information on this site.
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