There is no such thing as a non-stressful car accident, but some are worse than others. One of the worst things that can happen to a parent is to see their child injured in an accident. At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, when we help clients with their car accident cases, we are often asked how cases with children are different from those with adults. Keep reading for a few examples, and then contact us at 800-333-0000 if you are in need of a free legal consultation.
We Do Not Always Know the Extent of a Child’s Pain and Suffering
Depending on the child, we cannot always know how serious their pain and suffering is. While it is usually easy enough for a fifty-year-old woman to tell us how her pain rates on a scale of one to ten, or to explain how the injuries from her accident have negatively impacted her life, the same cannot generally be said of a one-year-old or even a five-year-old with a limited vocabulary.
Children Are Not Always Taken as Seriously as Eyewitnesses
If the accident comes down to your word against another person, the testimony of your child as an eyewitness might not be taken as seriously as the testimony would be from any other witness. This is because juries and judges often find that children are easily swayed by their parents and might not recollect the facts accurately.
A Child’s Damages Can Be Much Longer Lasting
When you accept a settlement from an insurance company, or choose to take a case to court, you will be fighting for financial compensation to make up for your damages. These will be based on what has happened in the past and how the accident and the injuries it caused will affect the injured victims’ futures.
For a child, this future can be much longer. For example, a child who suffers a serious injury such as a brain injury or spinal cord injury might never be able to secure full-time work. They might never be able to care for themselves on their own. This must be taken into consideration before any settlement is accepted or a demand letter is issued.
We Can Help You Navigate This Difficult Situation
There is no question that this is a difficult situation. You want to make sure that your child is well-taken care of in the future. You want to help them heal from the accident. In order to get the best results, you need to work with the best attorney. You can do that by contacting The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We are standing by to help you and your family recover.
