Seattle Child Car Accident Victim Lawyers
All too often, children are seriously injured in Washington car accidents. Children may suffer broken bones, head injuries, internal injuries, burns or other severe injuries in auto accidents that could affect them for the rest of their lives. When a child is injured in a Washington injury accident, it is important for the child’s family to understand their legal rights and options.
The Rights of a Passenger
Passengers hurt in Washington car accidents may pursue financial compensation for the damages they have suffered as a result of someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. This process may become complicated when the injured passenger is a child and when the at-fault driver is a friend or family member of the victim. The family of a child injured in a Washington car accident may file a claim on their child's behalf. A personal injury claim, for example, is a civil lawsuit that the family of an injured child can file against the at-fault motorist.
Safe Travel Tips or Children
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car accidents are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 3 and 14 years of age. NHTSA also reported that an estimated 8,959 lives were saved by child restraints between the years of 1975 and 2008. There are steps that can be taken to prevent serious injury or fatal crashes involving children:
- Babies under 12 months should be in a rear facing car seat in the back seat. Children 1 to 3 years of age should only switch to a front facing seat when they become too large for the rear facing restraint. Children 4 to 7 should remain in their restraint until they reach the top height or weight limit. Children 8 to 12 years of age should be put in a booster seat to ensure proper restraint.
- NHTSA reports that three out of four parents do not properly install child safety seats in their vehicle. Parents would be well advised to seek out a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station to ensure that their safety seats are properly installed so their children are protected in the event of a crash.
- Parents may have it in their best interest to stay abreast of recent child safety restraint recalls to determine if the seat they are using has been recalled due to potential product defect issues.
Protecting Injured Children's Rights
Even when parents drive safely and take adequate precautions, there are times when a car accident can be caused by a negligent driver. In such cases, parents of injured children would be well-advised to contact the experienced Washington child car accident victim attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast. We will work diligently to ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable and that your child receives fair compensation to cover medical expenses and cost of treatment and care. Call us today to find out how we can help you.
