Six Ways To Deal With A Car Accident Involving Your Children
Car accidents are traumatic enough without your children being involved in one too. It is imperative to consider the implications of the incident on both you and them. Continue reading for our advice on how to do that best of all.
1. First things first
Immediately following a road collision, the most important thing to do is ensure that you and your children are safe. Help them get out of their car seats and onto a grassy verge or somewhere else that will be safe. If one of you is trapped, call for help immediately. There may be witnesses who have called the emergency services. However, if you are in a remote location, it may be down to you to do this. Try to give as much information as you can regarding where you are.
Once everyone is safe, it is essential to do as much as you can to alert other road users to the hazard. You should have ensured your warning lights were flashing before leaving the vehicle. If you have a warning triangle, place that a sensible distance from your car to give people warning that something has happened up ahead. However, if you or your children are injured, dealing with health will always be your primary concern. Be sure to administer first aid wherever possible. If you are too distressed to do this, do not be ashamed or afraid to ask for help from any bystanders. Many people will be grateful for the request and wish to feel needed and useful.
2. Health
If it is a somewhat minor accident that you were involved in, the chances are that you will be feeling fine and dandy in the immediate aftermath. However, the likelihood is that your adrenaline has kicked in brilliantly, preventing the pain from being so bad. Once it wears off, you may find yourself noticing that you have a twinge in your neck or, indeed, soreness elsewhere. Your children could find themselves in a similar position. Always seek advice from a medical professional. They will be able to prescribe you and your children with whatever is necessary to make a full and speedy recovery.
3. Insurance
If another driver was involved in the collision, you should always exchange details. As soon as you are able to, telephone your insurance company and explain what has happened. It can take a while to get anything sorted, so starting early is always advisable. If you are lucky enough to have a policy which includes a courtesy car, be sure to sort that too. As a parent who needs to ferry their kids around, mention that to the company as it is a reason for you needing everything to be dealt with as soon as possible.
4. Legal advice
There are often complications when it comes to road traffic collisions. Whether one party is refusing to acknowledge fault or someone has fled the scene, there can be any number of reasons why things are not as straightforward as everyone would like them to be. If you have concerns, it can be useful to discuss with a lawyer to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your children. Both your immediate concerns and those about your future can be addressed. For instance, you may be losing out on income in the present because of an inability to work due to injury. However, if this continues, you may lose your job altogether and face even greater money worries. A successful and experience attorney can ensure that you and your children are able to have a less challenging future when it comes to the financial side of things.
5. Emotional support
It can be easy to assume that someone has moved past a certain situation especially when they no longer talk about it. However, this is not always the case. Children can, indeed, be resilient when it comes to trauma in their formative years. Unfortunately, they can also stop opening up, especially when they think a topic of conversation is causing emotional pain for others. You may be struggling mentally with the aftermath of the accident too, and they could see this. That does not necessarily mean that you ought to hide your feelings from them, although perhaps being sensitive to their emotions is essential.
It is useful for children (and adults!) to have someone with whom they can discuss any worries. If you feel that yours will benefit, why not contact an experienced professional who will support them to move forward emotionally? The counselor will also be able to share advice and strategies with you so that you are all singing from the same hymn sheet.
6. Face your fears
Both you and your children may have worries about heading back out on the road. It can be easier for some people to avoid getting behind the wheel and relying on accessing facilities by foot or even on public transport. However, it really is essential to face your fears as early as possible. Of course, if you are still suffering with physical pain, you must seek advice from your physician prior to doing so. You may need to build it up. Try unlocking the car and sitting behind the wheel for a little while. How did it make you feel? Do you think you could have placed the key in the ignition and started the engine? The answer to those last two questions might be no. That does not mean you have failed. It just means you were not necessarily ready. Continue to build it up bit by bit and finally, you will feel able to start the car and drive off. Even if you only circle around the block, that will be a massive achievement. Rather than subjecting your children to the fear first of all, get a friend or partner to sit with you in the passenger seat and offer moral support. You will, eventually, be ready to drive with your children in the car. It could well be a massive step for them as well as you.