What Is the Average Settlement for a Child in a Car Accident?

While children are incredibly resilient, the traumatic experience of being in a car accident can leave them with physical and mental scars that affect them long afterward. You want what’s best for your child, and after a car accident, that means finding support and fair compensation for their injuries.

However, many parents struggle to understand children’s legal rights and options after a crash. They might accept an early settlement offer without realizing that they could be entitled to more. Instead of settling for average, an experienced Queens car accident attorney can help you understand the extent of your child’s injuries and push for maximum compensation.

Common Injuries Suffered by Children in Car Accidents

Children are susceptible to devastating car accident injuries, especially if they are not adequately buckled into a child safety seat or properly restrained. Since children are still developing, they are also more prone to fractures, dislocations, and other severe injuries. Some of the most common injuries suffered by children in Queens car accidents can include:

• Traumatic brain injuries/concussion
• Neck and spine injuries
• Whiplash
• Broken bones
• Chest trauma and broken ribs
• Dislocations
• Abdominal and internal injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Abrasions
• Lacerations
• Contusions

Children are also prone to invisible injuries like psychological trauma. Children, especially young children, may struggle to cope with the aftermath of a serious accident and experience nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Physical and emotional injuries can prevent a child from learning, interacting with others, and affect their quality of life.

Compensation Available in a Car Accident Settlement for a Child

The compensation a family can recover for their child’s injuries after a car accident varies. An insurance company may want to offer you a speedy settlement in hopes you’ll accept and move forward with your lives, and they can move forward with the next claim in the stack. However, an initial settlement rarely provides the compensation necessary to fully cover a child’s injuries.

Instead, it helps to allow a skilled car accident attorney to review your situation and help calculate the fair value of your claim. Every car accident case is unique, but on average, most victims can pursue money for the following:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages for parents caring for an injured child
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

Before settling, discuss your case with a Queens car accident attorney who can help you understand your rights and options for pursuing the money your child needs to aid their recovery.

Factors That Affect the Settlement for a Child’s Car Accident Injuries

One reason it is so challenging to pin down what the “average” settlement for a child’s car accident injuries looks like is that numerous factors can affect the amount of a settlement offer. Parents deserve a fair settlement, not an average one. That means exploring the unique factors that influence compensation. It also means working with an experienced attorney who can gather and preserve the evidence needed to support a claim for maximum compensation, prove liability, and demonstrate the severity of a child’s injuries and how they affect that child’s life.

Some of the factors that can influence a settlement for a child’s car accident case can include:

• Severity of the Injuries – The severity of injuries is one of the most significant factors affecting a child’s car accident settlement amount. The more severe and debilitating the injuries, the more a claim may be worth to account for the medical expenses and quality of life issues caused by a crash.
• Liability – Liability, or responsibility for causing the accident, also plays a significant role in compensation in car accident claims. While the liable party is often another driver, in some cases, other parties – like vehicle manufacturers, government agencies, or employers – may be wholly or partially responsible. The number and types of parties involved can affect the amount of insurance coverage available.
• Insurance Coverage – New York is a no-fault insurance state. After a crash, you first file a claim with your insurance provider. The compensation you recover may depend on your policy and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage limits.
• The Child’s Age – Your child’s age can affect the severity of their injuries or how injuries impact life as they grow. Some injuries can cause physical impairments or cognitive issues that may make learning, walking, or other tasks more challenging and prevent a child from experiencing the educational or professional opportunities they would have had otherwise.
• Future Medical Treatments – Child’s car accident cases can be more complex because they should consider compensation for potential future medical treatments, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
• Pain and Suffering – Younger children can’t always adequately express to adults how they feel or how an event impacts them. Yet, children are capable of experiencing pain and suffering following a traumatic event.
• Impact on Quality of Life – Significant injuries can affect a child beyond childhood. How an injury impacts a child’s overall quality of life can and should influence a settlement amount.

How Our Car Accident Lawyers Can Help with Your Child’s Personal Injury Claim

When your child is injured in a car accident, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. For tired and stressed parents, the following legal process is often just as daunting. You shouldn’t have to navigate the challenging maze of insurance policies, medical bills, and legal paperwork alone while also trying to focus on your child’s recovery.

At The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., our experienced car accident lawyers understand how sensitive child injury cases can be. We provide compassionate legal support while aggressively advocating for the justice your child deserves. We can help you and your family by:

• Investigating the cause of the accident
• Identifying liable parties
• Calculating the value of your claim
• Negotiating with insurers
• Preparing a case for court when necessary

Your child deserves every chance to heal and thrive after a traumatic motor vehicle accident. Let our Queens car accident lawyers handle the legal burdens so you can focus on your family.

Contact The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. Today

Your child is counting on you – and you can count on us. After a Queens car accident, let the compassionate team at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., handle your claim. We offer personalized legal representation to pursue maximum compensation for your family’s injuries. Contact our office today for a free case review, and let’s start building a more hopeful tomorrow for your child and your family.

About the Author

Boris Tadchiev
Boris Tadchiev es socio fundador de The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. Su práctica se centra en la defensa de los derechos de personas y familias en casos de lesiones personales relacionados con accidentes automovilísticos, responsabilidad civil por daños a propiedades y homicidio culposo. También representa a profesionales de la salud en complejas demandas de arbitraje sin culpa.