Car accidents can be incredibly traumatizing, especially for young children who may think the crash happened seemingly out of nowhere. Unfortunately, parents can only do so much when it comes to preventing serious collisions.
Although you can make it a point to follow all traffic laws and ensure your children are always wearing proper safety restraints, you could still end up in an accident with a reckless driver. And if you do, your children could suffer emotional trauma even if their car seat prevented any serious physical harm.
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According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, motor vehicle collisions are one of the most common kinds of traumatic events that people experience, and nearly 10 percent of individuals who survive them develop post-traumatic stress disorder. You can include emotional distress or pain and suffering in a car accident settlement, but money is not going to make it any easier for your child to cope with the trauma.
At the end of the day, parents need to take an active role in helping their children overcome the fear and stress that can follow a collision. Fortunately, all it takes is a few simple steps to begin the healing process.
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If you and your children sustained injuries in a collision and you want to hold the liable motorist accountable, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. Our award-winning team has recovered more than $200 million in cash settlements and verdicts for our clients. Call (337) 777-7777 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Marksville auto accident attorney.
Read on to learn how you can help your children cope with the trauma following a serious collision:
- Take Baby Steps after the Accident
Some children may be scared to ride in a car at all after a collision. You can help them overcome this fear by starting small.
Take short rides to the park, ice cream shop, or local strip mall. Pick pleasant, familiar places where your child already has a few good memories.
Then, if your child gets nervous as some point during the ride, simply remind him or her of the destination and what you are going to do together once you arrive. This will help your child learn to focus on the future instead of on the past.
- Get Back Into a Normal Routine ASAP
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Children thrive on having a routine, so try to get back to the family’s normal schedule as quickly as possible. If you cannot resume your usual schedule because someone sustained serious injuries, devise a new routine around recovering, and stick to it so your kids can have some semblance of stability amidst the trauma.
- Minimize Stress at Home
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Coping with the aftermath of a collision is inherently stressful, but you should try to shield your children from your worries as much as possible. For example, they do not need to know about the financial challenges your family is now facing as a result of the accident. Save those conversations with your spouse for behind closed doors.
- Make Future Plans
Some children can feel utterly hopeless after they experience trauma, and they may feel the future is bleak, scary, and totally unpredictable. You can counteract this by making both short- and long-term plans.
For example, you could start planning a Halloween party for next month, and you could also host a family meeting to decide where you want to travel to next summer. Then, get the whole family involved with the planning. You can have your kids make decorations for the party, and you can set out a piggy bank so everyone can “save” for your summer vacation.
If your family was hurt in a car accident, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. You may be eligible to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Call (337) 777-7777 to schedule a free consultation with an injury lawyer in Marksville.
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