Child Whiplash Claims
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by: Nicholas Jervis
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Word Count: 448
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 Time: 9:44 PM
Copyright (c) 2012 Nicholas Jervis
If your child has suffered a whiplash injury, you need to know what your options are. This article explores child whiplash in more detail, helping you to understand what action you can take.
Child Whiplash Injury.
There are far fewer child whiplash injuries sustained in the UK every year than there are adult injuries. Experts suggest that this can be attributed to the following factors:-
1. Children are more flexible, meaning hyperextension of the neck will cause fewer problems;
2. Children under a certain age and height are legally required to sit in specially designed car seats which reduce the risk of whiplash;
3. Children are less likely to have pre-existing medical conditions which will aggravate a whiplash injury.
Nevertheless, this is not to say child whiplash does not occur. It is still a very real possibility that if your child is involved in a road traffic accident, he/she will have suffered whiplash. Because children are weaker and still developing, a whiplash injury can cause a number of health issues - both immediately after the accident and later on in life.
Child Whiplash - What Action Can You Take?
If you suspect your child has a whiplash injury, your first step should be to seek the assistance of a medical professional. This is particularly true of younger children who may not be able to verbalise their pain and discomfort. A doctor will be able to assess the extent of damage before recommending a course of treatment. It is important to remember that whiplash symptoms usually only become apparent hours after the incident. In some cases, problems will not arise until years after the event. Therefore even if there are no initial symptoms, early medical intervention could be vital.
Your next step should be to contact a legal expert who specialises in whiplash claims. After an initial consultation, a solicitor will be able to establish who was responsible for your child's injuries. If another party can be held accountable - for example, the driver of another vehicle - then your child will be entitled to claim compensation for their pain and suffering.
Making a Child Whiplash Claim.
As the victim of personal injury, your child has the legal right to make a whiplash claim. But because he/she will be considered a minor until their eighteenth birthday, you can either:-
1. Make a claim on your child's behalf; or
2. Wait until your child turns 18. He/she will then have three years to make a claim (ie. until their twenty-first birthday).
Seek Early Legal Advice
If you would like to discuss a child whiplash claim with a solicitor who specialises in whiplash compensation claims, contact whiplash experts today.
About the Author
Find out more now about claiming Whiplash Compensation UK. Or click here to find out everything that you need to know about Whiplash. Nicholas Jervis is a Solicitor (non-practising) and consumer advocate for all victims of Whiplash.
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