Car accidents can be dangerous for anyone, especially for children. As a parent, you would want to do everything you can to keep your children safe when you are on the road. Sadly, auto accidents are the leading cause of death in children in the United States. As a parent, you cannot prevent car accidents. However, you can take some preventive measures to increase your child’s safety.
Even after taking precautions, your child could still get hurt in an auto accident – and sometimes, it may happen due to the actions or negligence of someone else. If you are in a situation like that, do not hesitate to contact a Toledo car accident attorney today.
Precautions to protect your children:
You can take some general precautionary measures to ensure your children have the maximum safety and protection if your vehicle is ever in a car accident.
- Use child safety seats
- Children should ride in the backseat
- Check the backseat before you start driving
- Look around before you back up
- Never leave keys in the car
- Use child safety locks
- Teach your kids how to get out of the trunk
- Pull over if you get distracted
- Do not use your cell phone while driving
- Never drink and drive
Steps to take if you are in a car accident:
- Get off the road
If you can do so safely, you may want to change lanes or even get off the road entirely as soon as possible. A swerve in the right direction can sometimes even save you from a car accident.
- Protect the backseat
In front of an imminent car accident, you will only have a few short seconds to react. Your kid would most likely be sitting in the backseat, so you should try to steer the vehicle’s hood towards the area that is likely to be impacted. This will minimize damages as the hood and the engine of the car will take most of the impact.
- Provide support
Car accidents can be scary, especially for children. Amidst a car accident, a driver would want everyone in the car to be calm and collected to not add to the already present stress. That is why, as a parent, you should keep trying to provide vocal support to your children during an accident. Tell them to duck or to tuck their head between their knees. Tell them to stay calm, or tell them that you love them and it will be okay.