Can Children Suffer Whiplash?
Can children suffer whiplash injuries? Is it possible to protect children from whiplash in an automobile accident? The fact is that children can, and do, suffer whiplash related injuries. It is an injury that can occur at any age and parents must understand the risks and proactively protect their children from harm.
The Size of the Risk
In 2016, more than 128,000 children were injured in automobile accidents. However, little is known regarding how many suffer cervical neck injuries. Some studies indicate that children up to 10 years old have 1/6th the risk of whiplash injuries as adults.
However, that may be a gross understatement. A study conducted in Sweden in 2000 indicated that the overall incidence rate of spinal cord injuries in children following a motor vehicle accident may be as high as 47%. Researchers believe that the vast discrepancy in the data is because the symptoms often go unrecognized. Thus, parents do not take their children for emergency treatment.
Recognizing & Preventing Whiplash in Children
When an accident occurs, parents must monitor their children for signs of these pediatric neck injuries. These signs include swelling, difficulty breathing, and neck stiffness. They also include headaches and a persistent lean to one direction.
Parents of young children should learn how to properly restrain their child within their car seat. This is crucial and it is estimated that up to 95% of parents improperly install or secure their child within the seat.
Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2010 showed that as many as 618,000 children under the age of 12 injured in motor vehicle collisions were not using seat belts, child safety seats, or booster seats at the time of the accident.
It is also important for children to ride in the back seat. Studies have demonstrated this provides better whiplash protection than front seats in a rear-end collision. Appropriate use of a car seat, booster seat, and seat belt can reduce the overall risk of injury by as much as 82%.
Brad Pistotnik Law is a Wichita law firm with whiplash accident lawyers, auto accident attorneys, lawyers, and abogados who represent clients in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Missouri, and Illinois following workplace accidents. Whether the accident occurred in Wichita, Liberal, Beloit, Asherville, Glascow, Delphos, Barnard, Tescott, Lincoln, Hunter, Sylvan Grove, Covert, Portis, Cawker City, Osborne, Solomon, Bunker Hill, Topeka, Tulsa, Enid, Oklahoma City, Russell, Hays, Catharine, Gorham, Wilson, Dubuque, Rush Center, Albert, Clafilin, Holyrood, Luray, Paradise, Natoma, Plainville, Zurich, Codell, Palco, Milberger, Galatia, Otis, Olmitz, Hoisington, Redwing, Homer, Cheney, St. John, Luka, Byers, Turon, Macksville, Penalosa, Alexander, Kiowa, Sharon, Attica, Deerhead, Aetna, Tegarden, Freedom, Avard, Waynoka, Aline, Helena, Kremlin, Pond Creek, Jefferson, Columbia, Manchester, Argonia, Bluff City, Dexter, Sedan, Peru, Elgin, Pawhuska, Fairfax, Ralston, White Eagle, Red Rock, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Bartlesville, Maple City, Harper, Buffalo, Laverne, Woodward, Shattuck, Arnett, Vici, Seiling, Fairview, Booker, or elsewhere in these states, our Wichita law firm can help clients pursue claims for cervical neck injuries.
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