Was your child in an accident? The last thing on your mind should be how you’ll afford to get your son or daughter the help they need. The at-fault driver and their insurance company owe you whatever it takes to pay for their recovery.

Before accepting a settlement, it’s important to understand that there can be hidden costs to helping children heal from their injuries beyond the obvious medical expenses. Complete accident compensation for children should cover not only the child’s immediate needs but also any potential challenges they may face in the future.

Why a Child in an Accident is So Vulnerable

State-mandated car seat and seatbelt laws go a long way to protect a child in an accident. But kids who aren’t safely strapped in can be seriously hurt during a crash. And even a child in the proper restraints might not avoid getting injured if the impact is bad enough. 

A child’s body is small and still developing, making it more vulnerable than an adult’s during a collision. 

• Their size means even a small forceful trauma will cover a large portion of their bodies.
• They have less fat and muscle to protect their bones and organs.
• Their organs are more tightly packed in their small torsos.
• A child’s bones are softer, the skull is thinner, and neck ligaments are weaker. 
• Their brain is still developing.

In addition to these physical differences between children and adults, young kids may not be able to verbalize their pain. And mentally and emotionally, processing the trauma of the event—something that may not be easy for an adult—is even harder for a child or teenager.

While children are resilient and their bones may heal more quickly than a grownup’s, they can still suffer greatly from serious injuries as well as changes to the quality of life that come along with them.

Hidden Costs for Ongoing Physical Problems

Just like adults, children can have delayed pain from an injury that doesn’t show up until days or weeks later. Or, their pain may last much longer than is normal. Both situations can indicate that the injury was more serious than originally thought. Compensation needs to take this into account to reach a full recovery. 

And sadly, some vehicle crashes result in permanent injuries where there won’t be a full recovery. For example:

• Paralysis
• Lost limbs
• Loss of eyesight

A child may also suffer from complications of their injuries or long-term conditions that last months, years, or even for the rest of their life. For example:

• Blunt force trauma can interrupt bone growth.
• Nerve damage can cause chronic pain impacting activity, sleep, and concentration.
• A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may result in headaches and affects cognitive function, memory, and academic and social development.

Ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, and surgery for these conditions, as well as the cost, are hard to predict. But they will certainly be necessary for a long time and possibly for the rest of the child’s life.

Other hidden costs of such injuries may include:

• Wheelchairs and other mobility aids
• Prosthetic limbs
• Seeing-eye dogs or other therapy pets
• Specialized vehicles
• Home accommodations such as ramps
• Long-term care or assisted living

Prosthetic limbs are a good example of future hidden costs when it comes to children. A prosthetic arm costs anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000, and prosthetic legs are typically $5,000 to $50,000. Plus, upgrades are necessary as the child grows. A young child may need a new limb every six to twelve months. Older kids may need a new one every year or two until they are fully grown. These expenses can easily become a financial hardship for the average family.

Any settlement or personal injury lawsuit must consider the likelihood of these future expenses and take them into account. Negotiations should also look forward to how the child’s future might be altered by their injury. Will they be able to make a living? Have a family? If not, they may deserve compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Accident Compensation for Children’s Psychological and Emotional Needs

As mentioned above, a traumatic brain injury can have devastating consequences for a child’s ability to learn and reason. 

Developmental delays may affect a child in an accident, requiring special accommodations such as:

• Educational aids
• Tutors
• Special schools

In addition, children may suffer from psychological and emotional trauma while processing what has happened, or while trying to cope with their injuries. PTSD is common after a crash, no matter what the victim’s age. Children’s symptoms may include nightmares, loss of appetite, and anxiety. They may see dangers everywhere, leading to intense feelings of fear and helplessness. 

In extreme situations, psychological injuries can be debilitating. Children may have memory lapses, lose the ability to concentrate, or be unable to regulate their emotions. These may contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness and may require special care.

Children who are seriously psychologically affected by an accident may need:

• Ongoing therapy to manage trauma response
• An aid in school
• A caregiver at home 

Helping the Family Cope With a Child’s Injuries

When a child is hurt, the entire family suffers too, both emotionally and financially. Parents, siblings, and other relatives will need to learn to cope and care for a child who suddenly has special needs. 

While navigating ongoing medical expenses, the family must also deal with big changes required to accommodate the injured child, such as:

• Home modifications, or a new home that will better accommodate the child’s impaired mobility
• A move to a school district better equipped for special needs
• A new vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair

Parents will likely have other expenses too, such as lost wages while they care for the child. They may consider family therapy so that they and the child’s siblings can learn to cope with the “new normal” in the household. And estate planning will become increasingly important if the injured child’s physical and emotional health will require special care beyond their parents’ lifetime. 

Accident compensation for children won’t typically include something like a new home for the family. But a skilled child injury lawyer can build a case based on estimated hidden costs like these so the family receives the best possible settlement. Settling too quickly could mean overlooking a significant expense that jeopardizes not only your child’s welfare, but also your family’s financial stability.

Getting the Compensation Your Child Deserves