Parents want to keep their children safe. They may specifically choose a vehicle based on its performance in crash testing. They may redouble their efforts to adhere to traffic rules on the road when they have their children in their vehicles.
They may have the best child safety restraints on the market and may try to limit how often they take their children out in vehicles. After all, collisions are one of the top causes of severe injuries among young children, as well as a leading cause of death.
Children who sustain injuries in vehicles often have longer recoveries ahead of them and may require more expensive medical care than adults might for the same condition. What factors contribute to the risk of heightened severity of underage injuries after a car crash?
Secondary fracture consequences
Broken bones typically respond well to modern medical care. However, in children, what looks like a simple fracture can be more serious. They can sustain a growth plate fracture that affects the development of their musculoskeletal system in the future. Doctors may need to examine fractures in children more carefully, and an injury to the growth plates can trigger more costly medical interventions
Disfiguring scars
Growing bodies tend to manage minor injuries well, but there could be reason to worry about scarring. When young children sustain major injuries, they tend to think quickly because of their growing bodies. Unfortunately, the rapid physical development that the child may experience in the upcoming years can result in significant scar tissue development if doctors are not careful when treating the initial wound and the scar left behind after it heals. In some cases, young children with injuries may require specialist care to ensure that they do not end up with a visible, large scar.
Traumatic responses
Children may have a harder time healing from the stress and fear that arise during a car crash. They may develop a fear of traveling in vehicles or may present symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in some cases. Incidents that adults and teenagers may heal from quickly can cause lasting psychological challenges for younger vehicle occupants. Children may need help from a mental health professional to sort through their emotions and heal emotionally while recovering physically from their injuries.
Recognizing that the medical aftermath of a car crash can be more costly for children than for adult passengers can help parents respond appropriately. Motor vehicle collisions involving children can easily become more expensive than similar crashes that only involve adults.