What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident With Children in the Car

🚨 Summer Travel Safety: What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident With Your Children

Summer in Las Vegas is a time for sunshine, vacations, and road trips—whether you’re a local family headed to Lake Mead or a tourist navigating the Strip in a rental car. But with the increase in traffic comes a higher risk of car accidents. And when children are in the car, the situation becomes even more serious.

If you’re involved in a car accident with your children in the vehicle, it’s important to act quickly to ensure their physical and emotional well-being—and to protect your legal rights.

At Anthem Injury Lawyers, we understand how terrifying this experience can be. Here’s what to do after an accident, what kind of medical and psychological care your children may need, and how our team can help you seek justice if the accident was not your fault.

✅ Step 1: Ensure Everyone Is Safe 🛑

Immediately after a crash, check on your children first—even if the collision seems minor.

• 🚓 Call 911 right away. Never assume your child is unharmed.

• 🚼 If your child is in a car seat, leave them there unless there’s an immediate danger (like a fire).

• 📷 Take photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries.

• 📄 Exchange insurance and contact info with the other driver.

👉 Want a complete checklist? Read our blog on What to Do After a Car Accident in Las Vegas

🏥 Step 2: Seek Immediate Medical Attention for Your Child

Children can be injured without showing obvious signs, and they may not know how to communicate what’s wrong.

Common post-accident injuries in children:

• Concussions or head trauma 🤕

• Whiplash or soft tissue injuries

• Internal bleeding from seat belt force

• Broken bones or bruises

Even if your child says they feel fine, take them to a pediatric emergency room or urgent care clinic for evaluation. If you’re from out of town and in a rental car, ask the officer on scene for directions to the nearest hospital or use this helpful tool from the Children’s Hospital Association.

💡 Read about protecting your precious cargo in our blog How to Find the Safest Baby Car Seats & Nevada Child Safety Laws

🧠 Step 3: Watch for Psychological and Emotional Signs

Even if children are physically unharmed, they may carry emotional scars. Children process trauma differently than adults and often don’t have the language to explain how they feel.

Look for signs like:

• Nightmares or sleep troubles 💤

• Refusing to ride in a car again 🚗

• Mood changes, withdrawal, or aggression

• Physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches

Don’t dismiss these signs. Talk with your child’s pediatrician, or connect with a child trauma specialist through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

🧠 Learn more about non-economic damages with partner Anthony Golden on GR8 Pros to Know segment Recovering Non-Economic Damages.

⚖️ Step 4: Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If the accident wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation—not just for your own injuries, but for your children’s pain and suffering as well.

At Anthem Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped families in Las Vegas recover from devastating crashes involving everything from distracted drivers to rental car collisions. We know how to handle:

• 🚘 Rental car accidents

• 🧒 Child injury claims

• 📋 Insurance negotiations

• 💵 Medical expense recovery

📖 Want to know what to expect after a car accident? Read our blog: What to Expect During the Car Accident Claims Process in Nevada

❤️ Why Anthem Injury Lawyers?

Our award-winning legal team is based in Henderson and proudly serves families throughout the Las Vegas Valley. We offer:

• ✅ Free case evaluations for both parents and children

• 🏨 Help coordinating out-of-state medical care

• 💪 Decades of combined experience in child injury law

Whether you’re a local family running errands or a tourist on vacation, we’re here to fight for your family’s rights.

📞 Call Anthem Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Evaluation

If you or your children were hurt in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, don’t wait. Your next steps could impact your family’s health and future.

📱 Call us today at (702) 857-6000
🖥️ Or visit our contact page to schedule your free consultation

Let us help you get the care—and compensation—you and your children deserve. We drive results for car accident victims.