Statistics show that throughout Scotland, child whiplash claims are much less frequent than adult whiplash claims. Nevertheless, children are just as vulnerable to injury, and have a right to claim compensation if they are harmed in a road traffic accident.
Whiplash in Children.
Every day in the UK, 1,200 people will sustain a whiplash injury. However, a relatively small number of these injuries will be suffered by children. This is confirmed by figures released by the Office for National Statistics, which reveal that only 30% of all road traffic accidents involve children under the age of 10.
But why are child whiplash claims less common? There are a number of theories which suggest children, in general, are not as exposed to the possibility of whiplash. This is because children usually sit in the back, while many will be placed in specially designed car seats, both which reduce the chance of injury during low-speed traffic collisions.
Furthermore, many believe that because children are still developing, they have a much greater range of movement than adults. Whiplash is caused when the neck is stretched beyond its normal limits. So having a flexible neck will minimise the extent of damage.
However, that is not to say that children cannot suffer a whiplash injury. In fact, it is thought child whiplash claims are so low because many go unreported or unnoticed, as children cannot always relate symptoms. Additionally, a low-speed traffic collision may not appear to have injured a child, only for problems to develop later on in life.
What Action Can You Take?
If your child has sustained a whiplash injury, it is vital you seek urgent medical attention. This is especially true for young children unable to voice their pain and discomfort. Once you have sought medical treatment, your next step should be to consider whether or not someone else was responsible for the accident. If so, you need to speak to a personal injury lawyer, as your child could be entitled to compensation.
As a parent, you may make a whiplash claim on your child's behalf. Alternatively, it is possible to wait until your child turns 18, after which he/she will have until their twenty-first birthday to make a claim.
Edinburgh Solicitors.
If your child suffers whiplash in Scotland, it is vital you instruct Scottish personal injury lawyer to deal with the claim, as the law here differs from elsewhere in the country.
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