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When the First Call Is to Mom or Dad: Helping Your Child Through a Car Accident

I asked a 19 year old relative recently what they would do if they were in a car accident.  It is no surprise but the answer was “Call my mom”. 

 I asked the question to try and better understand how to reach younger people who have been in car accidents and can use my help, but the answer I got triggered an interesting thought: what would a car accident lawyer tell a parent to tell their child who just got in a car accident? 

This Blog is an attempt to answer the question: “What do I tell my adult child who just got in a car accident?”

Step 1: Get the Facts

I would begin by asking questions to make sure you know what is going on; and they would be some mix of:

  • Are you ok?
  • Is everyone else ok?
  • Are you in a safe place?
  • What happened?

These questions help you quickly assess their safety and the situation at hand.

Step 2: Reassure Them and Focus on Safety

Then I would go with some general advice:

  • Get to a safe place if you aren’t already.
  • Don’t panic; just breathe, we will get through this. 

Helping them stay calm is one of the most important things you can do in the moment.

Step 3: Immediate Actions to Take at the Scene

Depending on the severity of the incident I would then give the following advice: 

  • Call 911 (Both police or for ambulance or fire support).
  • Call your insurance company.
  • Take pictures of the cars, the accident scene, and any damage or injuries. 
  • Gather contact information and insurance details from all other drivers and any witnesses.  
  • If you can drive the car home safely then great; otherwise call a tow truck (or have your insurance or the police call a tow truck).
  • Either get a ride to the hospital or home or have someone pick you up.  

These steps will help protect your child both physically and legally.

Step 4: Regroup and Next Steps

After the dust settles:

There is no downside to calling a lawyer after a car collision. They will be able to quickly determine if they can help you or not, and at least at Hunking Law, consultations are free. A good lawyer can guide you through the process and will ensure that your child’s rights are protected.

Conclusion

I have no idea if this blog will be helpful, but I am hopeful that someone somewhere reads it and they are a little more prepared for this situation than they otherwise would have been.  

If your child has been in a car crash in Oregon and you’re not sure what to do next, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help. Call us today at 541-HUNKING, 541-486-5464.