Car accidents in Texas happen so often that the Texas Department of Transportation reports that someone is injured in a car wreck every 2 minutes and 6 seconds. While parents often focus on physical injuries after a car accident, the emotional and psychological effects on young children should not be overlooked. Children may experience a range of emotional responses, from fear and anxiety to long-lasting trauma, that can affect their overall well-being.
That’s why our Texas child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm are here to help you navigate the aftermath of a car wreck, including addressing your child’s mental and emotional health.
What Are the Emotional and Psychological Effects of Car Wrecks on Children?
Car accidents disrupt a child’s sense of safety and stability, even if they escape without physical injuries. For young children, the suddenness and intensity of the wreck can be overwhelming.
Some common emotional effects of car accidents may include:
- Fear and Anxiety: After a car wreck, children may develop an intense fear of cars and wish to avoid being inside of any vehicle because they associate the car with the wreck. While a drive typically will not harm your little one, children can have a hard time differentiating those experiences. A heightened sense of danger can disrupt a family’s daily routine, especially in communities where driving is necessary.
- Guilt: Some children internalize the incident, believing they are somehow to blame. This guilt can sometimes compound their emotional distress.
- Sadness or Depression: After a car accident, a child’s ongoing feelings of sadness or suddenly wanting to spend time alone and away from family members or classmates at daycare could indicate the onset of depression. This can be more common after a serious accident if the child experienced or witnessed significant injuries or the loss of a loved one.
Parents should also be mindful of more complex psychological effects that may not surface immediately after a child experiences a car wreck:
- Behavioral Changes: A once sweet-tempered child might begin acting out at daycare or school after a car accident. A child can also begin regressing in their developmental milestones, such as reverting to bedwetting or thumb-sucking, to cope mentally with their traumatic experience.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Little ones may struggle to understand what happened in the car wreck and develop PTSD. Toddlers and young children might replay the wreck in their minds, trying to make sense of it. PTSD can manifest into nightmares or night terrors for little ones who were once sound sleepers.
- Self-esteem Issues: In instances of serious car wrecks, little ones may be left with a lasting scar or injury that leaves them permanently disfigured. These physical changes can negatively impact their self-esteem and confidence, leaving them worried about the opinions of or treatment from other children.
What Are Common Signs That My Child May Be Struggling Emotionally After a Car Accident?
Not all children will express their feelings after experiencing a car wreck. This is why it is important for parents to watch for subtle signs of emotional or psychological distress. You know your child best and can recognize if they are struggling to cope after the traumatic experience.
Some key indicators a child is struggling after a car wreck include:
- Avoidance Behaviors: Refusing to talk about the car accident.
- Changes in Appetite: A significant increase or decrease in eating habits can signal emotional distress after a wreck.
- Increased Clinginess: Your child may need constant reassurance or fear being separated from you.
- Mood Swings: Sudden irritability, anger, or unexplained tantrums, especially if the child is typically mild-tempered.
How Can I Support My Child’s Emotional and Mental Recovery After a Car Wreck?
A car accident can be traumatic for anyone involved, let alone a child. Our experienced and compassionate legal team believes that a solid support system is an important part of the healing process. Sometimes that support extends beyond a family and requires professional therapy to provide children with the tools they need to process their emotions and move forward after a car wreck.
Some trusted resources across the Lone Star State to help support your little one include:
- Austin:
- Corpus Christi:
- Dallas:
- Parkland Health - Pediatric Trauma Center
- Children’s Health Dallas
- Frisco:
- Houston:
- Midland:
- San Antonio:
- The University Health System - Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
- UT Health San Antonio’s Pediatric Behavioral Health
For more medical research on the emotional effects after a car accident, explore these resources:
- Texas Pediatric Society
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Texas
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- National Trauma Survivor Network
- Kids Mental Health Foundation
How Can Filing a Lawsuit Help Support My Child’s Needs After a Car Accident?
Following a car accident, parents have the legal right to hold a negligent driver accountable for causing the wreck. This process includes highlighting how you and your child were impacted—physically and emotionally.
The emotional and psychological impacts are considered non-economic damages in a lawsuit. This means that if the other driver is found responsible for causing the wreck, your family is entitled to compensation, including:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy and other long-term helpful resources to help heal any mental anguish or psychological trauma from the wreck
Our experienced child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help your family navigate the aftermath of a car wreck if your child is struggling mentally and emotionally. Call us at 214-699-4409 or email us at [email protected].
Contact The Button Law Firm to Help Your Child After a Car Accident Anywhere in Texas
If your child is psychologically or emotionally traumatized after a car accident, our team of experienced and compassionate child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm can help. We’re dedicated to advocating for you and your family anywhere in Texas. We are here to listen and fight for your family to get justice and help you move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Get a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409, emailing us at [email protected], or filling out a contact form.
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