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Do toddlers have a TBI risk during motor vehicle accidents?

On Behalf of | Aug 23, 2022 | Personal Injury |

If you have a toddler in your family, you understand the importance of strapping him or her into a size-appropriate car seat every time you leave home. After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car seats reduce a toddler’s chances of suffering a catastrophic injury in a car accident by as much as 82%.

Still, as Johns Hopkins University notes, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury for individuals under the age of 18. A TBI happens when something, usually a blow to the head, interrupts the way the brain normally functions.

Signs of TBI in toddlers

Provided you use a safety-rated one that is in good condition, your child’s car seat should do a decent job at protecting him or her from a head injury. Nevertheless, if you notice one or more of the following after a crash, your toddler may have a TBI:

  • Drowsiness
  • Changes in eating, drinking or sleeping
  • Difficulty maintaining focus or paying attention
  • Sadness, irritability or other mood changes
  • Failure to progress to the next developmental stage

Care for toddlers with TBI

Because your toddler’s brain is in a crucial stage of development, it is imperative for you not to ignore a possible TBI. Indeed, you should treat the situation as a medical emergency. If your toddler’s TBI is moderate or severe, doctors may recommend a variety of treatment options While young patients often require ongoing medical care and extensive rehabilitation, sadly some never recover completely.

Obtaining the care your toddler needs to recover from a TBI can be expensive. Ultimately, by pursuing financial compensation for any injuries your child suffers in a car accident, he or she is likely to have access to top-level medical care.

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