Texas Child Car Accidents: What You Need to Know About the Numbers
July 25th, 2023
If you’re a parent, there’s a sad fact you should know: car accidents are one of the top killers of children in the U.S. Keep reading to see the numbers for yourself, and learn more about how child car accident injury compensation works from our child accident attorneys in Austin.
Child Car Accidents in Texas by the Numbers
Information regarding what portion of all car accident victims children represent is surprisingly limited. Here at Ramos James Law, we’ve reviewed the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) statistics surrounding child car accidents and accident injuries to get a better idea of the problem:
- There were a total of 155 children under the age of 15 killed in car accidents in Texas in 2022.
- 728 children under the age of 15 were severely injured in Texas car accidents in 2022.
- In 2022, there were 13 babies younger than one year old killed in Texas car accidents, and another 33 severely injured.
- Out of all the children under the age of 15 who were killed in car accidents while in vehicles, 40% were not properly restrained at the time of the crash.
As you can see, Texas children represent more than twice their fair share of all accident fatalities and severe injuries based on the total population. While making up less than 2 people out of every 10 in the state, kids make up nearly 4 out of every 10 severe car accident victims.
How Does Child Car Accident Injury Compensation Work in Texas?
Children are entitled to all the same types of damages as adult victims, potentially including things like medical bills, disfigurement, reduced quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Since a child under the age of 18 can’t file a claim on their own in Texas, a parent will need to file on their behalf. Once a settlement amount is agreed to and approved by a judge, then the money will either be held in the court registry until the child turns 18 or will be used to purchase an insurance annuity to be paid out over time after the child reaches 18.
Get Help From Compassionate Child Accident Attorneys in Austin
If your child has been injured in a Texas car accident, you’re probably facing an overwhelming amount of challenges. Take some of that stress off your plate by reaching out to a personal injury attorney for help seeking compensation.
At Ramos James Law, PLLC, we know that each accident is different, and we respect your unique needs and situation. Reach out to the Ramos James Law child injury attorneys in Austin for help fighting for your rights.