Infants Most Susceptible to Head Injuries in a Car Accident

Being involved in a serious car accident with your child is every parents worst nightmare.

Car accidents often cause serious injuries to infants. These injuries may include permanent brain damage and spinal cord injuries. Thankfully, many of these injuries are avoidable with the use of properly-installed child safety seats.

Injuries Sustained by Infants in Car Accidents

In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performed an analysis on child injuries due to car accidents. The analysis showed that infants who are one-year-old or below are more susceptible to head injuries compared to older children. The most common head injuries suffered by children are lacerations and contusions. It was noted that infants are highly susceptible to experiencing unconsciousness and concussions due to car accidents. Infants are also more susceptible to thoracic injuries, particularly rib fractures, compared to older children. There is an increased risk of pelvic fractures and spine injuries among infants. The danger of debilitating injuries increases whenever a child safety seat is not used. However, the type of car accident determines the probability of serious injuries among children. Rollovers normally increase the risk for these injuries.

Long-Term Effects of Head Injuries

It is essential to take into account the long-term effects of serious head injuries among infants who are one-year-old and below, since they are highly-susceptible to unconsciousness and concussions compared to older children. It is more difficult to determine the signs of concussions among infants compared to older children. The following indicators can be considered as warning signs that an infant has suffered a head injury following a car accident:

• Nausea.
• Variation in sleeping behaviors.
• Petulance.
• Restiveness.
• The baby becomes inconsolable.

Due to the long-term effects of serious head injuries, it is essential to monitor the development of an infant. However, since the signs of a concussion are not easily noticed, it may take a number of years before its effects become obvious. There are instances when the effects show up only once the child enters school-age, such as:

• Physical – Coordination of body movements, fatigue, speech, vision, balance, and convulsions.
• Cognitive – Memory issues, communication, writing, reading, and attention.
• Emotional – Mood swings, nervousness, depression, and issues in keeping emotions in check.