Pediatric Injury Specialist: Protecting Your Child After a Miami Car Accident
If you have been involved in an automobile accident in Downtown Miami or Brickell, your priority is assessing your family’s safety. While parents often focus on their own physical recovery, it is vital to evaluate children immediately—even if they were in a car seat or appear uninjured.
A child’s young, developing brain is more susceptible to injury from the forces of an accident than an adult’s. The whipping motion of the head during a collision can lead to spinal subluxations—misalignments that impinge nerves and compromise the function of the nervous system.
Warning Signs of Pediatric Injury
Symptoms in children can be subtle, delayed, or non-verbal. According to neurological experts, key indicators that your child or infant has sustained an injury include:
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Inconsolable crying or unusual irritability.
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Significant changes in sleeping or eating/nursing habits.
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Loss of acquired skills, such as crawling or walking.
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Physical red flags like persistent vomiting, lethargy, or loss of balance.
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Behavioral changes, sadness, including a lack of interest in toys or difficulty focusing at school.
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Physical Pain: Headaches, “idiopathic” pains, or the child holding/hitting their head.
- Lowered Immunity: More frequently sick.
The Risk of Long-Term Developmental Impact
Relying solely on a general pediatrician may not be enough, as they may lack specialized experience in identifying post-accident spinal damage. Left untreated, these injuries can lead to developmental delays, impaired immunity, and may even contribute to sensory issues or symptoms associated with autism in infants.
The importance of specialized care is highlighted in the NIH study, Longitudinal Developmental Outcomes of Infants and Toddlers With Traumatic Brain Injury:
“Studies suggest that children with severe TBI require early, specialized intervention, while those with mild TBI need long-term developmental monitoring to address potential, delayed, or evolving cognitive impairments.”
. 2023 Jan 17;6(1):e2251195. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.51195
Complimentary Consultation in Brickell & Downtown Miami
If you were injured in an accident, your child likely suffered injuries as well. Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen or for developmental milestones to be missed.
Contact our Downtown Miami Auto Injury Clinic today for a complimentary consultation to ensure your child’s nervous system and development are protected.
DR. LISA OWEN
