Injury insurance, also frequently known as accident insurance, is something that not many people think about or purchase. As a parent, injury insurance could be especially important in making sure that everyone in your household is taken care of in the event of an accidental injury. This can help you pay for treatment if your child is injured, or it can help you pay for household needs if you are incapacitated due to an injury.

Purpose of Injury Insurance

Injury insurance is a specific type of insurance policy, designed to pay out when someone on the policy experiences an accidental injury. Generally, this is considered a type of supplemental health insurance, meant to give you a little extra cash if you or someone at home is injured. Unlike ordinary health insurance, however, these policies pay out to you rather than simply paying off your healthcare bill. This means that while you have the option to pay your hospital bill with the money that comes from the policy, the money can also be used for any other purpose that you deem appropriate following the payout. There are limits to what is covered by these types of policies, and it varies by provider, but a good rule of thumb to remember is that injury insurance only covers accidental injuries that are not caused by illegal or reckless behavior, including the use of drugs or alcohol.

Protecting Your Kids

Obviously the best policy is to try to prevent accidents in the first place, but if you have been a parent long, you have probably realized that injuries are, to some extent, inevitable when you have children in your home. There are some things you can do as a parent that can prevent some injuries, or at least make them less serious when they occur. This includes requiring your child to wear safety equipment such as helmets, elbow pads and knee pads when riding a bike or going skating. You should also teach your children to be cautious of traffic, fire and water to avoid injury or drowning accidents. As the adult of the household, it is also important to keep any potentially dangerous substances such as household cleaners and prescriptions out of reach of children. Age appropriate “child-proofing” such as electrical socket covers, padded corners on furniture, and simple locks can help to make household accidents less frequent or severe. Keep in mind that while safety is important, it is not possible to prevent every injury, so investing in injury insurance can help you to deal with any fallout. You should also know what to do when an accident occurs.

After An Accident

If you or your child is injured as the result of an accident, you should take action immediately. If the injury is moderate or severe, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you, as the adult, believe you can “handle” your injury on your own, medical professionals can prevent infection, and more accurately assess the severity of your injury. This also provides documentation of the injury that you can provide to your accident insurance provider. If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you should consider consulting with personal injury lawyers to find out if you have a claim. This may help you to pay any additional medical expenses that are not covered, compensate for pain and suffering, or make up for any lost income that comes as a result of the injury. If your child is injured, this money can be put in savings for them to set them up for a brighter future.

Every parent hopes that their child will stay safe and free of injury, but the fact is that most children experience an accident or injury of some kind before they reach adulthood. Preparedness can help keep your child safer, and can provide a financial cushion if any injury should occur. This can give you the peace of mind you need as a busy parent.