• Offices Serving:
  • Bensalem
  • Newtown
  • Doylestown
  • Bristol
  • Quakertown
  • Bethlehem
Free Consultation | CALL OR TEXT: 215-642-2335
  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Car Accidents
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Truck Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Slip And Fall Accidents
    • Nursing Home Neglect
    • Defective Medical Devices
    • Defective Drugs
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Bicycle Accidents
    • AFFF Firefighting Foam
    • Zantac
    • 3M Military Earplugs
    • Injury Law in Bucks County
    • Others
  • About Us
    • Areas We Serve
  • Client Testimonials
  • Our Results
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Free Offers
    • Blog Archive
    • FAQs Archive
  • Union Relationships
    • FOP Lodge 5
    • Sheet Metal Local 19
    • PSEA Mideastern
    • Roofers Local 30
    • Laborers’ 57
  • Contact Us
  • Show Search

Helping Grieving Children Cope after the Wrongful Death of a Sibling

· Jan 18, 2015 ·

Tweet
Share

Trauma of a child’s death can be especially severe for other children in the family who have to suddenly cope with the wrongful death of a sibling. Parents and/or the guardian of the child have a large role to play in helping grieving children cope with the death of a sibling.

Understanding how to help kids cope with death could help them do so in a healthy way that’s best for their short- and long-term mental health.

Prepare Before Speaking to Grieving Children

Parents should ideally prepare beforehand what they want to say to their kids on such occasions. A child’s mind may not process death in the same way as an adult’s, so explaining the situation in language they can understand is important. Be direct about death so as not to confuse them further, and calmly answer any questions they might have.

There are several books available that can address parents unsure of how to broach the subject or who need assistance getting the conversation started. In any case, be sure to begin the conversation with a calm demeanor.

Children look to their parents for assurance and guidance. So in the aftermath of a tragedy, it is critical that parents of a child who has lost a sibling compose themselves when speaking to the child. They should be calm themselves when talking with the child who will probably need much soothing.

Encourage Communication: Bottling Up Feelings Isn’t Helpful

The child should be encouraged to share feelings about the incident, be it resentment, anger, or hurt. Parents should also make every effort to answer the child’s questions objectively. The National Institutes of Health counsel that, “The child’s fear of the unknown is worse than facing the reality. The child may fantasize and create the worst scenario or an incorrect reality.”

If the child is comfortable speaking to others in the family or outside, like relatives or friends, then he or she should be allowed to communicate with them as much as possible. This will ensure that the child has the opportunity to speak up and share feelings.

Look Out for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Children who have experienced a traumatic event, like a sibling’s death, commonly experience:

  • nightmares;
  • behavior changes; and
  • reliving the experience.

 

Parents, teachers, and other caregivers should look for signs of stress and trauma long after the incident. They should be especially wary of deviations from the “baseline” behavior of the child.

They should also keep a lookout for any tendency of the child to become aggressive or violent. Some children with PTSD lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and may be susceptible to depression and other emotional problems.

The parents and/or the guardian of a child exhibiting symptoms of PTSD after wrongful death of a sibling should consult a mental health professional immediately. It is imperative to treat symptoms right away to help the child cope with death.

Legal Help in Wrongful Death Cases

Parents of a child killed because of another’s negligence—stemming from medical malpractice, a car accident, or any other form of negligent behavior—can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for damages. Examples of damages may include any medical treatment administered and the child’s pain and suffering prior to death as well as the emotional impact on surviving family members, among other damages.

Cordisco & Saile LLC provides legal assistance to plaintiffs who want to fight for justice after a loved one has been killed in a case of wrongful death. Give us a call at 215-642-2335 to set up a consultation with an attorney to go over the details of a potential or existing wrongful death case.

Contact us for your FREE case evaluation!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Looking for something?

View All Blog View All FAQs
Accessory Coverage for Motorcycle
Motorcycle Accidents,
Accessory Coverage for Motorcycle Continue Reading »
Are YOU fully Covered?
General,
Are YOU fully Covered? Continue Reading »
Brain Damage Claim & Brain Injury Compensation Claims in Southampton
Personal Injury,
Brain Damage Claim & Brain Injury Compensation Claims in Southampton Continue Reading »
Bus Driver at Fault
Bus Accidents,
Bus Driver at Fault Continue Reading »

Find a Reliable
Lawyer Now!

  • Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Newtown Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Bucks County Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Trevose Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Middletown Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Levittown Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Eddington Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Yardley Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Quakertown Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Bensalem Lawyer
  • Philadelphia Lawyer

Contact Us Now!

Please fill out the quick contact form below for a fast and free case consultation. We will contact you within 24 hours!

    • What can we help you with*?
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Us

The nationally recognized and award-winning team of attorneys at Cordisco & Saile, LLC protect residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey who have been injured in an accident from the tricks and tactics of the insurance companies. Call us today to learn more about your legal rights, and see what we can do to get your life back to the way it was.

Quick Links

  • Practice Areas
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • Testimonials
  • Results
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer

Office Locations

  • Bensalem
  • Newtown-Langhorne
  • Doylestown
  • Bristol
  • Quakertown
  • Bethlehem
  • Phone: 215-642-2335
  • Email: info@cordiscosaile.com
© 2019 Cordisco & Saile LLC, All Rights Reserved.
Tweet
Share

Copyright © 2021 · Monochrome Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Bensalem
  • Newtown-Langhorne
  • Doylestown
  • Bristol
  • Quakertown
  • Bethlehem
  • Phone: 215-642-2335
  • Email: info@cordiscosaile.com