Your ex-spouse was driving with your children in the vehicle when they got into a serious collision. You were shocked to find out that they’d been speeding well over the limit and had, potentially, been drinking as well.
You always put your children first, so you were shocked to see that your ex hadn’t done the same. Your children’s lives were put at risk, and you can’t simply ignore the implications of their actions.
A child custody modification could be a possibility after an auto accident
Not every auto accident creates a scenario in which it makes sense to seek a child custody modification, but if you think that your ex was bring reckless or created an unnecessary hazard that put your children at risk of harm, then it’s fair to wonder if you should seek primary custody. If they cannot respect your children’s right to safety and put them in harm’s way this time, there is no reason to expect that they will always be safe in the future.
As a parent, it’s a terrible feeling to know that your children could have been seriously hurt. On top of that, you may need to deal with lost wages, medical bills and other issues that came from the crash. It’s a lot to handle, which is why it may be a good choice to look into modifying your custody agreement.
How can a modified custody agreement help?
With a modified custody agreement, you can ask to have supervised visitation, a larger share of custody or to have sole custody. Depending on the circumstances leading up to the crash, you may think that taking over as the primary custodian is the right choice, especially if there is a chance that your ex-spouse is dealing with substance use issues.
This is something to discuss with your ex. If you can’t get a good gauge on what happened or their state of health, then you may want to look into filing for a custody modification at least until their health or substance-abuse-related problems can be addressed in a positive way. Taking this step could help minimize the chances of your children getting hurt again in the future.
