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Common Causes of Child Injuries

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

Common Causes of Child Injuries

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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There are many ways a child can find themselves injured. The majority of injuries sustained by children are not fatal, but can be severe with long lasting consequences. While some injuries occur purely by accident with no party more responsible than another, whenever negligence is involved in a child’s injuries it may be possible to file a personal injury lawsuit. Child injury cases differ from adult injury cases in a variety of ways; children are often unable to communicate the type and severity of pain they are experiencing, and a child is unlikely to be able to predict the effects of a severe injury on their life and future.

While children can be injured in many of the same ways adults can, there are additional situations in which a child is more likely to be injured than an adult.

Common causes of child injuries include but are not limited to the following:

  • Car accidents: It is important to ensure your child is properly secured in an adequate car seat or booster seat if necessary. Infants should be secured in rear-facing car seats, and children in forward-facing seats should continue using them until they surpass the age and weight recommendations for the seat. Children under the age of 13 or of a smaller height and weight should sit in the backseat and always wear a seatbelt.
  • Suffocation: Infants and toddlers are particularly susceptible to suffocation. It is important to avoid putting any items in an infant’s crib with the baby, and also avoid allowing toddlers to attempt to eat food served in large pieces, or to play with toys or objects which could be lodged in the child’s throat.
  • Drowning: Drowning is an extremely serious risk for children. Children of any age should never be left unsupervised near the water, and should always undergo water safety training or swimming lessons before being allowed to enter the water. Life jackets, floaties, and other flotation devices should be used for young children who cannot swim. Additionally, any pool or water source in someone’s home should be secured behind a fence or gate to avoid children wandering in unbeknownst to adults present.
  • Poisoning: Children are often not aware of what substances are dangerous to put in their mouths and consume. This leads to a higher risk of accidental poisoning for children than for adults. Any chemical containing substances such as household cleaners or medicines should be secured out of reach of children to avoid the possibility of a child consuming and accidentally poisoning themselves.
  • Burns: Children are often not yet aware of the dangers of heat, steam, hot water, and fire. It is not uncommon for children to burn or scald themselves with hot water, or to put their hands in an open flame.
  • Falls: While falls are not the most common cause of fatalities in children, they are the most common cause of injuries in children and can be fatal. Children are known to climb on objects which shouldn’t be climbed, and often spend a great deal of time on playground equipment. This creates the opportunity for falls, so it’s important to install safety devices on windows, stairs, and to remove whatever opportunities possible for a child to climb something they shouldn’t.

If your child has been injured as a result of another party’s negligence, each out to a child injury attorney to discuss options for physical and financial recovery.

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