In any family, the children are arguably the most cherished and beloved asset of all. Children represent the future of a family and their well-being is of the greatest importance. However, young children do not possess the extensive knowledge that their parents do, and dangers in their environment may not be readily apparent to them. In addition to a lack of experience to guide them, children also have a lessened sense of danger and cannot detect situations that may be of imminent concern. If your child has suffered an injury as the result of the negligence of another, contact our law office today. Our experienced Little Rock child injury lawyers understand the difficulties that may arise when a child suffers a serious injury and we are here to help.
Statistics and Injury Sources
Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death to children under the age of 14, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In their most recent report, the CDC stated that about 2,800 children die as the result of accidental injury annually. Among the most common sources for injury, bicycle related accidents totaled 285,600 in the year 2003 and nearly half of all children hospitalized for them were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
Drowning remains the second leading cause of death in children under 14. A substantial number of drownings and even near-drownings occur in privately owned residential swimming pools and open water locations. The tragic reality is that in even as little as one inch of water, a child can drown. Even when a child is successfully revived with CPR, they can still incur brain damage if the body’s supply of oxygen was suspended for as little as 5 minutes. If a child develops brain damage, this condition can remain with them for their entire life.
Another common source of injury in children are playground structures. Playgrounds cause over 200,000 falls to young children every year, a majority of which require emergency room treatment. Of all playground injuries, falls remain the most severe with one third of playground fatalities being the direct result of a fall.
Playground Negligence
Although children assume some of the risks at a playground, premises liability or products liability can still be an underlying factor in an accident. If a structure is erected improperly, is lacking handrails or guardrails, is left unkempt, or if structures collapse then the owner of the property may be held liable. The seasoned Little Rock child injury attorneys at the Law Office of Thomas G. Buchanan are well versed in these types of accidents and will relentlessly pursue justice for your family after you child’s accident.
Common Injuries Sustained by Children at Daycare and School
We send our children to daycare every day in the hopes that they are someplace where they will be safe and will learn some of the basic tenets of life (such as sharing and social interaction). Most daycares provide this to children in a stimulating environment which encourages creativity and growth. However, even the best daycares cannot prevent common injuries sustained by children.
The most common injuries children receive at daycare and schools are often caused by three different locations/procedures:
- Playgrounds
- Falls and falling objects
Common injuries sustained by children at daycares and schools include the following:
- Broken bones
- Abrasions
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
Many of these injuries could be life-altering and completely change the future of the injured child. It is therefore important for schools, daycares, and parents alike to determine the potential for injuries and ways to rectify these perceived accidents.
Playgrounds
Playgrounds are ripe with potential accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has noted that more than 200,000 children are treated for playground-related injuries each year. Most of these accidents occur in public spaces, including schools and daycares. Approximately one-tenth of these injuries involve traumatic brain injuries which include concussions. These accidents often involve monkey bars, climbing equipment, and swings. While playgrounds and swing sets are a popular choice for children, young children must be carefully supervised when first attempting playground activities to prevent injuries from occurring.
Falls
Falls and falling objects are some of the most common type of injuries and can be especially dangerous for small children. Daycares and schools do not often have that many dangerous pieces of furniture, but those that do can be life-threatening for a child. A child who wants to climb up a bookcase and pick out a book could pull the bookcase down on top of them. Children are also susceptible to falls from playground equipment, which could lead to broken bones and terrible injuries.
Children will unfortunately be children, and no amount of supervision can fully prevent an injury from occurring. However, as parents and daycare supervisors, we should continue to be vigilant and attempt to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. We send our children to school and daycare so that they will be constantly supervised and will learn something throughout the day. Children only need a few seconds without supervision to get into a situation that could be life threatening. Children are not fully developed and a severe injury during childhood could impact their growth and development for the rest of their life.
It is therefore extremely important that daycares and schools alike recognize the risks inherent in certain settings and take the necessary steps to mitigate injuries throughout the playground and daycare/school.
Courageous Litigation for Maximized Recoveries
For more than thirteen years, our top law firm has helped victims seek recoveries for child injury accidents. Our law firm regularly accepts tough, challenging, and high-stakes cases that others simply turn down or shy away from. In our time serving the greater Arkansas area, the experienced Little Rock child injury attorneys at the Law Office of Thomas G. Buchanan have consistently averaged a recovery figure of over half a million dollars. This fact alone helps illustrate the tenacity and integrity that our child injury attorneys carry with them into the courtroom — for every client, every day.
Serious child injuries demand serious litigation. The pain and suffering after one of these accidents can last a lifetime; victims and families will need a total compensation figure that will continue to provide for them, long after their incident took place. Contact the experienced Little Rock child injury attorneys at our law firm today. With our unparalleled legal expertise, we can help you towards a maximum recovery for your child’s injury. Our law office can be reached at 501.296.9820. Alternatively, you can contact us via e-mail and we will respond to you in a timely manner.
Our courageous, caring, and committed attorneys are here for you in this hard time. Please call or contact us today.