Keeping Your Child Safe During Their Most Formative Years
Injury continues to be the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Many of these injuries are preventable, caused by inattention or inexperience. The more that you know about common childhood injuries, the more likely you can prevent a tragedy when an accident happens.
If your child is injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation. At Hagelgans & Veronis, we can help you obtain the recovery you and your child deserve. Our lawyers have secured millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims throughout Pennsylvania. Contact our office today at (717) 604-9670 to discuss your case with an experienced member of our legal team. All consultations are free.
Common Types of Child Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 7,000 children between the ages of 0-19 died from unintentional injuries in 2019.
Common unintentional childhood injuries:
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Poisoning
- Fires
- Suffocation
- Drowning
- Falls
Car accidents resulted in the most unintentional injury deaths among children overall, but suffocation was the most common for children under 1-year-old. Children aged 1-4 were more likely to die in a drowning accident, compared with other forms of unintentional injuries.
Child Injury Statistics
The CDC states that while child unintentional injury death rates decreased 11% in the nine years from 2010-2019, around 20 children still die each day.
As reported by the CDC:
- During 2018-2019, child unintentional injury death rates were highest for males, babies under 1-year-old, and teens 15-19.
- Suffocation death rates increased by 20% from 2010 to 2019.
- The number of black children killed by poisoning and drug overdoses rose 37% from 2010 to 2019.
- There was a 9% increase in car accident death rates among black children during the same time period.
- Unintentional injury death rates were higher in rural areas compared to metro and urban areas.
The statistics are shocking and devastating. Thousands of children die from preventable, unintentional injuries each year.
Ways to Keep Your Child Safe
The CDC recommends several safety tips for keeping children free from harm. Prevention strategies include ensuring that an infant is in a safe sleep environment to prevent accidental suffocation. The agency also encourages the proper use of car seats and seat belts to help reduce the number of kids killed in car accidents each year.
When to Hire an Attorney
In some cases, a person or party may be held liable for a child’s death. Examples of wrongful death include when another driver caused an accident that resulted in your child’s harm or when a manufacturer allows a dangerous and defective product to make it to consumers.
In these instances, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you understand your rights and determine whether you should pursue a claim for damages.
Get the Legal Representation You Need
If your child was injured or killed as the result of someone else’s negligence, contact our office at (717) 604-9670 for a free consultation. Our legal team will explain your legal options, including whether you should file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Do not wait; call now to get started.
