Injuries for Children on the Rise

The temperature isn’t the only thing to rise during the spring and summer seasons— so do injuries to children. 

In a recent interview, Dr. Christopher Haines, Director of Emergency Medicine at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children told common injuries include kids getting hit with bats and balls, falls with ankle injuries, and orthopedic injuries and broken bones.  The doctor told the KYW Newsradio interviewer arm fractures are the most common as well as elbow fractures resulting from children falling off of playground equipment.

Dr. Haines also noted a rise in auto versus pedestrian accidents and reminds parents to revisit the topic of crossing a street safely with their children.

Here's some advice to keep your child safe outdoors:

• Choose playgrounds that have a bed of mulch or other padded material to cushion falls
• Make sure your child wears a helmet, wrist guards and elbow and knee pads for biking and rollerblading
• Teach your child to look both ways before crossing streets, driveways, or any other walkway where a car could be crossing into their path
• Tell children to play on sidewalks or in yards instead of streets or parking lots
• Make sure an adult supervises any activities or outdoor play, especially for younger children

The attorneys at Messa & Associates are experienced trial attorneys who have handled dozens of cases involving injuries to children.  We have obtained verdicts and settlements for families whose children sustained injuries on playgrounds, including a $5.75 million settlement awarded to the family of a 2-year-old who died as a result of injuries she suffered on a daycare playground.  For more information or if your child has been seriously injured, please contact us at 1-877-MessaLaw.