Springfield, MO (PRWEB) May 25, 2012
Missouri personal injury attorneys at Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave say a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report released on April 16, 2012 reveals a startling number of child fatalities in the United States as a result of accidental injuries.
The report released last month states that more than 9,000 children died in 2009 in the United States due to injuries from accidents. The agency stated that child poisoning death rates were nearly double, with a 91% increase among youth ages 15 – 19, mainly due to prescription drug overdoses. The CDC also reported that suffocation rates greatly increased, with 54% more reported suffocation among infants under 1 year old.
CDC statistics show that each year in the U.S., emergency rooms treat over 200,000 kids 14 and younger for playground injuries. Nearly half of all playground accident injuries are internal injuries, broken bones, amputations, concussions and dislocations. Approximately 75% of non-fatal injuries involving playground equipment happen on public playgrounds, such schools and childcare centers. The CDC also states that, from 1990 to 2000, 147 children under 14 suffered fatal playground accident injuries. Of those, 82 died from child strangulation accidents and 31 were child deaths from falling onto a playground surface, with 70% of those youth fatalities taking place on home playgrounds.
Missouri personal injury attorneys Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave say they know it is vital for parents and caregivers to be aware that there are many causes of childhood fatalities. Between 2000 and 2005, CDC statistics show that, most childhood deaths up to age 19 involved children in car accidents, with child drownings, child pedestrian deaths or “child dart-outs” and suffocations the next most common child fatalities.
Families should also know that if their child was injured, owners of property where the injury took place can and should be held accountable. “A hazardous condition that results in injuries to children can create complicated premises liability cases,” the lawyers explain, “because children’s abilities to comprehend danger in advance can vary depending on their age. It is crucial for a property owner to attend to the maintenance, gates and fencing and operation of any area likely to be visited by a child, such as a swimming pool, playground equipment or an animal enclosure.”
Injuries to children can be both physical and psychological and can occur in all types of situations. Kids bitten by dogs and emotionally traumatized kids may suffer their injuries in private homes, gardens, schools and childcare centers. Parents who put their kids in daycare should be especially cautious, always checking to make sure it is a fully licensed facility with a good reputation.
About Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave
Missouri personal injury attorneys Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave are based in Springfield, but serve all of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave, Attorneys & Counselors at Law, provides quality representation in a variety of legal areas, including personal injury, workers compensation, premises liability, dog bites and more. Call the firm at (800) 887-4030 or visit http://www.tbmlaw.com.