LEADING CAUSES OF UNINTENTIONAL ACCIDENTS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Children are especially susceptible to dangerous situations because of their smaller size and untrained levels of cognitive development. In fact, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children under 19 years of age, resulting in approximately 12,000 fatalities and over nine million injuries each year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the estimated cost of these injuries is over $300 billion annually.
Types of Injuries among Children and Adolescents
Automobile injuries to child passengers is the leading cause of death in children aged 3-14 nationwide. In 2008, over 1,300 fatalities and over 193,000 injuries were reported for child occupants in vehicle collisions.
Drowning accidents are the second leading cause of death in children aged 14 years and younger. For each water related fatality, three children visit the hospital to be treated for near drowning.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death with children ages 15 to 24.
Child abuse and mistreatment subjects hundreds of thousands of children to abuse or neglect each year, usually by someone who the child is acquainted with such as a family member, teacher, or caregiver. It is speculated that survivors of child abuse are more at risk later on in life for addiction, depression, and suicide.
Playground safety causes over 200,000 children aged 14 years and younger to visit the emergency room each year for related injuries.
Poisoning is a hazard for children of all ages, but the most risky for children under the age of 6 years old.
Traumatic Brain Injury subjects over 400,000 emergency room visits in children between the ages of 0-14, and most of these ER visits are due to injuries sustained while riding a bicycle.
Teenage Drivers cause two out of five deaths in automobile accidents.
Falls are the leading cause of death in children under the age of fourteen. These accidents account for over one million emergency room visits each year among infants, toddlers, and children.
Burn accidents result in over 10,000 injuries each year, and one third of fire related deaths with children were due to children playing with fire.
Pedestrian injuries result in hundreds of child deaths each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 44,600 children were injured in 2000 due to pedestrian related accidents.
We Can Help You With Your Child’s Injury
If your child was hurt due to another person’s negligence, let the lawyers at Whitehead & Chiocca assist you with your case. Contact us today and we will provide a no hassle, no obligation review of your case so you don’t have to worry about getting your child the care that he or she needs.