As the weather grows warmer and summer vacation approaches, your child is probably spending more time playing outside than he or she did in previous months. Active outdoor play has a lot of benefits for children such as the physical exercise of running, climbing, and playing sports and the face-to-face interaction between children, an experience that many worry is being replaced by virtual interaction.
Playgrounds can be a great place for children to spend their outdoor hours. But like any other physical activity, playing on a playground comes with its risk of injury. Playground equipment needs to be regularly tested to ensure it is structurally sound and when problems are found, they should be addressed in a timely manner. Failing to safely maintain a playground can put children at risk of injuries, such as the following:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
In 2013, 30,000 children in the United States were treated for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Children between the ages of birth and four years are one of the age groups most likely to suffer from TBIs, and when a young child suffers a TBI, the effects of the injury can have a long-term impact on his or her cognitive development.
Severe Physical Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45% of playground injuries are considered to be severe injuries, which includes the following injury types:
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- Amputations;
- Dislocations;
- Concussions;
- Internal injuries; and
- Fractures.
Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children died in playground accidents. Most of these deaths occurred on home play sets, rather than public playgrounds. These deaths were primarily attributed to falls and strangulation.
Seeking Compensation for an Injured Minor
If your child suffers a playground injury, it is up to you to ensure that he or she
receives the medical care he or she needs. If the injury was due to another party’s failure to safely maintain the playground, consider seeking monetary compensation for your child’s damages through a personal injury claim. A minor cannot file his or her own personal injury claim. Familiarize yourself with the differences between a personal injury claim for an adult victim and one made on behalf of a minor in your state, which can include a different statute of limitations for filing the claim. Then, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the next steps in your child’s personal injury claim.
Work with a La Crosse Personal Injury Attorney
There are a lot of ways a child can be injured on the playground, some of which are due to a failure to safely maintain the playground equipment. If your child is suffering from an injury sustained in a playground accident, consider seeking monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about this process, speak with a member of our team of experienced personal injury lawyersat Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. Contact our firm today to set up your initial legal consultation with us.