Do Children Get Injured More Frequently Than Adults?

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized As A Best Lawyer of America, Is Ready to Defend Children and Adults in Buffalo, New York, and the Western New York Area Who Have Been Victims of Personal Injury Accidents.

Accidents are a part of daily life. According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), every year, an average of 12,000 children between the ages of 0 and 19 die from accidental injuries. In comparison, the number of unintentional deaths seen annually in both children and adults is roughly 169,000. According to these findings, the amount of fatal injuries from accidents is much greater for adults than for children. However, there are certain factors that put children at greater risk for personal injury than adults.

Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a New York Super Lawyer, is well acquainted with the often-calamitous effects of personal injury. He has represented countless clients over the years, attaining over $175,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for his personal injury clients. If you believe that you or a loved one have been injured in Buffalo, New York, do not hesitate to reach out to the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form.

Child Vs. Adult Injury Statistics

The CDC’s Childhood Injury Report contained a breakdown of facts regarding fatal and non-fatal injuries among children between the ages of 0-19. This report found that for deadly injuries:

1. Males have a higher death and injury rate than females, almost double;
2. Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death involving children between the ages of 5 and 19;
3. Pedestrian and bicycle deaths involving children are extremely high;
4. Death due to suffocation accounted for two-thirds of the fatalities for children under the age of 1; and
5. For children aged 1-4, drowning was the leading cause of death.

A staggering 9.2 million children are admitted to emergency rooms for accidental injuries each year.

1. Again, males had a higher rate of non-fatal injuries compared to females;
2. Injuries sustained as a result of falls were the most common cause of emergency room visits, with over 50% involving children under the age of 1; and
3. Bites, stings, blunt force trauma, and injuries sustained while riding in a motor vehicle were among the most common causes of non-fatal injuries for children between 0-19.

For over twenty years, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has successfully represented individuals in personal injury cases throughout the Western New York area. Today, he is regarded to be a Best Lawyer of America and has obtained at least $1,000,000 or more 38 times to compensate his clients for their injuries. To receive your free consultation, call us now at 716-839-3939. Our team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

Types of Childhood Injuries

While it may seem to be an obvious observation, children differ from adults in many developmental ways. As children develop, they are continually exploring and testing the world around them. One-year-olds grab whatever they can reach, pre-schoolers are more prone to falls. As children enter the school years, they are constantly engaged in increasingly risky behaviors such as bicycle riding, participating in sports, and learning to drive.

Because children are at a partial developmental stage, the types of injuries they sustain are different. The following information from The Royal Children’s Hospital website summarizes the injuries commonly seen in children:

1. Throat or Airway Injuries: Damage to the nose or throat can impede a child’s ability to breathe. Depending on their age, such an injury can be moderate to severe in terms of the medical attention required. A teen with a bloody nose is likely to be fine, whereas an infant, who requires their nasal passages to breathe, should not be ignored.
2. Chest and Abdominal Injuries: Injuries to the ribs or abdomen can lead to serious medical issues involving the internal organs, which are not as well protected in children as they are in adults. Any bruising or pain reported by a child should not be ignored, as it could be an indication of hidden internal damage.
3. Head and Neck Injuries: A child’s spine does not finish developing until adolescence. Because of this, they are at greater risk for injuries to the head, neck, or spine, especially children under the age of 8. Adults, with their sufficiently developed muscle and bone structures, are not in the same risk bracket.

While children are less likely than adults to sustain broken bones, due to the soft nature of their developing skeletal structure, they can nevertheless be injured. It is vital that children engaging in contact sports, bicycling, and even riding in cars use proper protective equipment.

Accident Prevention for Your Child

For as many dangers as there are present in the world, there is an equal number of resources for safeguarding your child’s life. Action steps can be taken in almost any instance to ensure that your life and the lives of your loved ones are protected to whatever extent possible. For example, on the playground, be on the lookout for things that are potential trip hazards, such as branches, rocks, or holes. For children engaged in sports, be certain they are using equipment that is in good condition and appropriate for them. While swimming, never leave your child unsupervised and take the time to ensure that they are fitted with a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest.

For a complete list of action steps to prevent childhood accidents, visit the CDC Child Injury Prevention Page. In addition to this resource, the CDC has developed a National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention, with the combined goal of increasing public awareness of injuries in children and taking action to implement solutions to decrease the number of child injury cases every year.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has been operating throughout Buffalo, New York for over a decade, and in that period has represented countless personal injury claims. If you are looking for a team of dedicated, hardworking, and skilled lawyers to represent you, the Dietrich Law Firm, P.C., is your top choice. For more information on how we might best represent you, call us today at 716-839-3939.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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