Child Injury Attorney

Child Injury Attorney

Child Injuries in Illinois

Children are curious and are generally always running, jumping, playing and engaging in other physical things, which can make them prone to Crashes. This is particularly true because they have less knowledge and experience when it comes to everyday dangers and lack the sound judgment that many adults have. When a child is injured, his or her parents do have recourse if the injuries are the result of another’s recklessness or negligence.

By the Numbers

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that unintentional injuries are the leading cause of fatalities among children in the United States. In fact, children’s injuries are perhaps the most under-recognized dangers to public health in the nation. If you or someone you know has a child who has been hurt or killed as a result of the negligence or recklessness of another, contact the experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers at Owaynat Law today.

Data from the CDC reveals that a significantly large number of children in America suffer from non-fatal versus fatal injuries. More than 9.2 million children required emergency room care as a result of an unintentional injury suffered. For children between the ages of 1 and 19, males had a higher rate of injury than their female counterparts.

The types of injuries differed depending on the age group. Specifically, the leading cause of injuries for children under the age of 15 in America are slip and falls, accounting for about 2.8 million emergency room visits. For children between the ages of 0 and 9, on the other hand, the most common injuries included being struck by or against an object, animal bites, or insect stings. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 had injuries resulting from overexertion or being struck by an object. Finally, for children between the ages of 15 and 19 the most common types of injuries include falls, car Crashes as passengers, or being struck by or against an object.

Common Types of Child Crashes in Illinois

While the causes of children’s injuries can vary widely, there are many common causes of Crashes that involve child injuries in Illinois. The most common types of Crashes resulting in child injuries include:

• Dog bite attacks;
• Birth injuries;
• Bicycle Crashes;
• Amusement park Crashes;
• Daycare Crashes;
• Drowning Crashes;
• Defective product Crashes;
• Playground injuries;
• School-related injuries;
• Poisoning Crashes;
• Choking Crashs;
• Strangulation injuries;
• Suffocation injuries;
• Burn injuries;
• Slip and falls; and
• Trip and falls.

In many of the above scenarios, another party other than the injured child is responsible for causing the injuries suffered. When responsible parties do not take their duty of care seriously or act negligently and a child is harmed as a result, they can be held legally and financially liable by the child’s parents or guardians.

Common Child Injuries in Illinois Based on Studies

While the injuries a child may sustain in Illinois can be as unique as the type of crash that may cause the child harm, there are common types of injuries. These include:

• Burn injuries: Whether from chemicals, poisoning, a fire ,or other cause, these can result in long-lasting damage to the child including constant pain, scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma that can last long after the crash.
• Broken bones: These injuries can happen anywhere and at any time of the day, but are most commonly the result of a bicycle crash, car Crashes, or falls, and are a common injury that many children experience while growing up.
• Brain injuries: Harm to the brain can happen due to slipping and falling, tripping and falling, drowning, birth trauma, or being hit in the head by a blunt object. Depending on the severity of the brain injury, the symptoms can be difficult to treat, impair the child’s ability to function in day-to-day life, and last a lifetime.
• Scrapes, cuts, and bruises: Often times these injuries are minor, but if more serious, they can result in significant blood loss, require multiple stitches or sutures, and even be prone to dangerous infections that can later cause medical complications.
• Disfigurement or scarring: No matter the type of underlying crash that causes these injuries, they can affect a child’s quality of life not just physically but mentally, causing embarrassment at a minimum and possible long-lasting psychological issues.

Children’s Injuries Can Be Fatal

Sadly, sometimes children suffer injuries that result in their death. It is estimated that more than 12,000 children die each year in the United States due to unintentional injuries. According to research, the rate of death as well as the rate of injury for male children is twice as high as that of female children. The leading causes of fatal child injuries in America include Crashes that involve the children being passengers in car Crashes or as bicyclists. Other causes of fatal child injuries in the United States include suffocation for children under 1 year of age and drowning for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. Another frequent cause of child death, according to studies, is poisoning.

Child Injury Lawsuit Compensation Available in Illinois

Just like any other personal injury, monetary compensation can be sought on behalf of a child who has suffered injuries due to the fault of another, depending on the extent of the harm done. Examples of possible monetary damages available in a child injury lawsuit include:

• Past medical bills;
• Future medical costs;
• Costs for mental therapy;
• Physical therapy session costs;
• In-home care expenses;
• Tuition for special schools or special education;
• Modifications made to the home and/or vehicles to accommodate the child;
• Loss wages if a parent was forced to quit or reduced number of hours to care for the child;
• Pain and suffering;
• Emotional trauma and mental anguish; and
• Punitive damages, in rare cases.

In the event that the child’s injuries are fatal, the surviving family members may be entitled to additional monetary compensation in a Illinois wrongful death lawsuit, to include:

• Funeral and burial expenses;
• Medical bills from the date of the crash through death;
• Pain and suffering of the child prior to death;
• Emotional trauma suffered; and
• Loss of affection, love, relationship, and companionship.

Legal Help from first-rate Child Injury Lawyers in Illinois

As a parent, the greatest desire is to protect a child from harm. Unfortunately, Crashes occur that result in child injuries or sadly, even death. If your child has suffered harm due to the reckless or negligent behavior of another, do not try to deal with this alone. The skilled Illinois child injury lawyers at Owaynat Law will fight for your family. Contact us today at (773) 645-9997 or fill this form for FREE CONSULTATION.