These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

As a parent, you care about your child and you look out for their well-being. However, you may not be aware of which types of injuries occur the most often for Florida kids, and that’s something that can be the difference between avoiding an accident and spending time in the hospital.

Children are treated every day in US hospitals for all kinds of injuries. In fact, over 9 million children visit emergency rooms for injuries each year. In this post, we’re going to detail the most common injuries that happen to kids and what you can do to keep your child safe.

The most likely reasons that your child could need medical care for injuries are:

Choking

Since young children tend to put everything in their mouths as they explore the world, choking injuries are a constant threat in the first few years of life. Babies and toddlers need careful supervision, since unlikely items can get into their mouths in mere seconds. Be sure to keep all small items out of reach.

Mealtimes present choking hazards to children of all ages. You must avoid giving hard foods like candies, raw carrots, or nuts to children under the age of six, since those foods present particular dangers for children without molars. Until your child can cut his or her own food into small pieces, do that job for them.

Drowning

With all the access to water in Florida, it’s essential for parents to train children in water safety from a very young age. Drowning is the number one reason for death among children between the ages of one and four years. You must be vigilant any time your child is near water, no matter how shallow the water may be.

Even an inch of water is enough for a small child to drown in. Do not allow your young child to be near water without constant supervision. Make sure that pool gates and doors are locked and not able to be opened by a child. Also lock pool covers when the pool is not being used, because even older children can drown if they get trapped under the cover.

Boca Raton Swimming Pool Accidents

As soon as your child is old enough, sign him or her up for swimming instructions. Kids must always wear a vest when on a boat, and you must supervise them closely when you are out on the water. Teach your child water safety habits to minimize the risk of drowning.

Falls

Children love to climb, whether it’s on playground equipment or trees. Many love to ride bikes and explore the outdoors. Unfortunately, these childhood times of delight also present countless falling dangers. Since falls are the top reason for injuries to children under the age of 15, it’s important to teach your children safety measures to prevent falls.

Start inside your home. You can prevent slip and fall injuries by removing loose rugs and keeping floors free from clutter.

When outdoors, choose playgrounds with a bouncy surface to minimize injury. Insist that your child wear a bike helmet on every ride.

You can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury with these precautionary measures.

Poisoning

The family medicine cabinet is a common source of poisoning in Florida homes. Keep your medicine cabinet secured and monitor its contents on a regular basis.

Household chemicals can also poison children. Place toxic chemicals out of your child’s reach and make sure they are clearly labeled as hazardous. Teach your child which chemicals must be avoided to prevent poisoning.

Sports Injuries

Your child will likely experience minor injuries like bruises or sprains while playing sports at some point. Some sports injuries, like concussions or ligament tears, can require physical therapy, surgery, or other ongoing treatments. It’s important to seek medical treatment for sports injuries, whether they’re major or minor.

Your child will be safer if he or she is hydrated and well-rested before engaging in any strenuous physical activity. Make sure that your child has frequent breaks and takes time off between seasons to prevent injuries.

Suffocation

Babies under one year of age are in the highest risk group for suffocation. You must properly place your child in a crib with no blankets, toys, or other objects to prevent suffocation.

It’s also essential to keep plastic bags away from babies and toddlers, who can suffocate in mere moments if not supervised.

Boca Raton Child Injury & Accident Attorney

Obviously, these are just some of the many, many different ways kids can get hurt. Toys can be defective and result in harm. They can be in car crashes. The list goes on and on. All you can really do is be aware of the most likely injury scenarios and prepare both yourself and your children so that they engage in safe practices.

 

 

About the Author: 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

Well-Known Sports Fan Injuries – and How Floridians Can Fight Back

Well-Known Sports Fan Injuries – and How Floridians Can Fight Back 1 Sports Venue/Stadium Injuries South Florida Injury Law Firm

Last year, a young fan was seriously injured when struck by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium. What happened?

A 2-year-old girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap while attending a game. She was struck in the eye by a 105-mile-per-hour fastball, which spun off the bat of Todd Frazier. The little girl spent more than a week in intensive care.

After the incident – and others – Major League Baseball faced pressure to put more restraints in place to protect fans from foul balls. In 2018, all 30 teams placed protective netting all the way into the outfield – but are those changes really enough to protect you?

In this post, we’ll recount a number of well-known sports fan injuries, then discuss what you can do to fight back if you are injured while watching the team you love.

Famous Fan Injuries Over the Years

Unfortunately, the 2-year-old fan mentioned above isn’t the only one who has made headlines with a sports venue injury. Here are other stories that made the news over the years:

2013

A woman was struck in the face with a hockey puck at a Blackhawks game.

Thirty fans were injured during a car crash at the Daytona International Speedway.

2011

A man was permanently injured when a foul ball struck him in the eye at Yankee Stadium.

A fan died after reaching for a foul ball at a Texas Rangers game.

2009

Seven fans were injured when a car flipped over at the Talladega Superspeedway.

2008

A broken bat broke a woman’s jaw at Dodger Stadium.

2002

A girl died after being struck in the head by a flying hockey puck at a Columbus Blue Jackets game.

1999

Three fans died and eight others were injured after a crash occurred at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

1998

After a crash at the Michigan International Speedway, three fans died and six others were injured.

1970

A man died four days after being hit in the head by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium.

Sports Venue Injuries are Premises Liability Cases in Florida

Well-Known Sports Fan Injuries – and How Floridians Can Fight Back 2 Sports Venue/Stadium Injuries South Florida Injury Law Firm

If you are injured as a fan at a Florida sporting event, who can you hold responsible? A skilled attorney will know which parties you can expect to compensate you for your injuries.

The owner of the sports arena has a duty to provide a reasonably safe experience for you as a patron. This duty is referred to as premises liability if any harm comes to you due to the property owner’s negligence. If you are injured because a property owner failed to provide reasonable protection for you, you may be eligible to file a premises liability lawsuit.

There are three basic reasons for premises liability claims in sports venues. If you experience injury due to a falling object, a flying object, or a slip and fall under unreasonable conditions, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent party.

The property owner has a duty to correct any known hazards, post warnings of dangerous conditions, and prevent known dangers within reasonable expectations.

Elements of a Florida Premises Liability Case

Duty is only one of four required elements in a successful premises liability case. Your lawyer will need to prove that the other party breached the duty, which caused your injuries and created damages. All four parts must be involved: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

For example, if the owner of a baseball venue did not fix a hole in the netting within a reasonable period, you could file a claim if a foul ball flew through the hole and injured you, resulting in medical bills. The owner’s failure to fix the netting creates an obligation to you for civil damages.

Negligence on part of the other party is key to a successful case. The other party must have acted unlawfully or wrongly to cause your injury.

Get Legal Assistance for Your Florida Sports Fan Injury

Premises liability cases can be complicated and challenging to win. You can expect the sports venue to resist taking responsibility and paying compensation. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney will fight for the compensation you deserve.

You may be able to file a case for the following:

Well-Known Sports Fan Injuries – and How Floridians Can Fight Back 3 Sports Venue/Stadium Injuries South Florida Injury Law Firm

  • Medical bills related to the accident
  • Lost income
  • Permanent disfigurement or impairment
  • Projected future medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish

A skilled lawyer will be able to go over the unique facts of your case and tell you what your options are. Call today for a free consultation. 

 About the Author: 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.