Chicago has countless playgrounds spanning the city, allowing children to run and jump with friends and burn off some of their never ending supply of energy. A typical parent sees a playground and does not think twice about sending her child to the swings, slides, or other equipment to have a little fun.
But every year, a number of children in Illinois are injured on playgrounds and in need of medical assistance, leaving their parents to wonder whether these accidents could have been avoided and who is responsible for the harm they caused.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 200,000 children ages 14 and under are so injured in playground accidents each year that they seek medical treatment in an emergency room or other urgent medical care setting. Among those victims, approximately 45 percent suffer from either severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, or amputations, statistics which reveal that when playground accidents take place, they are likely to cause extreme and potentially even permanent harm.
The setting of the playground may make a difference in terms of overall safety as roughly 3/4 of all injuries happen on public playgrounds with the remaining 1/4 of incidents happening on private property. Daycare settings continue to be the leading area where playground accidents happen and children ages five to nine are the group most likely to need emergency medical treatment following an incident on a playground.
When it comes to public playgrounds, activities related to climbing or being elevated above the ground are the most likely to cause harm while swings are the biggest issue facing children who use equipment at home.
Parents who are concerned about the safety of their kids while playing are encouraged to take some basic steps to reduce the risk of injuries and to keep their children as free from harm as possible. First, teach your children to act safely by reminding them that pushing, shoving, or crowding near equipment is never a good idea. Make sure they are dressed appropriately and that they are not wearing clothing that could become entangled on equipment, including loose outerwear, scarves, or necklaces. Also, do not let kids play on equipment that is not appropriate for their age group as young children often are hurt while playing in areas designed for older kids.
Finally, if anything looks to be poorly maintained or in disrepair, do not let your child play with it as a lack of maintenance is a leading factor in playground-related injuries across the country.
Kids will be kids and sometimes accidents will happen. But if an incident on a playground was caused by the improper maintenance, design, upkeep or control of playground equipment or if someone failed to properly watch children while they played, know that you and your child may have a valid claim for the damages suffered and for any harm that was caused. Speaking with a personal injury attorney may help you realize what options exist in your case.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. has helped many children over the years with claims for their injuries and if your child has been hurt on a playground, we want to help you as well. We offer a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation to all those who contact us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we have a licensed lawyer available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with you.
If your family is suffering after an injury to a child or minor, call us now or contact us online and let us help you get the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Death Toll on U.S. Highways Up 8 Percent in 2015, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published November 30, 2015.