Child Injury Statistics & Victims’ Rights
No accident, injury, or illness is welcome or easy to handle. When children are involved, however, emotions tend to run high and parents and families can become easily overwhelmed, frightened, and frustrated. At the Loewy Law Firm, Austin personal injury attorney Adam Loewy knows that families who are forced to endure the difficulties of these experiences require compassionate support and attentive legal representation. These cases can be immensely delicate, and while families deserve to be treated with personalized attention, they also demand aggressive representation to ensure that justice is served, at-fault parties are held accountable for their actions, and full and fair compensation is recovered.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), child injuries are a global problem. While many of these injuries are simply unavoidable, there are many instances in which child injuries could have been prevented. As reported in statistics compiled by the World Health Organization, many of these preventable injuries occur in the home or in leisure environments, largely as the result of dangerous and / or defective products.
DEFECTIVE CHILDREN’S TOYS & PRODUCTS
Toys and children’s products cause a large percentage of child injuries and fatalities. Anyone who may stay current with the news may notice that children’s toys and products – including cribs and car seats – are recalled frequently. These products may have tiny parts that detach too easily and create choking hazards. Others may pose risks for electrocution and suffocation. There are also many products that have been made with harmful or toxic materials.
In a report published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), statistics confirm that toy-related deaths and injuries involving children under the age of 15 still occur with alarming frequency. In 2011, there were 13 reported toy-related deaths, several of which were caused by asphyxiation and drowning. During the same year, there were also an estimated 262,300 child toy injuries that required emergency hospital treatment.
Whatever the particular toy or product may be, parents purchase items for their children with the assumption that they are safe for their intended use. When these products are defectively designed or manufactured – or when they contain marketing defects that fail to warn consumers of potential hazards – risks for child injuries can significantly increase. Generally, companies that make child products available to the public are legally required to ensure that their products are safe and that they do not cause preventable harm to children.
When children are injured by unsafe toys or products, parents and families have every right to explore their legal options. At the Loewy Law Firm, we welcome parents and families whose son or daughter may have suffered an injury or wrongful death as the result of a defective toy or product and offer our unwavering support as we guide them through the personal injury claim process. By reviewing the unique case, conducting investigations, and determining how a manufacturer can be held liable for causing harm, our firm can ensure that young victims and their loved ones obtain justice and the compensation they need and deserve.
If you wish to learn more about filing a personal injury claim for a child injury relating to toys or children’s products, please feel free to contact an Austin product liability lawyer form the Loewy Law Firm.