The summer months are a welcome respite from school and required activities for many kids, as well as for parents in the Santa Fe area. Yet summertime can also come with various personal injury risks, and many of those injuries result from the negligence of other parties. It is important for parents and caregivers to learn about summertime injuries affecting kids, to take steps to avoid serious injuries, and to understand what to do when a child does suffer a personal injury as a result of another person’s careless or reckless behavior. Our Santa Fe personal injury attorneys have some information to help.
What Summer Injuries are Most Common?
Some types of warm-weather injuries impacting kids are more common than others. According to Medstar Health, the following are some of the most frequent kinds of injuries that impact children:
- Bicycle accidents and injuries: Children of all ages can be injured in bicycle accidents and at any time of the year, but bicycle accident injuries tend to increase in the summer when younger children and teens are on summer vacation and are spending significantly more time on bicycles. Bicycle accident injuries can vary widely, from cuts and scrapes to bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries. Depending upon the particular facts of the case, bicycle injuries could result from hazards on premises where kids are riding or negligent motorists who fail to keep a lookout for kids on bikes in neighborhoods.
- Playground accident injuries: Kids can suffer serious fall-related injuries on playgrounds in the summer, including falls from heights and trips and falls on the ground level. It is important for kids to be properly supervised on playgrounds to avoid injuries.
- Drowning accidents and injuries: Drowning is a serious injury issue affecting children in the summer months. When kids wander onto properties with pools—especially young children—they can drown. Even kids who are left unmonitored in a pool for a short amount of time can suffer injuries from drowning. It is critical to ensure that kids do not have access to nearby pools without supervision and that children are properly monitored at all times while swimming.
- Trampoline accident injuries: Similar to drowning accidents associated with pools, trampolines are often “attractive nuisances” in backyards. Kids might wander onto the property or sneak in because they see the trampoline. When children are not properly supervised on a trampoline, they can suffer serious injuries.
- Sports-related injuries: Playing sports in the summer can result in concussions, bone fractures, severe sunburns, and heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Coaches and other related parties have a duty to ensure that safety measures are taken so that kids are not injured.
Liability for Child Injuries in the Summer
Liability for summertime child injuries will depend upon the particular circumstances, but various parties may be responsible, such as:
- Negligent motor vehicle driver;
- Negligent property owner who failed to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe manner or to prevent children from accessing pools or trampolines;
- Negligent daycare provider or other caregiver who failed to properly monitor a child; or
- Negligent coaches who fail to take safety precautions during sports practices and games.
Seek Advice From a Santa Fe Personal Injury Attorney
If you have questions about filing a personal injury claim, one of our experienced Santa Fe personal injury lawyers can speak with you today about your case. Contact Slate Stern Law for more information.