Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Public playgrounds are a vital part of a child’s growth, both socially and physically.  Unfortunately, playground injuries are very real.  They happen every day and they can be quite serious.  The proof is in the numbers.  

In fact, the CDC reports that more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger are rushed to the emergency room annually for accidents that take place on a playground.  Roughly 90,000 of those injuries are severe.  Children suffer fractures, concussions, internal injuries, dislocations and in some instances even amputations. 

Approximately 75% of nonfatal accidents occur on public playgrounds with the majority of these occurring at schools and daycare centers.  In some instances these playground accidents result in fatalities.  In the ten year span between 1990 and 2000, 147 children died on playgrounds.  Fifty-six percent of these deaths were the result of strangulation and 31% happened because of a fall on a playground surface.  The vast majority of these deaths occurred at a play area at home.

 Defective playground equipment, a lack of protective safety procedures as well as negligent supervision are just some of the claims that could be filed on behalf of a family’s legal counsel. 

Because many playgrounds accidents do take place on school property during daytime hours there are legal challenges that may inhibit a claim even for a very serious injury to be filed.  It is in your best interest and the interest of your child to seek the counsel of an experienced Florida Child Injury attorney as early as possible after an accident has taken place.

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