Window Falls Cause Serious Personal Injury to Many Children
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys read with interest a new study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy that has revealed a frightening statistic: each year in the United States alone, approximately 5,200 children sustain injuries in falls from windows.
That’s roughly 14 children every day who suffer injuries from window falls. Although on the surface windows may seem like an obvious hazard for small children, many parents may not be aware of the seriousness of the risks involved and the damage that may occur.
According to the study’s senior author, Gary Smith, MD, PhD, one out of every four children in the study was hospitalized as a result of the fall from the window, and two-thirds of these injuries occurred among children younger than five years-old. Younger children are at the highest risk and suffer more brain injuries than older children. These accidents have the potential to be devastating.
This study is the first of its kind, demonstrating the potential and consequences of these injuries nationwide. Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy collected and analyzed data from emergency rooms across the country from 98,415 injured in window falls between 1990 and 2008.
The study further suggests that the problem is not just limited to urban high-rise structures, and showed that many children were harmed in falls from first- and second-story windows. In fact, One- and two-story falls made up 94 percent of the cases where the height of the fall was recorded. "This is more than just a big-city problem," said Smith.
In order to solve this problem, public awareness needs to be raised, and steps need to be taken to prevent falls. Our Chicago injury lawyers know that home and property owners have a responsibility for maintaining the safety of their homes; it’s what’s known as premises liability law, and it covers injuries that occur on the property, including falls from windows. Once people become aware of the potential danger of window falls, they can take the steps necessary to prevent the falls from occurring. Parents should warn children of the dangers of sitting or standing near windows, and can purchase window guards for their own homes to avoid falls.
If you or someone you love has a child who has suffered injuries from a fall from a window, our Illinois personal injury attorneys may be able to help you better understand your rights.
Falls from windows can be a devastating occurrence, but with careful precautionary tactics, they don’t have to happen to you.
