Playgrounds are hives of activity, filled with excited children who often do not understand the hazards at local parks. Although there are strict laws aimed at making playgrounds as safe as possible, all it takes is one slip, trip or fall to cause a serious injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that more than 100,000 children aged 14 and younger are treated for fractures and lacerations every year due to playground injuries. Up to 20,000 children are treated for symptoms of traumatic brain injury after playground accidents. According to data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 1.7 million children aged 14 and younger were rushed to the emergency department for injuries sustained on playgrounds between 2001 and 2008. The CPSC reports that the most common causes of injuries on playgrounds are:
- Falls;
- Poor design or assembly of equipment;
- Collisions with other children; and
- Getting trapped by equipment.
If your child was injured at a playground in Nevada, contact Ed Bernstein & Associates. A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages.
Ed Bernstein & Associates has helped more than 200,000 Nevadans who have reached out for help. Call 702-240-0000 to schedule a free initial consultation.
4 Ways to Keep Your Children Safe on Playgrounds
No parent wants to see a child sustain an injury. Although certain accidents are out of your control, there are steps you can take to protect your children at playgrounds. The National Program for Playground Safety created the S.A.F.E. checklist to help parents safeguard their kids against playground injuries. The acronym stands for:
- Supervise: Carefully supervise your children at the playground;
- Age Appropriate: Only allow your children to use playgrounds that are designed for their age group;
- Fall Surfacing: Check that the playground has adequate fall surfacing; and
- Equipment: Evaluate the playground’s equipment for sharp corners, loose bolts, poor maintenance and other hazards.
- NPSI Warns Parents to Look for These “Dirty Dozen” Dangers on Playgrounds
The National Playground Safety Institute evaluated the most common causes of playground injuries and outlined the “dirty dozen” dangers that parents should look for at playgrounds:
- Dangerous fall zones;
- Entrapment hazards;
- Entanglement hazards;
- Tripping hazards;
- Negligent equipment spacing;
- Age-inappropriate activities;
- Insufficient protective surfacing;
- Poor supervision;
- Lack of guardrails;
- Insufficient maintenance;
- Inappropriate equipment for public playgrounds; and
- Pinching and cutting hazards.
If your child was injured at a playground, contact a Las Vegas accident attorney from Ed Bernstein & Associates. A personal injury lawyer will guide you through the claims process and aggressively represent your interests. Our office is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 702-240-0000 to schedule a free initial consultation.