The recent murder of the two young Krim children by their nanny sent shock waves through the New York City community. A recent study shows that approximately 20 out of 100,000 children ages 0 – 12 die each year in the United States (many due to car accidents). Since New York City children do not travel in automobiles as frequently as most American kids, the death rate for NYC children is approximately 14 per 100,000. The study also shows that accidents — not homicide or illness — remain the most common cause of death in this age group.
Childhood injuries and fatalities generally occur due to the following:
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Blunt impact. Roughly 54% of child deaths are due to a blunt impact from an auto accident, a fall, or from being struck by a falling object, such as an unsecured piece of furniture in the home. Two months ago, an 18 month-old boy was killed when a fence that was propped up against a wall at a Long Island beach fell on him.
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Transportation accidents. 41% of child deaths occur in accidents involving motor vehicles — automobiles in particular. The majority of transportation accidents in New York City, however, involve child pedestrians.
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Drowning. Negligent lifeguards or poor swimming pool maintenance may lead to drowning and diving accidents.
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Playground injuries. The failure of the municipality or a business to maintain safe play equipment may lead to broken bones, head injuries and spinal cord damage.
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Day care, school and afterschool injuries and deaths. Programs and activities that are negligently supervised may lead to physical injuries or emotional damage.
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Unsafe environments. Unsafe environments may result in burns, electrocution, suffocation, weapons discharge and poisoning, among other injuries.
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Dog bites. Children under 10 years old are at the highest risk for dog bites, which often result in hospitalizations and reconstructive surgeries.
Treatment for injured children often involves expensive treatments, hospitalizations, medications and long-term therapy. The full extent of their injuries – including psychological trauma – may not be evident for many years. It is therefore crucial to have legal representation before accepting any settlement.
