The back-to-school season adds a lot of stress on parents, particularly those faced with the tasks of shopping for school supplies and clothes. According to SafeKidsUSA – a national organization focused on preventing accidental injuries to children – 40 percent of all pediatric injuries take place at the beginning and end of the school year.
Furthermore, SafeKidsUSA says nearly 70 percent of these injuries occur on public playgrounds. Christopher M. Davis, child injury attorney and founder of the Davis Law Group in Seattle, says prevention of these injuries starts with parent education and planning.
“The fact that so many of these injuries are taking place at public playgrounds tells us that these injuries are preventable,” says Davis, who has represented countless families pursuing child injury claims in Washington State. “Typically, adults are supervisors at playgrounds and therefore the focus should be on their education and prevention of dangerous activities.”
SafeKidsUSA also notes that 70 percent of all playground injuries involve a child falling to the surface and 10 percent involve a fall onto equipment. Because children are more susceptible to damaging their growth plates, falls present an even greater risk of serious injury.
In Sammamish, WA, a 4-year-old girl died on August 28 while she was playing on a playground unsupervised. Davis says that this is just one example of preventable accidents that result in devastation and tragedy for families and loved ones.
“These are the most disheartening stories to hear about. It may not be an easy task, but all parents need to make sure their children are monitored by adults when they’re playing on playgrounds,” Davis added. “Since approximately 80 percent of injuries on the playground are falls, adult supervisors have an opportunity to prevent these situations by enforcing safe behavior among children.”
In addition to serving as the principal attorney and founder of the Davis Law Group, Mr. Davis has authored several books on personal injury law. These legal guides, part of the Washington Accident Books series, have provided assistance to accident victims throughout Washington State for years. As a public service to the parents of injured children in his home state, Davis will provide a free copy of his book, “Little Kids, Big Accidents: What Every Parent Should Know About Children & Accidents” free of charge for a limited time. Those interested in ordering a complimentary copy should visit http://www.WashingtonAccidentBooks.com or call 206-727-4000.
About Chris Davis
Christopher M. Davis, founder of the Davis Law Group, has been a licensed attorney in the state of Washington since 1993. He has tried dozens of personal injury cases to verdict and has successfully handled and resolved hundreds of accident claims. He has been a Washington Super Lawyer' for seven years in a row for his expertise and success in litigating personal injury claims. You can learn more about the firm by visiting: http://www.DavisLawGroupSeattle.com.