Infants begin learning about their environment almost from the moment they are born. As they get older, babies begin crawling and then walking, frequently showing curiosity about the people and things they find. Unfortunately, while an infant’s curiosity is high, his understanding of danger is very low. As a result, infants face particular accident and injury risks that older children may be able to avoid.
According to Safe Kids USA, a recent study of 990 infants treated at hospital emergency rooms found that falls caused 61 percent of the infants’ injuries. Falling off furniture was most common. Falling out of a car seat was also common, and the risk of serious injuries increased dramatically if the child fell out of an improperly secured car seat during a crash. Even if a car seat is secured properly, infants are at a higher risk of head and neck injuries in a car crash than older children because their necks have not yet developed sufficiently to support the weight of their heads.
Burn injuries also account for a great number of infant injuries. Infants are at a greater risk of suffering serious burns than adults because their skin is more delicate. According to Safe Kids USA, an infant can suffer a serious burn in one-quarter of the time it takes an adult to suffer the same serious burn.
At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., we understand that nothing is more important than your family’s safety. If your child has been injured due the negligence of someone else, our New Hampshire child injury lawyers can help you protect your legal rights and seek the compensation you need to move forward. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (888) 332-5855.