Ohio child accident statistics PART 2 | Ohio kids accident attorneys

Bicycle accidents

As all parents know, children also face dangers when riding their bicycles. Of the incidents reported in Ohio, 486 children through the age of 15 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2007, according to the Department of Public Safety. Two of those accidents were fatal.

Injuries attributed to bicycle accidents dropped off in 2007 for children over the age of 16, perhaps because children that age don’t ride their bikes as much once they reach driving age.

Across the United States, 15 percent of all bicyclists killed and 29 percent of those injured in 2007 were under the age of 16, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That number actually has fallen pretty dramatically compared to statistics compiled for 1997. That year, 31 percent of all bicyclists killed and 44 percent of those injured were under 16 years old.

Those numbers may have dropped because of the increased emphasis on having children wear bicycle helmets. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 85 percent, according to the NHTSA. Brain injuries can be cut by 88 percent through helmet use, the national organization found.

Dog bites

Unfortunately, we often see the devastating consequences that can result from dog bites. We’ve seen injuries ranging from scars our clients will bear on their faces for the rest of their lives to wounds so deep that muscle and ligaments were exposed. Obviously the bites and resulting medical treatment are painful. But being attacked by a dog also can be tremendously scary, particularly if the victim is a child.

In the United States, approximately 800,000 people a year suffer injuries from dog bites that are significant enough to require medical treatment, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children are particularly vulnerable. Of the dog-bite victims needing medical attention, half are children, the CDC found. Kids between the ages of 5 and 9 years old experienced the most bites, according to the CDC.

Some bites, while painful, require little recovery time. Others, though, cause damage to muscles, broken bones, and serious disfigurement. Victims with serious injuries may face numerous physical therapy sessions and multiple surgeries. Children, particularly those with facial scars, may have to endure a number of scar-revision surgeries as they grow up.

We don’t present these numbers in order to frighten you. Rather, we think they show just how vulnerable our kids are. Again, knowledge is power. If we have a better understanding of how our kids get hurt, maybe we can take steps to prevent those injuries. Of course, none of us can completely insulate our children from harm. If you’re reading this book because your child was injured or killed, we hope you’ll find some answers that might help you during this difficult period.

If your child has been injured in an Ohio accident, you need information. Contact our office today to order your FREE copy of Little Kids, Big Accidents to learn your rights. Our Toledo, Ohio child accident lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we have six locations in northwest Ohio where we can meet with you – for free – to discuss your case.