Children are the most prone to accidents overall, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). They also state that there are approximately 40,000 injuries to children on playgrounds each year which result in a hospital visit. Due to this, there are some children’s accidents that are more common than others.
Common Children’s Accidents
Common children’s accidents can include:
- Cycling accidents
- Playground accidents
- Home accidents
- Injuries from a faulty or dangerous toy or product
Cycling Accidents
A bike accident can happen for all sorts of reasons. However, in our experience, the most common children’s cycling accident claims include hit and run, any slippery road or pavement conditions due to oil spills, ice and snow, and injuries relating to faulty bicycle parts or repairs.
Many cyclists do not realise that, if a bike accident that was someone else’s fault, they can claim compensation.
Playground Accidents
There are many causes of playground accidents. Sometimes, it is the child’s fault, or it is a by-product of playing. These are accidents that cannot be claimed for. However, if the accident was caused by faulty or unsafe playground equipment, then there may be grounds for a claim.
The main cause of accidents due to unsafe playground equipment is poorly maintained equipment. Other causes include broken equipment, poor equipment design, failure to comply to safety standards, poor layout of equipment, incorrect installation, and poor installation.
Home Accidents
Children are amongst the most likely to have accidents in the home. You may think that if your child has an accident in your home that you may not be able to make a claim. There are a few instances where there are grounds to make a claim. These instances include claiming for faulty products, claiming against a contractor whose work has caused an accident, or an accident that has been caused by negligence on the part of your landlord.
Common reasons that an accident may be the fault of your landlord if you live in rented accommodation include:
- Poor lighting
- Defective outdoor steps or indoor stairs
- Ripped carpets
- Loose or missing floorboards
- Broken or loose paving stones
Claiming on Behalf of A Child
If a child has an accident, then a parent or guardian may be able to make a claim on their behalf. Any compensation received is put into a special fund or trust for the child to access when they turn 18. Or managed by trustees to cover the cost of caring for a child with a disability sustained as the result of their injury.
Usually in personal injury cases, there is a three-year time limit to make a claim. however, this is not the case if a child has an accident. In that case, a parent or guardian can make a claim on their behalf until they turn 18, and after that, they have until they turn 21 to make a claim for themselves.
How We Can Help With Common Children’s Accidents
Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with all manner of personal injury claims. This includes children’s accidents. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.