With the summer months upon us, and a considerable level of limitations upon us all because of the COVID-19 pandemic, children are left to entertain themselves in more basic ways. This includes taking to the streets on their bicycles. Each day, kids from coast to coast will be jumping on their bikes with the intent of enjoyable times. Unfortunately, research studies reveal that each year hundreds of thousands of children are injured in bike accidents, sometimes seriously so. Moreover, an alarming number of these bicycle accidents and associated injuries could have been – indeed, should have been – avoided.
Child Bicycle Accidents by the Numbers
As mentioned a moment ago, a disturbing number of U.S. children are injured in bike accidents every year. Over the course of a decade, a shocking 2.2 million children between the ages of five and 17 were treated in emergency rooms across the country. One average, 600 children were admitted to emergency departments daily as a result of injuries sustained because of bicycle accidents. That averages 25 injured children rushed to emergency departments every hour.
Half of all bicycle accident injuries involving children were to kids between the ages of 10 to 14. 66 percent of the accidents and injuries involved boys.
Most Common Injuries Sustained by Kids in Bike Accidents
According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital the most commonplace injuries sustained by children in bike accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Fractures
- Internal injuries
- Cuts, bruises, scrapes
Traumatic brain injuries account for 11 percent of injuries sustained by children as the result of bike accidents.
Underlying Causes of Bike Accidents and Injuries
Another important fact to bear in mind about bike accidents and injuries involving children is that there oftentimes are underlying causes not connected to the conduct or actions of the biking kids. For example, the underlying or contributing causes of bike accidents and associated injuries can include:
- Design or manufacturing defect of bicycle
- Design or manufacturing defect of helmet
In addition, a considerable number of bike accidents involving kids are caused by motorists. These types of accidents commonly occur at intersections, many times when a motorist fails to stop as required by a traffic sign or signal.
Bike Helmets, Bike Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Bike helmets are becoming more widely used in this day and age. A growing number of states enacted laws requiring children to wear helmets when riding bicycles. Moreover, many parents require their kids to wear helmets when biking.
A sad reality is that even when kids and parents are being wholly responsible and use helmets when biking, something can go awry. Each year, hundreds of children suffer traumatic brain injuries in bike accidents as the result of some type of helmet defect. In other words, but for a design of manufacturing defect associated with a bike helmet, a child involved in a bike accident would have been protected from a traumatic brain injury.
Many children who sustain traumatic brain injuries in a bike accident face permanent disability or impairment. Such an impairment or disability can prove to be profound and pervasive. Due to an avoidable design or manufacturing defect in a bike helmet, a child’s life is changed forever.
Legal Rights of Your Child Following a Bike Accident
If your child has been injured as the result of a bike accident caused as the result of someone else’s negligence, as a parent you need to understand and protect your child’s legal rights. A bike accident injury attorney from The Doan Law Firm at (800) 349-0000 stands ready to protect your child’s legal interests following a bicycle mishap arising from the negligence of another party.
A nationwide law firm, we’ve offices from coast to coast across the United States. We can schedule an initial consultation with you at any of our offices. We can also schedule a virtual consultation and case evaluation online.
There is no charge for an initial consultation and case evaluation with a Doan Law Firm bike accident injury lawyer. The Doan Law Firm makes an attorney fee pledge to you. We never charge an attorney fee unless we win for you.