Child Injury Lawyer in Pembroke Pines

Having a child comes with its own unique joys. Watching them grow, learning to walk and talk and starting school can be one of the most enjoyable experiences a parent can have. But having a child comes with its own stresses as well. Worrying about the dangers that can harm your child can be demanding. From injuries to illness, there are more and more dangers that can harm our children today.

If your child was harmed in Pembroke Pines, we can help. The child injury lawyers at Schlacter Law understand the unique issues that occur when a child is harmed. We can assist in ensuring that the costs associated with an injury are compensated and that any long-term care costs are covered. Call our child accident lawyers today.

There are several injuries that are unique to kids in Pembroke Pines. Some of these include:

• Swimming pool injuries
• Open water injuries
• Falls and slips
• Suffocation
• Poisoning
• Automobile restraints
• Firearm accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents

Swimming pools tend to attract children, and when unattended, kids can easily fall in and drown. Florida has a statute designed to protect children from attractive nuisances such as swimming pools, requiring a pool owner to protect even a trespasser from the danger of a pool, especially if the trespasser is a child. Unfortunately, even with the existence of the attractive nuisance statute, some homeowners in Pembroke Pines fail to secure swimming pools adequately, and numerous children die each year as a result. Florida has the highest number of drowning deaths in the U.S., with more than 2.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Florida is home to one of the largest coastlines in the country, as well as 30,000 lakes. When unattended, kids are extremely prone to open water drownings and injuries. In addition, Florida’s indigenous alligator and crocodile populations pose as much of a danger as drowning. Predators such as alligators sit and wait for their prey, and small children are often easy targets.

Children are typically very active, and by their very nature tend to move, run, jump, and generally stay active. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the number one cause of non-fatal injuries for children between the ages of 0 to 19 years old. Over 8,000 children each day are treated for fall-related injuries, accounting for over 2.8 million injuries a year. Some of these injuries include scrapes, bruises, broken bones, sprains, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Falls can occur from something as simple as a fall on a playground to a serious bicycle accident, skateboarding, or team athletics at school.

Suffocation dangers are extremely serious and oftentimes leads to death. The primary suffocation danger for children under the age of one is crib deaths. According to the CDC, over 3,500 children die each year due to suffocations related to crib deaths and sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, older kids in Pembroke Pines are at risk as well. Attractive nuisances such as refrigerators left unattended in yards can trap a child and asphyxiate them. Choking dangers are also extremely prevalent. Smaller children are prone to swallowing items that are too large for their throats, causing a blockage in their airway.

Poisons and toxins are extremely dangerous to children and can cause serious harm and injuries. The CDC estimates that over 300 children between the ages of 0 and 19 require emergency assistance each day for poison-related incidents, and two children die each day. Poisons could include everyday cleaning items located in the home that are toxic, as well as medications, batteries, personal care products, and alcohol.

Riding in cars poses serious dangers for children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2018 marked the deadliest year for children on the roads in over 20 years. Improperly secured child seats can cause serious harm to a child in an accident, and oftentimes, a child is placed in a seat that is too small or too large for their child. Additionally, children riding in automobiles should only use shoulder restraints if they are the appropriate weight and size to use them. Failing to use any restraint at all puts a child at serious risk of harm.

After car accidents, firearm deaths are the second leading cause of child deaths in the U.S. More than 50% of these deaths are accidental, and oftentimes happens when a child discovers a firearm in the home and it is accidentally discharged. Even when a firearm is hidden children can often find them. Kids between the ages of 5 and 14 years old are 11 times more likely to die from a firearm in the U.S. than children living in other developed countries.

Being active, children are often playing in yards, close to streets, or riding bicycles on sidewalks. It is all too easy for a child to run into the road to fetch a ball, or ride a bike into the street. Even walking on sidewalks can be hazardous as cars quickly pull into driveways. Due to their smaller size, children are often harder to see. Riding small toys can make their shorter stature even more pronounced, and even less noticed by motorists. According to the CDC, one out of every five children killed in a traffic crash was a pedestrian.

Following an accident, children are prone to different types of injuries. Some of these injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Lacerations
• Bruising
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Concussions
• Brain injuries
• Asphyxiation
• Pain 
• Emotional distress
• Wrongful death

The types of injuries children sustain are numerous with some having long-term repercussions. Paralysis, for example, may require immediate medical assistance, followed by years of rehabilitation and long-term nursing care. Concussions and brain injuries may cause long-term cognitive damage that also requires long-term rehabilitation and the costs associated with overcoming the injury.

Even cuts, bruises, and broken bones may require immediate medical attention, including a visit to a hospital and follow up care with a doctor. These costs can easily add up, causing financial stress on a family. In the worst cases, the death of a child can create an untold amount of emotional distress on a family member, and the type of anguish that can last a lifetime.

We all hope to protect our children from every injury they encounter, and when a child is injured it can be heartbreaking. A child injury lawyer understands the difficulties that occur when a family finds a loved one was hurt or injured following an accident. From medical costs to emotional distress, a child injury attorney can help get you the compensation necessary to assist with the costs following an accident. Call a child injury lawyer in Pembroke Pines today for a consultation.

How We Handle Cases

1. Investigation
   • Your attorney will aggressively investigate your case. Schlacter Law will compile all necessary evidence needed to maximize the value of your case. Which includes but is not limited to photographs, police reports, security camera footage, witness statements, medical bills and medical records.
   • You will remain in constant contact with Schlacter Law about the progression of your case.
2. Negotiation
   • Your attorney will present your case to the insurance company and will attempt to resolve your case before the case goes to court for maximum compensation.
   • Your attorney will make every effort possible to resolve the case as quickly as possible for the most amount of money you may be entitled to. You will be actively involved in the negotiation process with your attorney. Schlacter Law understands that this is your one opportunity to get justice for your loss.
3. Litigation
   • If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, Schlacter Law will be fully prepared to bring your case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
   • At no cost to you, Schlacter Law will hire any experts and professionals needed to maximize your recovery and present your case in the strongest form possible.