What to Do if Your Child was Injured on a Playground in Alaska
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 1.8 million children under 14 years old receive emergency treatment for unintentional injuries every year. Because outdoor play is one of the most popular activities within this age group, you can probably assume that many of these ER visits are due to playground accidents. While it is true that there are certain dangers inherent in their favorite pastime, children can also be hurt on the playground because of negligence by others.
Whether the underlying cause was careless maintenance, negligent supervision, or other breaches of duty, you may have legal remedies under Alaska law. An Anchorage child injuries lawyer can explain them in more detail, but it is important to know what to do if your child was injured on a playground.
Get your child necessary medical attention.
This will probably go without saying for most parents, but you should realize that medical care is important for multiple reasons.
- By getting your child to the doctor immediately, you can obtain an accurate diagnosis and get started with treatment. Proper, prompt care enhances recovery from playground injuries.
- When you seek medical attention right away, your actions indicate that your child’s injuries are serious. Delays can harm your interests because the assumption is that the harm was minor, reducing potential damages.
Avoid discussing details with the playground owner.
It is understandable that you want to confront a property owner, school, daycare center, or other party whose negligence led to the playground accident. However, it may be best to not make any statements, answer questions, or offer information. You could reveal too much, possibly reducing your compensation if your child is viewed as also being careless.
Gather evidence from the scene of the accident.
Depending on whether you left to get medical care, you should try to get as much information as possible from the playground accident site. Use your cell phone to capture video and images of dangerous conditions, and note whether there are any security cameras present.
Obtain contact information from potential witnesses.
When others were present at the time of the playground accident, they may have important input that could support your claim for monetary damages. If possible, get names, contact information, and some basics about what they observed. In many cases, the observations of a third-party, neutral witness have more credibility than your own. Plus, these individuals may have seen the accident from a different angle.
Consult with an Anchorage, AK Child Injury Attorney Right Away
Even as you are following these other tips on what to do after your child suffered playground injuries, you should make it a priority to discuss your circumstances with a skilled lawyer. Our team at Power & Power Law can assist with many of the tasks listed above, as well as working with an insurance company and/or filing a lawsuit in court. To learn more about your options for compensation, please contact our office in Anchorage, AK to set up a free case evaluation today.