A research team from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital say that strollers and child carriers cause about two injuries every hour in the United States. These figures were based on a government study that showed that 361,000 children under the age of 5 were injured between 1990 and 2010. A large number of those children suffered traumatic brain injuries.
Tipping over and falling were two common causes of injuries suffered in a stroller or carrier. Roughly 67 percent of stroller injuries were caused by falling while 16 percent were caused by tipping. Among carrier injuries, 63 percent were caused by falling while 29 percent were caused by tipping. Roughly one-quarter of children hurt in strollers suffered serious injuries such as TBIs or concussions while about one-third overall experienced a serious injury.
What may be most alarming is that the number of TBIs among children hurt in strollers doubled between 1990 and 2010. That number tripled among those who were hurt while in a carrier. Medical experts say that parents should check each time their child is in a stroller or carrier to make sure that they are buckled. Experts also say that parental inattention is a leading cause of stroller or carrier injuries.
The victim of a consumer injury may be able to take legal action against the company that made the potentially defective product. If a minor is injured, the parent or guardian may pursue a case on their behalf. An attorney might be helpful in establishing that a product was defective and helpful in obtaining compensation for the injured victim. Compensation may include reimbursement for medical bills or related medical costs.
