Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Coping with Water-Related Child Injuries (Part A)

Children are curious and love to explore; many young children develop a fascination with water in particular. Babies and toddlers are drawn to the feeling of water, water’s reflective properties and the way in which it splashes.

Unfortunately, when proper water safety is not practiced, reliance is placed in a defective product, or children do not have proper adult supervision, their relationship with water can sometimes lead to water-related child injuries or death.

Types of Water-Related Child Accidents

Swimming isn’t the only water-related activity that can result in a child injury or death. There are multitudes of ways in which a child can face danger when in the presence of water and many of those water-related hazards can be found in the home, such as those that lead to bucket drowning.

Listed below are a few types of common water-related child accidents:

• Bathtub slip and fall accidents, which can lead to bruises, broken bones and serious head trauma
• Burns or heat exhaustion from hot water in a bathtub or hot tub
• Drowning or near drowning in household fixtures like sinks, toilets and bathtubs.
• Accidental submersion in bodies of water such as:
  • Hot tubs
  • Whirlpools
  • Ornamental ponds
  • Canals
  • Fountains
  • Fish tanks
  • Birdbaths
  • Ice chests
  • Coolers containing melted ice
  • Dog water dishes
• Buckets – particularly large, 5-gallon buckets – are a special area of concern for toddlers.

Consequences of Water Related Injuries to Children

These types of near-drowning and other water-related child accidents have a high potential for serious, lifelong injury, including spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Additionally, many of these water-related accidents can result in life-long child injuries or even death.

If your child has been injured in a water-related accident in Massachusetts, you should contact an experienced Boston child injury lawyer to determine liability and discuss your legal options.

Continue to Coping with Water-Related Child Injuries (Part B) >>