Common Causes of Child Wrongful Death

The loss of a child is a painful experience that no parent should have to endure—especially if the death was caused by negligence from another person. Infants and children are in an incredibly vulnerable position at the hands of negligence, as any accident or mistake could cause substantial injury or death. Here are a few of the most common causes of wrongful death in children.

Child Maltreatment 

Tragically, child maltreatment is one of the leading causes for child wrongful death in the United States. According to the Administration for Children and Families, out of 100,000 children, 1,580 die each year of negligence or abuse. This could include denial of basic needs including food and housing, shaking or hitting, physical assault, sexual abuse or neglect.

Vehicle Accidents

Vehicle accidents are also one of the top causes for wrongful death. For children, these accidents could include a situation where an adult neglects to secure the child and a collision causes death. It could also include any cases where negligence from another driver causes an accident. Finally, children just playing outside could be killed in a car or truck collision due to negligence on the driver’s part.

Poison

There are several substances that should never be ingested by humans, including cleaning chemicals or paint. If a child ingests these chemicals, they could be immediately harmed. Wrongful death cases could arise against the chemical company if there was no clear words of warning; or against the adult caregiver who left the child alone to ingest the poison.

Faulty Products

Similarly, many death have been caused by products initially made for children, but containing a dangerous ingredient such as lead paint. Additionally, products like ziploc bags, tires and airbags are also dangerous for children. Adults leaving these products in the vicinity of unsupervised children could be held liable for negligence.

Medical Malpractice 

A wrongful death due to medical malpractice occurs when a child or infant dies after a medical professional gives a misdiagnosis or fails a routine surgery. This could also happen in the delivery room if things go awry. When an inexperienced doctor acts in haste and mishandles the delivery process, the newborn infant  could receive a traumatic injury which could lead to death. Nearly two percent of infant deaths are linked to medical malpractice or instrument misuse. As children get older, they could be misdiagnosed or exposed to fatal risks due to negligence from the doctor. Unfortunately, this problem does not just exist for children; in fact, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death across people of all ages.

The loss of a child can be all-consuming and tragic. But you are not alone. If you or someone you know has experienced the wrongful death of a child or infant, don’t hesitate to reach out to a wrongful death lawyer in Bloomington, IL. They will be able to help you seek justice for the loss of your child.

Thanks to Pioletti, Pioletti & Nichols for their insight into personal injury claims and common causes of a wrongful death.