Florida Batteries Injury Attorney
Whenever young children are around button batteries, they can be at risk of serious and fatal injuries. While most of us do not think about injury hazards associated with batteries we are using for various consumer products, these items are much more dangerous than you might think. Indeed, according to the National Capital Poison Center, “in recent years the number of debilitating or fatal battery ingestions has dramatically increased,” and “fatalities and cases with severe esophageal or airway burns and subsequent complications have been reported, even in patients who initially have no symptoms after swallowing the battery.” Although a battery injury can affect a person of any age, young children, especially toddlers, are most likely to swallow a battery.
If your child suffered injuries after ingesting a battery or choking on a battery, you should seek advice from one of our Florida batteries injury attorneys as soon as possible to find out more about filing a claim for financial compensation.
How Do Batteries Cause Injuries?
Batteries most often cause injuries when a young child ingests them, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC indicates that button batteries are most commonly associated with serious injuries, or other batteries less than 20mm in diameter, because they are most likely to be swallowed by a toddler or young child. These batteries can lodge in a child’s esophagus and can have devastating consequences, including death. The following are some facts and figures from the CDC about injuries caused by batteries:
- Button batteries are linked to nearly 60 percent of all serious and fatal battery injuries;
- Cylindrical batteries were linked to about 11 percent of reported ingestion injuries, and are associated with poisoning and choking in young children;
- Between 1997 and 2010, more than 40,000 kids under the age of 13 required treatment in emergency department for injuries caused by batteries;
- About 75 percent of kids treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries caused by batteries are under the age of 4;
- Children most frequently ingest batteries found in toys, flashlights, remote controls, watches, and hearing aids; and
- Injuries most often involve ingestion.
When a battery injury occurs and a child sustains actual harm, it may be possible to file a product liability lawsuit against the designer, manufacturer, or retailer of a battery or a product containing batteries.
Tips to Avoid Injuries from Batteries
What can you do to prevent a battery injury? Consider the following tips:
- Keep batteries stored out of reach of children;
- Discard used batteries promptly;
- Ensure that battery compartments on all children’s toys and accessible household products are secure;
- Do not let children play with any household objects that contain button batteries, such as keychains, hearing aids, entry fobs, garage door openers, and similar devices.
Seek Advice from a Florida Injury Lawyer
Was your child injured after ingesting a battery? You may be able to file a claim for compensation. One of our Florida battery injury attorneys can speak with you today about batteries and product liability lawsuits in Florida. Contact Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A. today to learn more.
