Children are naturally curious, and this often means that easily reached objects end up in their mouths to satisfy that inquisitiveness. It is the responsibility of the adults around them to ensure that their environment is kept safe and free of choking hazards that can have devastating consequences.
Batteries can be a serious choking and/or poisoning hazard. Each year in the U.S., 2,800 children are treated in emergency rooms after swallowing batteries, or one child every three hours. In fact, the number of serious injuries and deaths due to swallowing button batteries has increased nine-fold in the past ten years.
If your child has been injured in an accident, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, America’s Consumer Lawyer is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
Button Batteries
Button batteries, single-celled batteries commonly found in watches, toys, key fobs, hearing aids, and pacemakers, are involved in approximately 80% of all battery-related emergency room visits. Not only can button batteries cause choking, but if a button battery is swallowed and remains stuck in the throat, a child’s saliva can trigger an electric current which then causes a chemical reaction that can burn the esophagus within minutes.
Button battery poisoning symptoms mimic those of a stomach virus, with a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, so if your child becomes suddenly ill after playing with anything containing button batteries, emergency care may be necessary.
Battery Accident Liability
Anyone that cares for or supervises children in any capacity needs to ensure that children do not have access to any types of batteries. Toys need to have secure battery compartments, childcare staff members should not have key fobs or other battery containing items in their pockets or purses that are easily accessible to children, and all low-lying areas where children may be frequenting should be checked for anything small that could cause choking.
If your child chokes on a battery or suffers another injury while under the care of another person and that person was negligent in their supervision, you may be able to recover compensation from that person for the damages your child suffered.
In addition, if your child was injured or killed due to choking on a battery, there is also the chance that it was because of a defective product. Under product liability law, if a product has been defectively manufactured or designed and your child suffered injuries as a result, the companies that designed, manufactured, and/or sold the product may be held liable for your child’s damages. Even if your child suffered injuries or death due to choking or another battery-related accident, and the product was not purchased by you, you may still have a claim against the negligent parties.
If your child has been injured or killed following a battery choking incident due to the negligence of another person, you may have a legal claim for damages against the responsible party. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your case and determine who could be held liable for your child’s injuries.
We at America’s Consumer Lawyer are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
