Coin Choking

Parents know that children normally go through a stage where they put anything within reach into their mouth. While this type of sensorimotor play can help a child learn about their world, it can also put your child at-risk for choking, especially when they put smaller, dangerous objects like coins into their mouth. 

Choking is the leading cause of death for children under the age of four (4) according to The Science Daily. Most choking incidents involve toys, food, and coins, with coins and candy responsible for 37% of emergency room visits for children aged one (1) to four (4) years old, which is why anyone that is responsible for caring for a child has an obligation to ensure that small items like coins are kept out of their reach. 

Coin Choking Injuries

If a child puts a coin in their mouth, the results can be devastating, even fatal. If a coin is swallowed, it can become lodged in the esophagus, causing pain, gagging, coughing, and drooling.

If the coin should become stuck in the child’s trachea, not only could the coin cause an obstruction to a child’s smaller airway, but could also cause breathing failure, brain damage, organ failure, and death. 

To prevent coin choking injuries, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents and caregivers remain vigilant in ensuring that coins and other small objects are not within reach of children. The AAP also recommends the following:

• Provide supervision in any room where a child is playing, especially if the room is used by adults;
• Check the floor for small objects that may have fallen from a purse or pocket;
• Instruct older children to not play with coins or leave them out on tables;
• Do not leave clothing or purses on the floor or within reach of a child;
• Learn CPR in the event that your child does begin choking.

Liability for Coin Choking Injuries

Most coin choking injuries are accidental. However, if an adult in charge of supervising your child, such as a babysitter, nanny, teacher, or caregiver, left coins within reach and your child was injured due to this negligence, your child may be entitled to compensation for their damages.

Many times, children spend time away from home, often being cared for at the home of someone else or having play dates with their friends. Or, a child may wander onto a property where no fence or other preventative barrier has been erected. 

Homeowners, including friends and family, are held to a legal duty of care to keep their premises safe and to warn anyone that is on the property of any hazards or hidden dangers. If your child is injured on their property, they could be held liable and required to pay under their homeowner’s insurance policy.

In the event that a child trespasses onto a property, especially if the homeowner has what is considered an “attractive nuisance”, such as a swimming pool or playground equipment, the homeowner still has a legal duty of care to provide reasonable care because trespassing in these instances is considered foreseeable, and the property owner, through their homeowner’s insurance policy, may be deemed liable for your child’s injuries and damages. 

Determining who may be liable for your child’s injuries can be difficult. If your child suffered a coin choking injury as a result of someone’s negligence, the experienced personal injury lawyers at 844 See Mike LLC can help.

We at 844 See Mike 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 844 See Mike, 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.