Tree Climbing Accidents

Racing to the highest branches of a towering maple or perching for hours on the stout limbs of a stately old oak is a virtually mandatory part of any complete childhood experience. Even today, when children are spending more hours indoors in front of computer screens and televisions than ever before, the allure of this idyllic pastime seems to endure.

Unfortunately, so does the risk of serious accidents related to falls from trees, which account for a sobering number of emergency room visits and devastating injuries every year. Sadly common outcomes of such incidents include:

• Broken and fractured bones, often those in the arms and legs
• Spinal cord injury, which may result in paralysis
• Concussions, bruises, deep cuts, and similar major wounds

Most of these incidents are all the more worrisome due to the fact the vast majority victims are of typical “tree-climbing” age, meaning children and adolescents.

Avoiding the Risks

As is almost always the case, the key for concerned parents seeking to keep their children safe is proper education and supervision. While it is unreasonable to expect that you will always be able to prevent your child from putting him or herself in a dangerous position, you can start by keeping close watch on the state of branches and trees in your own yard.

Learn how to identify dead trees and make it explicitly clear that climbing on these should be absolutely avoided. Make sure your child does not climb trees in rainy conditions or similar situations. Finally, guarantee at least some degree of responsible oversight at all times. Kids are most likely to get hurt when no one is there to check their actions.

Contact Us

For more information on what to do if you or someone you love has been injured by a fall from a tree on someone else’s property or under the supervision of another individual, contact the experienced Green Bay personal injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, today by calling 800-242-2874.