InjuriesBoard.ie Publishes Data on Claims by Minors and Announces Sponsorship of Temple Street Hospital Fundraising
Childhood accidents most likely to be motor related, occurring in Dublin, in April or August, involving children aged 3 - 7 years and resulting in soft tissue injury
Children aged 3 - 7 years are over three times more likely to have an accident that results in a personal injury claim than infants aged 3 or less, according to research published today (Friday, 6th May 2011) by InjuriesBoard.ie. The Board’s assessment of 2010 Awards to minors shows that childhood accidents were more than twice as likely to occur in April and August, than in December, making these the most dangerous and safest months respectively.
Publication of claims data for minors coincides with today’s announcement that InjuriesBoard.ie is to sponsor Temple Street Hospital’s upcoming fund raising campaign, which goes live on Monday, 9th May 2011, to support services to injured and sick children.
Pictured is Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, InjuriesBoard.ie and 8 year old Sara Morris, patient at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
In 2010, 615 minors were awarded compensation totaling €8.5million, or an average of €13,839.90. Awards ranged in value from €500 to over €170,000. Motor related accidents (at 79%) accounted for almost four times as many injuries as public liability (21%). Girls accounted for 52% of awards while 48% of awards were made to boys. Unsurprisingly, Dublin accounted for the largest portion of Awards nationally, at 23.2%, followed by Cork at 11%. No awards were made to minors in County Leitrim.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ms Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, InjuriesBoard.ie said: “Temple Street Hospital provides tremendous support to children who have been involved in oftentimes traumatic accidents. Where an accident was caused by someone other than the child, our focus is on handling any personal injury claim arising in an efficient and timely manner. By teaming up with Temple Street, we aim to promote the supports and guidance available from the Board’s sensitive claims assessment process. We are also very supportive of Temple Street’s ongoing research into the causes of childhood injuries.”
Professor Alf Nicholson, Consultant Paediatrician, Temple Street Hospital said:“Injuries are a serious public health problem in Europe and more children over the age of one die of injuries than all other diseases combined. For every child that dies from an injury, 160 are admitted to hospital and over 2,000 are seen in the emergency department – deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly no one wishes to be involved in an accident or to incur an injury. Simple life saving measures include increased care and attention and always using appropriate seating restraints and wearing of helmets by cyclists.”
“Being at the coal face of supporting accident victims, we are very encouraged at the actions being taken by the Injuries Board to ease the trauma of accident claims for minors and their parents and guardians,” concluded Professor Nicholson.
Ends Friday, 6th May 2011
Note: Graphs and Case Studies on Minor Awards 2010 available here
Notes for Editors
Donations to this fantastic cause can be made here.