How COVID-19 Has Affected Some Injury Patterns

How COVID-19 Has Affected Some Injury Patterns The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some unexpected changes in injuries, trauma volumes, and unique injury types, according to reports from hospitals around the country. Most hospitals and healthcare clinics have seen an overall reduction in injuries as a result of work closures and stay-at-home orders. However, some unique patterns have emerged. Some of the changes that have been reported include an increase in domestic violence injuries, more recreational vehicle injuries, and an increase in pediatric trauma. If you’ve been injured due to negligence, the experienced attorneys at Abels and Annes can review your case and discuss your rights and options with you. Going through a personal injury claim during a pandemic is stressful, but we’re here to help.

Decrease in Car Accidents during COVID-19 Pandemic

Motor vehicle crashes have declined by one-third since the coronavirus pandemic began. Because of closures to schools and businesses, there are fewer people on the roads to get into accidents. During initial closures, some highways were nearly deserted. More people have been staying home and having their groceries and other necessities delivered. Those that are leaving their house tend to do so less often. While car accidents have become less common during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not stopped entirely. Further, due to less traffic, vehicles are moving at higher speeds. This means that when an accident does occur, there can be more significant injuries. Serious accidents are still occurring. And it is still your right to pursue compensation if you were injured due to negligence. If you suffered an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, contact an attorney to review your case.

Increase in Burns and Electrical Shock Injuries

With everyone at home, whether they’re working or not, there seems to be an endless amount of time to kill. While many people are taking up new hobbies or tackling DIY projects, some might not be doing it safely or may be inexperienced working around the house. Burns and electrical shock injuries have quadrupled during the pandemic according to hospital reporting, as more people attempt to handle projects at home either to cut costs or out of sheer boredom. If you’re attempting a do-it-yourself project while you're cooped up at home, especially anything that involves heated or electrical elements, make sure you do plenty of research ahead of time or hire a professional to avoid a burn or shock injury.

Increase in Injuries to Children from Car Accidents

Because lots of kids haven't been in school during their usual times, more kids are out-and-about running errands with their parents while they would normally be in school. This means that there are a lot more opportunities for children to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. Since the pandemic began, hospitals have reported an increase in pediatric motor vehicle injuries because of kids riding in cars when they would have been at school. Injuries to children during car accidents can be devastating. These accidents can occur because of distracted driving, driving under the influence, speeding, reckless driving, and aggressive driving. If you believe the driver that caused your accident was acting negligently, it is in your best interest to have an attorney review your situation as a potential personal injury case. And if you find that your child is spending a lot more time with you in the car, make sure they’re buckled up, since more than 35% of child car accident deaths involve a child not wearing a seat belt or not in a proper safety seat.

Increase in Injuries to Children from Risky Behavior at Home

With kids at home, they’re more likely to be bored and looking for fun new ways to entertain themselves. This can lead to children participating in risky behavior, such as climbing trees, biking in the streets, and playing on the stairs, all of which have led to an increase in child injuries during the pandemic. If a child sneaks off during the countless hours spent at home and finds themself not properly supervised, an accident is more likely to occur. If your child was injured while under the supervision of a babysitter or other party, you may be able to file a personal injury claim because of their negligence in not protecting or supervising your child. Likewise, injuries caused by defective products can be remedied through a personal injury claim.

Increase in Recreational Vehicle Injuries

With people out of work and looking for things to fill their extra time, accidents on recreational vehicles have increased, according to hospital reporting. Emergency rooms have seen a spike in both boating and ATV accidents. Like car accidents, recreational vehicle accidents can occur if another party is acting negligently. Boating while drinking can cause a collision with other people out on the water or other riders may be acting carelessly, so it’s important to be extra careful to avoid any unnecessary injuries. The best way to stay safe on recreational vehicles is to always be defensive and assume other parties may act negligently. If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.

Increase in DUIs and Alcohol-related Injuries

Some reports have suggested that many people are drinking more because of the pandemic. With nothing else to do, and lots of stress on people’s mind, more alcoholic beverages are being consumed. This increase in drinking has led to more car accidents caused by drinking and driving. If someone is drunk, they might not have the common sense to not get behind the wheel. If you sustain injuries because someone was drinking and driving, you should contact an attorney that has experience in handling motor vehicle injuries caused by DUIs to review your case.

Delayed Visits for Injuries

Hospitals have been prioritizing COVID-19 patients. And some people are afraid to get treatment for their injuries because of the risk of catching COVID at the hospital. This delay in receiving medical treatment can make injuries worse and could harm a potential personal injury case. It’s important to seek medical treatment immediately after an injury caused by a motor vehicle accident or other incident caused by negligence. It may be scary to go into a hospital at this time, but not getting treated for your injuries can be equally as dangerous. Be sure to wear a mask, socially distance, and wash your hands often while at the ER.

Contact an Experienced Chicago Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured because of a personal injury accident during the pandemic, the experienced attorneys at Abels & Annes are here to help. We know you’re stressed because of COVID-19, so you shouldn’t have to be stressed about your lawsuit too. We’ll help to take the stress off of your plate by dealing with the insurance companies and by making sure you’re getting the proper amount of compensation necessary to rebuild your life after your injury. For more information or for a free consultation, please contact us online, by using our chat option below, or by calling us at (312) 924-7575.