Tips for Atlanta Parents: Riding Toys and Child Bicycle Injury Prevention

Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital recently published a study on toy-related injuries in Clinical Pediatrics. The study revealed that riding toys account for more than 40 percent of all toy-related injuries in the U.S. to children ages five to 17.

Below are a few common examples of riding toys.

• Foot-powered scooters
• Wagons
• Skateboards
• Tricycles
• Motor-powered vehicles for kids, e.g., Jeeps and Barbie cars

Tips for Riding Toy and Bicycle Injury Prevention

Wearing a helmet is the primary way to protect your child from serious injury on a riding toy. The aforementioned study’s author, Dr. Gary Smith, explains to parents: “You have three things you can do to prevent an injury to a child on a scooter or other ride-on toy. Those three things would be: wear a helmet, wear a helmet, wear a helmet.”

Nationwide Children’s Hospital also offers the following tips for preventing bicycle injuries and other riding toy-related injuries.

• Kids under eight years of age need supervision on riding toys. Always keep an eye on your child when using one.
• Do not allow your child to use a riding toy without proper gear. Helmets are mandatory. Elbow pads and knee pads are also a good idea.
• Only allow your child to ride in open, flat areas that are out of harm’s way. Never allow a young child to ride around near a street.
• Routinely check for recalls on your child’s toys. You can visit Recalls.gov to do a search, or call the manufacturer for information on any new recalls.

Filing a Claim for a Toy-Related Injury in Atlanta

If your child was injured while playing with a riding toy, you might be able to file an injury claim to recover the damages. To speak to a toy-related child injury attorney in Atlanta, contact the Law Office of Jason Schultz. Call us today at 404-474-0804 for a free legal consultation.