What happens when a child injures an adult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A child accidentally dropped an 20 oz metal water bottle on my head from about 10-12 feet above me today. My preschooler was sitting next to me, but did not get hit. The parent apologized, but never once asked if I was ok. I said I probably had a concussion (I did) and that my preschooler would have gotten a skull fracture if that had fallen on their head. I ended up asking the parent for their contact information as I honestly had no idea how bad my head injury was and the parent declined. The location we were at then took an incident report and told me if I wanted that information I would need to file a police report. I’m not filing a police report, but I wanted to ask if it’s out of line to ask for a parent’s contact info if a child injures you (like a concussion level type injury)? I was in shock and going by what you do when you’re in a car accident.

You should fine a police report and you should also see a doctor. If your child hurts someone them you take responsibility and give your information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s no requirement to exchange information. And honestly I wouldn’t hand out my contact information to people I don’t know. I mean why did you want it?

I would give my name and phone number and check to see if she’s ok. I would pay for the medical expenses. What is wrong with you people who don’t take responsibility for yourself or your young children? That mother has already started raising children without empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fake.

Why do you think so? I am not OP but this situation, unfortunately, sounds quite possible.

Agree …where did this happen anyway OP? A mall or something?

It happened in a sports complex. I suggested in the incident report I completed that they should put netting in to prevent this from happening again (this was suggested by my kindergartner) and they should add signs in the second floor viewing area that people shouldn’t lean over the railing while holding items. Hopefully the sports complex will do this because if a child is hit by a similar object it could be devastating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fake.

Why do you think so? I am not OP but this situation, unfortunately, sounds quite possible.

A water bottle was droped on her head by a toddler..

That must have hurt. I dropped a full puzzle box that I was holding on my bare foot and my little toe turned black. That hurt a lot I can’t imagine a cup from that distance.

[Anonymous]

If that water bottle had landed on your 3 year old and caused catastrophic damage of course the parent could be charged for negligent supervision of her child. I think you could sue too for your concussion. You should have collected witness statements (from people near the mom and offending kid) as well as filed a police report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you're saying all these "what if I can't look at screens for 20 days" scenarios. But you said you have a concussion. Were you diagnosed with one by a legit medical doctor? Did you go to the ER?

If you had the other person's contact info what would you do with it considering where you are now?

Yes, I have a moderate cervical concussion. I went to the ER because I had a horrible headache and my neck hurt and I wanted to rule out something like a brain bleed.

I wouldn’t do anything knowing what I know right now about my condition. If I had a brain bleed and my life was transformed I would tell my spouse to get in touch with a friend who is a lawyer who could advise further. I make half of our HHI and a prolonged period away from work would not be good for my career or our finances. My spouse would also be smart enough to google the people and ensure we don’t hang any entanglements.

I asked here primarily because I wanted to know if there was some etiquette you were supposed to follow. And if it had been my child I would have said yes, but I also would have asked if the person was ok.

You need to stop. You are talking more about what you would have done "if" and not what you want to do with the FACTUAL INFORMATION that is REAL. Focus on that. Only that.

[Anonymous]

Seems to me the sports complex would be liable for this, not the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me the sports complex would be liable for this, not the parents.

Yup. I take my DD to a sport at a place with a similar setup. All the signs in the world didn’t prevent metal water bottles and phones from being dropped from the 2nd floor railing onto people’s heads. They eventually had to specially machine a sheet metal screen to attach to the railing to prevent things from falling through. And people still manage to drop things over the edge!

[Anonymous]

Your insurance company may want to go after the other family. I would file a police report to cover all bases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you're saying all these "what if I can't look at screens for 20 days" scenarios. But you said you have a concussion. Were you diagnosed with one by a legit medical doctor? Did you go to the ER?

If you had the other person's contact info what would you do with it considering where you are now?

Yes, I have a moderate cervical concussion. I went to the ER because I had a horrible headache and my neck hurt and I wanted to rule out something like a brain bleed.

I wouldn’t do anything knowing what I know right now about my condition. If I had a brain bleed and my life was transformed I would tell my spouse to get in touch with a friend who is a lawyer who could advise further. I make half of our HHI and a prolonged period away from work would not be good for my career or our finances. My spouse would also be smart enough to google the people and ensure we don’t hang any entanglements.

I asked here primarily because I wanted to know if there was some etiquette you were supposed to follow. And if it had been my child I would have said yes, but I also would have asked if the person was ok.

And now you’re on DCUM? On (presumably) a screen?

The facility has the information, you can file a police report or just tell your medical insurance to be in touch with the facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fake.

Why do you think so? I am not OP but this situation, unfortunately, sounds quite possible.

A water bottle was droped on her head by a toddler..

That must have hurt. I dropped a full puzzle box that I was holding on my bare foot and my little toe turned black. That hurt a lot I can’t imagine a cup from that distance.

A 20 oz metal water bottle full of water dropped 12 feet would hurt a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you're saying all these "what if I can't look at screens for 20 days" scenarios. But you said you have a concussion. Were you diagnosed with one by a legit medical doctor? Did you go to the ER?

If you had the other person's contact info what would you do with it considering where you are now?

Yes, I have a moderate cervical concussion. I went to the ER because I had a horrible headache and my neck hurt and I wanted to rule out something like a brain bleed.

I wouldn’t do anything knowing what I know right now about my condition. If I had a brain bleed and my life was transformed I would tell my spouse to get in touch with a friend who is a lawyer who could advise further. I make half of our HHI and a prolonged period away from work would not be good for my career or our finances. My spouse would also be smart enough to google the people and ensure we don’t hang any entanglements.

I asked here primarily because I wanted to know if there was some etiquette you were supposed to follow. And if it had been my child I would have said yes, but I also would have asked if the person was ok.

And now you’re on DCUM? On (presumably) a screen?

The facility has the information, you can file a police report or just tell your medical insurance to be in touch with the facility.

The requirement to avoid screens has been stopped for the most part, but OP wouldn’t have known that until she went to the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A child accidentally dropped an 20 oz metal water bottle on my head from about 10-12 feet above me today. My preschooler was sitting next to me, but did not get hit. The parent apologized, but never once asked if I was ok. I said I probably had a concussion (I did) and that my preschooler would have gotten a skull fracture if that had fallen on their head. I ended up asking the parent for their contact information as I honestly had no idea how bad my head injury was and the parent declined. The location we were at then took an incident report and told me if I wanted that information I would need to file a police report. I’m not filing a police report, but I wanted to ask if it’s out of line to ask for a parent’s contact info if a child injures you (like a concussion level type injury)? I was in shock and going by what you do when you’re in a car accident.

You should fine a police report and you should also see a doctor. If your child hurts someone them you take responsibility and give your information.

The Police won’t do a report for this. There is no criminal intent and nothing for them to investigate. No crime occurred.

[Anonymous]

The car accident scenario has warped everybody’s thinking on this a little.

It’s not your responsibility to get someone’s contact information in this scenario. I wouldn’t give it to you either, because I think you would come across as very aggressive and probably litigious.

If you get bonked on the head and you want someone to be charged or sued, you need to involve the authorities. Call the police. It’s on them to do a report and collect information, and if your insurance company wants to sue them, it’ll be up to them.

[Anonymous]

As a trial lawyer, my take is this. You are never going to find this child or family. If you do, you are going to have an impossible case of showing a parent was negligent. There is no strict liability when it comes to your kid’s actions. Parent would have to be negligent. So trying to go down this road is pointless.

If you want to sue, and it sounds like you do, you will have to go after the sports complex. You might find an attorney to take your case.