More US Children Are Killed by Negligence and Intentional Acts Than Those in Other Countries

Maybe the worst thing a parent could imagine is the sudden death of a child due to an accident or criminal act. It could be a life-shattering event that a parent may never fully recover from. These situations can be the basis of a wrongful death case filed by parents to hold responsible parties financially accountable for their acts.

Wrongful death cases can’t bring a child back to life. It might also force parents to re-live painful moments in their lives that leave them emotionally scarred. The point of these cases is to try, in a small and insufficient way, to make them whole by compensating them for the losses they suffer because of the death.

Depending on the facts of the case, a wrongful death case can expose reckless, uncaring, and possibly intentional acts by the party causing the death. If that can be proven, punitive damages could be awarded. They’re not meant as compensation but as financial punishment for the party involved to discourage them and others from taking similar actions.

American Children are Dying at Far Higher Rates Than in Other Developed Nations

Our children have a lesser chance of seeing their 20^th birthday than they have in the past, according to new research recently discussed by NBC News. The US also has, by far, a higher child death rate than most wealthy developed nations. For example, an American child has about a three times greater risk of premature death than if they were born in Japan.

The study calculates the median death rates for children in 17 countries, including the US, from 1999 to 2019. Those countries outside the US include Canada, Japan, Australia, and 13 in Europe. Population numbers were factored in, and researchers made their conclusions.

One reason for the difference is our much higher infant mortality rate, with infants (especially those who are Black or Native American) accounting for more than half of the excess deaths. For kids older than a year, four factors drove the unexpectedly high US death rates, including:

• Firearms
• Suicide
• Drugs
• Car accidents

Though deaths caused by leukemia and congenital disabilities are decreasing, these causes are driving an increase. The US has more cars than most other countries, which rely on safer public transportation.

Another dramatic difference between us and other countries is our much higher rate of gun ownership. With more guns available, more children may suffer lethal gunshot wounds intentionally or accidentally. Firearms are a leading cause of death for American kids and teens. Most of them are killed in homicides.

Suicides are also increasing among teens and young adults. From 2007 to 2021, we saw a 62% increase in suicides for those aged 10 to 24. Online and in-person bullying and social media use may contribute to these increases. 

Drug deaths may be worse in the US than in other countries because the federal government is more permissive with prescription drug use, including highly toxic pain medications, than in other countries. US children may swallow pills they see out in the open because they don’t know any better or they’re older and want to experiment with drugs. If their parents use them, children and teens may see them as safe.

Negligent or Intentional Acts That Kill Children

Acts that could be the basis of a wrongful death lawsuit include:

• A lethal vehicle crash where the child is in a vehicle, on a bike, or is a pedestrian
• A self-inflicted gunshot, or being shot by another child, from an unsecured gun found at a relative’s or friend’s home
• Using drugs that an adult did not safely store. The child may have found them and thought they were candy. Another child may give it them, thinking they’re something to eat
• A child may feel that death is the only way to stop endless bullying and harassment happening at school and online. This can include nude photos a teen sent to another, thinking they would be private but they were sent to others, or pornography generated by artificial intelligence based on pictures or videos of the fully-clothed teen

If your child is a suicide victim or is killed by another, there must be a full investigation to determine why it happened and who may be responsible. Depending on the outcome, there may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.

Consult with a Louisville Wrongful Death Lawyer

Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorneys will work diligently and sensitively to help you and your family recover the damages you deserve, helping to ease the financial burden during a painful time. If you’ve lost a loved one, we want to help you get justice.

To speak with a Satterley & Kelley lawyer in a free initial consultation, call 855-385-9532. If it’s more convenient, you may use our online contact form.