By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Heavy fog had reduced visibility on Highway 15 in Dassel, Minnesota to an eighth of a mile, when a truck slammed into the back of a school bus stopped at the intersection. Seventeen Dassel-Cokato school children were on board; eight were taken to the hospital. The driver of the truck was not injured.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The Utah Highway Patrol reported recently that a three year old child was sent to the hospital in critical condition after she was ejected from an SUV in a rollover crash. According to officers at the scene, all other passengers in the car were wearing seatbelts, and were not thrown from the car; the child in a booster seat prior to the rollover accident.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A recent column by popular advice columnist Dear Abby brought out some heart-wrenching stories from her readers. They shared their personal tragedies suffered as a result of other drivers or even themselves using a cell phone to text or talk while driving. Readers felt strongly that family members witnessing parents driving their kids while using a cell phone should step in to put a stop to it. Many compared the activity to drinking and driving, saying that parents who drive distracted with their kids in the car should be charged with child endangerment.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Tragically, children are injured and die every year while crossing the street. In some instances, the injuries are caused by driver inattention or driver distraction. In other instances, the injuries are caused in part by the child’s inattention or distraction. Some times, the incident is caused by both the fault of the driver and the child. Parents, teachers, and caregivers should do their best to educate children about child pedestrian safety. USA Safe Kids has a very useful website that has a page titled Safe Kids Walk This Way. It contains a list of Child Pedestrian Safety Rules that should be reviewed with children. Simple safety precautions can help avoid serious personal injuries and deaths to children attempting to cross the street. Of course, all the care in the world cannot prevent death or injury to a child as a result of careless driving, negligent driving, or drunk driving.
By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Legislators in the State of Illinois are attempting to make the roads a little safer in Illinois by passing a ban on texting while driving law. It is not against Illinois law to drive while texting, checking e mail, updating Facebook, or otherwise surfing the Internet on handheld devices, mobile phones, and computers. There have been a great number of accidents attributed to distracted driving caused by these activities. The new laws make sense and should discourage many drivers from engaging in such acts. Of course, there have been driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence laws in effect for years; yet, people still drink and drive. Tragically, personal injuries continue to occur as a result of drinking and driving. While the new Illinois law will not completely eradicate texting while driving and other dangerous acts while driving, the new laws should reduce the incidents of such acts. The law should be a deterrent to drivers in the State of Illinois especially if the law is properly enforced. You can read more these new Illinois laws at Texting Ban While Driving – One of Many New Illinois Laws.
By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In October 2009, it is alleged that Carmen Huertas drank heavily and then put seven children in a car to take them to a slumber party. A subsequent crash caused the death of 11 year old Leandra Rosado. Leandra’s death inspired a new law to protect children from drunk drivers, and New York’s Governor Paterson has signed it into law. The new law, called Leandra’s Law, makes it a felony to drive drunk when there is a child fifteen years of age or younger in the car. It also requires convicted drunk drivers to have ignition locks on their cars.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A five year old boy from West Wales, United Kingdom, fell off a child’s motorcycle that he had been given as a Christmas present. He suffered serious head injuries from the fall and died after being taken to the local hospital. The child was reportedly playing with the gift in an enclosed playground when the motorcycle accident took place. His father had taken him to the park to practice, since it was closed to automobile traffic over the holiday. Unfortunately, because the enclosed area is usually used for driving practice, it has a concrete surface. According to a neighbor, the park was locked up, but the short fence would be easy for someone to hoist a bike over. Police are calling this a tragic accident. They would not say if the child was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Joshua Johnson and his grandmother were in the Golden, Colorado Wal-Mart parking lot when Joshua suddenly broke away from his grandmother and bent over to pick something up off the ground. Debra Debruyne was looking for a parking space and never saw the boy; she struck the child and then dragged him for ten feet before she realized what had happened. When she stopped, Joshua was wedged under her car and couldn’t get out.
By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Oscoda Township, Michigan police are investigating an accident in a supermarket parking lot that took the life of a twelve year old girl. Reportedly, the driver of a 1999 Buick was backing out of his parking space when he lost control of the vehicle due to an alleged mechanical failure. The car spun out of its spot in reverse, crashing into the entrance of the market where a woman and three children where exiting. All three children were hit by the car, the twelve year old died at a local hospital, a nine year old girl was airlifted to the hospital, and a four year old boy was treated and released. The driver of the Buick has been questioned, but no charges have been filed.
By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Four year old Dakylie Hamilton and his three year old sister Desean Hamilton were given a battery powered plastic toy all terrain vehicle (ATV) for Christmas this year. According to the Wills Point Police Chief, the two children were not being supervised by an adult when the toy plunged into a creek near their home. They were pulled from the water but were not responsive and could not be revived. The children’s single mother was at work when the accident took place, and the children were supposed to be under the care of their grandmother. Texas Child Protective Services have been alerted, as there are other children living in the home. While the investigation is still underway, police are calling this a tragic accident.
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