By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Millions of parents rely on daycare centers to look after their children. But with the looming H1N1 epidemic, daycare centers could become breeding grounds for the potentially deadly virus. I recently had the opportunity to share my legal viewpoint about the ramifications of H1N1 and daycare center liability with Time Magazine.
By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A medical study estimates that burn injuries to children happen every 60 seconds in the United States. Approximately 300 children suffer burn injuries every day. Nationwide Children’s Hospital based in Columbus, Ohio conducted the study which yielded important information that every parent, caregiver, teacher, and day care provider should know. A researcher for the study stated that most of the children (60 %) were under the age of 6 years old. This is not surprising in that children under the age of 6 do not have the safety awareness or judgment of an older child. The study spanned 17 years and studied information regarding more than 2 million burn injuries.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In the United States, United Kingdom (England), and many other places, children love to play on trampolines. Unfortunately, children are injured on injuries every day. Many injuries can be avoided with better safety precautions and supervision. Children, especially young children, lack safety awareness. This is especially true when playing on trampolines. Jumping on a trampoline can be quite empowering for a child. Children often want to jump higher and higher. Children then try tricks like flips and jumping in and around each other. During these stunts or just regular jumping, children are injured.
By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The State of Ohio has joined the majority of States by enacting a child booster seat law. The law will go into effect in October 2009. The Ohio law requires that children between the ages of 4 through 7 with specified height and weight requirements be placed in a booster seat. The law requires all Ohio residents and all those visiting the State of Ohio to comply with this law. Due to the size and body characteristics of children this age, adult seat belts often times are not effective in preventing injuries. Furthermore, in many instances, an adult seat belt without the presence of a child booster seat can cause serious injuries to a child. You can read more about the Ohio law and comments regarding the same at State of Ohio to Require Car Booster Seats for Children.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Utah and other States, homeowners take on home construction projects every day. Some homeowners are very handy and able to perform the work necessary to repair homes and even add additions to the home. It is important to know how to do the work and also follow strict safety precautions when performing the work. In Murray, Utah, a roof under construction collapsed on the homeowner and a child according to local firefighters. It was reported that the trusses were set up without proper bracing. Numerous sheets of plywood were stacked on the roof. The weight shifted on the roof which, in turn, led to the collapse of the roof on top of 6 people who were eating lunch underneath. Medical care was required for a man and a boy. While there were no critical injuries reported, this incident could have lead to serious injuries and even deaths to those in or near the home. Safety precautions are vital when performing home improvement projects. In many cases, it makes more sense from a safety standpoint to hire a certified contractor to oversee the work so that incidents like this roof collapse do not happen. You can read more about this story at Murray, Utah Roof Collapse Leads to Personal Injuries.
By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
California regulators file a complaint against the YMCA Children’s Station after two toddlers wandered off during an outing and were found on nearby railroad tracks. The day care center took these children and other children enrolled in the day care program to a local park. The two children wandered away but were found by others. Fortunately, the children did not suffer any serious personal injuries. The children were unsupervised and could have been abducted. The fact that the child were not seriously harmed or abducted does not and should distract from the danger that they were put in by the failed supervision. Further investigation by the Department of Social Services revealed that the day care center did not have the proper staff in place and were also deficient in its polices and procedures for signing in and out of the children.
By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
New York legislators passed New York safety restraint / seat belt laws for the safety and protection of all occupants in a vehicle including the smallest and most vulnerable occupants of vehicles – children. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has a good summary of the New York Occupant Restraint Laws posted to its Official Website at New York State’s Occupant Restraint Laws.
By Scott Soutullo, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The Mobile County Health Department is the only health department in Alabama that has undertaken the task of monitoring and inspecting day care centers. The Alabama Department of Human Resources is the state agency that is responsible for day care licenses, inspection, and the over all regulation of these facilities. The current structure of Alabama law and regulation allows day care centers affiliated with a church or faith based group to operate without a license from the Department of Human Resources. The day care centers that are licensed undergo an inspection every 2 years according to current regulations. Unfortunately, many day care centers that violate the regulations or have an unsafe environment in place go undetected. This, in turn, puts children at risk.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In New Mexico and other States, most parents believe that their children are safe from harm while tucked into their own beds. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, parents received quite a scare recently when a car crashed into the apartment complex. Actually, the car crashed right into a bedroom. Fortunately, there were no serious personal injuries suffered by the children. Just minutes before the automobile accident, the 2 year old awoke and went into another room. Tragedy was avoided but it was quite frightening of this family. You can read more about this story at Car Crashes into Albuquerque, New Mexico Apartment Complex.
By Benjamin A. Klopman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Maryland and other States, parents often question when a child should be allowed to be placed in a the front seat of a vehicle. In answering this question, parents should look at the State law and also look at what safety experts recommend. Just because a particular action does not violate State law does not necessarily mean that it is safe for children. For instance, the Maryland Child Passenger Safety Law does not prohibit the placement of children in the front seat of a passenger vehicle except for infants or toddlers in seats that are rear facing. Regardless of the law in Maryland and other States, some safety experts recommend that parents hold off on placing children in the front seat until they are 13 or older. The timing or age to put a child in the front seat can also depend on the size of the child as well. Some 12 year old children are undersized and should be kept in the back seat for their safety. You can read more about Maryland’s law and comments of safety experts at Putting a Child in the Front Seat – Maryland Law and Advice from a Safety Expert.
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