By David Wolf, Attorney Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
At some day care centers in Canada and the United States, there is a common danger present that can cause personal injuries to children enrolled in the day care center. Stairs can be quite dangerous for day care center children. This is especially true for children who are unsteady on their feet. In addition, even with children with good walking skills, stairs can be dangerous if there is an item left on the stairs. In addition, stairs can present a problem children are playing or pushing each other on or near the stairs.
When stairs are present at day care centers, gates should be used when possible to keep children from playing on or using the stairs when an adult is not present on or near the staircase or stair way. Furthermore, it is vital that appropriate supervision is in place when children use stairs at a day care center.
Parents work hard (day and night) to provide for and protect their children. It is the hope and prayer of every parent that a child is safe at home, school, church, and the neighborhood. Unfortunately and tragically, children are, at times, molested, attacked and harmed in their own neighborhoods. The perpetrator may be a new neighbor or one that has lived in the neighborhood for years. Some may have a criminal background and have committed crimes. However, many predators go undetected or uncaught for years upon years and even a lifetime.
In California and other States, schools are staffed with conscientious teachers and staff members. Most teachers and aides are dedicated to their work and educate the students in a diligent and professional manner. Unfortunately, at times, teachers and aides use poor judgment and violate the rights of the students under their supervision. While teachers should be given some latitude and freedom to teach a class, some teachers and aides go “over the line” in their approaches to educate and discipline the students in their classrooms. In some instances, whether a teacher went “over the line” is a close call. In other situations, it is abundantly clear that a teacher went “over the line” and action should be taken to address the wrong.
In Ohio and other States, it is important for drivers to obey traffic signals, posted speed limit signs, and otherwise drive in a safe and reasonable manner. Many automobile accidents are preventable if a driver follows road signs and traffic regulations. When a driver is careless or otherwise drives in a negligent manner, accidents take place which can and do cause personal injuries and, in some accidents, the wrongful death of children and others.
Children, being transported on school buses, should be safe and well supervised. At times, children suffer personal injuries while being transported on school bus. Some are injured as a result of a school bus accident that is the fault of the school bus driver, another driver, or both drivers. In addition to traffic accidents, children are, at times, injured as a result of being assaulted on a school bus by another student, an aide, and, yes, even the driver. School bus video surveillance is a helpful tool in determining and investigating the course of events that take place on a school bus. It certainly is not an easy job to drive or work as an aide on a school bus. However difficult it is, the school bus driver, aides, and employees need to have patience with children, who will at times misbehave and be otherwise defiant.
As parents, we do our best to protect our children and provide a safe environment for them. Unfortunately, there are some risks and dangers that cannot be foreseen or anticipated by a parent. One such incident recently took place in Bellingham, Washington. It was reported that a man punched a baby in the face in a senseless attack for no apparent reason. The child was four months old and was hit so hard that the child needed treatment a a local hospital. Witnesses as well as responding law enforcement officers were quite shocked by the incident. You can read more about this tragic and unconscionable attack on this child at 
In Missouri and other States, children are, at times, injured when a car, van, or truck crashes into a day care center. While the following question seems like an odd one: What if a car, van, or truck crashes into a school or day care center? However odd the question seems – these incidents do happen from time to time. It certainly is tragic that a child is seemingly safe and well supervised in a day care center setting only to be injured when a vehicle crashes into the building, playground, or other area in or near a day care center.
In colleges throughout Illinois and other States, there are college and university campuses that have fraternities and sororities. For over 100 years, there have been fraternities and sororities in place at many universities and colleges. These organizations, for the most part, serve a great purpose and function in and around college and university campuses.
In the aftermath of the Sandy Brook – Newton Connecticut shooting, there is a renewed debate and discussion about gun safety and gun control in Connecticut and the rest of the United States. It has been reported that one of the weapons used in the killing of 20 school children was a semi-automatic weapon. Initial reports indicate that the gun was properly owned and registered by the shooter’s mother who had an interest / hobby in target shooting and other activities. While it appears that it was legal and proper under the existing laws for the mother to own these guns including the semi-automatic weapon, investigators into the Sandy Brook – Newtown shooting plan on researching the guns at issue all the way back to the manufacturer then down to the wholesaler / distributor to the retailer to finally the consumer. The terrible tragedy in Newtown was neither expected and there is a debate as to whether it could have been avoided. Tragically, when an unstable person decides to wreak havoc and death upon the lives of innocent people including children – it is quite a challenge or burden to show what actions if any could have prevented the incident.
As parents, we do our best to protect our children. We may sure that they go to school, look both ways before crossing a street, wear bicycle helmets, stay away from strangers, and otherwise keep safe at all times possible. Unfortunately, despite all of the work and good efforts of parents, there is one danger (among others) that seems to be present in virtually every community that we as parents cannot fully prevent or avoid. This danger is that of the drunk driver.