Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Movies made for kids over the years have shown improvement in the use of safety equipment like seat belts and helmets. However, a government study showed that only 56 % of vehicle occupants show the use of a seat belts while just 25 % show the use of a helmet while riding a bicycle. Of course, a movie is not required to always show adults and children using good judgment. After all, many adults and children in the real world fail to use seat belts and / or helmets. Unless there was a specific artistic reason for failing to use a seat belt or a helmet, movies that market to children should set good examples as to these safety measures. You can read more about this government study at Seat Belts, Bicycle Helmets Go Unused in Movies Aimed at Kids.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Lab testing of children jewelry detected high amounts (some levels exceeding 90 % of the item's weight) of a dangerous and toxic metal called Cadmium. Direct exposure to Cadmium can cause health problems for children. There is not a great deal of scientific literature or study of this toxic metal as the typical exposure to children and others has been limited. Nevertheless, parents and medical professionals should be aware of this study and the danger of Cadmium. The safest way for parents to handle this matter is to refrain from putting jewelry on a child unless it is made from a metal like gold or silver that has no potential harmful side effects or health hazards. You can read more about this story at Toxic Metal Found in Kids's Jewelry Very Dangerous.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Researchers / doctors at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that approximately 37 percent of parents suffered traumatic stress and high levels of anxiety as a result of a child who suffered personal injuries. Parents often times have difficulty coping with a serious personal injury to a child. It can be difficult for parents to discuss their emotions or cope when a helpless and innocent child is injuries. Most parents do their best to protect their children and provide their children with the best life possible. Unfortunately, in an instant, all this can change due to injuries caused by automobile accidents, medical malpractice, playground incidents, school injuries, and other causes. It can be especially difficult to cope with a child injury if the injury was wholly preventable with better supervision or attention. Studies like the ones at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia show how difficult it can be for a parent trying to cope with serious personal injuries to a child. You can read more about this topic and get a link to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website at Emotional Trauma After a Child's Injury.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Over 2 million children are injured each year from hazards in the home. Yes, hazards in the home. The blog / website www.bestparentingskills.com published a very good article that outlined 12 safety devices that parents and homeowners can put in place to prevent many of these unfortunate and some times tragic incidents / injuries from taking place. See 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children. The safety devices mentioned were as follows:

*Safety latches and locks;

*Safety gates;

*Door knob covers and door locks;

*Anti-scald devices;

*Smoke detectors;

*Window guards and safety netting;

*Corner and edge bumpers;

*Outlet covers and outlet plates;

*Carbon monoxide detector;

*Window blind cord safety tassels;

*Door stops and door holders; and

*Cordless phones.

Many of the above devices are inexpensive and easy to install. By taking a little bit of time and money, a child's life can be saved and personal injuries can be avoided. Parents, homeowners, schools, and day care centers should take all reasonable precautions and measures to act in the best interests of children.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Oxytocin has long been called the “love hormone,” primarily because it is released at childbirth and during sex to aid in human bonding. It is now being used in the United States in a trial on young people with Autism spectrum disorders. Autism is a disorder that is marked by anti-social behavior and repetitive behaviors.
Dr. Eric Hollander, the Advisory Board Chairman for the International Center for Autism Research and Education and Chairman of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, believes that giving oxytocin to Autistic persons may improve social skills and cut down on repetitive behaviors. He believes that the hormone therapy will be effective despite the age of the patient.

In the study, Autistic patients who were given oxytocin nasally for twelve weeks reduced their repetitive behavior and were able to identify moods in other people based on their tone of voice. Similar results were seen in the group that took oxytocin by injection. This new use for an established hormone may provide hope for parents of children with Autism.

Of course, use of drug therapy on the complicated disorder known as Autism has varying results. In addition, experts often time express different opinions as to the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of certain drug therapy and other efforts aimed at common behavioral and social components of Autism.

Read more details of the study at 'Love hormone' may reduce autism symptoms.

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.

One woman shared a story of a driver in her area who hit a motorcyclist and then drove over him and away, still talking on her cell phone and apparently unaware that anything had happened. If she had stopped when she first hit him, the man would still be alive; the man was killed by being run over after she hit him. Another woman shared a story of how her legs were crushed when she was in an accident while talking on her cell phone. She believes that if she had been paying better attention to her driving she could have avoided the accident.

They also shared tips for avoiding temptation, like training family members to call twice in a row if it is an emergency, and then pulling over before taking the call. Readers reminded each other that distracted driving is a hazard not just to the person doing it, but to everyone else on the road.

Parents have a lot to be concerned about. Many worry about lead in their children’s toys, the safety of vaccines, and the quality of the food they eat. Many of these same parents think nothing of taking a phone call while on the road with their children.

It is not negligence per se to use a mobile phone in most instances. In some cities, there is a ban on the use of mobile phones while driving. In other areas, a person can use a mobile phone while driving without breaking the law. The true issue is whether the person is distracted while driving. Anything that moderately distracts a particular driver should not be done while driving. This may be the use of a mobile phone or the eating of food or even the listening to music. All drivers should use their best efforts to remain alert to traffic and road conditions.

Read the actual letters and find out the details of the stories at Dear Abby | No phone call is worth an accident.

Distracted driving is a real problem that certainly has increased with the use of mobile phones and related mobile devices. If a child has been injured as a result of distracted driving or any other negligence, contact a child injury lawyer for a consultation to determine your child's respective rights.

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 Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

San Luis Obispo County, California high school and doctors are using a program to help doctors and coaches better manage student athletes with concussions. The program provides brain testing for student athletes BEFORE there is an injury or concussion. With this baseline testing in place, doctors are better able to determine the objective effects of a concussion after the injury takes place. A similar program is in effect for the National Football League.

This is a sensible approach by this County and its high schools. In medicine, baselines are important to establish the patient's condition before an injury or condition takes place. You can read more about this program at San Luis Obispo County California High Schools Institute Program to Better Deal with Student Athlete Concussions.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A common every day object like a chopstick or a pencil may seem harmless. However, these common objects can actually be very dangerous to infants and toddlers. A news story was reported from Beijing, China involving a 14 month old boy who accidentally had a chopstick go up his nose and into his brain from a fall. Fortunately, doctors were later able to remove the chopstick through surgery. Doctors were concerned about a possible infection because the chopstick was dirty.

Parents should take note of this incident and do their best to remove any object that may cause harm to a small child from a fall or other related incident. You can read more about this story at Chopstick Removed from Toddler's Brain.

By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In New York, it is now a felony to drive a vehicle while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle. Drivers, many are the very parents of the child in the vehicle, should refrain from driving any time that a child or any other person would be put in danger while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Far too many personal injuries and deaths occur on New York roads due to drunk driving. The New York law was named after a child who died as a result of a drunk driver. Leandra Rosado, of Manhattan (New York) died as a passenger in vehicle going to a sleepover. There were also six other children in the vehicle at the time. While this law will not bring Leandra, who was only 11 years old at the time of the incident, back to us. Hopefully, the law will be a further deterrent to continued drunk driving on New York roads. You can read more about this law at New York's Felony Law Takes Effect.

By Jay Foster, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Mississippi and other States, most homes have a bath tub. Many parents may not realize that a bath tub is very dangerous to small children. Drownings in bath tubs continue to be reported. All children should be supervised when in or near a bath tub that has any amount of water in it. Even a small amount of water in a bath tub can lead to a drowning. If a bath tub is not being used, drain it. Tragically, safety measures are not taken or forgotten. In these instances, some children are injured or even die. You can read more about the recent drowning in a bath tub in Mississippi at Child Drowning Investigated by George County Sheriff.

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.