Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Texas and other states throughout the nation, there is a danger in virtually every home - the bathtub. Leaving a toddler / small child unattended in a bathtub can lead to tragedy. In Houston, Texas, a 8 month old boy was left unattended for a period long enough to drown. The incident took place at approximately 5:20 p.m. While attending to some other children, the baby drowned. Parents and caregivers need to devote all their time and attention to the child in the bathtub due to the real and present danger of drowning. Since a child can drown in a very short period of time, there is no acceptable periods of inattention or lack of supervision when a child is in a bathtub. Unfortunately, many parents, who are loaded with responsibilities of work, housework, and other children, do not recognize the danger of the bathtub until it is too late. You can read more about this story at Baby Reported as Drowning Death in Houston, Texas.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Child safety starts at home. A good article was posted at the website - www.doityourself.com on the issue of child proof door locks. Unfortunately, many children are injured in the home every day. Many of these personal injuries result when a child wanders out of the home or into an area of the home where the child does not belong. Installing appropriate child proof locks can provide a toddler / child from the every day dangers that present themselves in the home. Providing child proof door locks is one step among many that a parent, caregiver, and day care owner can take to prevent injuries to children. See 6 Reasons for Having a Child Proof door Lock in Your Home.

6 Reasons for Having a Child Proof Door Lock in Your Home

Childproofing your home is an important aspect of ensuring the safety and security of your children, and a child proof door lock is a valuable asset in this context. Young children are known for their sense of adventure, and every parent must be vigilant about the possible dangers this may lead to. Enlisted below are the most important reasons for having a child proof door lock in different parts of your home.

1 – Keeps Children Away from Danger
Children love to explore their surroundings, starting at very young ages. If the front door on your home can be opened by young children, the dangers they are exposed to are immense. It is crucial that you use a child proof door lock on the front door of your home, to avoid unsupervised explorations outdoors. Ensure that all the doors to the outside of your home, such as the patio door, side doors, garage doors and windows have child proof latches and locks on them.

2 – Protects Kids from Risky Situations in the Home
Areas such as the kitchen and bathroom are dangerous for unsupervised young children. Electric shocks, drowning, burns, falls, heavy items tilting over, etc are some of the most common risks that a young child may be exposed to. When you are not around, it is prudent to keep these areas out of the access of young children. In the kitchen, appliances such as refrigerators, ovens and knives are highly dangerous. An inquisitive child may try to climb inside a large appliance and become trapped. There is also a high risk of injuries and burns, which can eliminated with a child proof door lock.

3 – Keeps Appliances and Electric Devices Away from Kids
In the office, there are several sharp objects and substances such as ink or glue, which are potentially dangerous to young children. In additions, electrical devices and cords increase the risks of fires and shocks. An unoccupied office must be secured shut with a childproof lock.

4 – Reduces Chances of Finger Injury
A child who can open a door is more at risk of jamming his fingers in between and getting seriously injured. A child proof door lock can eliminate this risk, while at the same time keeping the child safely out of dangerous territory.

5 – Provides Security and Peace of Mind
If you do not have child proof door locks in your home, you must ensure the safety of your children by closely monitoring them at all times. It can be very stressful to do this, especially when you can be easily distracted by a visitor or a phone call. Child proof door locks are a reliable means of ensuring the safety of your children, even if they are out of your sight for some time.

6 – Allows Children to Explore the Unlocked Areas in the Home
Child proof door locks also afford peace of mind to young kids, because they can freely explore the safe areas in their home. A child who is told ‘no’ too often may show an inclination to become disobedient over time.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/6-reasons-for-having-a-child-proof-door-lock-in-your-home#ixzz0gROzPMNN

By Al Thiel, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Sergeant Louis Carlos of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Police Department was present at the hospital when the two year old son of Jennifer Stephenson and a Mr. Apodaca was brought into the emergency room with four centimeter welts across the backs of both of his legs. The police officer said it was very hard for him to listen to the child screaming in pain, and even harder to hear what his parents had to say about it.

According to the child’s father, he entered the boy’s room and found him on lying on his bed underneath a chest of drawers. The child’s mother claimed that she didn’t see or hear anything. But doctors told police that the welts are consistent with the child being tightly bound by ropes, and said they suspected abuse or neglect. They added that they may need to amputate the boy’s legs; they have already performed surgery to remove some of the damaged tissue in hopes of saving his legs.

Both Ms. Stephenson and Apodaca have been arrested and charged with child abuse. The child and his little sister are in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. Find out more details of this heartbreaking story at Santa Fe Couple Arrested, Accused Of Child Abuse.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A young boy is in critical condition from gun injuries he suffered in his own home. The child, whose name and age have not been released to the press, was put to bed in his parents’ bedroom one night. During the night he apparently discovered his father’s loaded firearm in the night stand. The gun went off, piercing the child’s arm and his abdomen.

The child’s father is reported to be Jared Bledsoe, who joined the Las Vegas police department last year. The Abuse and Neglect Detail of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident. A report will be submitted to the Clark County district attorney, who is responsible for deciding if Bledsoe will be prosecuted or not. The police department Internal Affairs Division will review the case as well.

Nevada state law requires parents to securely store firearms. Like other Nevada parents involved in similar incidents, Bledsoe could be charged with felony child endangerment or felony child abuse and negligence. Read more details about the incident at Son of police officer critical after accidentally shooting himself.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Aaron Pace of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was babysitting twenty month old Suliaman Orrell Kirkland recently, with other family members present in the home. Pace, who refers to himself as the child’s godfather, allegedly wet a rag with Drano and applied it to the child’s skin to punish him for being uncooperative.

Of course, Mr. Pace and / or any other potential Defendant has the right to advice and counsel from a criminal defense attorney. The district attorney and police department have a duty to investigate deaths of this nature to determine if a crime was committed, the type of crime committed, and the evidence available to prove such a crime. Some child deaths result from inattention, negligence, or just an unfortunate and unpredictable incident. Others result from intentional and reckless acts which should be prosecuted.

Pace’s family members did not witness the alleged Drano incident, but did notice sometime later that Suliaman was injured, and called the child’s mother. She in turn called an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, they found the child covered with chemical burns on his upper extremities. The child was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He died of his injuries the next day. Pace is being held by police but has not been charged with any crime.

There are far too many stories in the news about children being “punished” by being exposed to toxic household chemicals. These chemicals are very dangerous and can seriously injure or even kill a young child. Parents and caregivers need to understand that injuring a child is not an appropriate disciplinary tool. More details about the tragic death of Suliaman Orrell Kirkland can be found by visiting Police: Babysitter killed toddler with Drano.

By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Keilysha M. Ruiz, a three month old from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died after spending the night in her mother’s bed with her mother and her two year old brother. Keila Torres, the child’s mother, told police that the child had seemed fine the night before. Keilysha had woken up early in the morning, but refused to take her bottle, so Ms. Torres went back to sleep. When she awoke the next morning, the infant was limp and unresponsive.

Emergency responders pronounced Keilysha dead at the scene. Ms. Torres told investigators that she had gotten up and left the children alone in the bed when the child’s father, Josue E. Ruiz Caballero entered the bedroom and saw blood coming out of the girl’s nose. Ruiz Caballero did not corroborate Ms. Torres’ story, saying that he was awaked by Ms. Torres screaming that something had happened to the infant.

The Milwaukee medical examiner’s office has not yet confirmed the cause of death. Co-sleeping, or “the family bed” is the practice of sleeping in the same bed with a child. Co-sleeping can put babies at risk for suffocation or other serious injuries. While the cause of death in this case is under investigation, parents and caregivers should be aware of the risks caused by co-sleeping or the family bed. Read more details of the story at Infant girl dies after sharing bed.

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

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 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.

Many child injuries occurring in the family home can be avoided with better supervision and safety measures. Televisions, electronic equipment, and furniture can be quite dangerous when they tip over on a small child. Even though televisions over the years have become lighter in weight, the flat screen televisions can still inflict severe injuries on a child especially when the television falls off of a shelf or falls off of its mounting. Parents and homeowners should securely fasten televisions, furniture, and electronic equipment to help avoid the incidents leading to serious injuries to children. You can read more about this topic at Tipping Point - Anchor Furniture and Televisions in the Home.

By Ryan E. Alekman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A Massachusetts five year old boy and his seven year old sister were visiting family recently when the visit turned tragic. The family’s pet bullmastiff charged the children, wounding the little girl and seriously injuring the little boy. The dog reportedly attacked without warning or provocation, as the family was leaving the house. The child suffered serious facial injuries from the attack and was taken to the hospital. The dog, a 2 ½ year old, is under the supervision of animal control officers and will remain in quarantine until the owners make a decision on what to do with the animal.

Small children and aggressive dogs too often turn into a tragic mix. Animals can strike without warning if they become spooked, and small children are especially vulnerable because they might do something to unwittingly provoke an attack. Parents should be very wary when bringing their children into a home with a large or aggressive dog breed. Dog owners need to be sure to keep their pets securely restrained when children are in the house. You can find out more about this holiday dog attack at Child attacked by dog in Dighton.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Home treadmills can be quite useful exercise machines. Rather than traveling to a gym, many people can use a treadmill in their own homes for private, quiet exercise any time of the day. While treadmills can be quite useful tools or machines for exercise, they can also be quite dangerous to children. In emergency rooms, many children over the years have been treated for treadmill related personal injuries. A study published in the Irish Medical Journal documents several treadmill related incidents. Because of the real danger of injury, parents, homeowners, and apartment complexes should take precautions when children are near a treadmill. Education, safety precautions, and adult supervision are key factors that can help prevent or reduce the number of treadmill related injuries to children.

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.

Children of any age need to be supervised by an adult when riding any kind of motorized vehicle. Adults can make sure that the road is clear of debris and other hazards, and enforce proper safety habits like wearing a helmet and keeping the speed of the vehicle under control. You can find out more about this tragic ATV accident that killed two children at Two children die when toy ATV drives into creek in Wills Point.

In Pennsylvania and other States, parents do their best to anticipate dangers to their children. As such, a parent can take precautions and safety measures like holding a child hand when crossing the street or using safety restraints and special car seats in the car. However, it is difficult for a parent to anticipate certain incidents like a ceiling collapse. In Erie Pennsylvania, it was reported at the Fox News Website that a ceiling collapsed right over a baby's crib. Fire Rescue (911) was called about the incident. The baby was only two weeks old at the time of the incident. The child was transported to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. The ceiling probably was weakened by some kind of moisture damage. Fortunately, the child did not suffer any significant persona injuries as a result of this incident.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

According to a British organization, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, attractively packaged capsules containing dishwashing detergent pose a serious poisoning risk for children. The capsules contain highly-concentrated detergent, which can cause serious chemical burns. According to the Trust, “hundreds” of children are being poisoned, and they attribute an 11% increase in calls about accidental poisoning to the introduction of the new tablets on the market. Toddlers have reportedly suffered chemical burns to the throat, eyes and skin after biting or playing with the tablets. The vibrant packaging and attractive design of the tablets are believed to make the poison more attractive to young children.

Parents need to be aware that these tablets may be extra attractive to children and take care to keep them out of their reach. Because children are oblivious to the dangers of playing with or eating dangerous objects, it is up to the parents to maintain proper child safety measures to keep their offspring safe from harm. Parents should keep emergency phone numbers, including poison control, within easy reach in case of an accident. Manufacturers can do their part by clearly labeling hazards as required by law and by being careful to avoid designing hazardous products that resemble toys. This includes brightly colored packaging as well as the design of the products themselves. Find out more the poisoning dangers at Wash capsule ‘danger’ for kids.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In South Wales, a child suffered injuries at his home when he accidentally fell from a second story window. The child was three years old. It was reported that the child suffered a possible skull fracture and a possible pelvic or hip fracture. The child was standing up on a bench prior to fall.

Falls from multi level buildings do happen and can cause serious personal injuries for children. All parents, teachers, day care providers, and child care providers should take safety precautions to prevent these incidents from taking place.

You can read more about this incident at South Wales Child Falls from Second Story Window at Home.

By Ryan E. Alekman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Many of us can remember our parents telling us not to jump on the bed when we were kids. It turns out that they were not just being spoilsports; a vigorous bed jumping session in Massachusetts recently started a house fire that burned down two homes and damaged a neighboring apartment building. The blaze did not seriously injure anyone, but the homes destroyed were three-family residences and the apartment building had to be evacuated as well, so it left thirty-three people homeless just in time for the state’s first snowfall.

Brockton Fire Lieutenant Edward Williams explained how they believe the fire was started; the bed the children were jumping on was against a wall, and between the wall and the mattress was a cell phone charger that was plugged into a wall outlet. The vigorous jumping on the bed repeatedly jammed the heavy mattress into the charger, damaging the cord and causing a spark that set the bed, and the rest of the house, on fire.

It it likely that neither the children nor their parents had any idea that a bout of youthful exuberance would end in such a terrible fire. But parents everywhere can learn from this story and make sure that, even if they cannot keep their kids from disobeying house rules, they can keep electrical devices out of harm’s way. Find out more about how jumping on the bed can cause a fire at Children Jumping On Bed Sparked Brockton Fire.

By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Georgia and other States, parents, child care givers, and day care workers should be very careful about supervising children in and near kitchens and dining areas. While boiling water can be very common in cooking items, pots of boiling water can be very dangerous to children. Small children often lack safety awareness and do not understand the real dangers of scolding hot water. The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported that a 10 year old Gwinnett County child suffered burn injuries from a pot of hot water from a stove. The child was treated at Grady Hospital. This story shows the dangers of hot water and the importance of safety precautions and parental supervision around hot water. You can read more about this story at Child Burned by Water on Stove in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Four year old Nathaniel Stafford is in critical condition after being attacked by a Labrador / Pit Bull mix. According to the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, Brian Caron, the attack was so vicious that it nearly killed the boy. The dog reportedly tore into the child’s head, tearing his ears off and lacerating his throat – only narrowly missing Nathaniel’s jugular vein. Caron and his girlfriend were watching the dog, named Chaos, for friends while they were out of town. They had the dog tied up at the edge of their property, but it managed to break free. The dog’s owner, Thomas Chastain, has agreed to have the dog put down. In the meantime, Nathaniel’s face and ears have been stitched back together, but he may have to wait up to ten days for a skin graft to cover his damaged scalp.

This story is quite horrific. This child has been scarred for life and only time will tell how the injuries will affect him as he grows up.

Dogs are unpredictable animals. As such, parents should be extremely careful when taking on the obligation of watching or caring for a pet.

Read more about this vicious dog attack at Child Mauled By Dog in Conyers Georgia.

By John Jensen, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Robert Lewis is a civilian police officer based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Tragically, Lewis' 3 year old son died recently from a reported accident involving a 40 caliber handgun. It was reported at Channel 9 - CBS News that an investigation is being conducted as to the details of this incident. Some of the issues or questions that may be addressed are as follows:

Who was the registered owner of the gun?
Where was the gun stored at the time of the incident?
Where was the gun normally stored?
Who was present or nearby at the time of the incident?
Had the child handled or been around the gun in the past?
What safety locks or devices were part of the gun itself?
What additional safety locks or devices were put in place by the owner?

The death of any small child from an accidental shooting is tragic. It is certainly a great loss for the family, friends, and community. Hopefully, this story will encourage others to check the safety and storage of their guns especially in households were small children reside or visit. It is well known that children are curious and have poor safety awareness when it comes to guns. As such, it is the responsibility of adults, parents, and gun owners to keep guns out of the reach of children. You can read more about this story at Gun Safety Concerns in North Carolina Following Death of Child.