Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

It is January and many cities and States are bracing for the Winter chills and snows with the associated chilly weather. Other States like California, Florida, and Hawaii enjoy warm weather year round in most parts of the State. A recent article posted at the Woodburn (Minnesota) Independent noted that swimming lessons help reduce the risks of drownings. It should be noted that water is present year round. A child should drown in the winter time as easy as he or she could in the summer time. Swimming lessons should be provided to a child as soon it is practical to do so. If swimming lessons are offered for your child's age group, go ahead and get your child signed up. While swimming lessons will not prevent drownings in every instance, swimming lessons can help avoid tragic drownings and can save a life.

By Michael P. Healy, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Hawaii, warm weather year round makes it a vacation and destination location for many. The warm weather also makes Hawaii and other warm weather states a state in which outdoor swimming pool drownings can take place year round. Parents and property owners should be on alert every day for possible dangers involving children and swimming pools. When applicable and required by law, lifeguards should be in place. Furthermore, barriers, gates, and / or fences are key to keeping small, curious children out of pools. It is well known that toddlers and young children have poor safety awareness and judgment when it comes to the dangers of pools and other bodies of water. In Aiea, Hawaii, it was reported at the Honolulu Advertiser Newspaper website that a 5 year old child nearly drowned in an apartment complex - Pearl One Apartments. The boy was taken to a local hospital after bystanders pulled him out of the swimming pool. It was not reported how the child got into the pool or the level of supervision in the swimming pool area at the time of the incident. CPR was administered before emergency paramedics arrived on the scene.

By Michael P. Healy, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer advisory as to hyperthermia and the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles over the summer. Hyperthermia is also a danger in warm weather States throughout the year including Florida, Georgia, California, Hawaii, and other States. Parents and caregivers for many reasons should not leave children unattended in a vehicle due to the dangers of hyperthermia and the risk of injuries. The NHTSA warns that even 10 minutes can be enough to put a child in a deadly environment in a hot car over summer and warm weather months. Hyperthermia (heat stroke) is the leading cause of death in children in non crash vehicle deaths in the United States . Non crash vehicle deaths and injuries result from hyperthermia, strangulation by power windows, and carbon monoxide poisoning from a running vehicle. You can read more about the dangers of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Website.

By Michael P. Healy, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Residents and tourists to Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii need to be aware of the cell phone ban that is in place and being enforced by the Honolulu Police Department. Drivers can receive a traffic citation if they are holding an electronic device including cell / mobile phones, test messaging devices, PDA (personal digital assistant) devices, laptops, and digital cameras. At this time, the use or handling of GPS devices are permitted.

The purpose of this law is to decrease incidents of distracted driving. This is especially true for those drivers who insist on text messaging while driving. A driver should pay attention to the road not his Blackberry, mobile phone, or i phone. You can read more about Hawaii's new law and enforcement at Cell Phone / Mobile Phone Ban Trips Up Thirty Six Drivers in Hawaii.

By Michael P. Healy, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Kepa Kahakauwila recently died from automobile accident injures. Kahakauwila was driving a truck that hit a guard rail and then landed in a gulch off of Hana Highway in Haiku, Hawaii according to police. Kahakauwila was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from the injuries. One passenger was treated at a hospital and then later released. The other passenger was flown by to Oahu, Hawaii for evaluation and treatment for the automobile accident related injuries.

It is sad that a young person's life ended so abruptly and that others were seriously injured as well. Newspaper articles did not detail the cause of the accident or results or reports from any police investigations. You can read more about this story at Maui Teen Dies from Automobile Accident Related Personal Injuries.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The United States Department of Health and Human Resources has a website that has a great reference tool for parents and caregivers with children in day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers / child care centers through a state specific administrative code and / or policy manual. Go to State Administrative Rules and Policy Manuals for Child Care. Another good resource is located at the website for the National Resource Center for
Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. Parents should use these and other resources to educate themselves on the various state specific rules and regulations for day care centers and child care centers. Each state regulates day care centers slightly differently. As such, parents should be informed on the regulations that apply to their children's day care center. Is the facility following the law? Are the state specific requirements for staffing being met? Are records being kept according to the state law? What information as a parent and caregiver am I entitled to regarding incidents and accidents? What disciplinary measures are allowed? What disciplinary actions are prohibited? These and many other issues are addressed in these day care rules and regulations. In addition, parents concerned about the care being received in a day care center / child care center can also consult with a child injury attorney / lawyer to find out if there is a viable case or claim to be pursued on behalf of a child who has been injured in a day care center as a result of day care negligence, abuse, or neglect.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Hawaii is a scenic State with many bicycle trails. There is plenty of good biking in Hawaii; however there are many areas where bicyclists are injured while biking through winding trails and roads and over high and steep terrain. The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper web site recently reported that a bicyclist was injured near Kaena Point when he crashed into a 20 foot ravine. He may have suffered a fractured limb in the incident. The man was riding with a group of other bicyclist at the time. He was later airlifted via helicopter and then transported over to an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital.

It is unfortunate that the bicyclist was injured. Many bicyclist who are involved in such incidents even lose their lives or suffer permanent debilitating personal injuries.

You can read more about this incident at Bicyclist Injured After Falling into a Ravine in Hawaii.