Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In California and other States, bicyclists are injured every day on or near roadways. Bicyclists suffer serious personal injuries and in some accidents death due to driver inattention, distraction, and / or negligence. In some cases, the driver is subject to criminal prosecution for the wrongful death or personal injuries of the bicyclists. In California, Gaspar Reyes was sentenced to a one year suspended sentence and three years of probation for the death of a bicyclist, Kathy Marie Gienger. Reyes hit Ms. Gienger with a big truck while trying to make a right hand turn. Ms. Gienger was in the crosswalk at the time of the incident. Reyes claimed that he stopped but prosecutors wisely secured the photos that were taken by a nearby ATM at the Safe Credit Union. This photographs taken at 1 second intervals impeached Mr. Reyes’ claim that he stopped prior to making the turn.
A 13 year old boy recently died in a bicycle accident at the Plainfield Skateboard Park in Boy, 13, killed in bicycle accident at Plainfield skateboard park in Plainfield, Connecticut. Witnesses informed police that the boy was attempting a move at the top of the ramp when he lost control of his bicycle and hit his head. Unfortunately and tragically, the boy was not wearing a helmet.
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.
City officials in Reno, Nevada are recommending changes to the zoning laws to treat digital billboards as standard billboards. These zoning changes would in effect allow more digital billboards to be placed in Reno. Opponents to the zoning changes believe the billboards are a safety hazard. In addition, critics believe that these billboards affect the aesthetics of the City. The Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials concluded that the digital billboards present a road hazard.
In Mississippi and other states, school buses travel streets, highways, and roadways in groups. In other words, school buses follow each other while heading out to field trips, school drop offs, and school pick ups. Since school buses often times travel the same routes in line, bus accidents often times involve more than one bus. In Ridgeland, Mississippi, two school buses operated by First Student, a bus company in many states, crashed into each other. The accident took place on U.S. 51 near the Trace Station Shopping Center. It was reported that Bus 27 rear ended Bus 52 which, in turn, crashed into a pick up truck. The children were from Highland Elementary School. Since some of the students complained of not feeling well or not feeling right, these students were transported to a local hospital.
A tragic accident took place recently in Hinds County Mississippi. Two teenage brothers from Jackson, Mississippi were traveling South on I 55 in a Ford Taurus. Wet road conditions may have led to Preston Garrett, age 18, losing control of the vehicle. Brandon Woodard, age 15, was a passenger in the vehicle. The Ford Taurus crossed over the median and was hit by another vehicle heading North on I-55 according to the Hinds County Coroner’s Office. Both Brandon and Garrett died in the accident. Neither was wearing a seat belt but it is unclear from the facts reported whether a seatbelt would have made a difference as to the severity of the automobile accident related personal injuries.
Prompted by the recent death of a four-month old Milwaukee, Wisconsin infant who was left in a child-care transport van, the State Senate and State Assembly have passed a bill which will require child-care van owners to install alarm systems in transport vehicles, necessitating van drivers to physically go through the van interior, to the back door, to disarm the alarm. See 
In Iowa and Other States, pedestrian injuries and deaths are unfortunate statistics and incidents. Some incidents result from driver inattention or distraction. Other incidents result from pedestrian inattention, negligence or distraction. In many accidents, fault can be attributed to both the driver and pedestrian.
The Christian County (Missouri) Optimist Club hosts an annual event called Safetypalooza. This program promotes bicycle safety to children. The event provides children with important safety lessons for riding bicycle. Every year, children are unfortunately injured while riding bicycles in Missouri and other States. Safetypalooza is an important program that helps prevent serious personal injuries and wrongful death to children who ride bicycles.