Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
On any given day, the parking lot can be a dangerous area for child. This is especially true during operating busy hours at day care centers, schools, and summer camps. During pick up and drop off times, there is a crowd of vehicles that enter and exit the parking lot area. Because it is well-known that both vehicles and children will be in close proximity in parking lots of day care centers schools and summer camps, it is important that administrators, teachers, counselors, and other monitors pay close attention, put safety precautions in place like ropes, flags, and cones, and direct both pedestrian and vehicle traffic in a careful and reasonable manner.
When a child is an unfortunate victim of an automobile accident, a paent is often faced with many challenges and issues. One such issue is a choice or decision as to medical care right after the accident. Should a child be taken to an emergency room following an automobile accident? This can be a complex question. The answer to which depends on the facts and circumstances of the case and the severity of the injuries. From a legal standpoint in most States, there is no requirement that a child be seen by an emergency room on the day of the accident or soon thereafter. From a medical standpoint, the analysis is quite different and should be left to the evaluation of the parents, the pediatrician, the urgent care center, fire rescue, and or a combination of one or more of these caregivers. When a child is injured as a result of an automobile accident, a parent should assess the situation and make his or her best decision. Of course, a parent should be cautious and take the child to a medical provider which may include an emerency room if there is any doubt in the parent’s mind as to the condition of the child and the need for medical treatment following the automobile accident. If there is any doubt or concern about the child’s condition, immediate action should be taken from a medical standpoint to make sure that the child is stabilized and appropriate testing is ordered or performed. Thereafter, follow up care, testing, and treatment can be arranged by the parent with medical providers.
Distracted Driving is a national problem that has impacted lives and families in virtually every community. While mobile phone and cell phones are wonderful tools, they have also proven to be a distraction for drivers. Rather than concentrate on driving, traffic, and other dangers of the road, drivers are fixted on their mobile phones watching out for that next text, e-mail, website, and video.
In the State of Washington, children are the unfortunate victims of personal injuries that are caused by automobile accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, playgroud injuries, school injuries, and other incidents. When a child is injured, a parent is faced with many challenges in dealing with the medical care, insurance issues, and, yes, legal issues that may arise in any given case. When a child is injured, it is important for a parent to stay calm and get the support of family and friends when getting through this most difficult period for the child and the immediate family. A Child Injury Lawyer can help guide the parent through the maze of issues and challenges that present themselves in most cases.
In Florida and other States, iconic yellow school buses can be seen virtually year round on Florida streets, highways, and neighborhoods. At times, the presence and operation of a school bus can slow down traffic and possibly even make you late for work. When you see a yellow school bus on the roadway, keep in mind that the buses transport our community’s most important resource – our children. As such, slow down and drive cautious when you see a yellow school bus.
As parents, the safety of a child is a paramount responsibility and duty. Despite our best efforts, children can be injured by the negligent or careless acts of others. In most every community, there are reported automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. Many reported accidents are quite common like a rear end collision or bad left turn impeding the right of way of another driver. Other incidents may not be as common but still cause serious personal injuries. For instance, some children are injured when a vehicle drives over a curb and onto a sidewalk. There have also been accidents reported in which a driver crashes into a building or into a school. In most instances, a child is quite safe walking on a sidewalk along the side of a parent or other responsible adults. However, a child can be seriously injured when these not so common accidents take place. Certainly, most of these accidents are neither expected or predictable by the parent. As such, no action on the part of the parent could reasonably avoid the accident or injuries.
In Florida and other States, children enjoy riding their bicycles out in the fresh air. It provides exercise and some independence for them. Children love to ride to school, a friend’s house, or even the store. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), America has approximately 33 million riders. See more 
In the State of Washington and other States, children are the unfortunate victims suffering from personal injuries as a result of an automobile accident, pedestrian accident, trucking accident, or bicycle accident. When a child suffers personal injuries from an automobile accident or these other accidents, a parent is often faced with the challenges of getting medical bills paid and treatment in place. Furthermore, when a child is injured as a result of the fault of another person, the child is entitled to pain and suffering compensation related to the injuries caused by the accident. It is important for a parent to consult with a Washington Child Injury Lawyer when dealing with these issues and the other insurance and legal issues that arise in these cases. It should be noted that Washington law requires that vehicle owners carry a minimum of $25,000 in Bodily Injury liability insurance. This coverage can provide compensation to the injury victim for medical bills, pain, suffering, and other damages. There are other forms of insurance available in the State of Washington but these coverages are optional. These include Medical Payment Coverage, PIP (Personal Injury Protection) Coverage, and Uninsured Motorist Coverage. While Bodily Injury Coverage is required under Washington Law, many vehicle owners allow the coverage to lapse or otherwise fail to secure and maintain the required insurance in the State of Washington.
In every community, children can be seen playing in the neighborhood and throughout the community. It is common to see children in crosswalks, roadways, sidewalks, and other areas that may present a danger to them. Drivers should slow down in residential communities, parking lots, and other areas with child pedestrians. Unfortunately, children are injured far too often in driveways, parking lots, streets, crosswalks, and other areas as pedestrians. When a child pedestrian is injured as a result of an automobile accident, a parent is often faced with many issues and challenges including the following: