Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Oklahoma and other states, day care centers must comply with rules and regulations as they pertain to outdoor safety and play equipment including playgrounds. Rules and regulations are found in Section 22 of the Requirements for Oklahoma Child Care Centers by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Outdoor play space or playgrounds must be enclosed by a building and / or fence that is at least 4 feet high that beings at ground level. Fencing must be in a stable, upright, secure and good condition that is free from dangerous conditions. Impact absorbing surfaces must be used over any fall zones under climbers, swings, slides and the equipment. Ground surfaces composed of loose materials must be 6 inches in depth.
In Illinois, day care centers / child care centers are regulated and licensed by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.
In Massachusetts and other states, operators of public transportation vehicles like buses and trolleys are using their cell phone and mobile phones on the job. What’s wrong with this? Everything is wrong with this if the use of the cell phones / mobile phones distract the drivers and cause serious accidents involving personal injuries and, in some instances, death. Text messaging and e mailing from cell phones / mobile phones are especially dangerous acts. The driver / operator’s eyes are on the cell phone / mobile phone screen rather on the road and traffic. This in turn, puts the people in danger including the trolley passengers, pedestrians, other motorists, and bicyclists.
As summer approaches, more and more children will be attending outdoor activities under the supervision of schools and child care providers. Parents and guardians are routinely required to sign permission slips before a child is allowed to go on a field trip to an amusement park or the local swimming pool. Does a permission slip signed by a parent make the school or child care provider not responsible for accidents and injuries?
In Louisville, Kentucky, a Jeep ran into a school bus at an intersection. The Jefferson County school district reported that 15 people suffered personal injuries, 13 of the 15 injured were students from the Brandies Elementary School and Foster Academy.
My Space and other social networking web sites can be quite dangerous. Predators like Joshua David Threlkeld use the technology of My Space and the internet to lure teens for nude photographs and sex. Mr. Threlkeld created a profile online as Sarah – a 14 year girl named “Sarah”. “Sarah” gained the trust of other teen girls and told them that a photographer could meet them to take modeling photographs. Many teen girls were interested, posed nude, and had sex with Mr. Threlkeld. Fortunately, a concerned parent stepped forward to report the situation to police. An investigation was initiated and Mr. Threlkeld was identified and arrested. It appears that there is a pile of evidence against Mr. Threlkeld. His computer and other evidence was obtained through a search warrant of his home.
In Meridian, Idaho, a toddler (Auston Banks) survived a potentially deadly incident that took place while he was playing in an apartment playground. Auston was walking with a pencil in his hand when he walked by some swings. Auston walked in front of a girl on a swing and her foot hit the end of the pencil which, in turn, went through Auston’s mouth and out the back of his neck. Auston was rushed to a local hospital where doctors removed the pencil. Doctors reported that the pencil came very close to a critical artery. Auston survived this incident. It was quite a terrifying day for Auston and his family.