Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Children in a local day care center located in Renton, Washington, were temporarily trapped inside due to fallen power lines. Although no one was hurt, a video showed the lines crossing a metal fence and lying on the Renton Day Care Center. The wires had arced and shortened over time, which caused them to burn through and hang lower than usual. A representative for the city reported that a U-Haul truck drove through the area at the time the wires went down and may have made contact with the wires to cause the reaction. A worker who fixed the lines said they were supposed to be 18 feet off the ground but were only 16 feet off the ground when measured. The owner said she didn’t know the lines were supposed to be higher.
A fourth grade student in Onslow County, North Carolina faces suspension after he was caught concealing blades inside markers. The student was caught at Morton Elementary School making the weapons by inserting razor blades and “other sharp objects” into felt tip pens and markers. The student also sold the weapons to other students at the elementary school. The North Carolina elementary school student now faces school suspension and court charges for creating the weapons and selling them on school property. Three other students face similar charges for also having the weapons at school. For more read 
In Shaw Mississippi, it was reported that a 10 year old girl lost her life and at least 10 people were injured in an accident involving a school bus and a tractor trailer. It was reported that the truck driver informed the Mississippi Department of Public Safety that he saw the but and hit his brakes but he was unable to avoid the crash. According to investigating authorities, the bus had stopped at a stop sign and then attempted to turn on to U.S. Highway 61 when the bus / truck accident took place. A full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause, fault, and preventability of this accident. Fog and weather may have played a role in the accident. It is clear that the 10 year old victim and the other non-driving victims did nothing wrong and cannot be held liable for their respective injuries. Fault will be assessed against one or both of the drivers. An investigation will be completed by State and local officials. In addition, the victims will have the right to hire legal counsel to review the investigation and to gather additional information and statements to pursue a prospective civil case for the injuries sustained in this most unfortunate bus / trucking accident. Any time that there is a child injury in Mississippi or worse a child death – it can be quite difficult for the parents, family, friends, and community to handle. Unfortunately, the hands of time cannot be turned back to prevent the accident or the injuries that resulted from it. See 
When transporting children, it is important for the driver and all assistants and attendants on board to know the needs and abilities of the children being transported. This is especially true when a school or day care center is transporting a special needs child. A horrible tragedy took place in Baltimore County, Maryland when a 6 year old special needs student (Jeremy Jennings, Jr.) fell out of a moving school bus. The mother, who is very well versed in her son’s education and special needs curriculum, rightfully questions how the incident took place. What actions did the bus driver take? Where were the attendants at the time of the incident? Why wasn’t Jeremy properly restrained or secured in his harness? What are the policies and procedures for school transportation? Were the policies and procedures followed? In the wake of the incident, the two assistants were discharged from their employment.
The El Paso (Texas) Times has reported that a teacher has been criminally indicted by a Grand Jury for assaulting a 9 year old child. The teacher is accused by second degree felony injury to a child. It was reported that the Defendant worked as a teacher at the Canutillo Elementary School. The incident subject to the proceedings involved the alleged dragging of the student by her leg and pulling the student up by her hair. News reports did not contain all of the details of the incidents or any of the circumstances leading up to the incident. The teacher will be entitled to defend himself against these Texas criminal charges through legal representation through a Texas criminal defense attorney or the public defender’s office. You can read more about this story at 
According to local officials Jackie Bennett, a 57-year-old teacher, was suspended with pay after being accused of breaking the arm of a 5-year-old student. According to Bennett, the incident occurred while he was attempting a “therapeutic hold” – a technique used to restrain a student to prevent that student from causing to himself or herself and others. Theresa Perry, a spokeswoman for the Cumberland County, North Carolina school system, stated schoold regulations permit teachers to physically restrain students where safety of the students, school employees or volunteers are in jeopardy.
The 2010 – 2011 school year has now officially started in most school districts across the United States. It is a good time for everyone (whether you have a child in school or not) to focus on key safety tips for children in and near school.