Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
An unfortunate drowning death occurred in Lake Michigan recently. I twas reported that Michael Hilling, age 19 from Rock, Michigan, went into the water to retrieve his girlfriend’s water bottle that had fallen into the lake. The incident took place as Hilling and his girlfriend were watching a fireworks celebration just after midnight to bring in the New Year. The simple act or gesture of getting a water bottle lead to this young man’s death. There is a danger or risk of drowning for any child or adult that goes into a lake or other water way. The depth of the water, temperature of the water, time of day / night, and other factors can contribute to the risks when a person jumps into a water. While most think that only children are at high risk for drowning, the risk really applies to everybody – young or old and everybody in between. You can read more about this story at Teen Dies After Jumping into Lake Michigan.
In Rock Hill, South Carolina, the death of a 6 week old child in a crowded Rock Hill day care center made news recently. As expected, an autopsy was performed in order to determine the cause of death. According to the medical examiner, the child died as a result of positional asphyxiation. This medical term refers to medical complication caused when a person’s position prevents the person from breathing adequately. See 
In Redmond, Washington, a tragic fire was reported that involved the unfortunate and tragic deaths of 4 children and 1 adult. The incident took place on January 1, 2011. The blaze resulted in the response of six fire departments as well as fire investitors from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Exposlives. There was no indication from the initial inspection or response to the scene that the fire was intentionally set or that there was criminal activity involved with this fire or the resulting deaths.
A family of Fort Bend County, Texas, Jose, Lindsay and their daughter Gracie Galarza, is still suffering from tremendous stress and grief years after their child was allegedly abused by a worker at the child’s home daycare facility. The little girl, who is now two-and-a-half-years-old, was 9-months-old at the time of the incident. Jennifer Sides, the worker at the home daycare center, was charged with injury to a child. Deputies say Sides caused severe personal injuries to the toddler’s head as a result from being shaken. The Galarzas said Gracie had to be hooked up to machines due to the severe extent of her personal injuries to her head. Gracie sustained bleeding and swelling to her brain, as well as experienced bleeding behind her eyes. After doctros examined the nature and extent of Gracie’s personal injuries, the doctors informed the Galarzas the injuries were the result of the toddler being shaken. In fact, the doctors told the parents it was more than an accident, it was child abuse.
A 38-year-old woman of Lufkin, Texas, has been sentenced to 15 years probation after accepting a plea deal and pleading guilty to injury of a child and unlawful restraint. However, some people may not be satisfied with Kathy Butler Taylor’s sentence because of the nature of child abuse she allegedly inflicted onto three different people. Taylor was accused of using an extension cord and tape to abuse children. One child told investigators that Taylor would bind her hands, feet and mouth with tape. After being bound, Taylor would then beat her with an extension cord. If you would like to read more on this story please see 
A pickup truck, pulling a plow behind the truck, struck 4 children while they were crossing a street in Wyoming. The road is near the children’s elementary school, Godfrey Elementary. The children had a half-day of school on the day of the accident and the crossing guard, who was directing traffic at the crosswalk earlier that day, left about fifteen minutes before the terrible incident occurred.
In day care centers and schools, it is vital for children to have consistent supervision. There is a risk of injury inside and outside of the classroom. This is especially true since children have poor safety awareness and do not recognize the risk of danger. When there is a problem or complication, children often times have poor problem solving skills and can make bad situations worse.
In Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado, the towns come alive in the Winter and Spring ski seasons. When the slopes get crowded, accidents and incidents take place. From time to time, skiers and snowboarders will collide and falls take place. Most are mere accidents that cannot be avoided. It is truly the nature of the sport especially for those who are not that experienced or skilled on skis / snowboards. It was reported that a Georgia man hit a 14 year old girl after the girl bumped in the man’s son. The incident took place at Colorado’s Beaver Creek Ski Resort which is located near Vail, Colorado. It was reported that the incident (prior to the alleged assault) resulted as the girl swerved to avoid hitting another person on the slopes.