Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The Duluth, Minnesota City Council recently passed an ordinance by a unanimous vote as to restrictions as to where Level 3 Predatory (Sexual) Offenders can live within the city. The new city ordinance would prohibit these sexual offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of an school, playground or day care center. Ordinances like these make it more difficult for sexual offenders who have been released back into society to find affordable housing. The mission or goal of such ordinances is to protect the safety of children from those who have a history or propensity to victimize children. Of course, not all sexual offenders repeat their crimes. Furthermore, not all sexual offenders victimize children; however, if the ordinances protect children – they make sense. There would be challenges to such ordinances. Passing new laws is not always easy or popular. Keeping children safe with new laws or other actions simply makes sense. See Duluth City Council passes ordinance limiting where sex offenders can live
Dog bites can cause serious personal injuries to children and, in some instances, the tragic wrongful death of a child. These incidents can even take place at home with a family dog with no history of aggressiveness or dog bites. In Indianapolis, Indiana, a 9 year old girl suffered serious personal injuries as a result of being mauled / bitten by a Pit Bull breed dog. As the girl was letting the dog outside, the Pit Bull breed dog jumped on her and bit her around the neck while violently wrestling her to the floor. The child sustained serious personal injuries to her neck and trachea. After the vicious attack, the Pit Bull breed dog was quarantined at a local animal hospital.
In South Carolina and other States, you can go to prison if you injure a child in an automobile accident. It was reported that a Spartansburg, South Carolina man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an automobile accident that caused serious personal injuries to a 10 year old child. The man admitted in criminal proceedings that he was drunk at the time of the crash that caused critical injuries.
In Lufkin, Texas, a teacher’s aide was arrested based on criminal allegations that she struck / hit a 4 year old boy. The incident took place at the Slack Elementary School. It was reported that another teacher’s aide witness the acts of Debra Martin Fuqua (age 54). There were subsequent investigations of the incident by the school district as well as Child Protective Services. This was an interesting story in that the alleged criminal acts were witnessed by another school employee. Often times, a child has no such adult witness to step up and serve as a witness on the case. See 
In Savannah, Georgia, a 3 year old girl suffered personal injuries as a result of a knife that was thrown by a Garden City, Georgia woman who threw the knife during a fight over the purchase or selection of the wrong brand of beer. Throwing knives, shooting guns, and other dangerous activities can lead to serious personal injuries of children. It can also get a person arrested for assault, battery, neglect of a child, and other criminal charges.
In Indiana and other States, parents and other drivers continue to hit the roads with children in the vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When driving, it is important to be alert and sharp. It is a well know fact that alcohol dulls the senses and has a definite effect on motor skills. Driving under the influence puts many people at risk including the driver, passengers (especially children), other drivers and passengers in vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. If you have been drinking, stay out of the driver’s seat and get somebody sober behind the wheel. In Muncie, Indiana, a man was arrested for drunk driving charges. He had picked up the children of his fiance from a day care center and was driving the children home when he crashed into a tree. Police arrived on the scene. The children in the vehicle were young children. One was 5 years old and the other was 2 years old. Both were treated at Ball Memorial Hospital. The 5 year old was taken to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana for treatment for internal injuries. See 
In Ohio and other states, accidental injuries take place in day care centers. It is important for day care providers and child care providers to recognize and respond to injuries. First Aid kits should be readily available and the parent should be immediately contacted should the injury require medical care beyond a simple bandaid. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services requires day care centers to complete an Incident Report when there is an injury that takes place at a day care center. Incident Reports like these are important in that they help document the incident for the day care center, parents, and the State of Ohio. Recognizing and reporting accidents and incidents that lead to injury can help bring a better safety awareness to day care centers. There are many issues or questions that arise when a child is injured in a day care center including the following:
In New York and other States, two things don’t mix well – day care centers and guns. In Syracuse, New York, a man was sentenced to prison for having a shot gun outside of a New York day care center. He was charged and sentenced for criminal possession of this firearm / weapon. Police had responded to the scene after getting a call that shots were fired. While no children or others were injured, the man was still charged with a crime. See