Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Child Injury Lawyer
It is common to see fairs, amusement parks, and festivals in just about every community on a regular basis. When a person visits an area with amusement rides, it is the rightful expectation of the the visitor that the rides are safe, that the rides are inspected, and that the rides are well maintained. Unfortunately, for some visitors, including children, a fair, theme park, amusement park, or festival is the site of an accident or incident that causes serious personal injuries. When a ride breaks down or malfunctions, a person can be put at great danger for personal injuries. This applies to both adults and children. For each State, there is a division of government that regulates and inspects fairground rides and amusement park rides. Typically, the duties and responsibilities for inspection fall under the Department of Agriculture but it does depend on the specific State laws and regulations. Regardless of the particular entity charged with this responsibility, it is vital that business owners, property owners and promoters comply with the applicable laws, rules and regulations. Furthermore, additional steps should be taken to make sure that the rides are safe and well maintained. When the ride is in operation, it is important that all safety measures are taken with respect to the overall control of the ride and the individual seats and ride units. All latches should be secured and seatbelt should be worn as provided.
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 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.
Accidental shootings unfortunately and tragically take the lives of children in the United States. Our country has a proud history of the right to bear arms. It is a constitutional guarantee. Many gun proponents argue that no laws should impinge on the constitutional right to bear arms. Others, however, argue that some restrictions and safeguards should be put in place for the protection of children and others. Any gun laws can bring out a heated debate. Frederick Rivara is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wahington. Dr. Rivara wrote an article for the Seatte Times that advocated for the implementation of CAP (Child Access Protection) laws in the State of Washington as well as other States. An important issue is how to protect children from access to guns kept in the home and other locations. Dr. Rivara points out that gun, cable, or trigger locks effectively decrease the incidents of deaths from guns in the home. Child safety should be a universal goal and mission for all parents, schools, day care centers, and the community. Unfortunately, whether it is a gun that is not properly stored or other dangerous item or condition, children are injured every day due to a lack of safety precautions. Yes, some children are injured due to an unforeseeable accident or incident; however, it should be pointed out that many child injuries are preventable with due care and common sense. See 
In the State of Washington, children are passengers on school buses in the morning and afternoon hours on school days. It is important for school bus drivers and other drivers to obey traffic signals / speed limits and otherwise pay attention to road, traffic, and weather conditions. Unfortunately, there are many/ accidents that take place every year in the State of Washington that involve school buses or day care center vans. When an accident takes place involving a school bus or day care center van, children can be the unfortunate and sometimes tragic victims of the crash. Roll over accidents are especially troubling as these school bus accidents frequently involve serious personal injuries to the occupants / passengers of the school bus.