Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Infants and babies are at risk for injury when co-sleeping and alcohol combine. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a 6 day old baby died when the mother fell asleep or passed out on the couch at home. Rose Prescott, age 30, informed police that she may have fallen asleep on the couch after consuming alcohol earlier in the day. It was reported that the death of the child (Celianna) happen to be the third co-sleeping death in the immediate family.
A four year old boy, Jonathan Vasquez, was killed in a hit and run accident in front of his school recently. The child was riding a scooter to preschool, with his grandmother and older brother walking behind him, when he was hit while crossing the street that leads out of the school parking lot. The driver of the car fled the scene, dragging the boy’s body behind him for a short distance. Because the accident occurred just after the first morning bell, there were few witnesses and the police do not have a good description of the car or the driver, who has only been described as a man with a dark complexion.
In Richmond, Virginia, Keishawn L. Whitfield, age 23, was recently convicted on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Neglect. In the Summer of 2009, Mr. Whitfield left a 13 month old child unattended in a day care center van. Whitfield’s attorneys argued that it was a mistake and inattention rather than a crime to leave the child in the day care center van. Tragically, the child died as a result of being left in a hot vehicle in the Virginia summer heat. The child was enrolled in the Yellow Brick Road Day Care and Learning Center which was owned and operated by Whitfield’s mother.
Interstate 35 is a busy highway connecting the Twin Cities to northern points of Minnesota. Eric Sprouse, age 19, lost control of his pick-up truck and swerved into oncoming traffic while travelling northbound on Interstate 35. The driver and a young child in the other car were both killed and pronounced dead at the scene. Sprouse suffered life threatening injuries and was taken to a local trauma center by helicopter. His passenger also suffered injuries and was hospitalized.
An Arlington, Texas mother has been criminally charged for the death of her 1 year old son. Darrell “Tre” Singleton, III, had a body temperature of 107 degrees when he was evaluated and pronounced dead at Arlington Memorial Hospital. Police investigators and local authorities believe that the death was a direct result of the mother leaving Darrell “Tre” in a vehicle for 8 hours while the mother worked at a local hospital. The mother (Keashia Dyon Matthews) turned herself into local authorities for the charges and later was released on bond. Ms. Matthews had a history of parenting issues with her children.
In New York and other states, day care operators, owners, and employees have a duty to report suspected abuse and neglect of children attending the day care program. Most states have statutes in place that require day care operators, teachers, counselors, doctors, and others to promptly report abuse and neglect. Why are such laws in place? It is simple – the laws are in place for the protection of children. A person like a day care operator does not have to witness the actual abuse or even be certain of the abuse. Most states require that the person reporting the abuse have a good faith belief or suspicion of abuse.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recent held a symposium in Denver. Statistics were reported at the symposium regarding child deaths from automobile accident. Statistics show that the number of deaths from automobile accidents of children (age 0 – 20) dropped by forty four percent between the years of 2003 and 2008. The event / symposium was held as part of a campaign of awareness and prevention by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.