By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a study to determine the necessity of requiring vehicles to have reversible power windows as a safety requirements for passenger vehicles. The NHTSA determined that safety measures were already in place for the protection of children. These safety measures make it more difficult for a child to engage a power window. Unfortunately, even with safety measures in place, children are still being harmed or injured every year by vehicle power windows from strangulation and trauma. The NHTSA did recommend on some vehicles that reversible power windows which automatically reverse when an obstruction is sensed. The NHTSA reported that every year there are approximately 6 deaths and almost 2000 injuries from power windows. The technology is available to install reversible windows and the cost of such an important safety measure ($6 to $12 per window) seems to be minimal in light of the serious injuries and wrongful deaths that can be avoided through such a safety measure. You can read more about this important issue at NHTSA – Recommendations and Requirements as to Reversible Power Windows.
A large wave fueled by Hurricane Bill swept three people from the rocks at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine on Sunday, August 23, 2009. The Coast Guard pulled a 7-year old New York City girl, her father, and a 12-year old Belfast, Maine girl from the water. The 7-year old had no vital signs and could not be resuscitated. Both the man and the 12-year old girl are hospitalized, the man with a heart condition and the girl with a broken leg. Nine others also were hospitalized, mostly with broken bones from being slammed into the rocks. Officials did not release names of the victims. You may read more of the story at http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/117347.html.
In North Liberty, Iowa, a day care center recently closed its doors. KCRG TV 9 ABC News reported the story. The center had 95 children enrolled in the day care program. Now the families of these children will need to find another Iowa day care center for child care. The State of Iowa – Department of Human Services did not force the closing of the center; however, a recent inspection of the facility did reveal a number of violations of day care / child care regulations including vans in disrepair repair, safety issues in the playground, and dirty carpet. Parents were reportedly happy with the staff and kept the children in this facility despite these and potentially other problems.
In Johnston, Rhode Island, a mother (Julia Castillo) pulled up to a day care center to pick up her 8 month old child. Something seemed different as she pulled up to My Special Place Early Learning Center. The parking lot was empty. Julia Castillo entered the security code which did not work. She then range the door bell and knocked on the door. There was no response. She then tried to call the day care center on her mobile phone. The calls went unanswered. All through this ordeal – Julia Castillo was thinking about her child who she dropped off earlier that day. Julia Castillo along with her 8 year old daughter (Beverly) then banged on the windows until they heard the cry of her 8 month old son – Christian Martinez – inside the day care center. The police were called and later arrived on the scene. Apparently, the owners, supervisors, and employees of the day care center had all left for the day. All employees failed to realize that Christina Martinez was left behind in a building all alone. While the child was crying, it does not appear that he suffered any serious personal injuries. However, the violations and negligence of the day care center cannot really be defended by the fact that there were no serious physical injuries.
Teens and adults in Arizona and other states ride for hours at a time on ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles). Some teens and adults, after months or years of operating ATVs, believe that they are skilled enough drivers to avoid accidents causing personal injuries or wrongful death. Even the most simple jumps or turns for an experienced driver can turn into an accident causing serious injuries and, yes, sometimes even death. In Arizona, a 13 year old boy (Logan Walters) recently died from injuries related to an ATV accident. Logan suffered these injuries when his ATV flipped over and landed on him. His father stated that Logan made similar jumps with ease in the past. As such, the father was surprised as to how the incident took place seeing that Logan had been driving or riding ATVs since Logan was four years old.
The Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal reports that an early morning fire claimed the life of 9-year old Taylor McQueeney. A candle used as a light source, after the Central Maine Power Company shut off the electricity to the apartment for non-payment, ignited a bed. The fire spread quickly. Taylor McQueeney had spent the night with her cousins, 18-year old Nathan Cote and 25-year old Justin Cote. Craig Austin, age 39, rented the apartment. According to police, the men ran an extension cord from a second floor apartment up to their third floor apartment to power a television and video games, but used candles for light.