Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Archive for November, 2009

 Authorities don’t know why a 44-year-old Kissimmee man lost control of his car Sunday night, causing him to hit a light pole and sign post. The man was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

A 9-year-old boy who was a passenger in the car was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital to treat serious injuries he sustained in the car crash. Florida Highway Patrol says  the boy was not wearing a seatbelt.

The Dodson Law Firm urges all drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts.  The failure of a child to wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint safety device is a contributing factor in more than one-half of the accidents in which a child dies.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, “safety belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by forty-five percent. Wearing a seat belt is no longer an option. It’s the law.

Trusting a school with your child takes a great deal of faith…for Lee Ann Mizell, that trust has been lost.

Her daughter, 5-year-old, Kaylee Mitchell has been put at risk twice in the last few months when school officials at Griffin Elementary in Lakeland have lost track of her.

Kaylee is supposed to attend an aftercare program at Griffin. According to her mother, she has been put on a  schoolbus two times and been sent home instead. The problem…her mother works during the day and hasn’t been there at the apartment complex to pick Kaylee up. Both times she has been found wandering around the complex lost.

Fortunately no accidents have occurred. Charlene Brinson, Polk County’s Director of Elementary School issued this statement, “The teacher was dealt with. That’s all I can tell you. It’s a personnel matter.”

Kaylee’s mother is taking matters into her own hands, she is transferring her daughter to another school.

An 18-month-old toddler died after falling from a ground-floor window in Orange County, Florida.    Paramedics and deputies were called to the Lake Margaret home after a 911 call. 

 Authorities have not released any details, but neighbors say that the couple who reside there are foster parents.  Lt. Paul Hopkins said that while there was no clear sign of foul play, the Sheriff’s Office will conduct an investigation and an autopsy will be performed. 

 Any accident concerning a child is tragic.  The leading cause of death in children over one year of age is trauma. Each year, more than 6,000 children die from accidental injury. Over 14,000,000 children are hurt each year from carelessness.

 Home injuries are one of the top causes of children under the age of three being rushed to the emergency room. Almost 70% of children who suffer fatal, accidental injuries at home are ages 4 and under. 

Young children should never be left unsupervised. Adults  have a responsibility to  protect a child from foreseeable risks and harm.

Dan Connaughton, a professor in the University of Florida Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sports management is a man on a mission! The mission…to reduce the number of severe injuries and fatal accidents children suffer from bicycle and traffic crashes.

In 2008, Florida held the dubious distinction of having more bicyclists killed in car crashes than any other state – even surpassing California which has twice the population. Last year, 118 bicyclists died in accidents in Florida.

The Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program will be designed to teach child the lifelong skills required to be safe abd responsible cyclists and pedestrians. Connaughton was awarded a 3 year contract by the Florida DOT to direct statewide FREE workshops to “teach the teachers” bicycle and traffic safety tips they can instruct their students. The curriculum is designed for elementary, middle and high schools.

The workshops are already being planned throughout the state of Florida. School districts interested in hosting the workshops can contact the program at 352-392-4042, ext. 1370.

Nominate a deserving child!

Here at the Law Office of James W. Dodson, we are pleased to team up with our friends at Bicycle Outfitters to provide bikes to 5 deserving kids this Christmas. If you know a child age 12 or under who has a special story, and is deserving of a new bike, submit your reasons and description of the child in 150 words or less by December 1st 2009 for a chance to win. Winners will be announced by December 10th. Click the above banner to enter!