Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Dodson Law Firm’

As a Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer, some of the most difficult cases I handle are those which  involve injured children. Hundreds of thousands of children are hurt each year in preventable accidents.  The purpose of our law firm’s legal blog is to raise awareness of the increasing number of children who are accidentally injured  and to educate parents about  injury prevention/ child safety. Knowledge is power.  We can work together to  keep our children/grandchildren safe.

The folks at the Home Safety Council, Lowe’s and fire and life safety professionals from the community are big supporters of child safety too. They are kicking off National Fire Safety Month with a special, day-long safety celebration. Lowe’s is planning a  day of safety fun for the entire family and the chance to learn how to keep your family safe from fire and other home dangers.

When: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Time: 10:00 am until 2:00 pm
Where: Lowe’s store parking lot

To find a Lowe’s near you, visit the Lowe’s store locator.  Check the Safety Saturday Web site for more information as the draws closer. If you can’t make it to the Safety Saturday event at Lowe’s on September 25, you can still make any day safer for your child.

Use the Home Safety Council’s Safety Saturday starter ideas to take home safety in your own hands.

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson, author of  the No Cost consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries” available online or by calling toll free @ 1-888-340-0840.

Dodson Law Firm, “Working to make safety every child’s reality.”

The “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” opened today at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, in Orlando. 

 Universal invested $200 million dollars into this project and attendance is expected to swell dramatically past the 12,700 guests that Islands of Adventure attracts daily.  In fact, the park opened their parking garage at 5:30am, three and a half hours before the theme park opens. 

 Taking this all into consideration, what are some of the precautions parents should take to ensure your child’s safety?  Here are 5 quick tips:

 Keep children away from areas that are not for public access

       Make sure your children never enter a restricted area in a theme park

 Understand the limits and restrictions placed on certain park rides

       Read an attraction’s boarding restrictions before you let your child get in line

 Keep children safely seated on all amusement park rides

       Stay in your seat; keep your hands on the grab bar & your feet and knees inside

 Alert staff if a  problem arises

       Keep a watchful eye out if you see something wrong; don’t be afraid to alert staff

 Stay cool and avoid prolonged sun exposure

       Be mindful of sunburn, rashes, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Keep yourself and  your children hydrated!  And don’t forget your sun block.

 Understand the factors that place kids at risk at amusement parks such as Universal Studios and other Florida theme parks and keep your children safe. Many people wrongly believe that theme parks, such as Universal Studios, will pay for any injury that takes place on its premises. The park has a duty to provide for a reasonably safe environment and to inspect and maintain its theme park. When a child is hurt while on a ride or is injured while visiting the theme park, it does not necessary mean there is civil liability for the injury.

In a news release this past week, a Florida couple has won a $6 million civil verdict nearly seven years after their 16-year-old daughter was killed in a fatal car crash. 

 Carlos Pozo, serving a 5 ½ year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, was speeding at 100mph on a rain slicked road when he lost control of his car. Kaitlin Kazanjian’s was killed in the crash.  Pozo has no way of paying the verdict. 

 The victim’s father, Palm Beach County Sheriff Office Sgt. John Kazanjian, says it doesn’t matter and it was never about the money, stating:  “I just wanted to get everything on the record.  To this day he thinks this was an accident, “It wasn’t an accident. It was his fault. He killed my daughter.”

 Attorneys for Pozo say he has been “incredibly remorseful” since the day of the accident, writing letters to the Kazanjian’s and tearfully apologizing at his sentencing.  

 For over twenty-five years the Dodson Law Firm has been representing clients seriously injured in accidents as well as families affected by wrongful death.  To speak directly to Jim Dodson about your injury claim,  please call our office toll free at (888) 340-0840 and set up a time to discuss your case at no obligation. Read our No Fee Promise.

This past week the U.S. Product Safety Commission together with McDonald’s announced a voluntary recall of 12 million “Shrek Forever After 3D” drinking glasses. 

 The reason behind the recall is that the designs on the glasses contain cadmium.  Long exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects.  There are also environmental concerns related to cadmium. 

 These glasses were sold exclusively at McDonald’s restaurants throughout the United States for the last two years.  McDonald’s is asking consumers to stop using the glasses immediately.  Visit http://www.mcdonalds.comfor additional instructions on how to obtain a full refund or call toll free at (800) 244-6227.

 The Dodson Law Firm has a long history of successfully representing those who have been hurt in accidents or injured due to the carelessness of another person.

 If you or a loved one has been injured, you have questions concerning your legal rights. Call our toll free number at (888) 340-0840 to get answers or to schedule a free case review today with Jim Dodson.

The 2010 Florida’s Kids and Alcohol Town Hall Meeting will be broadcast on WEDU-TV, Thursday, April 22^nd at 9pm.

Teens, parents, educators, counselors, community activists and law-enforcement representatives will all join together in an open honest discussion related to the underage drinking and the effect that it has on all of our lives.

Prescription drug misuse will also be covered in this year’s meeting.  This is the 5^th year that WEDU has offered this forum.  This will be an opportunity to listen to the concerns and suggestions from all of the participants involved in the discussion.

The Dodson Law Firm applauds the efforts of WEDU-TV in producing this project to enhance the safety of children throughout the state of Florida.

 Is Florida is need of a more stringent car booster seat requirement law?  AAA , the automobile people, think so. 

 Florida is joined by only 2 states, Arizona and South Dakota as not requiring booster seats for children under the age of 7 years old.   It’s been reported that the National Transportation Safety Board has criticized all three states for its lax legislation regarding the matter. Florida lawmakers have resisted however.

 Our current state law requires child restraint devices through age 5.  Exceptions are made to children 4 and 5 who can wear a seat belt instead of a specialized restraint. 

 A child who is properly restrained in a booster seat is less likely to be injured in a car accident. Children who are not properly restrained are at risk of being thrown from the car or inside the car and may seriously injure themselves or other passengers in the car.  Booster seats allow children to sit higher, so car seat belts fit them better and  protect them from head and abdominal injuries. 

 A bill sponsored by Rep. Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City) and Rep. Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach) would require booster seats for children ages 4 to 7. Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) is offering his support to this responsible measure in the Senate.

 The Dodson Law Firm offers its support for responsible legislation leading to increased safety for the children of Florida. 

For information concerning car seat safety inspection stations visit our Florida Child Injury Lawyer website, working to make safety a reality for every child.

Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist and fitness consultant who works with organizations designing functional training programs.  Here are some important tips she supplies for parent’s whose children are involved with youth sports.

 Although some may appear to be common sense, sometimes  it’s the “smaller things” that are overlooked that could lead to child injury. Many children experience  minor bruises and injuries as they participate in youth sports. But there are some safety considerations for parents in the event an injury does occur and steps to take  to protect children from more serious injuries.

• Does the coach have first aid training and an emergency action plan?
• Is there a safety policy regarding injury, illness, and inclement weather?
• Does the coach have your emergency contact information?
• Do you have contact information for the coach?
• Is there a first-aid kit always on hand?
• Is there available water, hydration at all game & practices?
• Is there a scheduled warm-up and cool down at games and practices?
• Does your child receive guidelines and recommendations about proper safety equipment?                                                                                                                
• Is safety equipment required for play?
• Are children allowed adequate rest between games and practices?
• Is sportsmanship, and fair play a core value of the program and the coach?

 Unfortunately, tragic accidents can  happen on the playing field.   Children have the potential for suffering many kinds of  serious injuries while playing sports including: broken bones, concussion, trauma, torn ligaments, sprains and strains, eye injuries and more. If you are unsure  about answers to even one of these questions, make a point to find out. It’s in your children best interest and safety that you do.  The Dodson Law Firm protects the interests of families every day.  For a free consultation with our Florida Personal Injury lawyers contact our office @ 1-888-340-0840.

Early Friday morning a New Port Richey couple were about to retire to bed when the unexpected happened. 

 “We were walking into the bathroom and we heard this … crash. I came outside, saw the car where you see it now.”  A teen driver lost control of her car, sideswiped another vehicle, drove through the front yard and crashed into the home of Michael Whaley.  The impact pinned a van inside the garage.  Troopers cited the 17-year-old driver with careless driving.

 “I asked both kids… if either were hurt,” the retired police was quoted as saying.   Very fortunately for the teen and her passenger, there were no serious injuries in the car crash. Whaley’s home, though reportedly,  has $20,000 in damages. The accident could have had  serious injuries and consequences  had he and  his wife  been in the area where the car crashed. Whaley, it seems from a news report,  had a fairly calm reaction to the evening’s events and was relieved  no one was injured.

He remarked,  ”I got insurance…everybody got insurance.” Fortunately, in this case it sounds like insurance is not an issue, but that’s not always the case.

Many drivers in Florida are extremely underinsured and unprepared if they are responsible for damages far beyond the coverage they bought.  The damage to property caused in this accident may be covered by the driver’s Property Damage insurance on any policy insuring the car. Too many Floridians opt for the minimum Property Damage coverage of $10,000. Such coverage would pay for only half the reported loss to the home in this accident, leaving the driver on the hook potentially for the rest. Far too many crashes involving expensive cars cause property damaged liablity well in excess of $10,000 and drivers need to be aware of such potential liabilty and get the coverage they need. 

In addition,  many injured people I see in my office after an auto accident believe they have full coverage or are unclear about what they do have. Unfortunately, there are many uninsured or underinsured drivers on our roads – as many as 665,000 Florida drivers have no insurance, according to a 2004 report.  The Dodson Law Firm stresses the importance of uninsured motorist coverage - the least expensive and best bargain when it comes to your coverage. Check your policy’s coverage today!

For more information on car insurance from Florida Car Accident and Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson, request a FREE copy of his consumer guide about Buying Car Insurance in Florida It’s available on Amazon for $12.95 but offered at NO COST to Florida drivers on our website www.JWDodsonlaw.com.   

Last week in Orlando, a group of 50 parents, volunteers and children all gathered in front of City Hall to voice their support of the Freedom Ride program.

 The program aids disabled youths and adults at Trotters Park through therapeutic horseback riding.  Those who participate in Freedom Ride are living  with a variety of disabilities and life challenges, some of which include: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, ADD, autism, deafness, and blindness.

 The city of Orlando has decided not to renew the lease at Trotters Park after it expires next year.  It’s reported that city officials feel the land is needed for more soccer and basketball facilities. 

 The mother of one child, Jonathon Forthuber, who has cerebral palsy, explained the importance of the program. “He can’t walk, so when he’s on a horse, he’s walking. Things these kids shouldn’t be able to do, they’re doing. They ought to have an opportunity to keep doing it.”

 Mayor Buddy Dyer is exploring other options to possibly facilitate the needs of the program. 

The Dodson Law Firm wishes the families, children and volunteers well in these efforts and hope their voices will be heard by city officials. Freedom Ride sounds like an extremely worthwhile program, reaching out to the more than 50,000 disabled people  in the Central Florida area while providing an invaluable opportunity for this group of  children and adults.

The Dodson Law Firm is committed to providing safety resources  to prevent child injury.  We want to help parents ensure a happy, healthy and safe life for their children.

 Pet access doors are an area of concern of which every parent should be aware.  Millions of these doors have been installed for convenience of allowing a cat or dog to access the outdoors. More than 70 cases have been uncovered in which a child died or nearly lost their lives after leaving their home through a pet door.  Most fatalities and accidents result from a child drowning in a pool or another hazardous place.  In all reality, that number could be much higher since often times it is not recorded how a child accessed the outdoors.

 Naturally parents and guardians of young children and toddlers always have to be on guard and never leave a child unsupervised and unattended.   According to PetAccessDangers.org, warnings by most pet door manufacturers are either insufficient or totally lacking.   

Manufacturers of products have a solemn responsibility to warn and alert consumers of the potential dangers associated with their product.