Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘injured’

Child safety advocates in Palm Beach County have come up with an inexpensive idea to help parents and caregivers remember when there’s a baby in the back seat of their vehicle.

The Safety Council of Palm Beach County along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and others will be giving out 10,000 blue silicone bracelet for caregivers to wear when a child is in the car; if the caregiver still has the bracelet on after leaving the car, the child is likely still there.

Two children have died this year after being forgotten in vehicles in Florida. Six such deaths were recorded in 2010.

Jim Dodson Law supports any and all efforts to prevent these tragedies. We  have reported in the past about a device that senses the child in the rear seat and gives an audible and persistent reminder to remove the child. Such a device should be mandated on new car models. Until that happens, drivers are encouraged to use any means at their disposal to avoid forgetting. The bracelets are a good first step in raising awareness of the problem.  To get your free bracelet call the Safety Council @ (561) 845-8233.

Florida child injury attorney Jim Dodson is a longtime advocate for child safety.  He provides information to the public on keeping children safe and has a free consumer guide on legal steps needed to recover damages when the worst happens and  child is injured or killed due to someone’s negligence at http://jimdodsonlaw.com/category/library/child-injury/.

This week across Florida and the nation it is National School Bus Safety Week, October 17-21. Florida’s departments of Education, Transportation, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have teamed up to develop a safety campaign entitled Stop on Red, Kids Ahead to impress Florida’s drivers with the importance of stopping from both directions for a school bus that is loading or unloading children with lights flashing and signs extended. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that Florida drivers illegally pass school buses nearly two million times every year!

Clearwater child injury accident attorney Jim Dodson successfully represented a local thirteen-year-old child recently, who suffered broken bones to a leg and foot when  hit by a car while getting off  the school bus at a regular stop. The driver who struck the child was attempting to pass the stopped school bus. These accidents are becoming all too common. In Central Florida, nearly a dozen students have been injured in school bus accidents since the beginning of the school year.

We encourage drivers in Florida and around the nation to be mindful of the law and of the safety and well-being of our children during National School Bus Safety Week and throughout the year.

Is your  13 or 14 year old son or daughter  keeping a running count of the number of days ’til they can get their driver’s license?  If so, the website,  www.countsown2Drive.org, is for you!

The folks at Safe Kids USA, along with the General Motors Foundation, has launched a timely new campaign to keep teens safe behind the wheel – and it’s very appropriately called, “Countdown2Drive.”

This national education program is designed to equip teens, ages 13 to 14,  and parents with safe passenger and driving knowledge before the teen is ready to drive legally. The goal -  to help teens learn how to protect themselves in vehicles as they become more independent.

Some Grim Facts about Teens and Cars:  (NHTSA)

• More than 350,000 teens were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. 
• Teenagers are four times more likely to be involved in a car accident as compared to all other drivers.
•  At age 13 and 14, a teen’s risk of dying while riding with a teenage driver is double what it was when they were younger, and it continues to rise each year. 

Countdown2drive gives parents the opportunity to reinforce safety habits that can protect your teen when they ride with other drivers. It’s  these same behaviors that will help keep them safe when they are given the keys to the car, too.

Please check it out.      Thanks, Safe Kids USA!

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer, your resource for legal, safety and accident prevention information on the web.

A Wesley Chapel man saved a 15 month-old toddler’s life last week by remembering CPR training he received nearly 15 years ago.

 This tragic near-drowning accident unfolded last Thursday morning around 11am when Mike Wynperie heard screams from the father of a young child, who had ventured into a pond nearby their backyard.  “She drowned out there in the backyard. She drowned. She went to the water.”  Those were the frantic words captured on the 911 call. 

 The situation by all accounts seemed dire.  The little girl wasn’t breathing.  Her lips were blue.  Her family was in shock as they waited for paramedics.  Wynperie went into action.  “Everything just happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to think.”

 When paramedics arrived 5 minutes later, the toddler’s pulse showed signs of life.  She was then rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where her condition is improving. 

Almost 200,000 children die each year from accidental drownings.  Many of these horrible accidents happen with a momentary distraction  in  “good families.”   Learn more on our Florida Child Injury website about drown proofing your children and avoiding this unthinkable tragedy.

 The Dodson Law Firm lauds the efforts of Mr. Wynperie and his quick response in saving this toddler’s life from a near drowning.  For those interested in learning more about CPR training and a class near you, please visit americaheart.org.

Florida Accident Lawyer, protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 25 years.

 “Presents for Primates” at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa took an unexpected twist when a chimpanzee grabbed an orange and tossed it at a young girl watching the festivities. 

 Employees of the zoo immediately rushed to the girl and got her an ice pack.  The young girl luckily was not injured. 

 The incident unfolded when zookeepers tossed wrapped presents filled with food in the primate’s exhibit area.  ‘Alex’, the chimp who threw the orange was upset after another chimp had stolen his present.  According to the Lowry Park Zoo, events like “Presents for Primates” are intended to encourage physical and mental activity of the apes and monkeys, while energizing the animals’ senses and behaviors. 

 Parents Magazine rated Lowry Park Zoo as the best zoo in the United States last year. They are also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.