Indiana Injury And Family Lawyer Blog

National School Bus Safety Week will be taking place this year from October 22nd through the 26th, according to the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). This year's theme is "I see the Driver. The Driver Sees Me."

According to the School Bus Information Clearinghouse, there is no safer way to get a student to and from school than a school bus. Still, we see far too many school bus accidents throughout the country every year. Currently, there are close to 9 billion trips that schools buses take to and from school each and every day. There are close to 500,000 of these buses that transport 25 million kids each and every day.

Our Highland injury attorneys understand that there were nearly 10 kids who were killed in school bus accidents in the country last year. That may not seem like a lot, but when you figure the number of kids who were injured in these accidents, the risk is significant. One of the most dangerous times during a child's journey to and from school is getting to and from the bus stop. During this week-long safety campaign, parents, teachers and friends are asked to talk with their kids about the importance of getting to and from the bus stop safely. It's important that we teach our kids how to be safe when getting on and getting off of the bus as well.

Kids are always urged to wear a helmet when riding a bike and to wear a seat belt when riding in your car, so you might be a little bit surprised to learn that there are no seat belts on school buses. Every time a bus accident makes it into the news, the controversy over these requirements, or lack thereof, is brought back to the forefront. The truth of the matter is that conventional school buses are already designed in a way that purports to meet a different federal safety standard, permitting the lack of lap belts.

It's works under the theory of compartmentalization. We're talking about the thickly-padded seats that are placed close together and the high backs that they have on them. What this design does is creates a compartment meant to protect passengers in a collision.

But it's when these kids are walking to and from the bus stop and when they're waiting for their bus to arrive that we worry the most. These kids are alarmingly close to passing traffic. Talk with your child about the following safety tips to make sure they get to and from their bus stop safely each and every day.

Bus Stop Safety Tips:

-Never allow kids under the age of 10 to walk to the bus alone.

-Always make sure older kids are walking to the bus in pairs or groups, never alone.

-Make sure kids never walk near traffic. Use a sidewalk when one is available.

-Never approach a bus before making eye contact with the driver.

-Look at the driver before crossing the road.

-Never cross the street behind the bus.

-Wait for the bus at least 5 giant steps away from the road.

-Always hold the handrail when getting on and off the bus.

Continue reading "Highland School Accidents: National Bus Safety Week 2012! " »

During this time of the year, many residents throughout the area pull out their all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to carouse the town, or for some off-road run. The weather pefect, the sun is shining and residents get to enjoy some time away from work and school.

ATV accidents can ruin an otherwise good time and can often be quite serious. In recent weeks, there have been at least three ATV accidents in Bartholomew County and elsewhere nearby. According to NECN, officials are taking these accidents as a warning and are working to raise awareness about the dangers through the summer and fall riding seasons.

One of the first accidents happened near Indianapolis when a 14-year-old was riding his ATV on South County Road. When he swerved to miss a dog, his ATV flipped over and landed on top of him. The young rider was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was treated for a broken leg.

Our Highland personal injury attorneys understand that a man from Scipio died last month after an ATV accident in northwest Jennings County. This rider died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. This ATV accident happened as a result of loose gravel and asphalt on the side of the road.

Also in June, two young girls suffered from serious head injuries after they were thrown from an ATV that their father was driving. This ATV accident was a rollover as well. In both of these incidents, none of the riders were wearing a helmet or any other form of safety equipment.

Some ATV accidents can lead to injuries as minor as bruises, burns, scrapes and cuts. But each year there are riders who die or suffer life-altering brain injuries. Regardless, ATV injuries of all kinds can be minimized when the proper safety precautions are taken and safe driving habits are practiced.

Make sure that riders always wear protective equipment. Never allow a young rider to ride an ATV that's suitable for an adult. Make sure that each rider is riding on an age-appropriate ATV. Children's ATVs are typically slower and smaller. It's also a wise idea to stay off of our state's roadways and stay away from cars and trucks.

Believe it or not, ATVs are not designed to be ridden on the road. Their steering systems and brakes are designed for off-road use. In many Indiana counties it's even illegal to ride these vehicles on roads.

According to ATVSafety.com, there were more than 315 people who died in ATV accidents across the U.S. in 2010. In addition to these fatalities, there were another 120,000 people injured.

We're asking all riders to make sure that they're using these vehicles safely and correctly. These accidents are avoidable with safe and smart riding practices. Be safe and enjoy!

Continue reading "ATV Accidents in Highland a Risk of Child Injury " »

Parents of young children should take note of recent media reports signaling the threat of possible child injury in Indiana when using the Bumbo seat.

The seat, made of soft foam and manufactured in South Africa, has become monstrously popular, selling more than 4 million seats in the U.S. alone.

Many parents seem to love the seats because they allow their young infant to sit up, often for the first time. There are no safety straps or buckles, and manufacturers say this is a good thing, as it's not meant to restrict the baby's movement.

But, as our Indiana child injury attorneys know, babies need to be secured. A number of advocacy groups say the fact that that children are not strapped down while in these seats has led to skull fractures and other injuries.

It's been five years since the seat was initially recalled. In 2007, a number of parents began reporting that their children were being hurt when they were placed in the seat that was then placed on an elevated surface, such as a bathroom counter top or kitchen table.
When the seats were recalled, warning labels were placed on the sides, alerting parents and caregivers to the potential dangers of using the seat up high.

Before the recall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported it had received reports of 46 accidents. In 14 of those cases, the infants suffered a serious skull fracture. Unfortunately, it does not appear the accidents are being reduced after the recall. In fact, the commission reported that since the recall, it has received reports of 45 more children being hurt after falling out of the seats, with 17 of those suffering head injuries.

Additionally, the commission reports that it has received 50 reports of little babies who fell out of the Bumbo seats when they were on the ground. Of those, two had head injuries and another had a concussion.

One would think this would be enough for the commission to issue a second recall of the product. This is exactly what a number of children's advocacy groups have been asking for, with a letter-writing campaign to the government agency. They are still waiting to hear back, according to various media outlets.

Even amid concern among parents, caregivers and government regulators, the maker of the Bumbo seat continues to say the product is not a danger. If used correctly, a spokesman said, the seats are safe.

Putting a strap or safety restraint on the seat isn't an option, the spokesman said, because that would create a false sense of security for parents. The spokesman added that of the 45 new accidents, more than a quarter of them happened in the old seats with no warning labels.

A California pediatrician was quoted by one news agency as saying that even if a parent were standing or sitting right next to the child, an accident in one of these seats could unfold in a split second.

Continue reading "Child Injury in Indiana a Threat with Bumbo Seat " »