Category: Child Injuries

Childhood Bicycle Accidents: The Significance Of Understanding Fractures In Youth

May 16, 2012   Staff   No comments
child riding bicycle

While a child continues to grow, while it is true that the child’s bones are more pliable and less prone to fracture, when a fracture occurs, special attention much be paid to ensure future complications do not arise. At the end of long bones are what are referred to as growth plates— which are where bones are actively growing. A fracture along a growth plate has the ability to disturb the growth along the plate and may cause disfiguration and long term growth problems. As a parent, getting grasp on the type of fracture your child has sustained in been in a bicycle accident is essential to assess the extent of damages and the cost of proper rehabilitation.

Growth Plate Fractures In Children

Growth plate fractures are more common in the forearm and fingers as well as the tibia and fibula of the legs, although there can occur elsewhere. When left untreated, growth plate fractures result in pain that affects range of motion and athletic performance. The bone may begin to grow in a crooked manner, resulting in physical differences between one limb and the other, which is growing properly. Early detection of a growth plate fracture is instrumental for treatment that reduces the impact of the fracture on your child’s development.

There are several ways in which a doctor will diagnose a growth fracture. The first is to take and compare x-rays of both the fracture and the properly growing plate in order to detect any differences that are already present. Many times, the x-ray alone will not be enough to verify the existence of a growth plate fracture and doctors will order an MRI or CT scan in order to gain information about the bone and surrounding tissue that will not only allow them to tell if an injury exists, but also the severity of said injury.

If your child is diagnosed with a growth plate fracture, the injury will fall into one of five categories of growth plate injuries. In many cases, the fracture is treated through immobilization of the joint— normally accomplished by putting it into a cast. In other cases, surgery and further therapy may be needed in order to ensure that the injury is repaired correctly and that the growth plate can grow properly without causing additional complications.

Treating Childhood Bone Fractures

Unless the prognosis and treatment is to be extremely simple, most doctors will refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon, which specializes in problems in the joints and bones. More than eight out of ten growth plate fractures will heal without any major complications. The most common concerns are stunted growth, open injuries which could cause infection to the joint and injuries occurring in an important are such as the knee not healing properly. In the case of stunted growth, one limb may grow to be shorter than the other.

Injuries to the knee have a much higher probability of complication than growth plate fractures elsewhere and have the potential to cause problems to the joint that will affect your child’s growth and range of movement for a lifetime. The successful treatment of these injuries will almost inevitably require surgery and months, if not years, of physical therapy. Over the time, the cost of treatment for more severe growth plate fractures can mount and become a financial burden. For this reason, if your child is involved in a bicycle accident, it is important to consult an attorney in order to evaluate whether you may be owed damages for immediate and recurring treatment that is expected to be required for your child’s injury.

If you are looking for a bike accident lawyer in Chicago, consider Jonathan Rosenfeld, who has many years of experience representing clients who have been involved in injuries that impose long term changes to their lives of no fault of their own. He will evaluate your case to determine whether or not you are owed damages not only for current expenses, but also for expenses that may occur over the future. You can learn more information about Jonathan’s law practice by visiting Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers or Chicago Bike Injury Lawyers.

 

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Teen Injured in Philadelphia Dog Attack

April 06, 2012   Staff   No comments
15 year old injured in pit bull attack

A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in a dog bite incident after he was attacked by a pit bull that escaped from its owner’s yard. According to NBC 10 Philadelphia, the vicious dog attack occurred in the 5900 block of Shisler Street in the Oxford Circle section of the city on April 3, 3012. Officials say witnesses told them the teenager was with a group of boys when two pit bulls escaped their owner’s home on the 5900 block of Belden Street. One of the escaped dogs began to chase the teenager and while his friends managed to get on top of a neighbor’s car behind a fence, the teen didn’t make it.

The dog then bit the boy in the face. Witnesses said the teen’s eyelid was hanging. His face was cut up, mouth bloodied and clothes ripped up. The teen was taken to a local hospital, suffering from multiple wounds to his face and body. Both dogs were confiscated by animal control and investigators say the owner of the animals was handed a summary dangerous dog citation. It’s unclear as to whether criminal charges will be filed.

My heart goes out to this injured dog attack victim. I wish him the very best for a speedy and full recovery.

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Protecting Your Child From Laundry Room Dangers

April 04, 2012   Staff   No comments
laundry room dangers

After the recent news story about the death of a 21-month-old child, the public is finally becoming aware of an often ignored danger to their children—the laundry room. Tiffany Hebb of Oregon was just doing some laundry. When she had to step out of the room for a minute a disaster occurred.

In just the short time Hebb was out of the room, her son Ollie was able to crawl into the filling washing machine. She returned and frantically retrieved him out of the machine and resuscitated him. He later passed at a local hospital due to the extensive brain damage from the drowning.

 

 

No parent should have to suffer the tragedy of losing a child, especially in an accident that could have been prevented. When these types of accidents occur it is important to speak with qualified personal injury attorneys in New Jersey.

When baby proofing your home you think of many things such as keeping chemicals in an unreachable or secure location, covering electrical outlets, putting child locks on cabinets and drawers, but how many think of lesser known dangers like drowning in the washing machine?

This is not an isolated incident either, in 2010 one Chinese toddler climbed into a washing machine while playing hide and seek and was stuck for two hours. Emergency responders had to disassemble the machine and cut him from the plastic drum to free him. Also, in 2011 Shine reported that one boy in Germany was killed when he climbed into a dryer and his twin brother managed to turn it on. They also told the story of one boy whose arm was severed when he opened a front-loading washing machine while it was running and got his arm stuck.

How can you protect your child?

The best way that parents can protect their children is by preparing themselves for any and all scenarios. That means researching lesser known dangers that are lurking in your house. For laundry room safety you should make sure that:

1. All detergents bleach, and other cleaners are out of reach of children to avoid accidental ingestion.

2. Hangers, especially wire hangers, should be stored out of reach as they pose a strangulation risk.

3. Keep your child away from running or filling machines as they pose a burn hazard due to the hot water and hot mechanical parts.

4. Your child should never be allowed on top of or in the dryer or washing machine. You need to make sure that your child knows that they are not play places. They could fall, get limbs caught within, or become trapped in the machines.

5. If at all possible keep your child out of the laundry room completely.

It is our job as parents to protect our children from these dangers. Children, especially young ones, are extremely curious and if unattended could put themselves in danger. If your child has been injured, contact the New Jersey injury lawyers at Console & Hollawell. We will review the specifics surrounding your child’s accident and help you recover damages for their injuries. Set up your free consultation by calling (866) 778-5500.

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Vineland School Bus Accident Injures 17

March 26, 2012   Staff   No comments
Vineland School Bus Accident Injures 17

Sixteen students from Dr. William Mennies School and one adult were injured in a New Jersey school bus accident after the bus collided with a sedan at a street intersection. According to The News of Cumberland County, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Delsea Drive and Sherman Avenue the afternoon of March 26, 2012. Police say the 17 victims were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The report states that a white Ford Crown Victoria exited a Wawa Food Market parking lot and hit the bus’s front right bumper. The children on the bus were in grades from kindergarten through fourth grade. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to all the injured victims of this New Jersey car accident. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Seeking Justice for Trayvon Martin

March 21, 2012   Staff   No comments
Trayvon Martin murder

The tragic and cold-blooded killing of Trayvon Martin is bringing national attention to the Sunshine State and for good reason. On February 26, Trayvon Martin left a relative’s home in a gated community in Florida to go to a local convenient store. He picked up an iced tea and some skittles, but when he was walking back to his relative’s home, someone began to follow him. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old, self-proclaimed neighborhood watch man, called the police reporting seeing a suspicious person walking around.

The 9-1-1 tapes were released late last week and in the audio recording of Zimmerman’s call he accuses 17-year-old Martin of being on “drugs or something” before complaining that “these [expletive]s always get away.” The dispatched told Zimmerman to stop following Martin, but he ignored their orders. That was not the only 9-1-1 call that was released. By listening to the various recordings it is easy to piece together what went down that night.

Photo credit: MSNBC.

From the recordings and a report from Martin’s friend who was on the phone with him while he was being followed we can gather that Zimmerman stalked Martin and eventually caught up with him. When Martin asks Zimmerman why he is following him (he is still on the phone with his friend at this point) a struggle can be heard before the phone, and most likely Martin, was knocked to the ground. Calls from neighbors piece together the rest. There are one or possibly two shots heard—if the other muffled first sound is indeed a gunshot, Zimmerman may have fired a warning shot before killing Martin in cold blood. When Martin’s body was found only about 70 yards from his relative’s back door, he was face-down which implies that he was shot from behind.

The outrage arises from the fact that Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime. Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self-defense. That’s right he claims a child armed with only a drink and Skittles threatened his personal safety to the point where he had to shoot him dead. Things like this are able to happen in Florida because of their “Stand Your Ground” law which allows for deadly force when you feel your life is in danger. While this law may be what is protecting Zimmerman from facing criminal charges, it will not be able to protect him from Martin’s parents filing a personal injury claim in civil court.

PBS spoke with Frances Robles, a reporter with the Miami Herald who has been covering this case since it began. She explained that these cases where people are getting off for murder or manslaughter can absolutely happen under this law. She explains in a scenario that if there were two men and man #1 shoots at man #2, man #2 has a right under this law to return fire in order to protect himself. However, say man #2 misses his shot and instead kills a child walking down the street—under Stand Your Ground, no one will be held responsible criminally for that child’s death.

Photo credit: CF News 13.

In addition to the ridiculous protection provided by Stand Your Ground, this horrendous crime appears to be completely driven by racism. Furthermore, there are a lot of “mistakes” that are being made by local law enforcement agencies that further fuels the belief that this is a racism-driven case and that authorities are failing to administer justice for Martin.

ABC News explained that some of the ‘mistakes’ made by the Sanford Police Department include:

  • Withholding 9-11 calls including a call between a dispatcher and Zimmerman where he can be heard making a racist remark.
  • Having narcotics detectives arrive at the scene of the crime rather than homicide detectives.
  • Failing to administer a test to Zimmerman to check his system for drugs or alcohol.
  • Failing to speak with Martin’s friend he was on the phone with at the time of the incident.

They went on to report that, “the Sanford Police Department says it stands by its investigation, and that it was not race or incompetence that prevented it from arresting Zimmerman but the law.”


After much pressure from the public, the Justice Department announced that it has launched a formal investigation into this crime. This is not the first time Zimmerman has played vigilante, despite the fact that he never had his neighborhood watch program properly certified and he was the only member, he has made 46 calls to law enforcement agencies reporting ‘suspicious’ behavior since 2001 according to Feministing. He also has a criminal record.

While there is no sure way of knowing whether or not justice will be served in the criminal justice system for Trayvon, his family should definitely seek justice civilly. The Stand Your Ground law is preventing justice from being served in the criminal courts but it will not allow Zimmerman to hide from being held accountable of his actions in the civil system.

Personal injury attorney, Richard Console explained that while laws may differ between New Jersey and Florida that does not mean that Martin’s parents cannot sue for wrongful death. As an experienced Newark wrongful death lawyer, Mr. Console knows the ins and outs of the civil justice system and he explained that while they could not seek damages against Zimmerman’s home owner’s insurance, they would be able to seek judgment on his home and collect against his assets. Hopefully criminal charges are filed in this brutal killing, but it is a comfort to know that the civil justice system is still there to hold Zimmerman accountable for his crime.

We offer our deepest sympathies to Trayvon’s family and friends. To sign a petition started by Trayvon’s mother demanding justice for her son visit her petition site.

Main photo credit: GossipOnThis.

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5 Best Playgrounds in New Jersey

March 20, 2012   Staff   No comments
Playground safety tips

When it comes to our children we want nothing more than for them to grow up safe, healthy, and happy. The last thing a parent wants to have to face is their child getting injured as the result of someone else’s negligence. Injuries to children are unfortunately very common in this country. Safe Kids USA reported that in 2009 approximately 220,000 children under the age of 14 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained at a playground.

With so many hazards out there, play time can turn into a dangerous situation for our children. That is why, as parents, we must make sure that where our kids play is an environment free of dangers. There are several things that should be considered when searching for the right playground for you and your child: the materials used, the playground surface (tire, woodchips, sand), and the age appropriateness of the equipment. We have scoured the local playgrounds in New Jersey and these are the five best playgrounds for your child.

1. Wyckoff Community Playground

Photo credit: NJ Playgrounds.

Address: 340 Franklin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ

Parking: Large lot adjacent to park.

Handicap Accessibility: Information not available.

Hours: Not given.

Photo credit: Community Walk.

This playground is the definite choice for lovers of the sandbox. There is a large sandbox with plenty of sand toys available to play with—no need to bring your own. There are separate play structures for different age groups. There are also multiple slides (some for toddlers) and even three racer slides where the children can race against their friends. In the warmer months you can expect to see the ice cream truck there often.

2. Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park

Photo credit: NJ Playgrounds.

Address: 221 Ocean Ave. North Longbranch, NJ

Parking: Parking lot right near playground.

Handicap Accessibility: Some activities may be difficult to participate in for handicapped children, but there are plenty of universally accessible activities.

Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk.

This park is walking distance from the ocean, which makes for a great summer trip! There are two main play areas one for children two to five years and the other for five to 12 years. The play surface is made of rubber foam that is great and safe for kids (it also prevents a lot of mud from gathering). For the older kids there is a skate park located in walking distance from the park.

3. Dorbrook Recreation Area

Photo credit: Boundless Playgrounds.

Address: 209 County Route 537 East Colts Neck, NJ

Parking: Multiple parking lots.

Handicap Accessibility: Fully accessible.

Hours: Park- dawn until dusk; Spray ground- open May 19 – September 9 weekdays 11 a.m., weekends 10 a.m. open until 7:30 p.m. May through July and 7 p.m. August and September.

Photo credit: Cadencelee.

This park is worth the crowding. This park prides itself on being a boundless park that is accessible for all children. It can accommodate children in wheelchairs and even has brail signs for the visually impaired. There is a wide array of activities for the kids to embark on. Definitely bring your water clothes and sand toys! There is a spray ground that is great in the summer, and this park is sure to entertain your children for hours on end. The Monmouth County Park System states that this park is the first universally accessible playground in New Jersey.

4. Van Saun Park

Photo credit: NJ Playgrounds.

Address: Forest Ave. & Continental Ave. Paramus, NJ

Parking: Large parking lot across the street from park

Handicap Accessibility: Play structure fully dedicated to handicap accessability.

Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Photo credit: Galanter.

This park really accommodates all children. There are four play structures, two for toddlers and one that is specifically handicap accessible. There is a large area for eating with more than 30 tables as well as barbeques, so it is perfect for an all-day event. Conveniently across the street is the Van Suan County Zoo where there is also a train ride. There is also a carousel, pony rides, and a launch location for model rockets near the park.

5. Lyndhurst Town Park

Photo credit: NJ Kids Online.

Address: 367 Valley Brook Avenue Lyndhurst, NJ

Parking: Street

Handicap Accessibility: One handicap swing, play surface is wheelchair friendly, plenty of low-to-ground playthings.

Hours: Playground 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., spray ground open summer only 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo credit: NJ Kids Online.

This park doubles as both a playground and spray ground with lots of great play equipment and a mini water park in the summer. The equipment is modern and all play surfaces are padded for added fall protection. There are volunteers that make sure the spray ground stays safe for kids and that they are following the rules. Both play areas are fenced in. On suggestion: bring a chair if you would like to sit down and watch your children as this park does not have enough benches to accommodate how crowded it sometimes gets.

While choosing the safest playground is important, parents should still be ready in the event that an accident occurs. Be sure to always keep an eye on your child, intervening if you witness dangerous actions. Carry a first aid kit with you so that you can properly treat minor injuries, but in the case of more serious injuries know the closest emergency facility. In your kit you should have first aid ointment or disinfecting spray, bandages, gauze, non-latex gloves, sunscreen, tweezers (for splinters), children’s ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and adhesive tape. It is also important that you make sure your child is properly clothed and is wearing appropriate footwear. To see more awesome parks in New Jersey check out NJ Playgrounds.

We all want our children to be free of injury, but when an accident does occur and it is the result of someone’s carless actions you may be entitled to compensation. The New Jersey injury lawyers at Console & Hollawell have defended the rights of children involved in accidents for more than 17 years. Call us toll-free today to set up your free consultation at (866) 778-5500.

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