Child Safety Issues

IMPORTANCE OF CHILD SAFETY

Protecting your child while you are out in a public place is very important because there are many ways in which your child can get hurt if not being watched over closely. Young children are very curious and love to explore new things so it is very easy for a child to put him or herself in harms way without realizing they are doing so. It is the parent/care givers responsibility to ensure that their children are protected from dangerous objects and avoiding situations that increase probability of children getting hurt.


PROTECTING YOUR CHILD IN PUBLIC PLACES

For example, one public place that all parents/care takers experience is taking children to the grocery store. It is very important that caregivers watch their children closely while at this place because there are many opportunities where a child can be injured. For instance, in the store there are numerous isles and if the child is not watched carefully he/she could easily become lost. Additionally, it can be dangerous to let children sit alone in the shopping cart while you are gathering food items because they might fall out or grab things that could possibly fall onto them.

To address these issues in the grocery store here are a few suggestions:
· Always keep your children at your side while in the store by either holding their hand, if the child is too young to walk keep them in the grocery cart (but always keeping an eye on the cart)
· If the child is older, have them help you collect the groceries so that they feel engaged and are not bored, so they do not feel the need to wonder around and get lost in the store.


Another common public place that poses a threat for children is traveling, whether it is by train, bus or plane. All of these locations tend to be very crowded and it can be very easy to lose your child if one does not watch them closely. For instance, at the airport do not leave your child alone to watch the luggage at any time regardless of how short. Of course once children reach an older age (12+) it may be appropriate to allow the child to be left alone for a short amount of time (i.e. going to the restroom). To address this issue it is ideal to travel with 2 adults per child so the child is never left alone. However, this is not always the situation so if an adult is traveling alone with a child, prepare yourself to keep the child with you at all times while in crowds. Force the child to hold your hand while walking no matter how much they protest the arrangement.

WHO IS HELD RESPONSIBLE?

Even under the watch of the most cautious parent/caregiver children get hurt. This raises the issue of who will be held responsible for the child’s injuries. Is it the parent/caregiver? Is it the property owner of the place where the child was injured? Is the child old enough to take any responsibility for the injury? These are very important questions that will be asked if legal action is taken regarding an injured minor. In some situations it is easy to determine the responsible party, while in others it is not as easy to answer these questions for the answer is not clear. For example, if a child is walking down a sidewalk, trips and falls because there is a defect in the cement, who is responsible for paying for the children’s injuries? Is it the parent? Were they being negligent and not watching their child with enough care? Or is the person who owns the house/property where the child fell? Or does responsibility fall to both parties? Another issue that may be raised is whether the injury would have occurred if it were an adult involved instead of a child.

BUY MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE ON YOUR HOMEOWNER'S OR RENTER'S POLICY

An optional coverage on your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy is Medical Payments insurance. It is a good idea to have $10,000 or more coverage. This will pay for 100% of needed medical or dental care for someone injured on your property, including children. This pays regardless of fault! Inquire about adding or increasing your Medical Payments coverage, and you will have added protection for all visitors to your home. It does not pay for treatment for you or your family that lives in the house, however.

When a serious accident occurs it is a good idea to call an attorney as soon as possible to advise you. Blackman Legal Group is a law firm that handles accidents involving children. The initial call is always free and confidential, and if there is a valid case, there is no need for money, as cases are handled on contingency (fees are paid only from the settlement). They have offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento in California. Their toll-free number is
1-800-444-5602.