Injuries to Minors

Maryland Injuries to Minors: Portable Pools are Just as Dangerous as Swimming Pools, Reports Pediatrics

June 22, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the journal Pediatrics, wading and inflatable pools pose just as big of a drowning danger as in-ground pools—especially for kids. This Maryland child injury risk is important for parents to know about. The study looks at data that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission had gathered about drowning and near-drowning accidents that took place between 2001 and 2009.

In the summers during that time period, a child drowned in a portable backyard pool once every five days. The incidents resulted in 209 deaths from submersion and 35 non-fatal accidents involving kids under 12. Although Gary Smith, the study’s author, isn’t saying that kids shouldn’t be allowed to swim in portable pools, he does note that parents need to realize the possible dangers involved and they should the necessary safety precautions to protect their children, including:

• Making sure that children are properly supervised in the pool—this includes not texting or getting drunk while watching the kids.

• Securing the pool when no adults are around so kids can’t get in the water without permission.

Remember, you need just a few inches of water to drown in so even if the pool at issue is a wading pool, it can still pose a drowning hazard.

Our Maryland swimming accident lawyers represent families whose children have suffered injuries because someone else was negligent. In some cases, the negligent party may be a property owner that didn’t take precautions to prevent kids from entering a pool without permission or adequate supervision. Examples of other possible responsible parties in a pool drowning accident: the manufacturer of a defective pool drain or the host of a swimming event who failed to properly supervise the swimmers.

Portable pools a summer risk for children, Reuters, June 20, 2011

Pediatrics

CPSC

More Blog Posts:
Dementia Patient’s Wandering Leads to Death—Nursing Home Fined $20K for Negligence, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, June 6, 2011
CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Washington DC Pool Drowning Accidents, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 4, 2011
In Maryland, Accidental Drowning Of Anne Arundel County 5-Year Old Renews Calls For Greater Pool Safety, Maryland Accident Law Blog, October 13, 2006

Maryland Injury Accident: High School Football Player Injured in Pre-Football Training Program

June 9, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A high school freshman sustained rhabdomyolysis after undergoing a serious of conditioning exercises as part of a pre-football training program at a Montgomery County high school last month. Now, Brian Jordan, who had to undergo seven surgeries to fix the damage to his muscles following the Maryland injury accident, will also have to undergo three months of physical therapy.

WAMU.org reports that Jordan’s parents are demanding an apology from the principal of Wootton High. They are also reportedly planning to take legal action.

Rhabdomyolysis

This involves the breakdown of muscle fibers that causes myoglobin to be released into the bloodstream. Rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney damage or acute tubular necrosis.

Schools are supposed to make sure that activities and athletics programs are safe for kids to take part in. This includes making sure that athletes are not pushed to work out to the point that they could get hurt. In some incidents where this responsibility was disregarded, kids have died or sustained serious injuries.

Recently, a 19-year-old sued his former high school after he sustained head injuries when playing football during the 2007 season. Zachary Alt suffered three concussions and a traumatic brain injury. He says coaching staff told him to keep playing even after his initial injuries.

If you believe your child got hurt because another party was negligent, you may have grounds for a Montgomery County, Maryland child injury case. Our Baltimore personal injury attorneys know how upsetting it can be to see your child suffer.

Parents of Injured Wootton High Student Demand Apology, WAMU.org, June 9, 2011
Former high school football player sues Highlands over head injuries, Post-Gazette, April 8, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Head injuries in Football, The New York Times
Head injuries in youth football: Concussion risk alarms parents, The Palm Beach Post, October 23, 2010

More Blog Posts:
$1.5 Million Maryland Personal Injury Lawsuit Filed Against Howard County Following Alleged Physical Assault by High School Assistant Football Coach, Maryland Accident Law Blog, November 16, 2010
Maryland TBI: Call a Concussion a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Says Researchers, Maryland Accident Law Blog, January 23, 2010
Washington DC Playground Accidents are a Leading Cause of Injuries to Minors, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, April 19, 2006

Hot Weather May Bring More Maryland Dog Attacks

May 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With summer approaching, now is a good time to remind families that this is the time of year when the number of Maryland dog bite victims can go up. Aside from the fact that more kids and dogs are outside playing, researchers have suggested that dogs may be more likely to feel irritable when the weather is warm.

Recently, five children were rushed to the hospital after they were hurt in a Prince George’s County dog attack. They were getting onto a school bus when an American Bulldog came at them.

Getting hurt in a Maryland dog attack is never fun. Serious injuries can result—especially for young children or elderly victims. Rabies, facial injuries, tissue loss, lacerations, flesh wounds, nerve damage, crush injuries, disfigurement, scarring, sprains, factures, C. canimorsus infections, cellulitis or even death can occur. Dog bite incidents can also be very traumatic experiences and survivors may experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or other emotional injuries. These invisible injuries can have just as powerful an effect on the victim as the physical injuries that can result.

Dog owners should make sure that their pets are properly secured and trained so that they don’t inflict serious harm to others. This includes making sure that the animals are up to date on their rabies vaccines and when they are playing outside that there is either a fence around the yard to keep them contained or that they are securely leashed so that they don’t attack anyone.

Maryland Dog Bite Cases

It can be tough to prove liability and obtain compensation for one’s dog bite injuries in the state of Maryland. This is just one reason why working with an experienced Prince George’s County dog attack lawyer is the very important.

Dog attacks children on school bus, Washington Post, May 18, 2011
Dog Bite Risk for Kids Greatest in Summer, ABC News, March 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Cat and Dog Bites, Family Doctor
Animal Bites, Medscape

More Blog Posts:
7-Year-Old Girl Injured in Dundalk, Maryland Dog Attack Sustained Severe Facial Injuries, Maryland Accident Law Blog, March 26, 2011
Washington DC Dog Bite Injuries Can Be Grounds for Personal Injury, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, December 18, 2010
Maryland Dog Bites off Part of Anne Arundel County Police Officer’s Ear, Maryland Accident Law Blog, November 3, 2008

Baltimore’s Public Housing Authority Says It is “Not Possible” To Pay Judgments in Maryland Lead Poisoning Cases

April 11, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City says it is “not possible” to pay almost $12 million in existing Maryland lead poisoning judgments. According to City Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano says that the agency just cannot afford to pay.

The nearly $12 million is for nine court judgments, and the housing authority is still facing 175 Baltimore lead paint cases, which could up the amount the city owes for these claims to $800 million. Some lawmakers are outraged the city’s response.

Although Maryland’s lead law, which was passed in the 1990’s, has decreased the number of lead poisoning incidents that occur each year—the lead risk reduction law mandates that owners of rental units constructed before 1950 fix them to reduce lead exposure risks—incidents of lead poisoning are still diagnosed on a regular basis. According to a 2010 report by the state’s Department of the Environment, more than 500 kids under the age of 7 were diagnosed with lead poisoning in 2009. 347 of the cases were in Baltimore, the leading city for exposure to lead because of the age of the city’s housing. There are still homes and building that have lead paint on windows, walls, or molding—even if they have been painted over.

Lead paint on a property is a hazard and can be grounds for a Baltimore personal injury lawsuit if injuries or illness result. Young kids are especially at risk of serious harm from exposure to lead paint, which can affect physical and mental development and in certain cases lead to death. Adults are also prone to injuries from lead poisoning.

Serious lead poisoning side effects:
• Learning difficulties
• Developmental problems
• Decrease in mental functioning
• Mood disorders
• Muscular weakness
• Miscarriage
• Lower sperm count
• Memory loss
Baltimore’s Housing Authority Says It Can’t Afford To Pay For Lead Paint Poisoning Claim, CBS Local, April 5, 2011
Officials focus on gaps in lead paint law, Baltimore Sun, August 27, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Lead in Paint, Dust, Soil, Environmental Protection Agency
Lead Poisoning, Mayo Clinic

Baltimore Housing

More Blog Posts:
Maryland Jury Awards $2.5 Million Baltimore Lead Paint Verdict to Siblings, Maryland Accident Law Blog, November 5, 2009
Hundreds of Washington DC Children May Have Been Exposed to High Levels of Lead in City’s Tap Water, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, January 27, 2009
Lead Paint Discovered on Washington D.C. Park Fence Near Where Hundreds of Kids Play, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, September 20, 2007

7-Year-Old Girl Injured in Dundalk, Maryland Dog Attack Sustained Severe Facial Injuries

March 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the mother of Amanda Mitchell, the 7-year-old girl will likely have to undergo several surgeries for the severe facial injuries she sustained when she was attacked by two American Bull Dogs earlier this month. The two dogs have been put down.

Baltimore County Police say that Mitchell was riding her bicycle when the two dogs got out of a neighbor’s yard and attacked her. On ABC2news.com, her mom Shelda Lambert is quoted as saying that her daughter’s “whole face ripped away.” Lambert also got hurt during the Maryland dog attack as she tried to fight the dogs off her daughter.

While no criminal charges are being filed against Tina Baker, the dog’s owner, she has been fined $3,600 over numerous citations.

Facial Injuries and Dog Bites

According to the California Surgical Institute, dog bites are the cause of about 44,000 facial injuries annually. 60% of the victims are usually small kids. Because of their small size and height, kids’ faces are easy for dogs to reach. Examples of dog bite injuries to the face:

• Fractures
• Eye damage
• Puncture wounds
• Nerve damage
• Jaw injuries
• Scarring
• Disfigurement

Each state has its own law when it comes to holding a dog owner liable for injuries inflicted by an animal. Dog owners can be held liable for a Maryland dog attack by a dog considered dangerous. A dog doesn’t need to have injured anyone before to fall under the dangerous dog category. Aggressive behavior alone can be a sign that the animal may pose a danger to others.

Dogs Attack Baltimore County Girl, WBALTV, March 13, 2011
Dog owners defend pit bulls after an attack on a 7-year-old girl, ABC, March 14, 2011
Related Web Resources:

Dog Bite Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dog Bites, Nolo
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Dog Bites off Part of Anne Arundel County Police Officer’s Ear, Maryland Accident Lawyer, November 3, 2008
Pit Bull Attacks 18-Month-Old Maryland Boy at Day Care Home in Aberdeen, Maryland Accident Lawyer, August 20, 2008
East Baltimore Woman Is Victim of Pit Bull Attack, Maryland Accident Lawyer, June 26, 2007

Family Members on Bike Ride Injured in Anne Arundel County Car Crash Because Motorist Allegedly Lost Control of Vehicle

August 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Three members of a family of four who were on a bicycle ride on Sunday morning were injured in Anne Arundel County when they were hit by a car driven by a Laurel woman who lost control of her 2001 Nissan Altima. The driver of the vehicle, 63-year-old Laurel resident Romota Olumemisi Koletowo, died from her Maryland car accident injuries. She had to be extricated from her car, which had rolled over.

According to police, Koletowo drove her vehicle off the road, struck a light pole, and crossed a bike path before hitting the bench where 36-year-old Franz Clementschitsch was sitting. He was thrown some 38 feet and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment of his life-threatening injuries.

Clementschitsch’s wife, Susanne, 38, and one of their 4-year-old twin sons, sustained injuries from the flying debris. All three of them were taken to Maryland hospitals, where they were admitted in serious condition.

Preventing Maryland Injuries to Children: Latest CPSC Baby Product Recalls Include Recliners, Pacifiers, Playards and Drop-Side Cribs

July 26, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Our Maryland child accident attorneys work hard to obtain the financial recovery that our clients’ families are owed by the manufacturers of defective products. The makers of consumer goods, especially furniture, accessories, and toys that are intended specifically for child and infant use, must make sure that there are no defects to their products that can cause injuries to a child. Failure to do so can cause serious Maryland personal injuries to a minor or wrongful death.

Just today the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 30,000 Nap Nanny® portable baby recliners. The recliners pose a suffocation hazard and fall danger. The CPSC is investigating a report involving the death of a 4-month old child who died while harnessed to the recliner She got stuck between the crib bumper and the recliner.

In another child entrapment accident involving the Nap Nanny®, the baby got caught between the crib’s side and the baby recliner. The infant sustained a forehead cut. There have been 22 reports of babies under 5-months-old who ended up either hanging our falling out of the recliner even though they were harnessed to it.

Last Tuesday, CPSC recalled about 44,900 Kariño Baby Pacifiers that don’t meet federal safety standards. No injuries or incidents have been reported, but the pacifier is an aspiration and choking hazard to kids.

On July 15, the CPSC and Health Canada recalled approximately 20,000 Cozy Indoor Outdoor Portable Playard Tents Plus Cabana Kits because they pose an entrapment hazard to children. In December 2008, a 2-year-old boy was found hanging with his neck trapped between the tent’s metal base rod and the playard. He died from his injuries. The child entrapment accident happened as the boy, who managed to pop off the clips that kept the metal base rod secure, was trying to get out of the playard. Three other incidents were reported involving kids who removed the clips and were able to put their neck between the playard and the tent. Fortunately, they were not injured.

The day before, Pottery Barn Kids recalled about 82,000 drop-side cribs because they pose suffocation, fall, and entrapment hazards. At least seven kids have sustained minor injuries when their legs got stuck between the drop side and the mattress and they fell out of the cribs. There have been 36 reports of drop-side detachment or malfunction.

Recalls and Safety Product News, CPSC, July 2010
Related Web Resources:

Kids in Danger

Potentially Dangerous Children’s Products, Good Housekeeping

Toddler and Teen Pedestrians Injured During East Baltimore Car Accident

July 12, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A 14-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy were injured during an East Baltimore car accident yesterday afternoon. The two children were close to the intersection of North Highland Avenue and East Fayette Street when they were hit by a car. Charges are pending against the motorist that struck them.

Child Pedestrian Accidents

Many children lack the judgment and experience to protect themselves from Maryland pedestrian accidents. Although drivers must always refrain from negligent driving to avoid striking pedestrians of any age, they must exercise extra caution around children.

Steps motorists can take to avoid striking child pedestrians:

• Drive at a slower speed in residential neighborhoods and areas where children are likely to be playing or walking to and from school.

• Obey traffic signs and signage and respect crosswalks and speed limits.

• When backing up your car, do so cautiously and slowly. Many child pedestrians are injured in backover accidents each year.

• Don’t text message or talk on the phone while driving.

• Keep your eyes and attention on the road at all times.

In 2008, 270 children in the 14 and under age group were killed in US pedestrian accidents. Our Baltimore injuries to children and minors lawyers have seen the devastating toll pedestrian accidents can take on the victims and their families.

Serious Maryland pedestrian injuries have included traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and wrongful death.

Teen, toddler hit by car, injured; charges pending against driver, Baltimore Sun, July 11, 2010

Children: 2008 Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Pedestrian Safety, CDC
Pedestrians, NHTSA

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

ATV Accidents: Number of Spinal and Head Trauma Injury Cases are Rising, Say Researchers

July 8, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of severe head and spinal trauma cases involving all-terrain vehicle. Its researchers’ findings, published in Neurosurgery, emphasis the need for better ATV stability, better rider training, and helmet use.

The research, which is to be published in the journal Neurosurgery, states that:

• ATV injuries resulted in 495 deaths and 1,117,000 emergency room visits in 2001—159% and 211% more, respectively than 1993.

Baltimore Couple Files $20 Million Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Alleging Wrongful Birth

July 6, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Jessica Young and Antoine McLeod are accusing American Radiology Services, Dr. Karen Y. Perkins, and the Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. of Maryland medical malpractice. In their $20 million wrongful birth lawsuit, the Baltimore couple is claiming that a medical record mixup prevented them from receiving information about their baby’s birth defects that could have allowed them to decide whether they wanted to terminate the pregnancy.

Antonio Jesse McLeod was born prematurely last year with a number of birth defects, including a hole in his diaphragm. Also, his stomach was in his chest cavity.

According to the family’s medical malpractice complaint involving Maryland injuries to a minor, the abnormalities were visible in a sonogram performed by American Radiology Services months before the baby was born but that the radiology testing company sent the test results to the wrong doctor. Another Dr. Perkins and not the Dr. Perkins who was Young’s obstetrician received the results. Because of this mistake, Young’s Dr. Karen Y. Perkins never saw the sonogram and thought the baby was healthy and the couple were never notified that their child was going to be born with any serious birth defects.