Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

In Gulf County, there are county ordinances that regulate the licensing, classification, confinement and disposal of dogs and cats. Pursuant to the Gulf County Code of Ordinances, dog owners have a duty to prevent domestic animals (dogs and cats) from running at large. Under the definition section of the Code of Gulf County Ordinances, the following definitions apply:

"At Large" is defined as an animal when off the property and not under restraint.

"Confined" is defined as within a building, pen fenced yard, vehicle, on a leash or on a chain.

"Restraint" is defined as confined within the real property limits of its owner or secured by a leash or lead.

It is important for dog owner in Gulf County to keep control of his or her dog. Confining a dog to a particular area and / or utilizing a leash at all times off the property will help prevent incidents in which a dog, for cause or not cause at all, bites an adult or a child. Dog bite injuries continue to occur across the State of Florida and involve serious injuries that involve costly medical bills, pain and suffering, and permanent scarring and disfigurement. You can read more these regulations at Gulf County Animal Control County Ordinances.

Gulf County is located in Florida's panhandle on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and includes the following cities: Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka.

In Florida, day care centers have a duty to provide a safe haven for children under their care. Unfortunately and tragically, some day care workers use their position of trust to commit horrendous and unspeakable acts of child and sexual abuse on children under their care. Many such acts go unreported without any intervention by law enforcement or the state of Florida. The Miami Herald recently reported that Edgar Cerezo was arrested for allegations involving sexual acts on a four year old girl in his wife's day care center - The Clara Cerezo Child Care Center. If convicted, Mr. Cerezo faces a possible sentence of life in prison. Of course, Mr Cerezo will be entitled to legal representation by a Florida public defender, or Florida Criminal Defense Attorney and it will be the State's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You can read more about this story at Miami-Dade County Day Care Worker Accused of Attacking Four Year Old Girl.

Day care center abuse, assault, and neglect incidents continue to take place in Florida and other States. Responsible and caring child care workers should be supervising the children rather than those adults intent on preying and abusing children.

Continue reading "Miami (Kendall) Day Care Center Worker Investigated for Alleged Sexual Assault on 4 Year Old Girl" »

In Hardee County, Florida, a down owner has a duty to maintain possession, charge, custody or control of a dog and shall not allow the dog to run "at large". When a dog is off the premises of the owner, there is a duty to keep the dog on a leash or otherwise under the direct control of the dog owner pursuant to Section 4.105 - Dogs and Cats at Large - Restrictions - Code of Hardee County Ordinances. Direct Control is defined as immediate and continuous physical control of an animal at all times such as by means of a fence, leash, cord, or chain of specific length. For specially trained dogs, Direct Control is defined as dogs that respond to oral or aural control assuming that the person controlling the dog is within the unobstructed sight and hearing of the dog.

You can access the Animal Control County Ordinances for Hardee County and also read other information at Hardee County Animal Control.

It is important for dog owner in Hardee County to follow Animal Control ordinances and also to exercise due care and common sense when owning a animal. Compliance will help prevent the incidents of serious dog bite incidents that cause serious personal injuries to children and adults alike.

Hardee County, Florida is located in Central Florida just south of Polk County and includes the following cities: Bowling Green, Wauchula, and Zolfo Springs.

Florida is a great destination and tourist State. It can be great fun to swim in pools and visit theme parks. Unfortunately, some vacations take a tragic turn especially when there is a serious personal injury to death to a young child. In Clermont (Lake County) Florida, a child reportedly drowned in a hotel pool. The child (Mahki Smith) was 4 years old and was visiting Florida with other family members. The child was discovered in the pool by his grandmother about midnight in the swimming pool of the Bay Resort in Lake County, Florida.

What are the legal rights and responsibilities of the hotel?

What are the legal rights and responsibilities of the family?

What are the legal rights and responsibilities of the child?

There are all valid questions when there is a serious injury or death to the child. Many cases of this nature are evaluated based on the facts and circumstances of the incident. In particular, it would be helpful to know the following:

What pool enclosures or fencing was in place for the hotel?

Was the pool locked at night?

How did the children especially a 4 year old get into the pool area so late at night?

What security measures were in place at the hotel?

Did any surveillance cameras videotape the incident or other portions of the night?

There are dangers in and around every pool and body of water in the State of Florida. The dangers and risks are especially high when there are children present. Safety precautions and supervision are key to keeping children safe in and around pools.

The loss and tragic death will be Mahki Smith will be felt in the family and community. You can read more about this story at Boy from New York Drowns in Lake County Hotel Pool.

In Cocoa (Brevard County), Florida, a day care worker (Rondalyn Dixon) was arrested for leaving a 19 month child unattended in a hot day care van. It was reported that the child was left in the vehicle for about 15 minutes. When deputies from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office arrived, the temperature was 102 degrees. Leaving a small child in a van in the brutal summer heat of Florida can lead to tragic consequences and even death to some children. See Leave a Child Alone in a Car Can Lead to Serious Personal Injuries, Death, and Prison Time in Florida. Day care centers throughout Florida and the rest of the United States need to go back to the basics when transporting children. Simply stated, make sure all children are properly on the bus / van and make sure that all children properly depart or are removed from the bus / van. The best way to protect children is to have written policies in place, have checklists in place, and follow them every time. When a bus driver departs a bus / van at the end of a run, the bus driver should check every seat and part of the vehicle to make sure that all children have exited the bus. Checking and double checking a simple checklist can and will save lives and prevent personal injuries to children . . . it will also keep day care providers from being arrested for neglect charges in leaving a child unattended in a day care bus or van.

You can read more about the arrest of the Cocoa, Florida day care worker at Child Forgotten in Hot Day Care Van - Worker Arrested. See also Day Care Center Transportation - Driver's Logs Can Save Live and Preventing Deaths to Children in Hot Cars: What Can Florida Day Care Centers Do to Prevent These Wrongful Deaths?

Children are naive when it comes to their dangers of animals, especially dogs. Most children fail to appreciate the inherent dangerous propensities of dogs - because even if the dog is domesticated, it is still a wild animal. Therefore, parents and guardians need to teach children how to behave around dogs.

Below are some tips from experts for parents, guardians, babysitters, and day care providers and workers they can use to teach their children how to act around dogs:
1. If a child is playing with a dog, he or she should always be supervised by an adult.
2. If your child wants to pet a dog that is being walked by its owner and the dog is leashed, ask the owner's permission first. Also, looks for signs of friendliness from the dog such as a wagging tail, ears not pinned back, teeth not shown, etc. Tell the child to make a fist so the dog can smell the child before the child pets the dog. Hold your child's hand as he or she pets the dog.
3. Never let your child approach a stranger with a dog alone. Teach your child to not go with a stranger to look for a puppy as well.
4. Teach your child to never get between two dogs fighting.
5. Never let your child approach an injured animal, even his or her own. An injured animal can be very irritable and is more likely to attack.
6. Teach your child to never approach a loose and/or unsupervised dog. Instead the child should stand still, not make eye contact, and otherwise appear submissive so as not to come off as a threat to the dog.

If you would like to read more on this topic see Tips for parents on how to teach their children to act around dogs.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner, according to a report in the Sun Suntinel, has confirmed that the death of 2 1/2 year old Haile Brockington was caused by heat stroke. While there is an investigation by various law enforcement and child care government agencies, it appears that the death was preventable if the policies and procedures for transportation (namely the driver's log) were properly followed by the day care center - Katie's Kids. Now, the family is grieving and trying to pick up the pieces from this horrific tragedy.

When a child loses both parents at a young age, there is a term for this - orphan. When a husband or wife loses a spouse, there is a term for this - widower or widow. When a parent loses a child, there is no term for this. The pain of the parent and family is also indescribable and unimaginable in many ways. This is especially true when the death is unexpected and wholly preventable. When a parent takes a child to day care, the child should be supervised in a safe and nurturing environment. Day care centers should place safety above everything else for children in the Florida day care center.

You can read more about this story at Family Still Seeking Answers in Toddler's Death at Day Care Center.

A boy was seriously injured in Auckland, New Zealand after he fell off an indoor rock-climbing wall. The boy, who was in serious condition after sustaining injuries to his head and an arm, was taken to a nearby hospital. The fall is allegedly the result of the boy ascending the climb without having his connection to the rope checked by an adult. Gavin Harris, the operations manager of the climbing venue, said the accident resulted from a breach in procedure as opposed to a mechanical failure.

If you would like to read more on this story see Boy in serious condition after falling from a climbing wall.

Activities such as rock-climbing are fun and great exercise for children. However, these types of activities are also inherently dangerous. Parents and guardians as well as employees at climbing facilities need to stress the importance of the safety precautions. Although these precautions may be time-consuming and can seem mundane and formalistic, these safety procedures are in place for a reason - the procedures save lives and reduce injuries.

Continue reading "Dangers of Rock Climbing Structures and Importance of Child Safety" »

In Florida and other States, children continue to suffer personal injuries and even death when left unattended in a hot car, day care van, or school bus. These tragedies are wholly preventable with proper supervision and policies in place to make sure that every child is accounted for and, yes, that no child is ever left behind. Pursuant to the Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 65 C, Section 22.001 (6) F - Transporation, a day care center has the duty to maintain proper staff to child ratios when transporting children. In other words, there needs to be sufficient staff in place for the number of children being transported. Furthermore, a log is required to be maintained that should include the child's name, date, time of departure and time of arrival, signature of driver and signature of staff member to verify the driver's log and, most importantly, to verify that all children have left the vehicle. In addition to documenting the driver's log, the driver has a duty to conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep of the vehicle to make sure that all children are accounted for. Furthermore, upon arrival, a second staff member is required to conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep of the vehicle to make sure that all children are accounted for.

The aforementioned procedure (if properly followed) can and will save lives. Unfortunately, too many children have lost their lives due to being left unattended and alone in a hot day care vehicle, school bus, or vehicle. The plight of Haley Brockington recently made headlines. Haile was left in a day care van for up to 6 hours. While autopsy results are pending, it appears that Haley died as a result of hyperthermia / heart exhaustion and the related complications. A small child simply cannot survive in a parked car in this Florida summer heat with no air conditioning for an extended period of time. See also Haley Brockington's Mother and Family React to Death of Child See also Investigators to review findings of investigation into tot's death at a Delray Beach day-care center.

While not all child care providers may be subject to this Florida Administrative Code provision, I would recommend that all child care providers including schools, all day care centers, summer camps, church groups, and, yes, even parents, grandparents, and family friends follow this procedure. While a parent or grandparent is unlikely to use a driver's log, it may be helpful to have a checklist in the car to make sure that all children are out of the car. Some use a stuffed animal as a reminder. Others leave a purse or another item in the backseat as a reminder to remove the purse or item and, more importantly, the children from the vehicle upon arrival at the trip destination. While not all automobile accidents or other unexpected tragedies can be avoided, the death or injury of a child mistakenly or negligently left in a vehicle can absolutely be avoided.

Florida is a warm weather State. Better stated, Florida is a hot weather State that offers many attractions like beaches and theme parks. Florida's hot weather also presents dangers to children left in hot vehicles during all times of the year especially Summer months. The death of Haley Brockington who was left in a day care center van illustrated the dangers of Florida's weather combined with the inattention of staff along with the lack of policies and procedures or the failure to follow adequate policies and procedures. See Why Did Haley Brockington (Age 2 1/2 Years Old) Die in Katie's Kids Learning Center Van? Legal Rights and Responsibilties See also See also Leave a Child Alone in a Car Can Lead to Serious Personal Injuries, Death, and Prison Time in Florida.

Here are some general tips for Florida day care centers and all other transporters of children to consider to make sure that a child is not left unattended in a hot car in Florida:

1. Never leave a child alone in a hot vehicle. A 5 minute visit to the store can easily turn into a 25 minute visit which an mean the difference between life and death for some children.

2. Have a checklist of that is consistently followed at the end of any transport of children. Double and triple check the list to make sure that every child is removed from the vehicle, bus, or van.

3. Put an item like a stuffed animal or other object in the back of the vehicle, bus, or van. This will serve as a reminder to check all parts of the vehicle and make sure that all children are removed from the vehicle. If you did not bring the stuffed animal to the front of the vehicle or in with you, you did not check the vehicle thoroughly.

4. Train and instruct all transporters of children as to the dangers of leaving a child in a vehicle. Ignorance is rampant as to the dangers of leaving a child in a hot car. Make sure that the driver and other transporters of children understand and recognize the risks and are instructed to never ever put a child at danger.

5. Have a written policy and procedure in place that must be followed each and every time that a child is transported and follow it consistently.

In Delray Beach, Florida, a 2 1/2 year old girl, Haley Brockington, was the unfortunate victim of a tragic death. It was reported in the Palm Beach Post and other news sources that the child was left in a day care van for up to 6 hours before she was found. The brutal heat of Florida's summer can cause the death of a child in a much shorter time. Due to the age of the child and circumstances of her death, an autopsy will be performed to determine the official cause of death and if there were any causes other than the suspected hyperthermia / heat stroke that was the cause of this little girl's death.

The family placed Haley Brockington in the hands of the day care center in the morning only to find out she was dead later that day. There were be several legal issues involved in a death of this nature including the following:

What was the official cause of death?

Who was responsible for the transportation of the children?

Did the day care center have a checklist or procedure in place for removing children from the van?

Who was responsible for taking roll call or attendance of the children in the facility?

Where the van parked during the time period that the child was left in the van?

What training did the staff have in transporting children? caring for children?

Was the death avoidable?

Will criminal charges be pursued through the State Attorney's Office?

The temperature high for South Florida was 91 degrees at the time of the incident. Since the temperature in a vehicle can be quite higher for a child left in a vehicle without air conditioning, there is a strong likelihood that the child died from hyperthermia. You can read more about this story at Child Found Dead in South Florida Day Care Center Van.

Helmets decrease the risk of sustaining head injuries as well as decrease the severity of the an injury if sustained. Therefore, children, who are naturally more susceptible to sustaining head and brain injuries, should always wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.

Below are some basic facts, reasons and statistics that are support why children should protect themselves with helmets:

1. Bicycle Helmets are important. - Although helmets are no replacement for responsible, mature and safe riding, helmets decrease blunt force trauma and impact as well as protect a child from penetrating sharp objects or corners. Also, well-designed helmets have the capability of protecting the spine and neck along with the head.

2. Basic Statistics. - These statistics are from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.
- In 2005, children under the age of 15-years-old accounted for 53% of all bicycle injuries that required hospital visits.
- 62.6% of cycling deaths that were a result of a head injury in 2000 were in children under 19-years-old.
- Approximately 80% of fatal bicycle injuries and 75% of disabling bicycle injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet.

3. Different Types of Helmets. - There are two different officially-approved types of helmets: 1. hard shell helmets and soft or micro shell helmets. The Consumer Products Safety Commission and American National Standards Institute approves these types of helmets.

4. Bicycle Helmet & Child Safety. - Children are more prone to accidents and their skulls are more susceptible to traumatic injury. Therefore, parents, guardians, babysitters, daycare providers, etc. should make it mandatory for their children to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.

If you would like to read more on this topic see Reasons why children should wear helmets while riding a bicycle.

If you would like more tips on proper use and fitting of helmets see Properly Using and Fitting Bicycle Helmets - Key TIps for Safety of Children.

Public tolerance and greater social awareness has led to a decrease in the use of spanking or hitting children (corporal punishment) as a form of discipline. Dan Rodricks, writer for the Baltimore Sun, is worried, however, that reports of abuse will go unnoticed because it is the summer time and kids are away from schools and teachers, the group most likely to notice and report incidents of abuse. Rodricks urges his readers to keep a lookout for signs of abused children saying, there is not expertise required, you know abuse when you see it.

The laws of this nation have been reluctant to interfere with the scope of parental authority regarding the issues of discipline and children. In fact, corporal punishment is still legal in all 50 states and still permitted in schools in 20 states. However, there is a bill presently in Congress to outlaw the use of corporal punishment in schools throughout the nation. Rep. Carolyn McCarty, a New York Democrat, introduced the legislation which proposed to take the wooden paddle out the hands of the school officials still permitted to use it. To read more on the this topic see Writer urges teachers and parents to stop the use of corporal punishment.

Parents have a parental right to decide how they will discipline their children. However, the lines between discipline and abuse are becoming more blurred as public awareness on the effects and consequences of hitting children increase. What is clear is that a difference does exist between abuse and child discipline. If you suspect acts of abuse you should report the incident as soon as possible to your local law enforcement authorities. Victims of abuse suffer from emotional and physical trauma, and the perpetrators should be stopped as soon as possible. Reporting incidents of abuse stops the violence and will prompt a criminal investigation.

Lawn mower-related injuries are more common and severe than you may think. Typical injuries include deep cuts, loss of fingers and toes and eye injuries. What are the best way to prevent these lawnmower personal injuries? A spokesman of the Wisconsin Division of Trade and Consumer Protection recommends that owners / users of lawnmowers use protective gear and some common sense. Protective clothing include but are not limited to: protective eye-wear, ear plugs, and steel-toed boots. Tennis shoes may be provide some protection, but these type of shoes are not going to stand up to projectile rocks, sticks, or pieces of the mower's blade. A more severe type of injury also results from projectiles. For example, an 8-year-old Wisconsin boy was struck in the chest by a stick that was shot out from under the lawn mower, requiring surgery. If you would like to read more on this topic see Lawn Mower Safety Hazards.

Mowing the lawn can become just another mundane chore. However, you should not neglect your safety because something becomes so routine. Lawn mowers can inflict serious and sometimes deadly injury. Simply wearing protective articles of clothing can prevent you from losing your hearing, an eye or limb. To read more safety tips regarding lawn mowers see Lawn Mowers - Danger of Personal Injury to Children.

In Florida, children are at risk for hyperthermia type of injuries year round due to the warm weather throughout the State. There have been a number of reported incidents of personal injuries, death, and prison time resulting from hyperthermia incidents in Florida. Michael J. Mooney wrote an excellent article posted in the Broward - Palm Beach - New Times Blog titled For Parents Who Leave Children to Die in Hot Cars in Florida - Punishments Vary Widely. Prison time and punishment varied across the State of the Florida for these type of incidents. For instance, Miami Dade County reportedly prosecuted every case while counties like Sarasota County did not. Each case and incident should be evaluated on its own facts.

Parents, babysitters, and other child care providers should read this articles and others to learn about the terrible dangers and tragic deaths that have resulted from leaving a child in a hot car in the State of Florida. The safety and welfare of a child should always take precedence over convenience and other pursuits. See also Death Results from Leaving Children in Cars in Florida. and Don't Leave Children in Vehicles to Go Grocery Shopping - It Is Dangerous to Children and Can Get You Arrested.

Children have a lot more free time to engage in horseplay, activities or sports during their summer vacation and, as a result, emergency room visits increase during the summer months. Many of these accidents, however, are preventable. A release by Rapides Regional Medical Center revealed that last year the hospital treated about 50,000 patients, 14,517 of which were infants, children and teenagers.

The release also stated that the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1-20 was drowning. Because participation in water activities is higher during the summer months, parents, guardians, babysitters and daycare providers and workers should maintain constant and close supervision. Basic water safety tips include: never leave children unattended around water, children should always wear a life jacket when around water, home swimming pools should be surrounded by a safety fence and all entrances to the pool should be locked and be made inaccessible to children.

Kids also like to ride bikes, skates or skateboard. Therefore, another easy way to prevent common injuries is helmet use. By wearing a helmet a child can decrease their risk of death by 42% and risk of head injury by 62%

All-terrain vehicles are another common contributor to child injury during the summer months. To read more information on the safety hazards presented by ATVs see CBS News Reports on Dangers of Personal Injury to Children from ATV (All Terrain Vehicles).

There are several other types of risks that increase during the summer months. These include but are not limited to trampoline-related injuries, heat exhaustion and hyperthermia. To read an in-depth explanation of these injuries see Summertime Injuries. A great, effective and inexpensive way to prevent these types of injuries is to maintain constant supervision of children - adults, caretakers, daycare providers, babysitters, etc. should always maintain a watchful eye on their children.

Summer time is a great time to be outdoors and take your children to area parks or playgrounds. Playgrounds are a great way to stay active and have fun, however, the nation's emergency physicians urge parents to be attentive in order for their children to avoid sustaining a playground injury. Generally, playground injuries are only minor, involving a small cut or scrape, but there are sometime playground injuries can be much more serious. Emergency physicians see more than 200,000 children per year who sustained a playground injury to the head, neck and spinal cord or suffer from internal bleeding or strangulation.

An article published by PR Newswire suggested some tips parents can use to prevent playground injuries:

1. Closely supervise your children, whether they are young or old.
2. Inspect the playground facility to ensure it is properly maintained. - Are any pieces of equipment broken? Is the playground equipment surrounded by adequate cushioning?
3. Make sure the playground equipment is age appropriate. - Some equipment is meant for older children.
4. Older children should play at a distance from younger children, this keeps older children from injuring children who are physically smaller.
5. Do not let your children wear articles of clothing that have hoods or strings on them. - Wearing this type of clothing while playing on playground equipment increases the risk of choking hazards.
6. Teach your children to follow the safety rules of the playground.

To read more on this topic see Reduce the Risk of Playground Injuries this Summer.

In Florida, boating is an activity and hobby enjoyed by many people. Unfortunately with many outdoor activities like boating, there are dangers and risks that can lead to serious personal injuries, and in come cases death. One risk associated with boating activies is related to carbon monoxide poisoning. Boats with cabins and sleeping quarters are often times equipped with a generator to power the boats electricity and air conditioning unit. A properly maintained and installed generator that is positioned correctly on the boat can provide boat owners and guests with the comforts and convenience provided by electricity and air conditioning while docked or anchored offshore. An improperly installed and/or malfunctioning generator can actually cause personal injuries and, in fact, can lead to the death of an unknowing occupant of the boat. The Associated Press reported that a couple (Sandra Lupton and Howard Lupton) died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in the sleeping quarters/cabin of a Baja Cruiser (29 foot). The couple's boat was anchored offshore at Ponce Inlet (disappearing island). Tragically, the couple was discovered by their son. You can read more about this story at Florida Medical Examiner reports that Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Caused Death of Boaters from Palatka Florida.

It is expected that an investigation will be conducted as to the equipment and maintenance on this boat and what steps, if any, could have been taken to avoid this most unfortunate tragedy. this story shows the importance of boating safety as to all aspects of the boat, including but not limited to, the generator and electrical system.

As a parent, it is difficult to deal with the everyday challenges of raisin a child in Florida. The duties of a parent are made much more difficult when there is an injury to a child. This is especially true when dealing with dog bite injuries. When a child is bit or attacked by a dog, it is often times a sudden, unexpected event. In some cases, the injuries are minor and do not require any medical care. In other instances, emergency medical care is necessary. In serious cases, there are permanent injuries including scarring to a child. This is especially traumatic when there are facial injuries inflicted upon the innocent child. Parents often times do their best in the face of danger and trauma to help children through this most difficult time. Here are some basic tips (both legal and common sense) to help parents deal with the issues of a dog bite injury to a child:

1. Stay calm. Attend to your child first. Provide for the safety and care of your child above all else. Assessing the whys and hows of the incident can be taken care of later.

2. Get Medical Attention. There are several options for medical care including: first aid kit, emergency room visit, urgent care center visit, and / or pediatrician visit.

3. Talk to Your Child. In most cases, the child did nothing to provoke the dog. Make sure you tell your child that he / she did nothing wrong and that sometimes dogs get confused and scared and react this way.

4. Take Photographs. When you are able to (whether at the scene, at the doctor, or elsewhere) - take photographs of the injuries on a good digital camera. A built in camera on a mobile phone will do but many such built in cameras lack the quality of a good digital camera. Video footage may be helpful as well to illustrate the damages.

<strong>5. Animal Control. If you believe that the dog in questions poses a continuing threat to the neighborhood or others, contact your local Animal Control office to make sure that the incident is reported and that safety measures are taken by the owner and / or Animal Control to protect others from the dog at issue.

6. Refrain from Making Statements to Insurance Companies. Some insurance companies act very quickly on dog bite matters. Some will contact you the same day. Before giving any statements to an insurance adjuster or providing access to your child for a statement or for photographs, consult with a Florida Child Injury Lawyer for advice, consultation, and possible legal representation.

7. Contact a Florida Child Injury Lawyer / Florida Personal Injury Attorney. Getting legal advice on a Florida dog bite matter will provide you with the information you need to make better decisions on how to handle the legal and practical issues involved with a dog bite injury. These include the following:

Who is going to pay for the current medical bills?

Who is going to pay for the future medical care?

Where should my child get treated for the dog bite injuries?

Are there any doctors who specialize in treating dog bite injuries / wounds?

What plastic surgeons in town treat children / adult with dog bite injuries?

Is there going to be scarring or other serious injuries from the dog bite?

What is the Florida law on point as to dog bite injuries?

Is the dog owner legally responsible for the damages to my child?

What kind of insurance is required for owners of dogs in Florida?

Will the homeowner's insurance of the dog owner cover my child's injuries?

The above issues apply to just about every dog bite case. Of course, there are many other practical and legal issues that arise in these Florida dog bite situations that can be addressed by a Florida Child Injury Lawyer. A child who has been injured by a dog bite or dog attack in Florida has rights that should be enforced and protected.

In Florida, dirt bikes (motocross bikes) are popular among children and teens. There is plenty of space, trails, and places to ride dirt bikes. Like any other type of motorized vehicle, dirt bikes can be dangerous especially when operated by teen and children. The Orlando Sentinel reported that a 3 year old girl (Aiyna Bryant) suffered serious personal injuries when she was thrown off a dirt bike that was being operated by her 16 year old cousin (Jaime Johnson). The injured child was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital for emergency trauma treatment.

Some parents do not let their children operate or ride on dirt bikes or motorcycles. Others do allow their children on dirt bikes if there is proper supervision, safety precautions, helmets, and training. Accidents in life do happen even with all possible supervision and safety precautions. The problem is that there is an inherent danger and risk to riding dirt bikes. Parents and supervisors of children should read stories like this and use it as a teaching tool for their children.