It is not just car accidents on the road that can result in
serious injuries or death; other forms of negligence related to motor vehicles
can also have a significant impact on the health and safety of its occupants,
especially children. Now that it’s summer, heatstroke is a threat, and
unfortunately many children suffer injury from heatstroke
as the result of being locked in a car. To raise awareness of this issue and to
help prevent needless child injuries, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has launched its “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock”
campaign.
How Does This Happen?
For many, the idea of leaving a child in a locked car for an
extended period of time is impossible to comprehend, but such incidents do
occur. When there is a change in routine, a parent or caregiver may forget that
their child is in the backseat; a parent or caregiver may decide to run into
the grocery store “for a quick errand;” a car may be left unlocked and
unsupervised children could lock themselves in; or a parent or caregiver can be
distracted and/or inattentive.
If your child is under another person’s care and your child
suffers heatstroke as the result of being locked in a vehicle, the skilled child injury attorneys at Kiley Law Group can help you understand your legal rights and
options.
What You Can Do
The NHTSA offers the following prevention tips for parents
and caregivers to help protect the children in their care:
·
- Never let children play in or around an unattended vehicle. Cars are not play areas.
- Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended.
- Never leave infants or children in parked cars, even with the windows open.
- Give yourself visual cues to remind you when a child is in the back seat, i.e. stuffed teddy bear in the back seat when there is no child, or stuffed teddy bear in the front seat when there is a child in the back.
- Always check the vehicle, front and back, before locking.
How a Massachusetts
Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Cars can be very dangerous for children, whether they are
locked inside or they are in danger of not being seen around the vehicle when
it is moved. If your child has suffered serious injury as the result of
another’s negligence with regard to vehicle safety, the experienced Boston
personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group can help. Call us today for a free consultation at
(888) 208-1695.