Personal Injury Lawyer Issue Heat Reminder

The personal injury lawyers at Clekis Law Firm want to issue as we enter into the last days of Summer. It only takes a few minutes for your car to reach scorching temperatures. Last year’s death of 22-month old Cooper Harris, who was left in his father’s car in Cobb County, Georgia, quickly captured our nation’s attention and brought to light the dangers of leaving children, or people of any age, unattended in the car. In 2014, there were 30 confirmed heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles, including the passing of 5 year-old Fernando Velasquez in Bakersfield, California.

Unfortunately, child vehicular heatstroke is nothing new with an average of 38 incidents occurring every year. Since 1998, there have been 623 heatstroke deaths of children left in vehicles. This does not include the numerous close calls each year that do not result in death.

The summer temperatures in Charleston County can be extreme and unpleasant, but in the car they can also be deadly. Please keep these safety tips in mind when traveling with passengers this summer and all year long:

If the outside temperature is only 60 degrees, the inside of your car can be as high as 110 degrees. Data and study shows that vehicular heatstroke can occur on days with relatively mild temperatures and that vehicles can reach life-threatening temperatures very rapidly.

A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult. When a child’s body temperature hits 107 degrees, results can be fatal.

Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a short time. Do not allow them to play in or around vehicles.

Always look before you lock. Look in the front and back and make sure everyone is out of the car before walking away… always!

If you or a loved one has experienced an injury or wrongful death due to someone else’s negligence, contact The Personal Injury Lawyers at Clekis Law Firm.

facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedinmail