Practice Areas
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Wrongful Death
- Burns
- Car Accident
- Child Abuse
- Child Injuries
- School Injuries
- Daycare injuries
- Dog Bites
- Bike Accident
- Foster Care Abuse
Keane Blog 
Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Jacob Weesner charged with child abuse for the serious brain injuries sustained by his infant daughter.
- The Sarah Jane Brain Project – Patrick and Vanessa Donohue endured a tragedy as their infant daughter became a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome at the hands of an abuser.
- Robert D. Morris has been charged with the Shaken Baby murder of his infant son.
- Amber McIntyre-Roden was sentenced for the Shaken Baby death of her daughter Tamiah.
- Robert D. Morris faces murder, second-degree assault and criminal mistreatment of a child in Marion County Circuit Court. News stories report he admitted to shaking his baby causing mortal injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury
- In New York, Adrian Thomas, 26, faces murder charges for the death of his infant son, Matthew Thomas.
- Brian and Angela Stammen grieve the loss of their 6 month-old son, Trevor James Stammen. Investigation reveals Trevor Stammen died from head trauma.
- In Arizona, a child has died from brain trauma sustained during a playground accident at Rio Colorado Elementary School.
- In North Carolina, Jose Morin Caucedo is charged with child abuse. He remains in Forsyth County Jail.
- Dylan Rosevear, of Livonia died from head injuries sustained in a pool at Great Wolf Lodge, a Traverse City resort.
Wrongful Death
- Storm Bratchett died after he was hit in the chest by an arrow yesterday.
- Tucker Thayer died at school from a tragic accident with a stage prop.
- Jacob Wayman, 3-year-old, died after falling in a hole and suffocating.
- Zoe Montgomery died at Orr Family Farm after being run-over by a hayride trailer.
- Brett Inman, father of Cole Bernadi, spoke at a news conference on October 24, 2008.
Burns
- Playground equipment and surfaces made from recycled rubber black top get hot enough to cause burn injuries in children.
- News stories from Alameda County report Christian Perez may be charged with the death of his girlfriend’s 18-month old toddler. Patricia Perez and Jose Gamez face charges of child endangerment.
- Ann Hodge is grieving the loss of her five year-old son to a house fire, days after birthing her infant son. The Keane Law Firm assists families and child victims of fire.
- Five year-old Kristopher Love died in his family’s apartment during a fire. The mother, Anela Hobbs sustained a burn injury trying to save her son. The Keane Law Firm assists families that have lost children to fire.
Car Accident
- Jahmre Robinson died from a tragic accident at Walmart. He was a victim of a back-over accident while his mother and grandmother were putting their groceries in the car.
- Jessica Mancuso arrested for alleged drunk driving with a child in the vehicle.
- Mark Alan Ikerman was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, one count of leaving the scene of an accident and one count of failure to report an accident. Donald Legens, Jr. died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run.
- Austin Sams was killed when a vehicle he was driving was hit by a train.
- Mark Ikerman is charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the accident scene and failing to report a wreck. One man is dead and his infant son is injured.
Child Abuse
- Jacob Leo Strait, Jr. has been arrested for two counts of Felony Child Abuse Inflicting Serious Injury.
- Buddy Jackson, Rhonda Jackson, Timothy Odom and Corey Beasley have been arrested for child abuse charges.
- Mona Walker is convicted of child abuse charges for injuries sustained by infant Lauren Wentz.
- Marco Ocegueda died from injuries sustained during alleged child abuse.
- Robert Thurman was arrested for suspicion of child abuse. Tammy Thurman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Child Injuries
- In Madera County Children’s Hospital, a 21-month old boy is recovering from a near drowning accident.
- MySpace sexual assault case dismissal brings to light an unresolved social dilemma that arises from adolescent internet social networking.
- Carnival ride, at California’s Calaveras County Fair, malfunctioned and injured 24 riders when part of it collapsed suddenly on Friday evening.
- Anthony Cataldo expresses fear and concern over the severity of the bullying his young son has endured while attending Piedmont Avenue Elementary School. Zachary Cataldo sustained a severe head injury.
- Four year-old Carlos Alejandro Flores drowned last summer at Great America amusement park. The Keane Law Firm represents families of children lost to drowning accidents.
Daycare injuries
- In Lee County, Barbara Ann Fuller was charged with 10 counts of reckless conduct in connection with the death of an infant, Jace Michael Hester.
- Heavenly Angels Daycare in Alamo, Tennessee is under investigation for the death of an infant.
- In Plano, Texas, a two-month-old boy died at an unlicensed day care.
Dog Bites
- In Hawaii, a family dog killed two-month-old, Iokepa Liptak. Lily Campbell, grandmother grieves the loss of her grandson.
- In Las Vegas, two family-owned Pitbulls attack infant baby girl while grandmother was babysitting. Infant was mauled to death.
- Freemont infant injured by family dog, sustained dog bite injuries to face and neck
Foster Care Abuse
- Jazzmin Davis a victim of severe child abuse that led to her death. Shemeeka Davis is charged with child abuse, murder, and torture.
- San Francisco foster care abuse lawyer gives link on how to help California foster care children over the holidays
Child drowned
- In Pierce County, a jury awarded an 11.7M verdict for death of 2 year-old Gabriel Tobin.
- In Florida, Mary Dorsch, 20 year-old, was arrested and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm.
- In Rochester, one-year-old Joseph Richard McCarthy-Petralia was found drowned in a pool.
General
- Check out Michigan Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
- Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning against MacGregor and Mitre folding soccer goal nets – toddler found dead from strangulation.
- Infants strangled to death. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Warning issued on August 27, 2008 – Simplicity, Inc.
- In Tennessee, a five year-old boy died from injuries he sustained while swinging on an unsecured back yard swing.
Case Results
Wrongful Death
$5,700,000.00 - Wrongful Death
$1,800,000.00 - Wrongful Death
$1,000,000.00 - Wrongful Death
Child Abuse
Sexual Assault - Confidential Settlement
Sexual Assault - Confidential Settlement
Sexual Assault - Confidential Settlement
Child Injuries
Foster Care Abuse
Wrongful Death - Confidential Settlement
Other
$1,000,000.00 - Wrongful Death
$1,000,000.00 - Wrong Site Surgery
$1,000,000.00 - Accidental death
Child Safety News
Martinez woman, Kimberly Hoglund, reportedly suspected of causing car accident in Pinole, leaving teenage boy in a coma, link provided by California lawyer attorney for teenagers in car accidents... More
Animal attack at San Francisco Zoo kills Carlos Sousa, Jr, age 17, link provided by San Francisco animal attack lawyer... More
Child abuse lawyer provides link to child death review committee report... More
Dakota Harryman, 7 months, killed; grandmother's boyfriend, Glenn Peralta, charged in death... More
Wrongful death of San Jose baby from skull fracture - father, Armando Garcia, reportedly held in jail... More
Wrongful death of Robert Ratto, 19, allegedly killed by gunshot from friend, Daryl Yadao, 18... More
California child injury lawyer provides link to child seat safety class in Riverside County and San Bernadino County California... More
Erica Bernal, Mother of Jose Ariellano, shaken baby victim, waits for jury verdict in her murder trial in Norwalk Superior Court... More
California investigates allegations of child abuse involving Britney Spears and Kevin Federline custody case... More
Joshua Yeager, alleged driver in car crash in Cedar Ridge related to death of Laura Freeman, age 17, denied release... More
Burns
Let the Keane Law Firm give you some facts about children and burns:
Burn injuries are the second most common cause of death in children, second to motor vehicle accidents. Thousands of children are hospitalized every year with burn injuries. Approximately 3,000 children die a year from burn injuries. The survivors suffer varying degrees of permanent physical disfigurement and psychological trauma. Burns are widely regarded as one of the most painful and complex injuries that a victim may endure. Survival and recovery from burn injuries is often very difficult and lengthy with serious complications along the way. In fact, statistics show that children under four years old are two times more likely to sustain a burn injury than older children and therefore their death rate from burn injuries is higher. Developmentally speaking, the skin of younger children is thinner and therefore an injury from burns can cause a greater degree of injury. Keep in mind that a young child’s skin burns at a lower temperature and a greater depth than that of an older child or an adult’s skin. Also, younger victims are less likely to survive due to the inability of their young bodies to endure the significant physical stress of injury and healing. The higher burn injury rate in young children can be attributed to the higher likelihood of sustaining injury from non-accidental burns in an abusive domestic setting. Also the developmental level of the child within a hazardous environmental setting is more likely to result in burn injury. Because of these facts, providers generally screen for non-accidental injury and hazardous environmental causes when burn injury victims are initially encountered in the clinical setting. Though a burn injury may be thought to be non-intentional, burn injuries are often preventable. In general burn injuries are classified as flame contact injuries, flash injuries from combustible agents, thermal injuries, scalding injuries, chemical injuries or electrical burn injuries. Scalding burns from hot liquid are the most common cause of burn injury in younger children, while contact with flames resulting in burn injuries are more common in older children. House fires are responsible for very lethal injuries and are usually associated with inhalation injuries due to smoke exposure. Approximately 45% of house fire victims die as a result of their complex injuries. According to Edelman, death from house fires occurs more often in the African-American, Hispanic and Native American preschool population then in the non-Hispanic, white population.
In the infant and toddler population, scalding burns from hot liquid is the most common type of burn. And the cause of a burn injury influences how well a child will heal from the injury. For instance, burns from scalding hot liquid on a small surface area, though very painful, tend to heal a little better than electrical burn injuries. Because electrical burn injuries involve trauma associated with electrical current passing through the body leaving traumatic injury in its path, such as neurological damage and heart problems. So the superficial area of burn does not reflect the true extent of internal injury from electricity. That isn’t to say that scalding wounds are not debilitating, because they can be. If a child is scalded by submersion in a hot tub, the injury is life threatening due to the large surface area of injury. Toddlers must be watched closely because they may also put their mouths on electrical cords or stick their fingers and other items into electrical sockets. Toddlers have also been known to tip their walkers into fire places when left unattended in environments with open flames.
The classification of burns has been traditionally referred to as first, second, third or fourth degree burns. However, the use of terms such as superficial, superficial partial-thickness, deep partial-thickness and full thickness descriptors are becoming more common. Once a burn injury is sustained, different clinical factors present and the victim’s condition may change from day to day. Sometimes these changes make a burn wound worse and may require more treatment in the days following the original injury. So it is hard to tell how extensive an injury is until time goes by and the degree of injury becomes better understood. The degree of injury guides clinical practice and treatment. In general, a child is hospitalized if a superficial burn injury, or worse, exceeds 9% of the total body surface area or if abuse is suspected. And if a full-thickness burn involves 2%, or more of the body surface area the child will be hospitalized. The anatomical location of the injury is also considered while making treatment decisions. Burns to the face, perineum, hands and feet require hospitalization. If 1% body surface area, or greater, of these surface areas are burned, the child will likely be hospitalized. Also requiring special attention are joint areas affected by burn injury. Scarring could cause significant disability and these injuries must be handled carefully. Serious burn injuries require extensive therapies to help victims recover. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for burn injuries to provide victims with medical, surgical, rehabilitation, nutritional, physical therapy, pain management, and psychological assistance over an extended period of time. If your child is injured from a burn, you will meet many health care providers that will be involved in his or her care.
After hospitalization and during rehabilitation, care for the child recovering from burn injuries requires consistent and vigilant attention. For instance, someone that is recovering from a burn injury must use precautions to avoid exposure to sun light. Healing burned skin does not tolerate sun exposure like normal skin. Sunburns must be avoided to prevent further insult to injury. Also scar tissue needs to be monitored during the course of growth and development in children to avoid further disfigurement and compounded disability. And physical therapy, pain management with rehabilitative services will be needed for an extended period of time.
How do I prevent child injury from burns at home or in a child care center?
According to the Mayo Clinic, and other sources, the following safety precautions are recommended:
1) Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F so water does not get scolding hot while children are running the hot water faucet.
2) Bath water should be no hotter than 100 degrees F. A child submerged in hot bath water at 140 degrees F for a few seconds will sustain serious burn injury and require multiple surgeries with skin grafts and a lengthy hospitalization.
3) Turn all handles of the pots and pans on the stove inward toward the middle of the range top, so children can’t grab or knock the handles while hot food is cooking. Also, cook on the back burners whenever possible. Fires from cooking are the number one cause of fires in child day care centers.
4) Do not allow children to play near the stove while you are cooking.
5) Do not leave electrical appliances, such as irons, curling irons, heating pads and electrical blankets, heated and unattended while children and infants are present.
6) Check food that has been micro-waved to ensure that the food is evenly heated and not excessively hot. Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave.
7) Cool mist humidifiers are safer than steam vaporizers.
8) While cooking food, never leave a barbeque grill or stove unattended with children around.
9) If you park your car in direct sunlight, or on a hot day, check the baby seat temperature before placing a child in it.
10) As fun as fireworks are to watch and play with, leave the fireworks to trained individuals and watch from a distance. Even sparklers are capable of severely burning and significantly harming a child.
11) Keep all combustible material safely locked up in child resistant storage areas.
12) Keep all lighters and matches safely hidden or locked away.
13) Do not smoke in the house or while lying in bed. Ensure that cigarette butts are completely put out prior to disposing of them. Do not throw cigarette butts on the ground. Prior to discarding ash trays in the garbage, ensure that the cigarette butts are cooled completely.
14) Supervise children while they are cooking, do not let them engage in cooking activity until it is age appropriate for them to be safe with micro-waved food and cooking in the range top.
15) Never leave a space heater on unattended or while you are sleeping.
16) Make sure you put out burning candles before you leave the room or fall asleep. And don’t burn candles in areas where children are playing.
17) Install smoke alarms on every floor of the house, apartment or building. One smoke alarm is not enough. You should install smoke alarms by every stairway and bedroom if the building is large. Make sure you have extra batteries and a routine for checking your batteries. With smoke alarms, the chances of dying in a house fire are reduced by approximately 50%. If a sprinkler system is present, then death by house fire is reduced by approximately 80%.
18) Devise a fire escape plan and practice it with the children. Know at least two exits in the floor plan. Participating in fire safety programs with the local fire department will save your life. Because waking up to a house full of black smoke will cause disorientation due to lack of oxygen and inability to see. You must have a plan to save you and your children under these circumstances already devised. Small children like to hide during fires and this will delay finding them and exiting the burning structure.
19) Avoid exposing an infant to direct sun light during peak hours of sunshine, between the hours of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
20) Use sunscreen on your child or infant and clothing that protects from excessive exposure.
21) Remember to be cautious of fireplaces while a fire is burning. Fire place screens that are affixed to the fireplace are safer for children than free-standing fire place screens.
22) Never leave an infant unattended in a room where a fire place is burning.
23) Check bath water for appropriate temperature prior to placing your infant or child in the tub.
24) Infant and children clothing should be made from non-flammable material.
25) Keep electrical cords safely out of sight and placed to avoid accidental contact and displacement of electrical appliances.
26) Cover electrical outlets with plastic caps.
27) Place barriers in front of heat-emitting appliances. Heightened awareness is indicated during the winter months when Christmas trees and heaters are present.
28) Teach children the meaning of hot as soon as they are able to understand the concept. Children should be taught to avoid the dangers of playing with matches and open flames too. Caregivers should model appropriate behavior and management of open flames.
29) Keep oven doors closed while in use.
30) Do not smoke cigarettes around infants and children.
31) Do not drink hot beverages while holding an infant or child.
32) Do not leave toddlers unattended in tubs, it takes minimal effort to turn on the hot water faucet and a child may burn himself in hot water when left alone.
DO YOU HAVE A BURN CASE OR LAWSUIT, AND NEED A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER OR ATTORNEY FOR CHILDREN WITH BURNS OR WHO HAVE BEEN BURNED, OR A CHILD WITH A BURN, in California, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Union City, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon, Annapolis, Cloverdale, Geyserville, Cazadero, Healdsburg, Geurneville, Windsor, Napa, Napa Valley, Wine Country, Bay Area, Northern California, Fulton, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Bloomfield, Cotati, Sonoma, Petaluma, Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Modesto, Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Moss Beach, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Princeton By The Sea, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, West Menlo Park, Woodside, San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, Adin, Modoc County, Alturas, Anderson, Shasta County, Bartle, Siskiyou County, Beckwourth, Plumas County, Berry Creek, Butte County, Bieber, Lassen County, Big Bend, Shasta County, Blairsden, Plumas County, Biggs, Butte County, Burney, Shasta County, Burnt Ranch, Trinity County, Butte Valley, Siskiyou County, Callahan, Canby, Canyon Dam, Cassel, Castella, Cedarville, Chester, Chico, Chilcoot, Clio, Coffee Creek, Corning, Tehama County, Cottonwood, Crescent Mills, Cromberg, Dorris, Dunsmuir, Durham, Edgewood, Etna, Fall River Mills, Forks of Salmon, Fort Bidwell, Fort Jones, French Gulch, Gazelle, Graeagle, Greenview, Greenville, Gridley, Happy Camp, Hat Creek, Hayfork, Helena, Herlong, Lassen County, Hilt, Hornbrook, Horse Creek, Hyampom, Janesville, Johnstonville, Johnsville, Junction City, Trinity County, Klamath River, La Porte, Lakehead, Lewiston, Likely, Los Molinos, Macdoel, Mad River, Manton, McArthur, McCloud, Millville, Mineral, Montague, Mount Hebron, Mount Shasta, Newell, Nubieber, Old Station, Oroville, Palermo, Palo Cedro, Paradise, Paynes Creekis, Platina, Pondosa, Portola, Quincy, Ravendale, Redding, Ruth, Salyer, Sawyers Bar, Scott Bar, Seiad Valley, Shasta, Shasta Lake City, Shingletown, Lake Tahoe, Somes Bar, Susanville, Taylorsville, Trinity Center, Tulelake, Vina, Vinton, Weaverville, Weed, Westwood, Willow Ranch, Yreka, San Francisco County, Alameda County, Marin County, San Mateo County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Contra Costa County, Los Angeles County?
Call The Keane Law Firm toll-free at 1-888-592-KIDS (5437).
Library for Burns:
- Resources for children that are burn victims - Article 1 [PDF]
Description: This document is a compilation of community resource listings with brief descriptions of individual agencies and organizations that help child burn victims. - Facts about burn injuries in children - Article 2 [PDF]
Description: A compilation of facts about burn injuries in children. This article identifies pearls of information regarding incidence and risk factors for burn injuries. - Types of burn injuries in infants and toddlers - Article 3 [PDF]
Description: Infants and toddlers have different risks for burn injuries due to their developmental differences. - Intentional vs. Non-intentional burn injuries in children - Article 4 [PDF]
Description: The incidence of intentional versus non-intentional burn injuries in children is outlined. - Infants and burn injuries - Article 5 [PDF]
Description: This article gives an overview of infants and how they are impacted by burn injuries. - Toddlers and burn injuries - Article 6 [PDF]
Description: This article gives special consideration to toddlers and their risk for burn injuries. - Early and late childhood risk for burns - Article 7 [PDF]
Description: This article gives an overview of the different risk and incidence for burn injuries related to development and maturity level in early vs. late childhood age groups. - Types of burn injuries in children - Article 8 [PDF]
Description: This article outlines all the different types of burn injuries that children may sustain. - Associated injuries that often accompany burn injuries - Article 9 [PDF]
Description: This article outlines other types of injuries that may occur with burn injuries in children. - Burn injury descriptors - Article 10 [PDF]
Description: This article describes the different types of burns according to the severity of clinical presentation. - Burn prevention tips for families - Article 11 [PDF]
Description: This article is a compilation of burn prevention strategies for parents and families to prevent injury to children.
Web Resources for Burns:
- Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
- American Burn Association
- Burn Care Foundation
- Burn Center Referral Criteria
- Burn Prevention Foundation
- Burn Resource Centre
- Burn Survivors On-line
- Burnsurvivor.org
- Camp Susquehanna
Description: A free camp for burn survivors between 7-16 years of age.
- Children’s Burn Foundation
- Federation of Burn Foundations
- International Society for Burn Injuries
- Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
- Shriners Hospitals for Children
- United States Burn Support Organization
Keane Law Firm
530 Jackson Street
2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 398-2777
Fax: (415) 520-2282
The Keane Law Firm
530 Jackson Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, California 94133
Phone: (415) 398-2777
Fax: (415) 520-2282
info@keanelaw.com
Videos
Shaken Baby Syndrome:
- This baby was a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Claire's Law - Victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Shaken Baby Syndrome Lawyer, Christopher Keane, San Francisco, California, explains that Shaken Baby Syndrome can cause long term disabilities
FAQs
Wrongful Death
- What's the point in bringing a wrongful death lawsuit when a child dies - you can't bring back the child?
- What does California law permit the family of child who has died to recover?
- What can one do in case of a child’s wrongful death?
- What is wrongful death of an unborn child?
Child Abuse
What factors place children at risk for being victims of child abuse?
Are children with disabilities that reside in institutions at risk for being victims of child abuse?
Are children with disabilities that reside at home at greater risk to be victims of abuse?
Are children with disabilities more inclined to endure abusive behavior from their caregivers or parents?
How do I identify caregiver exploitation?
Child Injuries
- What if my child was injured at a children’s facility or the playground?
- How is a claim or lawsuit actually settled on behalf of a child? And, is it possible that part of a child’s settlement be used for the benefit of the child before he or she turns 18?
- Do I need to be the mother or father of an injured child in order to bring a claim on their behalf?
- Is there a deadline for my child to file a claim or lawsuit in California?
- When and why is lead paint in my apartment or rental home considered hazardous for my children?
Foster Care Abuse
- What are foster homes?
- How do I know if a foster child has been abused?
- Can a foster child sue for injuries suffered while in foster care in California?
- Do I need to be related to an abused or injured foster child in order to bring a claim on their behalf?
General
- Why will you potentially harm your injured child's lawsuit if you delay in hiring a lawyer?
- Should I talk to an insurance company, or sign insurance company documents, if an insurance company calls me about my child who was injured in a car accident?
- What can a child's lawyer do to protect their settlement or judgment in case an adult predeceases the child? Or, if the child is brain-injured?