Beyond Origins the Discussion

A Seatbelt For Your Child, Or Your Beer?

May 17th, 2008

An Australian driver received a £362 fine recently for using a seatbelt for his 30-can pack of beer, whilst on the floor a five-year old child remained unrestrained. When police pulled the car over, just south of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory, the driver appeared oblivious to the implications for the child’s safety.

It would have been interesting to interview this individual to understand his thought processes in prioritising his beer over the safety of the child but to also ascertain if he was actually the child’s parent.

Accidents do happen and on occasion a child may suffer serious injuries as a result of poor supervision from those we entrust with our child’s care. In these instances the costs of medical assistance for the child and provision of support for the child’s rehabilitation can be crippling.

Accidents involving a child are the stuff of nightmares for parents and despite our best efforts it’s not always possible to protect our children from danger.

If your child requires expert attention due to an unforeseen accident, a child claim for compensation can often make the difference in the level of care your child receives. A child claim allows parents to seek justice against an irresponsible adult or negligent organisation who has not taken basic steps to ensure the child’s safety.

This story fortunately ends with a simple fine for the driver and the child left uninjured, due to the police intervention. The fact that the driver choose to restrain his beer rather than the child demonstrates the real life potential for car accidents involving children.

Entry Filed under: Legal