Hot Car Deaths

In the summer months of Texas temperatures regularly soar into the triple digits. Extreme heat like that is bad enough when you’re outside, however, that type of summer heat can quickly become deadly for children left alone in a car. One of a parent’s worst nightmares could quickly become reality if you’re not careful. While you may think, “Oh that will never happen to me” please keep in mind that most parents who have experienced this tragedy said the same exact thing.

Hot car deaths, also known as vehicular heatstroke or hyperthermia deaths, occur when a child or a pet is left unattended inside a hot vehicle and the temperature inside the vehicle rises to dangerous levels, leading to serious injury or death. Hot car deaths are entirely preventable and can occur in various weather conditions, not just during extreme heatwaves.

The interior of a parked vehicle can heat up rapidly, even on a mild day, due to the greenhouse effect, where sunlight enters the vehicle but is trapped inside, causing the temperature to rise quickly. Studies have shown that the temperature inside a vehicle can increase by 20 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius) within 10 minutes and by 50 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) or more within an hour, even when the outside temperature is moderate.

Hot car deaths can have devastating consequences for families and communities, and they are considered a serious public health concern. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to heat-related injuries or death due to their smaller size, higher metabolic rate, and limited ability to regulate body temperature.

Statistics About Hot Car Deaths

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the advocacy organization KidsAndCars.org, an average of 39 children die each year in the United States from heat-related deaths after being left in hot vehicles. Many of these incidents occur when a child is accidentally forgotten in a vehicle, or when a child gains access to a vehicle and becomes trapped inside without being able to exit. Cracking a window open for the child or even parking in the shade aren’t sufficient ways to protect a child in a locked car. Studies show that a child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than adult’s. Even if you think it’s “not that hot outside” even in 60-degree Fahrenheit temperatures your car can heat up to 110 degrees in a matter of minutes. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that heatstrokes are more common with the elderly and young people

Beyond the dangers that an overheating car pose to the children, the parents can receive criminal charges for leaving their little ones in the vehicle. This year a Georgia man is facing murder charges and child abuse for leaving his son in a locked vehicle. Although the parent might be seen as careless in forgetting about the child, the law takes a hard stance on these incidents.

Whether you are simply running errands and believe you’ll “just be a minute” running into a building, it’s a MUST that you take your child with you. The hot Texas summer is nothing to leave to chance when it comes to your loved ones. It’s important to take the extra steps in protecting our little ones just in case the unexpected happens.

Hot Cars Babies and Dogs

As the weather begins to warm and the summer approaches one of the real dangers of the summer has come upon us. People mistakenly leaving their loved ones, whether human or furry, unattended in hot cars. In South Texas, we are already experiencing 100 plus degree days so we can only expect it to get hotter.  Whether a child is left in a car by accident or intentionally it only takes a matter of minutes for them to overheat. On 70-degree day temperatures inside of a car can reach over 100 degrees so it is ridiculous to consider how hot the inside of your car can reach in triple-digit weather. Your vehicle essentially becomes an oven. These extreme temperatures will cause a kid to quickly overheat leading to heatstroke, dehydration, seizure, and/or even worse death.

Small Children

Small children are sometimes forgotten because they are in rear-facing car seats, miscommunication, or distraction on behalf of the adult. Overheating on the part of an infant or toddler can happen in a matter of minutes. But an even worse situation is when a child is left in the car while an adult goes running a quick errand. Even with the windows rolled down the temperature inside a vehicle can and will immediately spike. Anything can happen to cause a delay but even if the errand is an in and out trip it only takes a few minutes to cause irreversible harm. In Corpus Christi, it is unlawful to leave a child in a motor vehicle. The city ordinance  reads as follows:

Sec. 53-10. – Leaving children in motor vehicles.

It is unlawful for a person to knowingly, intentionally, or with criminal negligence, leave a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five (5) minutes if the child is:

(1) Younger than seven (7) years of age, and

(2) Not attended by an individual who is fourteen (14) years of age or older.

The terms knowingly, intentionally, and criminal negligence as used in this section shall have the same meaning as set out in the definitions of these terms in the Texas Penal Code.

Dogs

Just like small humans overheat and cannot withstand the extreme temperatures inside a closed vehicle neither can our furry friends. Unfortunately, the only way dogs can cool themselves is through panting. In a matter of minutes, a dog can suffer from heatstroke. Heatstroke symptoms include restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If you notice that a dog is exhibiting these symptoms immediately move them to an air-conditioned space. One can also spray the dog with cool (not ice cold) water. It is also not a bad idea to take the animal to the vet.

During the dog days of summer, a travesty can be avoided by simply checking your vehicle car when exiting. Remember to remove children and animals before emptying groceries or any purchases. It is also not a bad idea to leave a note or purchase a mirror that faces the child for the headrest to quickly check their car seats to see if a child has been left in the car.

How to Prevent Hot Car Deaths

To prevent hot car deaths, it is important to follow some safety measures:

1. Never leave a child or a pet unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time. Always check the back seat before exiting the vehicle.
2. Lock your vehicle at all times, even when parked in your driveway or garage, to prevent children from gaining access to the vehicle.
3. Educate caregivers, such as grandparents, babysitters, and daycare providers, about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
4. Place a reminder, such as a stuffed animal or a bag, in the front seat as a visual cue to help you remember that a child is in the back seat.
5. If you see a child or a pet alone in a hot vehicle, take immediate action by calling 911 and, if necessary, taking steps to remove the child or pet from the vehicle.
6. Be vigilant during the warmer months and be aware of the risks of heat-related injuries or death in vehicles, even on mild or overcast days.

It’s important to spread awareness about the dangers of hot car deaths and take preventive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of children and pets.

About Herrman & Herrman Personal Injury Lawyers

With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.

If you or a loved one was injured, please contact us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm focused on holding negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.

We remain by our clients’ side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical and financial needs. That dedication is combined with experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients are suffering from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation and their overall need for a lawyer.

 

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