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Protecting Minors and Their Legal Rights

Children are vulnerable human beings, and ensuring their safety is of paramount importance. Most of us know that properly installed and secured car seats are critical in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Additional safety measures for children include:

  • Seat children younger than 13 in the back.
  • Use appropriate restraints for a child’s age and size.
  • Follow the directions in the instruction manuals for both the child restraint and vehicle.
  • Pick a vehicle with top crash test ratings.
  • Never leave kids alone in or around vehicles.

At Mazin & Associates PC we know how important it is to protect the rights of minors involved in serious car accident or personal injury claims. We have extensive experience representing minors with serious injuries, and are well versed with how sensitively their claims must be managed. There exist special legal considerations when it comes to protecting minors, including appointing a litigation guardian on behalf of the child to make decisions, and having the Ontario Court approve settlement of a minor’s claim for it to be legally binding.

The team at Mazin & Associates PC is proud to ensure that all of our claims involving minors with serious injuries are properly taken care of. We recently won a motion that allowed our client, a young boy who sustained a traumatic brain injury, to add the City of Sudbury as a defendant to the action, which was not considered by the original lawyers who handled the file. This ruling has significant implications, and the recent news release from Sudbury.com can be found at: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/city-added-to-lawsuit-that-dates-back-to-2007-356106.

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a minor who has been seriously injured, it is critical that you obtain legal advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer who is able to protect the child’s rights, and advance the claim appropriately. Contact Mazin & Associates, PC for your Free Consultation at (416) 625-2122.


Avoid Toy-Related Injuries this Holiday Season

There are millions of different toys out there, with hundreds of new ones on the shelves each year. With the holidays just around the corner, now it a good time for parents to be reminded of toy safety.

While toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child’s development, scores of kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries each year. Choking is a particular risk for kids ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths.

Manufacturers follow certain guidelines and are closely monitored and regulated. They are required to label toys for specific age groups, but perhaps the most important thing a parent can do is to supervise play.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys:

  •     Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
  •     Stuffed toys should be washable.
  •     Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
  •     Art materials should say nontoxic.

Steer clear of older toys, even hand-me-downs from friends and family. Those toys might have sentimental value and are certainly cost-effective, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.

And make sure a toy isn’t too loud for your child. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn — even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears — and can contribute to hearing damage. Read more here.

If your child has suffered a critical personal injury from a defective toy, contact a Toronto personal injury lawyer with Mazin & Associates, PC for a free consultation.


Tips to Keep Your Baby Safe in the Car

Car crashes are among some of the biggest dangers to babies. All babies need a rear-facing car seat for their first ride home from the hospital.

Your baby will use this seat whenever you travel– even the shortest distance– for one year or longer. While babies may use a forward-facing car seat once they are at least one year old and at least 10 kg, it is safest for them to rear-face as long as possible.

Follow these car seat safety tips:

  • Look for a car seat with the highest rear-facing weight and length limits once your child has outgrown their first car seat.
  • Always install the car seat in the rear seat—the middle position is the safest.
  • Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the car seat and follow all age, height and weight specifications.
  • Secure the car seat using the Universal Anchorage System (UAS or LATCH), which is now mandatory in all car models. Follow both the car seat and car manual instructions. If the UAS system does not secure the seat adequately, then use the seat belt, as indicated in the car seat instructions.
  • Check that the car seat does not move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) forward or from side to side once it is installed.
  • Harness straps should be threaded just at or below your baby’s shoulders. The chest clip should be at armpit level and the harness should fit snugly.
  • Tuck a blanket around your baby if needed instead of using a bunting bag.
  • Don’t use a car seat that has been in a car crash, even a minor one. It is not safe.
  • Never leave your baby unattended in a car, even to run a quick errand.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, consult a Personal Injury Lawyer.

Source: Canadian Pediatric Society.

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  • "I‌ wanted‌ to‌ thank‌ Gary‌ Mazin‌ for‌ everything‌ he‌ did‌ for‌ me. ‌ Retaining‌ him‌ was‌ the‌ best‌ decision‌ I‌ had‌ ever‌ made. Gary is the best personal injury lawyer. His‌ expertise,‌ professionalism‌ and‌ kindness‌ were‌ always‌ present. ‌ He‌ was‌ able‌ to‌ get‌ me‌ the‌ fair‌ settlement‌ that‌ I‌ deserved‌ because‌ of‌ his‌ knowledge‌ and‌ support. He‌ is‌ a‌ truly‌ dedicated‌ personal‌ injury‌ lawyer‌ to‌ whom‌ I‌ am‌ forever‌ grateful."
  • R.‌ Chertok,‌ Richmond‌ Hill
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Mazin & Associates PC dedicates itself to achieving maximum settlements in serious personal injury and accident cases. Our areas of practice include car accidents, motorcycle injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, slip and falls, wrongful death, product liability, long-term disability and medical malpractice.

  • Toronto
  • Tel: (416) 625-2122
  • Toll Free: 1-800-432-HURT (4878)
  • Fax: (416) 250-1238
  • 5 Park Home Ave #501
  • Toronto, ON M2N 6L4