Articles Posted in Personal Injury

Outdoor decks are a common feature on most homes. Unfortunately, they are also an increasingly common issue in hospital emergency rooms. In the past five years alone, about 30 deaths and 300 personal injuries have been linked to decks and experts expect that number could grow. Most homeowners do not realize that decks have an expected life span of 10 to 15 years. Decks have been a popular feature of homes for about two decades now, so many decks out there are past their prime, and many homeowners do not realize the dangers lurking in their own backyards.

As decks age, the wood supports can weaken and rot, eventually leading to collapse. In some cases, pests may get into the wood and compromise the structure of a deck. Boards can become loose and nails and screws may rust or fall out. Unless a homeowner checks their deck carefully, however, these changes and dangers may not be obvious until it is too late.

According to the Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University, deck accidents are very preventable. Professional, licensed home inspectors, for example, can quickly tell a homeowner whether a deck is safe or whether it needs some repairs to be safe. If it has been a few years since your deck was installed, call a qualified inspector. New safety codes may be in place that make parts of your deck obsolete.

In the summer, the heat can be a serious cause for concern. While most of us are happy to see more sunshine and nice weather, the high temperatures that are common in a Florida summer can be a serious hazard, especially to the young and the elderly. Very hot summer days can cause heat stroke, sun stroke, skin blistering, dehydration, and even death. Here’s how to stay safe this summer:

1) Never leave an elderly person, a child, or a pet alone in a car. Even with the windows open slightly, the heat inside a car can climb rapidly in just a few minutes. Being left alone in a car on a hot day is a common injury to children and children have died after being left alone in a car on a hot day.

2) Burn injuries are common in the summer. Keep in mind that seat belt buckles, playground equipment, toys left outdoors, car seats, chair surfaces, tables, and other items left outdoors can be hot enough to burn.

Each summer, almost 3 million emergency room visits will be made involving children ages 14 and under who have sustained a serious injury due to pedestrian accidents, car accidents, trips and falls, and other incidents. Many emergency room staff are actually preparing for the summer season, sadly expecting to see more children in the emergency room. Experts predict that about 2000 children will die due to preventable injuries during the summer months.

To keep your children safe and healthy this summer:

1) Practice active supervision at all times. Active supervision means that adults and parents are not only present, but are also fully engaged in watching children during their summertime activities at all times. This means that the adult supervisors are not reading, talking on the phone, or taking part in other activities. The supervisor is alert to any possible dangers at all times, and ready to act quickly in the event of an injury.

According to most experts, the summer season means more personal injuries resulting from playgrounds and playground accidents. Playground injuries can range from simple bumps and scrapes, to serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and even fatalities. Each summer, many children visit emergency rooms as a result of injuries incurred on playground equipment.

There are many ways that injuries can happen at the playground. Loose clothing can become caught on monkey bars or other playground equipment, posing a choking hazard or trapping a child. Children can easily fall from slides, ladders, and other equipment on the playground. Even with a soft cushion around the equipment, injuries can result. Children can also bump into the wood and metal that most playgrounds are made from, harming themselves.

Germs are another major concern at most playgrounds. According to research conducted in 2007 by ABC News, 59 of 60 playgrounds researched had harmful bacteria on playground equipment. This bacteria could lead to infections and illnesses. Many parents do not think about wiping playground equipment before a child uses it, but it can be a good precaution. At the very least, have wipes handy so that your child can wash their hands after playing on the equipment — before he or she eats a snack.

When you or a loved one is injured because of the recklessness or negligence of someone else, your main concern, naturally enough, is recovery. However, the decisions you make immediately after the injury can affect your recovery a great deal. Florida law protects you from the high cost of injury caused by someone’s negligence or recklessness. If you have suffered lost income, high medical bills, property damage, and other costs as a result of your injury, Florida law allows you to seek legal redress so that these costs do not come from your own pocket. Seeking legal help can ensure that you have the assistance you need for medical costs, living costs, and other associated costs. However, to safeguard yourself legally after an accident or injury, you need to:

1) Seek out a consultation with a qualified Florida injury lawyer. As soon as possible after your accident or injury, consult with a Florida attorney to learn about your options and your rights. You should schedule this consultation before you sign any papers from insurance providers or other attorneys. Many attorneys – including the law firm of Flaxman & Lopez – offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation, so you incur no costs or obligations by speaking with an attorney.

2) Start gathering information as soon as possible after your injury. Immediately after your injury or accident, you may be disoriented and frightened. However, as soon as possible, you should start securing information that can help your attorney. Take down the names of witnesses, doctors examining you, and possible defendants. Take photos of injuries, property damage, and the scene where the accident or injury took place. Start a journal as soon as possible after your injury and keep track of everything – any costs you incur as a result of your injuries, anyone you speak with about your injury, anyone who visits you and sees your injury, any treatments you get. Secure copies of your medical reports and police reports, if applicable. The more information you can provide, the more your attorney will be able to help you. Whether you have sustained a head injury, broken bones, burn injury, spinal cord injury, or another injury, information gathering is important.

Personal injuries, whether caused by car accidents, workplace accidents, or other accidents, can be quite serious and can have a lasting impact on a victim’s lifestyle. Some injuries, such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, for example, can lead to permanent injuries that affect a victim’s ability to work or lead a normal life. In addition, even smaller injuries can wreak havoc on a person’s lifestyle and finances. The costs of lost income and treatment options can be overwhelming. The price of renovating a home to accommodate a permanent injury can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars.

If an accident was caused by someone’s recklessness or injury, Florida law provides a system through which victims can recover more quickly. This system uses the law to ensure that victims have adequate compensation to pay for lost income, medical treatment, and other expenses. Compensation can often mean the difference between full recovery and complications, since compensation often allows a victim to get better medical treatment.

Unfortunately, many victims are reluctant to even learn more about filing a claim that the law gives them every right to file. Insidiously, many companies make victims feel guilty about filing claims and some victims are made to feel greedy or unreasonable if they want to even seek legal help. The truth is, however, that the law gives us all a right to be free from injuries and damages caused by others. If someone’s recklessness or negligence has caused an injury, by law that person may be held financially responsible for some of the injuries and damage they have caused.

The American Red Cross recommends that all families have disaster preparedness kits or emergency kits that allow families to avoid some of the more preventable personal injuries that result when tragedy strikes. A few simple precautions and a good family plan can help prevent serious injuries, such as burn injuries in a fire or serious injuries to minors and children when a natural disaster strikes.

The cornerstone of any emergency preparedness kit involves an escape plan. Your family should be prepared to escape from your home safely and quickly in the event of a fire or major disaster. To develop an escape plan, go through your home and find two escape routes from every room in the house. At least twice a year, practice your escape route with your entire family. Designate a location away from the house where your family can meet once they have left the home. If you have a two-story home, purchase escape ladders or another method of escape so that people can escape safely from the upper portion of your home. Make sure that everyone in your home can use the ladders and fire routes effectively. With your children, practice crawling low to avoid smoke elation in the event of a fire. Teach your children to check the doors for warmth before opening them in the event of fire.

In addition to an escape plan, you will also want to develop a kit that helps you in the event of an emergency. This kit should be easily accessible and you should be able to grab this kit when you are escaping from your home. Keep all your kit items in one space, in a large sturdy box with good handles. Items that should be included in your kit are:

1) Non-perishable foods. You should have a three-day supply for every member of your home. The items should be easy to prepare, and you should check the expiration dates regularly. If you have packed cans, make sure you have a manual can opener in your emergency kit as well.

2) Water. Allow one gallon per person for every day, and make sure that you do have at least a three-day supply for everyone in your household. Don’t forget about pets — they need water as well. Consider adding some water purification tablets so that if you run low on water, you may be able to convert or clean some water for safe drinking.

3) Flashlight and radio with extra batteries. Look for a hand-crank radio or battery-powered radio that allows you to get emergency information from authorities in the event of emergency. Look for a high powered flashlight with a long battery life. Tuck several extra batteries into your emergency kit as well.

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A new study by the University of Washington, the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, and the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that traumatic personal injuries in many leads to post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Researchers found that one year after a serious injury such as a spinal cord injury, brain injury or other life-altering injury, a high percentage of patients were diagnosed to have post-traumatic stress disorder or depression.

Specifically, the study found that of 2707 patients examined after a serious injury,

20.7% were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and 6.6% had depression a full year after their injury. As a result of these diagnoses, researchers found that patients were not adjusting to regular life after the injury.

Haunted houses, trick-or-treating, costumes, and pumpkin carving are some of the reasons children love Halloween. Unfortunately, these same activities cause many injuries each year. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) suggests that parents use these tips to keep children safe during various activities at this time of year:

1) Select costumes carefully. Poorly fitted costumes and masks can lead to visibility problems that mean slips and falls, head injuries, bone fractures, dislocations and other serious injuries. Well-fitted costumes and face paint (rather than masks) are usually the best option.

2) Select trick-or-treat routes carefully. Unfamiliar routes in the dark increase the odds of slipping and falling. If your children plan on visiting unfamiliar areas after dark, make sure that there is an adult supervising them and that there are plenty of flashlights on hand to light the way.

As several tropical storms approach Florida and other regions of the country, residents are bracing for impact. Although people living in hurricane areas often become somewhat complacent about safety – especially after a few bad storms with no injuries – it is always important to treat each new storm warning seriously. Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause serious injuries, including drowning incidents, head injuries and spinal cord injuries caused by falling objects or crumbling homes, and other types of injuries.

To keep yourself and your family safe:

1) Stay alert to the news. Have a portable radio and listen to the latest weather forecasts and warnings so that you know what to do. If you hear an advisory or warning, be sure to follow the instructions you are given about evacuations and dangers.