Florida Injury Lawyer BlogWith Valentine’s Day coming up, many people have plans with loved ones. While this is a time of year to celebrate love, you will want to take steps to ensure the holiday is a safe one. Here’s how:
Articles Tagged with home safety
The Latest Viral Challenge Can Cause Burn Injuries or a Fire at Your Homestead Home
Parents in Homestead and other South Florida communities need to be aware of a new viral challenge which poses a serious threat to children and teens. In fact, many fire fighting departments across the country are releasing alerts and warnings to inform the general public about the danger.
Unfortunately, the latest challenge, called the “outlet challenge,” is just the latest in a string of risky behaviors teens and children are pursuing for online likes. Following on the heels of the Tide Pod challenge, which saw social media users biting into detergent pods and challenges which saw people dancing alongside moving cars, this latest challenge is just as deadly.
Cyber Security for Hollywood and Florida Residents
Each year, Hollywood residents are exposed to hacks, scams, and other threats online. In some cases, such as identity theft, victims may have recourse to the criminal justice system. In other situations, those affected choose to pursue legal claims.
Cyber security breaches can impact a person’s livelihood, personal safety, and finances for years to come. Fraudsters can gain access to very personal information from victims, can clear out bank accounts, can ruin credit ratings, and more. The effects of such crimes often include immense stress, financial hardship and even family problems.
Everyone is at risk, which is why it is important to take some steps online to protect yourself:
Safety Tips for Your Electronic Devices
We rely on electronic devices to wake us up, share the weather, get us to our destination, and more. Whether you use phones, GPS, voice-activated personal assistants, or other devices, however, these devices can cause injury.
Each year, residents of Hollywood and South Florida are injured by electronic devices or are the victims of identity theft or fraud because their devices are targeted. Here’s how you can reduce your risk:
Keep Kids Safe in the Pool During Hollywood and Florida Summers
In Hollywood and Florida, pools are a big part of summertime. From community pools to pools in our backyards, water is a big part of staying cool, staying active, and enjoying the sunshine of southern Florida. While splashing around and having a swim is great exercise and can be lots of fun, pools do pose a considerable risk, especially for children. Children have a fascination with water and have less developed swimming skills, which can make them especially prone to pool injuries and drownings.
For homeowners, too, pools can mean Hollywood premises liability claims, injuries to neighboring children, trespassing, and other worries. Fortunately, there are several ways you can keep your pool and your children safe:
Inflatable Pool Safety in Hollywood and Florida
Inflatable pools are a popular choice for many families. They are small enough to fit into many yards and do not come with the larger installation costs of in-ground pools. Inflatable pools range from large pools which are closer to in-ground versions to shallow kiddie pools.
While these swimming options can be a fun way to swim in your Hollywood home, however, they are not without risks. Many pool drownings and injuries in Hollywood and across Florida are linked to inflatable swimming pools. In fact, across the country, one child sustains a fatal injury in an inflatable pool on average every five days during the summer season.
Thinking of Renting Your Homestead or Florida Home for the Summer?
If you are planning on vacationing this summer, you may want to make money from your property rather than allowing it to sit empty. There are many websites which allow you to rent out your home for months or even just a night.
While home rentals seem simple, however, they might expose you to premises liability claims in Homestead or your community. Tenants can be injured on your property, can stumble onto neighboring property and cause damage there, or can end up causing losses on your property through negligence. If this happens, would you be covered? If a tenant were injured, would you need more insurance than you currently have?
Property Damage and Neighborhood Trees
Florida is famous for its beautiful palm trees and green spaces. Many homes in Hollywood have trees growing nearby and many property owners enjoy having trees on their property. After all, these additions to a yard offer shade on hot summer days and can make a property more attractive and valuable. Trees also help clean the air.
While healthy trees are a great addition to a yard, they can become a problem. What happens inf a neighbor plants a tree which blocks your view? What happens when a tree is located at a property line? What happens if a palm tips over and causes damage on your property? These issues are quite common and lead to many disputes and claims.
Dog Bite Injuries are a Concern in Florida
Americans own 78 million dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, and about 4.5 million people across the country are bitten by dogs each year. According to studies, last year more people in Florida were bit by a dog when compared with Texas and California residents.
There are several things you can do to help prevent dog attacks:
Florida Gardening Injuries: How to Prevent Them
Hollywood and South Florida in general are wonderful spots for gardeners. Many beautiful plants grow naturally in this warm climate and gardens of sage, palm trees, fruits and vegetables, herbs, magnolias, beautyberries, grasses, cypress and more. The warmth and sunshine is a dream for growing any kind of garden.
Whether you garden yourself or hire a landscape professional, Hollywood’s climate allows you to plant a beautiful space of flowering plants, a rock garden, an exotic blooms garden or anything else you desire. However, while gardening can be a healthful activity, it can also lead to injuries and even fatalities. If you work in the garden, you will want to take precautions to stay safe.
