personal injury -

We often take to this blog to warn consumers about trending circumstances which can lead to injuries.  Whether it be a defective product, an inattentive driver, or some other type of hazardous situation, the potential for injury in our modern day society could be endlessly explored.  But there’s one type of injury that goes largely unnoticed:  children accidentally hurting their parents.

An intriguing article in the New York Times takes a look at the phenomenon, classified by one blogger as Unintentional Parental Abuse, in greater detail.  The truth is, parents who aren’t careful around their younger children could find themselves on the receiving end of an injury.  Children don’t know their own strengths and limitations, and thus it’s not at all uncommon for an unsuspecting parent to find themselves being whacked in the face by an errant hand or noggin.

These types of injuries don’t exactly receive their own classification at hospitals, but anecdotal evidence suggests that they happen more often than you might think.  Parents routinely suffer from facial fractures, lacerations, eye scratches, and even concussions.

One New York-based pediatric doctor explained that corneal abrasions are incredibly common, as kids tend to want to reach out for their parents’ glasses.  They’re also curious about things like earrings, and they might reach out to grab such objects before you have the opportunity to react.

Stay cautious around your kids, and click the link to read the full tongue-in-cheek article.

A report found in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine illuminates some of the biggest hazards found in households across America.  Consumers concerned about maintaining safety for themselves and their children should take note.

By analyzing accident data between 2000 and 2008, the persons behind the study were able to determine that, on average, 30,000 persons are killed annually because of an accident that happens in the home.  Some of the most common causes of death include falls, burns, and poisoning, and the number of these types of occurrences has actually risen over the years.  Overall, 43% of fatalities come as a result of an accidental poisoning, while 34% are derived from some type of a fall.  Burns or fires lead to 9% of deaths.

As far as children go, drowning and suffocation were most likely to lead to a fatality.  Adults, on the other hand, most typically died because of a fall or a poisoning.  This comes even as accidental fatalities stemming from gun usage have ebbed, down to only 1% of household deaths.

Consumers can take pains to limit their exposure to danger.  One of the easiest ways to prevent a child injury or a fatality is by keeping an eyes on kids at all times.  Functioning smoke alarms can provide ample warning to your family should a fire break out, and keeping prescriptions out of reach of children is another great safety measure.

An incident that took place this week at South El Monte High School’s shows us that tug of war contests are not as harmless as many might think.  During this particular event, the rope being used actually snapped during the competition.  Unfortunately, the rope had been wrapped tight around the hands of two seniors, and thus some of the teens’ fingers were severed.  The teens were brought to USC Medical Center so that emergency reattachment surgery could be carried out.  A doctor from a hospital in New York explains that such incidents are certainly within the realm of possibility when a tug of war rope is wrapped around a person’s hand.  Previous incidents took place a few years ago in Minnesota and Colorado.  Although these events are certainly a rarity, parents should inform themselves of these dangers and warn their children accordingly, and administrators of events should think twice before putting together a tug of war.

Follow this link for more information.

A recent lawsuit casts a light on the dangers of a trend that one could argue has swept the nation as of late:  the proliferation of obstacle courses in which people brave the elements in a bid to outdo their fellow race participants.  Such races typically find the runners facing down a host of obstacles meant to test their mettle, but in a bid to make each course more hardcore than the last, safety could get lost in the shuffle.

An obstacle called Gravity’s Revenge was apparently too vengeful for some.  Revenge, a plastic-covered slope that led into a 15 foot drop into a ravine, was one of the many obstacles that made up the the Extreme K Mud Run in Silverdale, Washington.  One woman, though, fell while navigating this particular hazard, and she ended up sustaining breaks to every bone in her ankle.  This required 11 screws to correct, and the woman fears her career as a police officer has been compromised.

As such, she and two others have filed suit against the Kitsap Mall and the Chamber of Commerce, the organizers behind the event.  They claim the course and that obstacle in particular were beyond the bounds of what could be deemed acceptable.

If you ever decide to participate in an event like this, make sure it’s safe.  And sponsors should be sure they have taken pains to ensure an event doesn’t become too extreme.

A recent tragedy in Lynchburg, Virginia has cast a spotlight on a topic that many people probably haven’t thought about.  If one were to see an individual drowning in a pool or some other body of water, the first likely reaction is to jump in and try to save that person.  Unfortunately, without the proper training, that second person is putting themselves in harm’s way.  That’s apparently what happened in the incident detailed in this report, and that tragedy has prompted officials in the area to stress the need to always utilize extreme caution in such situations.

One of the first things that can be done is obviously to get the attention of a lifeguard or someone else who has the skills necessary to execute a rescue.  Lifeguards understand the proper techniques better than just about anyone else that would be available to help.  They understand the risks inherent in trying to rescue someone, and they should know how to counteract the threat.  People without training might find themselves in a situation where the drowning individual tries to use them as a flotation device, and suddenly the amateur rescuer is being dragged down too.  Lifeguards have a better chance of avoiding further tragedy.

Of course, there isn’t always going to be lifeguards around when drowning occurs.  You might find yourself in a situation where you’re the only one who can help.  Under those circumstances, the best way to initiate a rescue is to keep one’s own body out of the water.  Try to reach for the person without you yourself hopping in the water.  If the person is too far away, then look around for objects, especially buoyant objects, that might be used to extend your reach and that they could grab ahold of.

Take a moment to consider items that might at first not even be on your radar.  If you’re out by a lake, look around for long tree branches that could do the job.  Even a towel you brought along to lay out on can be wound up and cast into the water with you holding one end.  Once you find the right extender, then get down on your stomach and pull the person in from that position.  That way, you won’t be pulled off-balance to fall into the water with the drowning person.

Finally, all swimmers need to understand their own limits, whether they’re about to try to make a rescue or are just getting into the water for recreational purposes.  Don’t swim with no one else around, because if an emergency were to happen, no other people would be around to help.  And those who aren’t confident in their abilities should utilize life jackets and other flotation devices so as to prevent tragedy.

The summer travel season is coming to a close with students headed back to school, but for some, it’s not too late to get one last trip or one long weekend in before settling back into work for the year.  One of the most important steps in planning a vacation is picking a hotel, but many people overlook certain safety issues in order to get a better room rate.  A new report offers tips to help people stay safe as they plan ahead for their vacation, and it explains how to remain safe long past check-in.

Picking a hotel can be tricky, especially if you’re unfamiliar with a given area.  The advent of the internet has brought with it a competition among sites dedicated to getting travelers the best rate, but it’s important to read the fine print, so to speak, on any deal.  As you get ready to book your stay, you should also use the internet as an important research tool.  That way, you can ensure that you’re staying in a safe area, that the hotel itself is well-lit and kept up, and that security is on the premises.  Don’t be afraid to give the hotel itself a call to verify what other types of security features and policies are in place to protect guests.

Once you’ve arrived for your stay, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you’re not imperiled during your visit.  For one thing, you should never leave your luggage alone, even if just for a few seconds.  If you do opt to take advantage of a hotel’s bellhop services, make sure you get the names of the workers involved and know who to contact should something go missing.  And don’t entrust to a hotel employee any bag that holds valuables like jewelry or credit cards.

Many people don’t bother to invoke their right to choose a hotel room that suits them, instead relying on whatever the hotel offers.  Don’t make that mistake.  Consider picking a hotel room on a middle floor.  You’ll be close enough to the ground to make a hasty exit should an emergency take place, yet up high enough that thieves aren’t likely to target your room.  For this same reason, you might avoid rooms in hidden alcoves or far-away corners.

When you finally shut the door to your room, make sure to give a good once-over to the doors, windows, safe, and phone.  Educate yourself on where the closest emergency exit is should something go wrong.  And before you leave for the day or night, make sure to take a hotel’s business card for if you find yourself lost.

For more hotel safety tips, follow the link above.

Sometimes, the best way to draw attention to a serious issue affecting highway safety is to use a celebrity’s situation as a cautionary tale.  The visibility of such persons can bring awareness to important subjects that might otherwise get overlooked by citizens across the country.  This next report illustrates the importance of always remaining at the scene of an accident until everything gets taken care of properly.  To do otherwise is to invite potential charges and a legal headache.

Earlier this month, actress Amanda Bynes was involved in an automobile collision in which she allegedly drove into the back of another person’s car.  The driver of that other vehicle alleges that the actress neglected to provide her insurance information and left the scene before the authorities could be alerted to the situation.

This incident came just four short months after Bynes allegedly was involved in another crash in which she again ran into the back of a vehicle, this time on the 101 Freeway.  The actress was accused of driving away from the accident, but because there was apparently no one on-hand who could attest to the fact that it was indeed Bynes behind the wheel, the city attorney’s office declined to pursue the matter further.

That has changed on the heels of this latest incident, as the office has reopened the case.  They’re able to do this because a rejection doesn’t necessarily mean that a case will never be pursued.  Prosecutors have up to one year to decide whether they are going to file misdemeanor charges, and if new evidence accumulates during that time, it provides an incentive to revisit an initial incident.  An incident like the one described can thus be used to demonstrate that a certain person has a history of behaving recklessly behind the wheel.

The actress disputes the insinuation of a hit and run, reportedly telling police officials that her and the driver of the other vehicle came to the conclusion that the damage was so slight that it would be unnecessary to file a police report.  If that’s true, the woman apparently reconsidered, as a police report was indeed filed once damages were estimated to be in the range of $800.

No matter what eventually winds up being decided in this case, drivers across the country should understand the requirements of the law.  To avoid a potential legal scuffle, it’s best to err on the side of caution and exchange information with the other driver.  There’s no drawback to doing so, but there’s plenty of drawback to ignoring this step.  By following the law at all times, you protect yourself from financial and legal harm.

Hurricane Isaac is bearing down on the southern part of the United States, placing citizens in its path in potential danger.  The area between Tallahassee and New Orleans is where landfall is expected to occur.  According to FEMA, persons endangered by the storm should prepare by stocking up on the necessary supplies, following weather reports, and heeding the directives of officials.

Click here to learn more.

In an issue of The Advocate from last year, Panish Shea & Boyle’s own Rahul Ravipudi discussed the threat to safety posed on the docks by workers who engage in drug and alcohol use while on the job.  If this substance abuse leads to an injury of another party, the ensuing discovery process is critical when filing a personal injury claim, as it allows the plaintiff’s legal team to turn up crucial evidence that can demonstrate negligence at the accident site.  Discovery can turn up things like drug and alcohol test results, complaints filed by the employer, the employee’s personnel file, incident reports, photos, and more.

Click here to read Mr. Ravipudi’s insight into the discovery process and litigating these complex cases.

We’ve recently featured a plethora of tips designed to help parents protect their children as they head back to school this fall.  But kids aren’t the only ones going back to school.  College students from across the country shall soon be descending upon campus to begin their studies, and this demographic is not immune to danger.  A new report offers tips geared toward protecting Boston-area students, but the advice given would be just as applicable anywhere in the country.

For many students, especially freshmen, this will be the first time that they will be away from parents, and it’s tempting to go overboard with the newfound independence that suddenly becomes available.  However, that doesn’t mean students should consider themselves invincible.  When college kids go out at night, they ought to always let either one of their roommates or a friend know where they’re going, when they’ll be back, and who they’re engaging in an activity with.  That way, should something go wrong, someone will know what the person was doing.

Universities tend to evoke a collegial atmosphere, but it’s important to not let things become too collegial with someone whom you don’t know.  Stranger danger might seem like advice that should only be offered to young kids, but the truth is that a threat can exist with a stranger at any age.  As such, it’s advisable not to walk alone with someone whom you’ve never met.  And most definitely do not accept a ride from a stranger, even if they claim to be a student as well.

Students should attempt to avoid situations where they’re going to be alone and vulnerable.  Persons should always pick a travel route where they know there are going to be others around at any given time.  Shortcuts are not advisable if the shortcut is going to be taking you away from places where a large amount of people provide adequate protection.  And if you have no choice but to walk alone across campus, then make sure that laptops and other expensive items are kept in a backpack and out of the view of prying eyes.

Doors to residence halls should be kept shut at all times.  It might be tempting to prop the door open or let someone in who just claims to have lost their pass, but such a move is dangerous.  When you yourself are coming upon your residence or vehicle, be aware of those around you and keep your keys in your hand.

Finally, students should not binge drink if indeed they are going to be drinking at all.  Doing so compromising your motor functions and imperils your judgment.  And if an emergency situation does take place, then have the phone number of campus emergency services plugged into your phone.  Doing so ensures you’ll have a lifeline ready when needed.