In Homestead and across South Florida, fall injuries lead to fractures, cuts, head injuries, fatalities, bruises, and other injuries each year. Whether in the home or in the workplace, ladder safety is essential. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that there were more than 630,000 injuries involving ladders across the country in 2015 alone, and in many cases these injuries can be prevented with a few simple tips:
At this time of year, many children are interested in dressing up for Halloween. Some adults also dress up for parties and ever festivities. While many costumes sold in stores are perfectly safe and while home-made costumes can be safe as well, each year some costumes cause serious injuries. Some even launch Homestead or South Florida products liability cases.
Whether you are making your own costumes or buying completed costumes, follow these tips to have fun on Halloween safely:
Electronic cigarettes release water vapor, flavorings, and in some cases tobacco. They have become a popular alternative to cigarette in recent years. Unfortunately, they have also been in the news for serious injuries. The lithium batteries used in e-cigarettes have sometimes burst into fire or exploded, causing serious injury to e-cigarette users. There have even been fatalities linked to these devices. If you are injured by an e-cigarette, contact a Homestead or South Florida products liability attorney to discuss your options.
In Homestead and across South Florida, we rely on our mobile devices and various technology to do our jobs, entertain us, and more. Whether you’re checking the weather on your tablet, typing work emails on your laptop, or getting to a sports event by using your car’s GPS, you are surrounded by electronic devices. Of course, you expect these devices to be safe, but each year Homestead and Florida residents suffer serious burns and injuries caused by malfunctioning, exploding, and poorly-deigned electronic devices.
Electronic devices are complex and are usually made from parts sourced all over the world. While there are consumer protection groups aimed at evaluating these items for safety and while there are state and federal standards for safety, it is difficult to closely monitor all products entering the country. If you have been injured by a dangerous electronic product, consult with a Homestead products liability attorney to find out whether you have a claim.
Technology makes our lives easier and allows us to stay in touch. However, it can also result in personal injury when it is not made and designed with safety in mind. Each year, Americans are seriously injured or killed because their computers overheat and they sustain burn injuries, or because technology injures them in some other way. Whether the issue is a GPS system leading a driver to an unsafe area or a self-driving car causing a car accident, technology can be deadly. When technology manufacturers are negligent in creating their hardware and software systems, they can be held liable and you may have a claim if you have been injured.
What to do if Technology Hurts You
If a computer, cell phone, tablet, or other device or piece of technology has overheated and caused injury or has exploded or the battery has leaked or if there is any other problem which has caused injury, you will want to get immediate medical attention. You will also want to take photos of the device and keep the device itself as well as any paperwork you have for that item, such as receipts or an owner’s manual.
At this time of year, many consumers are looking for products to make their lives better and to help them achieve their new year’s resolutions. Exercise equipment, health supplements, and beauty products, as well as health foods and other products sell very well. Many of these purchases happen online, but if you are not careful you could find yourself buying dangerous products in Hollywood or your community.
Online sales today often rely on clickbait advertising to get purchasers to buy. Clickbait articles may use a number of underhanded marketing tactics, such as fake celebrity endorsements or dishonest promises, to get you to make a purchase. Here is how to stay safe:
Most of us want to be fit and to enjoy a healthy weight. There are many products on the market which promise to help us achieve these goals. While many of them have been carefully tested, some may be ineffective or even dangerous. Each year, people in Hollywood and across South Florida are seriously injured by fitness products, services and diet aids.
There many ways you can be injured by a fitness product or diet item:
This past holiday season, VR headsets were a popular gift choice. These gadgets sold well across the country and many Homestead and Florida homes now have a headset. VR headsets allow users to play virtual reality video games or to workout in a VR environment.
Unfortunately, VR can also lead to injury. So far, minor injuries have been reported with the headsets, but the potential exists for more serious injury. If you are trying out VR, here are a few tips to stay safe:
Each year, children are seriously injured or killed due to the cords used with window treatments. The cords used with shades, blinds, and other window treatments can easily become wrapped around a child’s neck, cutting off air and posing a strangulation risk. Even ties used with curtains and draperies can pose a significant risk.
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Some parents try to simply tie up the cords and strings used with shades, blinds, and other window treatments. However, this may not be enough. Strings and cords may become untied and may fall, so simply looping out of the way may not be enough. Children may also become innovative when grabbing cords out of reach. A better option to keep your children safe is to:
With the holidays coming up and shopping season in full swing, this is one of the busiest retail seasons of the year. No matter what holiday you celebrate, if you have a shopping list you want to give gifts which are thoughtful and safe.
Even though there are organizations dedicated to keeping customers safe, billions of products are available for sale both in stores and online. It is just not possible to thoroughly test every product. Manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are designed and made safely. However, not all manufacturers are cautious when developing their brands and as a result people are seriously injured and even killed each year—in Hollywood and across the country—by unsafe and defective products. Here are some ideas to keep everyone on your gift list safe:
Florida Injury Lawyer Blog