Every year, tens of thousands of children under the age of five are hurt or killed by hazards in the home. Furniture and other items in your home that seem harmless can indeed be dangerous or even deadly to children. Here are some of the top home safety hazards to young children, and ways to prevent many injuries. Unsafe cribs   More babies -- about 40 to 50 each year -- die in cribs than with any other piece of nursery equipment. Children can strangle when their bodies slip between crib … [Read more...]

You're driving along on the freeway when suddenly you hit the brakes and nothing happens. There's probably no situation for a driver more scary and dangerous than this, but fortunately, there are steps you can take to come to a safe stop and reduce your chances of being in an accident. They include: • Don't panic. Panic will only cause you to not think clearly, so try to remain calm. • Move your car out of the flow of traffic. Do this by moving your car to the right shoulder. If you are near … [Read more...]

Each year over 40,000 people die and millions more are hurt in car accidents. There are easy ways, however, to help avoid accidents and reduce your injuries if you are in one. Here are tips. Always wear your seat belt Seat belts save thousands of lives each year and are your best protection in a crash. They are designed so that the strongest areas of your body -- your hip, shoulder and chest bones -- absorb more of the forces in a crash. They also keep you in place so you are less likely to hit … [Read more...]

Many people who have been in a car, slip and fall or other kind of accident think that if they make a claim to recover compensation for their injuries and losses, the procedure will involve many court hearings and they will have to go to court. As such, one of the first things most people who have been in an accident want to know is whether their personal injury claim will be settled, or whether there will be a lawsuit. Though no one can know with certainty what will happen in a specific … [Read more...]

If you are in an auto accident, what you say right after it can affect the amount of compensation you receive. This is because anything you say at the accident scene or elsewhere can be used against you later and could lower the value of your claim. To help make sure you don't say anything that could hurt your case, right after an auto accident: • Don't say the accident caused you no injuries. Immediately after an accident, many people try to brush it off, saying things like "It's okay, I'm not … [Read more...]

Every child has biological parents. They may be the same or different than the legal mother and father. At birth, it is clear who the mother is. If she is married, the law presumes her husband is the legal father, and he has certain legal rights and responsibilities. If a mother is unmarried, there may not be a legal father yet. “Paternity” refers to the process of determining who is a child’s legal father. Benefits of Establishing Paternity   Establishing a child's legal father provides … [Read more...]

According to the government, nearly one million Americans seek medical attention each year for dog bites, and over half of these are children. Of these victims, nearly half need emergency treatment. Most dog bite victims are children ages 5 to 9, and injury rates are significantly higher for boys than for girls. Adults should be aware of ways to prevent dog bites. Since the majority of dog bite victims are children, parents should teach their children basic safety rules, including: • Never … [Read more...]

You were just in an automobile accident. Your car was hit and you’re in pain. You slipped on a wet floor in a market and can’t get up. You are ill after a restaurant meal. You were walking down the street and a dog bit you. Or you were hit by a falling object in a store. These and other accidents happen daily. What are the first steps you should take to protect and make a claim? Get medical help   The first step is to get medical help for injuries. Prompt medical care helps prevent any … [Read more...]

A recent government study reveals a major safety problem – the large increase in the number of elderly suffering slip and fall injuries. The study showed that the number of people over 75 suffering falls that need emergency room treatment has almost doubled in the past decade. It also showed that falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for people over 75. Over half of all fall-related deaths involving seniors occur in the home. The second most common place of fall-related deaths is … [Read more...]

Over 1.5 million seniors live in nursing homes. Although they are entitled to receive proper care, a report from the U.S. Congress shows there is widespread abuse in nursing homes. The report, titled "Abuse of Residents Is A Major Problem in U.S. Nursing Homes," was the first major investigation to assess the prevalence of abuse in nursing homes by reviewing state nursing home inspection records as well as formal complaints filed by residents, families of residents and others. The Congressional … [Read more...]