Connecticut Personal Injury Law Blog

The end of August marks the start of school for many children in Connecticut and elsewhere. Drivers across the state need to recognize the hazards faced by students walking to school, riding their bicycles or waiting at the bus stop. Additionally, parents can also take note of the risks and teach their children the safety rules for walking or bicycling near traffic.

August is recognized as Back to School Month by the National Safety Council. Drivers are often unaccustomed to sharing the roads with children on their way to school, as well as increased traffic from buses and parents driving their kids to class. Parents can talk to their children about the following precautions:

• Stay on the sidewalk whenever possible, and always cross the street at a crosswalk or designated crossing area at intersections.
• Walk in the opposite direction of traffic and make sure vehicles have stopped before crossing the street.
• Avoid looking at devices while walking and never horseplay with friends around traffic.
• When crossing the street in front of a school bus, keep at least 10 feet in front of the bus and cross when the safety arm is extended and the warning lights are flashing.

You expect the things you buy to be safe when you and your family use them. However, this is not always the case. Whether an item in your home was defective before you bought it or it became unsafe after repeated use, it is important for you and other Connecticut residents to know how to check for product hazards.

As you may be aware, some devices wear out over time and can be dangerous if you continue using them. For example, your hair dryer may electrocute you or catch on fire if the cord becomes damaged. Common sense dictates that you frequently inspect the products in your home for signs of dangerous wear and tear.

A person who is assaulted on a Connecticut property due to negligent security may have a premises liability case against the owner of the property, since property owners have a responsibility to ensure adequate security to protect visitors. In many cases, sound security includes a good security fence. A fence with obvious defects might not be enough to stop an intruder from encroaching on a property and causing harm to lawful visitors.

According to Networx, a good security fence should not be easy for an intruder to climb over. Some chain link fences can unintentionally create footholds or places to grab onto while climbing. A secure chain link fence should have a weave that is so small that feet or fingers cannot fit through them. Lining a fence top with spikes can also prevent someone from climbing over.

Consumers in Connecticut and elsewhere expect the products they buy to be safe for their families. This is especially true when it comes to products meant for babies. Almost nothing is more devastating for parents than when a child is seriously injured or worse. Unfortunately, dangerous products regularly pose a danger to infants and children. If consumers are not made aware of the dangers through recalls and news alerts, their families may be put at risk.

In some cases, companies issue recalls on products that have had no reported injuries if there are concerns about the product’s safety. CNN reported a recent recall involving Fisher-Price inclined infant sleeper accessories made for all models of the Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yard, despite no injuries or fatalities having been reported as of yet. Last April, Fisher-Price recalled more than four million Rock ‘n Play Sleepers after more than 30 infant fatalities were reported over a 10-year period.