South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog

Hybrids have a safety edge over the gas-guzzling vehicles on the roadways. In a recent study, conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), hybrids are better able to protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accident. As a matter of fact, you're 25 percent less liked to be injured in a hybrid during a car accident in Deerfield Beach and elsewhere.

"Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts. This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes," says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president.

As we recently reported on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the type of car you choose is an important decision in your likelihood of staying safe in the event of a car accident. Drivers are urged to check out the safety ratings of vehicles before making a purchase. The new discoveries regarding hybrid vehicles are good news to energy-conscious consumers who aren't willing to trade safety for fuel economy. Before this, green drivers had to choose between one or the other because the hybrids were typically smaller and lighter and more dangerous for occupants.

Hybrids now come with more safety options than every that can help save money at the pump and save lives in accidents.

In the recent study, crash results were the same for hybrid vehicles and their conventional versions were uplifting for hybrid owners. Hybrid passengers' odds for injury were more than 25 percent lower than their standard counterparts, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Size and weight has always been associated with safety. Both the hybrid and its conventional counterpart share the same structure and footprint, but now the hybrid outweighs gas guzzlers because of the added weight of battery packs and a number of additional components used in dual-power systems. The additions on the hybrids add the extra weight needed for safety. The newer model hybrids oftentimes weigh more than their counterparts.

A downside discovered in the study regarded hybrid-pedestrian car accidents. All too often, the electric motor is too quiet for pedestrians to hear on our roadways. Study data concluded that hybrids were about 20 percent more likely to be involved in pedestrian accident that their convention versions.

This is a problem that has become so widely recognized that it's even gaining attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as they work to correct the problem. In the beginning of this year, Congress allotted the NHTSA with three years to find a way to make these vehicles more noticeable by pedestrians.

As vehicle technology advances, we'll continue to face safety issues. Consumers are urged to research potential purchases to help ensure the safety of vehicle occupants. Regardless of which vehicle you choose, it's important to drive carefully and cautiously to help to preserve the safety of your fellow travelers.

Continue reading " Hybrid Vehicles Safer Than Ever in Deerfield Beach Car Accidents " »

A St. Lucie car accident landed a man with charges of manslaughter after a laundry list of previous drunk driving convictions, according to the TC Palm. The accident happened on King's Highway just south of St. Lucie Boulevard and took the life of a 63-year-old woman, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man has been in the St. Lucie County jail after he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. According to Sheriff Deputies, the man was driving his car and hit a number of mailboxes on Godwin Road and Orange Avenue before slamming his car head-on into the vehicle of that 68-year-old woman. According to most recent reports, he remains in jail on a $1 million bond.

Our St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand that drunk driving accidents occur more frequently during the holidays than during any other time of the year. Thanksgiving is no different. Motorists are asked to be careful on our roadways and to please drink responsibly. Drunk driving-related car accidents are completely preventable with a little bit of common sense and responsibility. If you think you've spotted a drunk driver on out roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday or any other day of the year, you're urged to call *FHP and report the information. Your call could save a life.

Most people think that New Year's Eve is the number one night for drunk driving accident, but those people would be wrong. New Year's Eve comes in second after Thanksgiving, according to Life Tips.

We all know that Thanksgiving is time to spend with friends and family, but all too often people think this time spent is best spent drinking. At this year's Thanksgiving celebration consider giving thanks to friends, family, good health and making sure that everyone makes it home safely.

We're not saying you aren't allowed to drink over the holiday. We're just asking that you do so responsibly. That's why Budweiser and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety will be pushing their "Tow to Go" program through Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. The program launched back in 1998 and has since then taken nearly 14,000 drunk drivers off of our roadways.

Everyone's allowed to participate in the program and you can use it to have your vehicle towed home from a restaurant or bar for free if you've had too much to drink. All you have to do is call 1-800-AAA-HELP (4357). The program is offered to drivers in Florida, West and Middle Tennessee as well as Georgia.

“The busiest time for the Tow to Go program is during the upcoming holiday season when more than 70 percent of the call volume is received,” said Joanna Newton, Tow to Go program manager, The Auto Club Group.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there were more than 12,000 citations issued and nearly 4,000 motorists assisted over the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Officers made more than 120 arrests during this time and busted roughly 5,000 drivers for speeding. Another 1,500 were cited for not wearing a seat belt. More than 20 motorists died.

From our Firm to your family, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Celebrate responsibly.

Continue reading " Drunk Driving Car Accidents in St. Lucie Expected to Spike During Thanksgiving Weekend " »

Motorists, pedestrians and state officials may overlook the violence and gore of some of today's most popular video games reaching audiences around the world, but one video that's not getting the stamp of approval is the video on a new website and safety program called "See the Blindspots."

One Florida Senator says he's offended by the safety program's depiction of pedestrian accidents in Wellington and elsewhere. "See The Blindspots" says the campaign is doing exactly as it's supposed to and raising awareness about the severity of the problem. Unfortunately, Florida continues to be the number one state for pedestrian fatalities and safety advocates are taking a bold step to reverse the trend.

The pedestrian video shows numbers of people being brutally hit and run over, some through no fault of their own, but through the carelessness of drivers. Florida State Senator Mike Fasano says that the video is effective, yet disturbing and should not be accessible on a website that is reachable by viewers of all ages.

Our Wellington pedestrian accident lawyers understand that this controversial video depicts some of the real life dangers that pedestrians face in our state. Many of these pedestrian accidents are caused by distracted drivers, those who just aren't paying attention at the wheel.

Still, with all these fatal accidents and this graphically disturbing video, Florida lawmakers have yet to enact legislation to regulate the use of a cell phone or text messaging devices for drivers. Florida is one of the last states in the nation that has done nothing to regulate these dangerous driving behaviors -- even among teen drivers.

To help to spread the word about the risks associated with distracted driving, the new "See The Blindspots" website aims to serve as a clearinghouse for data regarding pedestrian accidents in the state. The video that Senator Fasano objects to is posted front and center on the site's homepage.

Florida State Representative Irv Slosberg refuses to give into the criticism however. He says that as brutal as this video is, Florida drivers need to see it. It's the cold-hard truth our state faces every day. Slosberg recently lost his daughter in an accident. He says that the graphic content of the video is warranted given the nature of both the state's pedestrian accident problem and the statistics on pedestrian-vehicle accidents in Tampa.

According to the website, there were nearly 500 pedestrians killed on Florida roadways in 2009. Both Georgia and Texas followed with more than 300 fatalities each. Both states have seen significant drops in fatality numbers in recent years -- but not Florida.

"We're going backwards instead of forwards. A lot of it has to do with driver distraction: cell phones, texting and driving," Rep. Slosberg.

The U.S. sees about nine pedestrian fatalities a week. Florida accounts for 10 percent of these deaths.

Continue reading " New Campaign Video Depicting Severity of Pedestrian Accidents in Wellington Offends State Lawmakers " »

Dr. Val Jones with Healthy Vision recently interviewed optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider and John Ulczycki of the National Safety Council to discuss the dangers of nighttime driving. With the recent time change, drivers are spending more time on our roadways during dark hours. Statistics illustrate that about a quarter of all travel is done during the evening, yet about half of all fatal car accidents in Royal Palm Beach and elsewhere occur during this time. According to Road and Travel Magazine, about one out of every three drivers admits that they have trouble seeing while driving at night.

Our Royal Palm Beach car accident lawyers understand that many drivers fail to adjust their driving habits during the evening hours. Driving is more dangerous at night because drivers are less likely to see hazards or dangers on our roadways. Because drivers can't see the dangers, many just assume they aren't there instead of reducing speed and driving more cautiously.

Even drivers who have perfect vision during the day have a reduction in vision at night. At night, the eyes search around to find an object to focus one. Since there's less to focus on, the eye wanders looking for something to focus on. This wander makes your overall vision more blurry. What the eye typically focuses in on is the windshield. This is dangerous because there's much more going on that you should be focused on. It's important to look past the windshield. You can do this by looking above the headlights of oncoming vehicles.

Another obstacle that nighttime drivers must overcome is the lack of color visibility in your peripheral vision. You typically only see movement, and not color, in your peripheral vision during this time. That's why it's so important for you to keep scanning your roadways while driving at night.
Drivers are reminded to blink while driving during the dark hours. People tend to keep their eyes open for a longer time when trying to focus on something. Keeping your eyes open can dry them out and hinder your vision even more.

John Ulczycki from the National Safety Council asks drivers to change their driving habits to accommodate the nighttime dangers on our roadways. He brings up the fact that teen drivers are at a greater risk for a nighttime accident than older, more experienced drivers. While both teens and older drivers face some of the same vision problems, older drivers typically have more experience dealing with these driving conditions. Ulczycki says that teen drivers' crash rate is three times higher after 9 p.m. than during their daytime accident rate. He suggests that parents ride with their teen drivers for a generous amount of time before cutting them loose on our roadways.

Ulczycki reiterates the importance of curbing all distractions while driving at night. Florida has no law that governs the use of cell phones or text messaging devices for drivers. We're asking everyone to be safe and be responsible on our roadway to help avoid a potentially fatal nighttime accident.

Continue reading " Daylight Saving Time Brings Increased Risks of Car Accidents in Royal Palm Beach " »

Motorcycle accidents in Hollywood are less likely if a motorcycle has antilock brakes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The institute recently released a new brochure for consumers to inform riders about this safety feature. The newly released pamphlet, "Motorcycle ABS: Why you want to ride with it" informs riders all about the safe braking system, including how they work, what specific benefits they provide to riders and why they're safer than traditional brake systems.

The IIHS has created this pamphlet for vendors and safety advocates to hand out at motorcycle shows, rider training events and other motorcycle-related venues. The IIHS is encouraging motorcycle riders to consider this new safety technology. The brakes already come standard on some bikes, while others offer it as an upgrade option.

Our Hollywood motorcycle accident attorneys understand that motorcyclists face serious dangers and risks on our roadways. Traffic accidents involving our two-wheeled friends oftentimes turn deadly because riders have much less protection than occupants of passenger-vehicles. We need to travel cautiously around these vulnerable drivers to help to keep everyone safe on our roadways. Motorcyclists are urged to check out the new pamphlet to see if antilock brakes are right for you.

"Research shows that motorcycle antilocks dramatically cut the risk of a deadly crash," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

Braking on a motorcycle is no easy task. Braking in a passenger vehicle is much easier and much safer. Most motorcycles have two different brake controls, a brake for the front tire and a brake for the back. Either of these wheels can stop spinning and lock up when a biker brakes hard. When braking hard on a passenger car, it may skid when tires lockup. When tires lock up on a motorcycle, a driver can lose his or her balance and fall, which can turn fatal in an instant.

With antilock brakes, motorcyclists can brake without the fear of their tires locking up. This brake system reduces braking pressure when the tires are about to stop and increases it when traction is again restored between the tire and the pavement. This system only steps in when it senses that the wheel is about to stop spinning and lock up.

Motorcycles with this type of technology are nearly 40 percent less likely to be involved in an accident than a rider with the same model bike without the brake system. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, there has been a reduction of more than 20 percent in the number of insurance claims from bikers with the antilock brake system.

More than 400 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2009. More lives can be saved with the use of antilock brake technology.

You can request a copy a of "Motorcycle ABS: Why you want to ride with it" by sending an email now.

Continue reading " Antilock Brakes: Reducing Risks of Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Hollywood and Elsewhere " »

Injuries in Margate are likely to happen if a company doesn't properly prepare their stores for this year's Black Friday sales events. Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year and thousands of residents and visitors will be flocking to local retail center to snag some extra savings.

The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is offering companies safety tips to help keep employees and customers safe during this year's shopping rush. Companies are required to keep grounds safe for all visitors. In 2008, someone died during a Black Friday sales event. Each year, an untold number of consumers are injured by falling merchandise, on slippery floors and in darkened parking lots.

Our Margate injury attorneys understand that shoppers are on the hunt for excellent bargains and Black Friday is the perfect day to get some super deals. We would like to remind shoppers to keep the spirit of the holiday season in mind and to be courteous to other shoppers. Business owners are required to keep grounds safe, meaning they're required to take the proper safety precautions to eliminate hazards and risks for accidents.

The name Black Friday started in Philadelphia. It was originally used to describe the heavy and disruptive vehicle and pedestrian traffic which would take place the day after Thanksgiving.

Company owners and supervisors are urged to consider the following recommendations to help handle the sale-seeking crowds and to keep everyone safe this Black Friday:

-Have trained security guards, police officers or crowd management personnel on hand.

-Be sure that all employees are designated to a specific spot in your store. Make sure that you have enough workers on hand to assist customers.

-Make sure that employees are trained to handle large crowds.

-Make sure that all local police departments and emergency responders are aware of your event.

-Ensure that your company has the proper licenses and permits.

-Designate an employee to contact emergency officials in the event of an accident.

-Make sure your store is signed clearly, pointing out the locations of hot sale items, opening and closing times, restrooms, check-out counters, etc.

-Address dangers and procedures regarding overcrowding, violent acts, fires and crowd crushing.

-Set up rope lines and barricades to help direct customers.

-Keep an eye on your building's maximum capacity limits. Do not exceed.

-Keep employees at the entrances and exits of your stores.

-Keep walkways clear of congestion.

-Make sure employees are on hand to explain entrance procedures to customers before entering.

-Make sure that employees have an effective way to communicate should something happen.

-Trying using an internet lottery, tickets or wristbands to help distribute hot items.

-Keep shopping carts and other potential obstacles out of walkways.

-Remind everyone of the entrance process shortly before opening your doors. Make sure your employees are aware of this information as well.

-Keep employees on the sides of walkways instead of in the center of a path.

-Try using more than one entrance, if possible, to eliminate the rush.

-Make sure that shoppers with disabilities have a safe way to enter and exit your store.

-Never block your exit doors.

-Always have first-aid kits and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on hand.

Black Friday doesn't have to be a dangerous day. With the proper precautions, shoppers can get some deals and store owners can get through the day without any headaches. Everyone is urged to be courteous to one another and celebrate the kickoff of the holiday shopping season safely.

Continue reading " Companies Urged to Prepare for Black Friday Rush to Reduce Risks of Injury in Margate " »

As we've previously reported on South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, the state of Florida is committed to preventing drowsy driving-related car accidents in Pompano Beach and elsewhere. We told you about this condition and how it greatly increases your risk of an accident. Unfortunately, this is a condition that many drivers may not even be able to recognize. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of Transportation have previously teamed up to create Florida's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

Now, the campaign is going nationwide. The National Sleep Foundation and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety have recently partnered to support Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which is ongoing all this week. These organizations are raising awareness among drivers across the country about the dangers of driving while drowsy or otherwise weary. This driving condition is more common on our roadways than you may think.

Our Pompano car accident attorneys urge you to learn more about how drowsy driving has become a problem that must be addressed. A recent study from AAA revealed that although more than 95 percent of drivers find drowsy driving as completely unacceptable, more than a third admits to doing it at least once in the last 30 days. These types of accidents kill roughly 1,550 people and injure another 71,000 every year. Drowsy drivers cause more than 100,000 traffic accidents annually.

"Many don’t realize that driving while drowsy is very dangerous. If you’re so tired that you can hardly keep your eyes open, you could fall asleep for just a few seconds and not realize it," says David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation.

AAA reports that about one out of every six traffic accidents is caused by a drowsy driver. About one out of every 10 drivers age 16 to 45 reportedly drive while drowsy at least once a week. Regardless of age, though, every driver can be subjected to this type of driving and should learn ways prevent it. With drowsy drivers on our roadways, innocent people are getting hurt.

Drowsy driving:

-Impairs vision.

-Slows reaction time.

-Causes lapses in judgment.

-Causes a delay in processing information.

Recent studies have concluded that being awake for 20 hours straight gives a driver the same reaction time as one who is legally drunk.

We are happy to help to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of this habit and ultimately get drivers to stop and rest if they feel sleepy at the wheel. Powering through fatigue may be one of the worst things a driver can do behind the wheel. Be sure to get plenty of sleep before venturing out, stop driving if you feel sleepy, and take frequent breaks to help stay as alert as possible. These accidents are completely preventable with a little education and awareness.

Continue reading " Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Raises Awareness of Preventable Car Accidents in Pompano Beach and Elsewhere " »

A recent trucking accident in Fort Lauderdale put a gas tanker through a guard rail that runs along U.S. 1, according to 7NEWS. The accident happened when the semi suddenly lost control on the highway near Interstate 595. The Broward County Sheriff's Office reports that the tanker was not hauling gas at the time of the accident.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are thankful that no other vehicles were involved in this accident. It could have turned out much worse. Unfortunately, this clean of an accident isn't always how it works out. Traffic accidents that involve a big rig, a semi, a tractor-trailer or an 18-wheeler can oftentimes produce deadly results. As we round out the year and head into the holiday season, we can expect to see a drastic increase in the amount of traffic on our roadways. This increase in traffic means that we'll be seeing a boost in accident risks as well. With every holiday season, tourists and snowbirds flock to the area to get away from the wicked winter and to soak up the Florida sunshine. Unfortunately, many of these individuals have no idea where they're going on our roadways. Mix their confusion with the dangers of semi-trucks and you've got a recipe for disaster.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 3,500 traffic fatalities resulting from accidents with these larger vehicles. Another 75,000 people were injured in these incidents. It's estimated that there are roughly 300,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents on U.S. roadways in 2009.

The occupants of the other vehicle (the passenger vehicle) are most likely to be killed in an accident with a big rig:

-About 76 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in fatalities among the other vehicle's occupants.

-About 2 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in fatalities among non-occupants.

-About 22 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in fatalities among the truck's occupants.

The occupants of the other vehicle (the passenger vehicle) are most likely to be injured in an accident with a big rig:

-About 71 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in injury among the other vehicle's occupants.

-About 3 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in injury among non-occupants.

-About 26 percent of traffic accidents with a large truck resulted in fatalities among the truck's occupants.

There were nearly 3,500 fatal traffic accidents in the state of Florida in 2009. There were nearly 200 large trucks involved in these fatal accidents. Safe driving habits are your best defense against an accident with a semi. Drivers should remain aware of their surroundings, and should travel carefully and cautiously along roadways where these trucks travel as well.

Continue reading " Gas Tanker Slams into Guard Rail During Trucking Accident in Fort Lauderdale " »

According to recent statistics, someone dies in a car accident in Port St. Lucie and elsewhere every hour of every day. If you're one of the lucky ones who survives an accident, the cost can be just as stunning as this statistic. According to CBS News, car accidents across the U.S. cost about $300 billion every year.

"Traffic crashes really need to be moved to the forefront of the American discussion as the public safety (and) health threat that they are," says AAA spokesman Troy Green.

Our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand that you can end up shelling out thousands of dollars for one of these accidents if you're not careful. According to AAA, each traffic accident-related death costs on average about $6 million. This includes emergency services, lost earnings and medical costs. It is estimated that about 33,000 people die on our roadways every year. The cost for a traffic accident-related injury averages more than $125,000.

To equal those same costs, a small aircraft would have to fall from the sky every day for about 360 days. As unacceptable as that would be, these car accidents seem all too normal. Our society has become numb to these stunning accident statistics. It's as almost as if accidents have become a part of everyday life.

To help reduce the number of vehicle accidents, manufacturers are coming up with some pretty neat safety features, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This technology can improve a vehicle's stability as it knows when to apply the brake during a skid incident. Some research concludes that if more vehicles had this technology, then nearly 10,000 lives could be saved on our roadways.

Another cool safety feature, which is still being developed, is short-range sensors, which are designed to warn a driver when an accident is about to happen. In these cases, the vehicle would activate seat restraints and airbags.

Since drivers apparently are not going to change their driving habits to make roadways safer, manufacturers are hoping to do the work for them by making cars electronically smarter and safer.

Officials aren't giving up though. More and more states are creating laws to help stop dangerous driving behaviors, such as drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving. Now, 35 states prohibit drivers from texting at the wheel.

As of right now, AAA is looking into creating a federal bill to keep drivers focused on the road. But until this auto group is able to get Congress's attention, the bill sits in the waiting line.

"We're hoping that by putting a dollar amount to it, people will pay a little more attention to the fact that even if they're not in a crash, they are still paying for them,'' said AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher.

Continue reading " Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie and Elsewhere Cost About $300 Billion Annually " »

Elevator and escalator accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere throughout Florida can be complicated for a victim who is seeking proper compensation after an accident. These accidents can be the fault of the device's manufacturer, the property owner or the inspection agency. Unfortunately, faulty elevators put us at serious risks for injury on a daily basis as many of use ride them every single day. We step on to these elevators oftentimes without the thought of the potential dangers we're facing. Both elevators and escalators are required to undergo rigorous inspections and to be serviced regularly. Unfortunately, many are not.

Our Fort Lauderdale escalator and elevator accident lawyers understand how much maintenance these devices require. Day after day they transport thousands and thousands of pounds. Unfortunately, many of them are not properly maintained. Steps on escalators can come loose, elevator cables can become strained, flood hazards after heavy rainfall create risks for slip-and-falls, doors can jam, and clothing, fingers and arms can get caught in these devices. Elevators can plummet down the shaft, or their doors can open in a section of the building where there is no landing, causing a serious fall hazard.

Elevators and escalators have to be inspected by a certified inspector at least once every six months. To help raise awareness about the importance of safe-riding on elevators and escalators, the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation is holding another National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week. This year's awareness campaign will be taking place from November 13th through the 19th.

The week-long campaign is used to raise awareness about the need for safe equipment and to recognize the contributions that have been made by these devices to our quality of life.

In the United States, there are about 600,000 elevators and 30,000 escalators. These two devices help to transport nearly 600 million riders every day. Every year, more than 100 billion people ride an elevator and about 90 billion people use an escalator. They're used every day to provide us with convenience and quick travel.

Every year, approximately 30 people are killed and another 11,000 are injured on these transportation devices. Accidents can result in pinches, bone fractures, nerve and tendon lacerations ,and even death.

Injuries can happen when:

-Either of the machines get stuck.

-An elevator misses a floor.

-Escalators are not moving at an adequate speed.

-When elevators do not open at a level even with the floor.

-During jerky movements on either device.

-Elevator riders get stuck in the doors.

-Elevator doors open to an empty shaft.

-Elevators plummet down a shaft.

If you would like to join the National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness campaign, you're urged to fill out a volunteer form. The foundation will provide you with all of the material you will need to help get you started in making a difference and helping to save lives.

Continue reading " Our Fort Lauderdale Injury Attorneys Invite You to Join Elevator and Escalator Safety Week " »

As we head into the holiday shopping season, parents must be concerned about the thousands of dangerous toys and child products on the market these days. Our Coral Springs child injury lawyers know that holiday shopping can be stressful because of the inherent dangers in some products. Just think about all the toys recalled for choking hazards, fall accidents, burn injuries, strangulation dangers and other threats. Determining which toys are defective or harmful can help reduce child toy-related injuries in Broward County and throughout South Florida.

Safe Kids USA reported that from 2000-2005, no fewer than 11 children under the age of 15 lost their life each year in a toy-related death. In 2005, 75,000 toy-related injuries occurred for children under 14 years old, in addition to the 20 toy-related deaths that occurred for that age group that year. Each year there are roughly 217,000 emergency room visits for children injured in a toy-related accident. On average 15 children ages 13 and under die annually from a toy-related accident. Most deaths caused by toys are related to choking, strangulation, or motorized accidents. Balloons and balls cause a severe choking hazard. Riding toys cause severe risk for falls or other injuries in motorized toy accidents. Strangulation incidents are often caused by cords and strings on toys.

Approximately 3 billion toys are sold annually in the United States, many of which are considered dangerous to our children for one reason or another. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps consumers updated on defective products, as well as past and present toy hazard recalls placed on manufacturers.

U.S. PIRG offers these six common toy hazards and tips for injury and death prevention caused by these hazards:

-Choking Hazards: 41 children died between 2005-2009 from choking on balloons, toys or toy parts. Children under 3 years old should never be left with small toys or toy parts that can fit in the mouth. A helpful test is if it fits through a toilet paper tube it isn't fit for your child. Keep children away from small balls or balloons and always read warning labels for choking hazards.

-Magnetic Toys: Magnets are typically found in toy darts, magnetic building toys or jewelry, and can look like candy when they fall out or become separated. Strong magnets if swallowed can adhere in the stomach or intestine and cause life-threatening injuries. Resist buying toys with magnets and get medical care immediately if a magnet is swallowed.

-Button Batteries used for Watches: Keep button batteries away from small children to avoid potentially fatal injuries caused by choking or internal complications.

-Noise: Toys that make loud sounds can damage a child's sensitive ears. Remove batteries of noise-making toys or cover speakers with tape to deafen the sound.

-Strangulation Hazards: Mobiles, drawstrings or cords left within reach of infants or small children cause a high risk for strangulation. Remove knobs or beads and keep out of reach, especially as an infant grows and can start to raise themselves to reach for dangling objects.

-Lead and Toxic Chemicals: Many toys are painted with lead or toxic materials. Lead poisoning can affect intellectual and physical development among other things. Read warning labels and resist buying toys with PVC plastic that may contain toxic phthalates. Avoid hazardous products that contain xylene, dibutyl phthalate, or toluene.

Florida PIRG wants to remind parents of the annual publication Trouble in Toyland Toy Safety Report that osreleased each November. This resource can help consumers make informed decisions about which toys are dangerous and what to look for you as begin your holiday shopping.

Continue reading " Toy-Related Injuries and Defective Products a Holiday Concern for Parents in Coral Springs, Nationwide " »