Injuries to Children

Could Candles Pose a Safety Risk for Your Family This Holiday Season?

December 21, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

During Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve, many people use candles to commemorate the holidays and decorate for the season. Lighting candles is fun a tradition and sets the mood for your holiday festivities, but it is important that certain precautions are taken so that your holidays do not end in injury or tragedy.

Home Fires

According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), from 2009 to 2013, fire departments in the U.S. responded to 9,300 home structure fires started by candles. Those fires resulted in the deaths of 86 people, numerous injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage.

Is Talc Safe? Manufacturers Say Yes, But Juries Disagree

December 12, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

Serious questions have been raised about the safety of talc. The latest scientific research strongly suggests a link between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer.

If you believe that you or a family member has been a victim of talc-related ovarian cancer, you need to contact an experienced drug and product injury lawyer at Grimes Teich Anderson LLP as soon as possible. Our lawyers can comprehensively review your case and help you determine what to do next.

Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer: Recent Developments

Why Are More People Dying in Car Crashes?

November 5, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 35,092 people died in car accidents in the U.S. last year – a 7.2% spike over 2014, and the biggest increase in 50 years.

The increased deaths are not just for passenger vehicles, but across all categories: cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, etc. According to the National Safety Council, North Carolina had the 5th highest increase in the number of car crash deaths in the United States from 2014 to 2015, a shocking 26% increase.

The sudden increase is surprising, since advances in safety, such as improved airbags, automated braking, backup cameras and blind spot warnings, should theoretically continue to prevent more and more accidents and make injuries less severe when they do happen.

Pokémon Go Craze Poses Risk of Distracted Driving Crashes

August 17, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

For those wondering why their city suddenly seems to have more people out and about, a hit new game called Pokémon Go has people of all ages outside searching for Pokémon (yes, from that ’90s Japanese craze) to add to their collection.

The smartphone app superimposes cartoon characters on top of the image from the phone’s camera and, in conjunction with its GPS, creates a virtual reality game that makes it look like the Pokémon are on your street, or in parks, restaurants, businesses, etc. The app was an instant success, earning $7.5 billion in just two days, and according to Reuters, already had a higher usage rate than Twitter or Instagram less than a week after it was released.

Risks of the Game

The runaway success of the app has some undeniable benefits. Local businesses, museums, and even churches are seeing more traffic and interest because of the hordes of people looking for Pokémon to collect. Many people are going outdoors more often than before, getting more exercise, and interacting with other Pokémon Go players. But there are major risks involved in playing the game.

Fatal Alligator Attack at Disney Highlights Safety Risks at Amusement Parks

August 10, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

The tragic death of a two-year-old boy from Nebraska in the water by Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel as the result of an alligator attack may have some families considering their own safety when they make plans for outings in similar places.

Amusement parks, with their sprawling spaces, various features and terrains, and day-long and sometimes week-long guests, are responsible for the enormous task of keeping their premises safe, secure, and as hazard-free as possible for their guests. That is not an easy task, and at times companies fail to adequately address safety hazards.

Pools and Trampolines Mean Summertime Fun – and Injuries

June 20, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

When children are out of school for the summer and look to have fun in pools and on trampolines, they see fun, not danger. Many parents, too, don’t realize the hidden dangers that trampolines and pools present to children.

However, the statistics do not lie. A study conducted by the Indiana University School of Medicine found that approximately 289,000 children suffered bone fractures as a result of accidents on trampolines between 2002 and 2011, according to USA Today. A similar study published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics found that trampoline accidents resulted in 1 million emergency room visits during the same period.

Pools are not any safer. An average of 10 people per day died in unintentional, non-boating-related drownings between 2005 and 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 50 percent of these victims were children under the age of 14.

Who Is Responsible for Swimming Pool and Trampoline Accidents?

IIHS Finds Headlights on Many Vehicles Fail to Perform Basic Safety Function

May 11, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

With all the high-tech safety equipment on new cars today, it’s surprising that one of the oldest and most basic safety features could fall short of the mark on many vehicles – yet that’s exactly what a new report has found. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded that “new ratings show most headlights need improvement.”

Few would argue that headlights are not one of the most essential safety features of a car. As such, headlights that fail to illuminate the road properly should be of significant concern to drivers.

‘Textalyzer’ Could Allow Police to Test for Texting While Driving

May 3, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

There are ways to test for alcohol-impaired driving, but it is much more difficult to determine whether a driver has broken the law by texting behind the wheel. That may change soon.

Breathalyzers are used by police officers when alcohol impairment is suspected, either when a driver is operating their vehicle erratically, or at the scene of an accident, for example. The use of breathalyzers is widely accepted and allows police officers to crack down on drinking and driving – a deadly behavior.

Study Finds Most People Are Scared to Ride in a Self-Driving Car

April 20, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

Self-driving cars are coming, and in the future, they may be a common way for people to get to and from where they need to go. But a new study reveals that most people are scared to ride in autonomous vehicles.

However, the dangers of being on the road may be the same, regardless of whether you are the one driving, or the computer is in charge. Negligent drivers are all around us, and cause thousands of car accidents per year. Citing safety concerns, the Association of Global Automakers recently urged the National Transportation Safety Administration to “slow down” its production of guidelines for the vehicles.

Drivers Trust Their Own Skills – But Should They?

According to a recent study conducted by AAA, and summarized in an article published on AutoBlog.com, three out of every four Americans are fearful about riding in self-driving automobiles. The report found that 84 percent of drivers said that they trusted their own driving skills more than those of a car computer.

Up until late February 2016, all of the accidents in which a self-driving car had been involved had been caused by another driver, not by the self-driving car. That changed when a Google vehicle recently collided with a bus in Mountain View, Calif. The accident happened when the self-driving car traveled into the center lane to make a right turn around some sandbags, wrongfully assuming that the approaching bus would slow and let the car pass.

Do Lower Gas Prices Mean More Car Accidents?

February 29, 2016 | by Grimes Teich Anderson LLP

If you drive to work every day or regularly transport your children to school and extracurricular activities in Western North Carolina or Upstate South Carolina, you have noticed that gas prices have dropped significantly. This undoubtedly has had a positive effect on your bank account.

But are low gas prices a good thing when it comes to car accidents? According to a recent article in the Huffington Post, lower gas prices can result in more auto accident-related deaths.