Washington Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Regan Zambri & Long Law Firm : DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

Children splashing and playing, backyard pools, bright sunny days. These are some of the telltale signs of summer. However, a new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that scenarios such as these can create dangerous conditions for young children. Commission Chairman Nancy Nord cautions parents and caregivers must be vigilant in situations involving young children and bodies of water. The Wall Street Journal published an article outlining steps parents and pool-owners can take to ensure children are safe.

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According to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of American College of Surgeons, the use of airbags in combination with seatbelts considerably reduces injuries to the brain, face, spine and chest during motor vehicle collisions.  As reported by the Washington Post, the study also shows that simultaneous airbag and seatbelt use leads to lower in-hospital death rates, injury severity and hospital-acquired infections among crash patients.

The study suggests that optimal use of airbags could potentially reduce the use of resources at trauma centers, thus lowering costs.  According to the researchers, if all unrestrained crash victims evaluated in the study had used both an airbag and a seatbelt, the estimated cost savings in terms of infection-related deaths and saved hospital days would be more than $60 million over a period of 11 years.

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Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of high-visibility enforcement of seat belt laws by law enforcement agencies throughout the nation as part of the 2008 Click It or Ticket campaign.  The enforcement period for 2008 runs from  May 19 - June 1, with paid media coverage of the campaign running from May 12 - May 26.

As part of this year's Click It or Ticket event, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following facts regarding seat belt use:

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Lakes, reservoirs, rivers and other waterways across the U.S. offer excellent opportunities for many recreational summer activities, including boating.  Those same waterways pose a number of inherent dangers to boaters, too, however.  This year, May 17 - 23 has been proclaimed National Safe Boating Week -- an observance designed to raise awareness of safe boating and injury prevention on the water. 

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According to a recently-completed, decades-long study  published in the journal Health Physics, exposure to low-levels of radon commonly found in homes in the United States does not appear to contribute to the development of lung cancer and may actually reduce a person's risk of developing lung cancer.

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Spring and Summer are great seasons for cookouts and get-togethers of all kinds with friends and family.  Unfortunately, they're also seasons when rodent populations reproduce continuously.  Mice and other rodents are particularly effective carriers of a number of dangerous diseases, including hantavirus.  This year, take some precautionary steps to protect yourself and your friends and family, and to ensure that unwanted, furry guests don't spoil your party.  The following rodent prevention tips are provided courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

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For teens, dating is one of life's greatest rites of passage.  It's also a time when many adolescents acquire the interpersonal and social skills that will help them build positive, respectful relationships throughout their adult lives.  Unfortunately, it's a time when some teens are exposed to abusive relationships and acquire the kinds of unhealthy relationship behaviors that can put them at risk of abuse well into their adult lives. 

To help promote healthy, respectful relationships and guard against the personal injuries that frequently stem from abuse, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains the website ChooseRespect.org -- an online resource for teens and parents aimed at preventing teen dating violence.  Following are some teen dating violence statistics:

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One of the deadliest risks faced by motorists is the risk of a rollover accident -- particularly for those who drive SUVs, minivans and trucks, which tend to have a higher center of gravity and a greater propensity to tip.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 280,000 rollover accidents are reported each year. Those rollovers kill more than 10,000 motorists annually. 

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Did you know that by age 18, most teenagers have already accumulated 50% - 80% of their lifetime sun exposure?  That's one reason why it's vitally important for parents to help ensure that their children are taking appropriate sun safety precautions.  This Spring and Summer, you can help protect the health of your children by following some basic sun safety tips for kids, provided here courtesy of KidsHealth.Org:

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Approximately one in five women seeking pediatric care for their children at an urban clinic recently disclosed that they and their children had been abused or exposed to domestic violence -- a finding that echoes the results of several similar studies conducted nationwide.  The finding is the result of a new study published in a recent edition of the journal Pediatrics.

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Teenage drivers in the U.S. often overestimate their level of driving experience. That false confidence in their driving abilities puts them at risk for accidents and personal injuries.  The finding is a result of new research published in a recent edition of the journal Pediatrics.

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Contrary to what you may hear or see on television, most teens aren't drinking and driving or using illegal drugs this prom season.  Still, each year many talented and promising young people across the U.S. are, in fact, killed in prom-related accidents -- many involving drugs or alcohol.  This year, take time to review with your teenager the importance of exercising good judgment and making responsible decisions related to the risky behaviors that he or she might have an opportunity to engage in following a high school prom.

The following prom safety tips for kids and parents are provided courtesy of The Children's Hospital:

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final regulation which bars some cattle materials from all animal feed, including pet food.  The new rule is aimed at protecting consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE -- also known as Mad Cow Disease).

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Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are popular, spiral-shaped, energy-saving light bulbs, often touted as "green" alternatives to incandescents.  The new bulbs tend to use much less energy and last several times longer than traditional bulbs, but unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, CFLs contain mercury, and when broken they represent a health hazard to consumers.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), broken CFLs can be cleaned-up and disposed of safely, but perhaps not as easily as you might expect.  To reduce the likelihood of personal injury when handling broken compact fluorescent bulbs, be sure to keep the following safety tips in mind:

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