A five-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a pit bull, and authorities have had difficulty finding anyone who will admit ownership of the dog.  A grand jury investigating the tragedy has thus far failed to return an indictment due to the uncertainty.  Here is a link to an  article  about the situation -

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12693077

Here is a link to one of our prior blog posts about keeping our kids safe from dogs -

http://deanmalonelawfirm.com/personal-injury-blog/?cat=4 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) has announced the recall by Infantino, LLC of San Diego, California, and offer to replace without charge, certain infant swings.  The CPSC is aware of three reports of death as a result of the allegedly defective swings.  The affected swings are the “Slingrider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” models.  Here is a link to the CPSC’s notice and photos of the affected swings -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10177.html

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) is reporting that Graco has recalled its Harmony high chair due to the potential that it could fall and injure a child.  Here is a link to the CPSC page with affected model numbers and helpful photos -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10171.html

An Oregon girl sued a trucking company for life-altering injuries she sustained when her father, a truck driver, accidently drove a semi over her.  The then eight-year-old girl had joined her father and other family members on a long-haul trip.  After they stopped for a break, her father began to drive away while his daughter was still outside.  The girl suffered severe life-lasting injuries to her lower body.  Here is a link to an article about the case -

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/09/2592843/girl-wins-personal-injury-suit.html

I served as a crossing guard when I was in elementary school.  I remember little about it, other than we (as kids) garnered little respect from motorists.  I have not seen (for good reason) a child crossing guard in years.

Let’s state the obvious – a pedestrian is no match for a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle.  A collision between a pedestrian and any vehicle can cause serious injury or death.  As pedestrians, we need to watch closely when approaching or crossing a street.  One of the first things that we as parents teach our kids is to stay out of the street.  Then, when they are old enough to cross a street, we tell them to look both ways before crossing.  As adults, we at times forget the lessons we teach.  Last night, I saw an adult run with about four or five kids across a 4-lane street.  They were not at a crosswalk, and there was significant traffic.  Sheesh.

As drivers, our responsibilities related to pedestrians are even more important.  We are those controlling the movement of, at times, vehicles weighing several thousand pounds.  We should always yield to pedestrians.

Here are some sites to assist with our pursuit of safety, and avoidance of injury, with kids, crosswalks, and adult pedestrians -

Texas law for yielding to a pedestrian -

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Texas_Law_for_yielding_to_a_pedestrian

Crosswalk safety rules for kids -

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/426706/crosswalk_safety_essentials_for_school.html?cat=27

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Pedestrian Safety Program -

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.dfedd570f698cabbbf30811060008a0c/

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Riding a bicycle is a great way to get in shape or just to enjoy the outdoors.  Many of us started with training wheels, until we learned to balance a bike on our own.  We then graduated to whatever type of bike we liked at a young age.  I had the obligatory first bike, mass-produced and likely purchased at a department store.  When I was older, I had motorcross and 10-speed bikes.  I learned how to build a bike beginning with just a frame, and the knowledge served me well as a bike rider.  However, I learned from my experiences and the experiences of friends that bikes can be dangerous.

There are so many different bikes on the market that it is difficult to know which are the safest.  It is best to start with the manufacturer.  It is a new company, or has it been around for awhile?  Does it build bikes in a garage, or does it appear to have a well-thought-out manufacturing and quality control process?  What do bike dealers, who sell lots of different types of bikes, say about the brand?

Even if you buy what is initially a safe bike, the bike might become dangerous over time.  Bikes need maintenance.  While you might be able to perform some maintenance on your own, you should still take your bike to a qualified bike mechanic on a regular basis.  He or she might point out things of which you were unaware and suggest replacement of what you thought were parts that were working well.

Don’t become a casualty to a faulty bike.  Severe injury can result from a poorly-manufactured or maintained bike.  Here are some sites to give a start to your quest for bike safety -

Bicycle and Bike Equipment Recalls -

http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/recalls.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Page -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Lead ingestion, particularly by children, can cause significant illness.  the most common source of lead poisoning is paint used in pre-1978 homes.  Lead-based paint is no longer used for residential purposes, but it is still used in some commercial applications and by the military.

If you are buying a home built in the late 1970s or earlier, and you have small children, you should consider having a lead-based paint risk assessment / inspection.  Here is a link to a disclosure form to be used by sellers of residential real estate in Texas -

http://www.trec.state.tx.us/pdf/contracts/OP-L.pdf

Here is a link to to a summary of the Texas lead-based paint rules -

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/elp/pdf/TELRRSUM.pdf

Finally, here is a link to a pamphlet, promulgated by the federal government, as to how to protect your family from lead-based hazards in your home -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/426.pdf

Swimming pools are a part of summer life in Texas.  When temperatures soar above one-hundred degrees, many of us seek relief in a neighborhood or apartment pool.  However, along with the rewards, there are significant risks.

The biggest risk is perhaps that of a small child falling into a pool.  We have heard of horrific situations in which an unattended child fell into a pool and drowned.  There are also a significant number of injuries resulting from diving boards and diving rocks.  When I was a kid, it seemed that every pool had a diving board.  It now appears that most residential pools do not have diving boards due to the potential risk of injury.  Drains, if not properly constructed and/or designed, can also lead to drowning.  The suction can hold a person to the bottom of a pool, and improper wiring can lead to electrocution.

Let’s enjoy a cool dip during the hot summer and stay safe while doing it.  Here are links to some pages which discuss pool safety:

http://www.poolsafety.gov/

http://www.aap.org/FAMILY/TIPPPOOL.HTM

http://www.poolsafetycouncil.org/

Here is a short video both reminding parents of the necessity of child safety in the home and providing tips to implement that safety.

This video is a sobering message about the importance of properly securing kids in a carseat.

Here are links to helpful websites about carseats and child safety in cars -

http://www.car-safety.org/

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/

http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm