Every year nearly 40 million Americans will seek medical attention due to an unintentional injury. The vast majority of unintentional injuries could be prevented, yet day in and day out people find themselves in hospitals across the country, their lives completely turned upside down. So, why are unintentional injuries so prevalent? Because far too often people know better, but choose to make unsafe decisions, maybe to save time or money. Here are 5 decisions that commonly lead to injury:
5. Ignoring Warnings
Did you know one in four cars on the road has an unresolved safety recall? Data from the National Safety Council shows that less than half of all drivers of vehicles five years old and older comply to auto recalls. This means that there are millions of vehicles on the road that could potentially harm the occupants or others on the road.
In addition to auto recalls, toy recalls are also a major issue in the U.S. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports in 2015 alone there were an estimated 254,200 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.
Be an informed consumer, do your research and stay in the know. The links below provide the latest recall information.
4. Taking the Easy Route
Are you a property owner? If the answer is yes, you are well aware of the heavy workload that comes with owning a property in the northeast. Winter months are spent shoveling, salting, and then doing it all over again. In spring and summer months damage caused throughout the year is exposed: cracked sidewalks, damaged driveways and the list goes on. Unfortunately, some property owners/employers neglect to maintain their properties and serious, preventable injuries can occur.
Our injury attorneys recently settled a case for a Hudson Valley construction worker who was sent to a jobsite on a roof that had not been shoveled or salted. Our client fell and severely injured his wrist. The case settled for $1,250,000, compensation that provided our client with much deserved financial relief and also sent a powerful message to employers who take the easy route when it comes to safety.
3. DIY Projects
HGTV, Pinterest, you name it you can find easy how-to instructions for just about any home project, but sometimes it’s best to leave certain projects to experts. Seasoned construction workers are hurt every day on the job, be sure you understand the risks of any project before you get started. Before you DIY click here to learn more about D.I.Y safety hazards.
2. Not Speaking Up
How many times have you noticed something that seemed questionable in terms of safety, but you chose not to say anything? We urge you to take action, at work, at home, in a public place, if you suspect something is unsafe speak up! Click here to read about safety experts’ stance on talking about safety.
1. Allowing Yourself to Become Distracted
You’re watching a vehicle in front of you weave in and out of traffic, you pass the vehicle and sure enough, the driver is texting. We’ve all been there and the majority of us agree, distracted driving is dumb and dangerous. Yet, even people who consider themselves smart and safe often feel as if they can safety text and drive.
So what if you don’t text and drive? Are you a distraction free driver? Changing the radio, talking to a passenger and looking for a street address are all examples of distracted driving that can easily cause serious injury. Click here to watch Managing Partner, Andrew Finkelstein discuss the three main types of distraction.
Injury related events are generally described as ‘accidents.’ What’s the problem with the word ‘accident’? Accidents are associated with actions or outcomes that couldn’t or shouldn’t have been avoided or prevented, thus stripping responsibility from whoever’s actions caused the ‘accident.’ Be accountable for your actions and make safe decisions. If you or a loved one were injured because someone neglected to put safety first, we’ll hold them accountable.