Personal Injury Blog

Americans are more likely to drown in a backyard pool than in a commercial pool. In spite of this, much of the literature that promotes safety is targeted at children and adults who are swimming in hotel and resort pools, and other types of commercial pools.

According to research, drowning is a major cause of unintentional fatality involving children below the age of five. A child is more likely to drown in a backyard pool than in a commercial swimming pool or any other kind of pool. In many of these cases, the child drowns when the adults are engaged in some other activity, or are standing around the pool talking. In these cases, no particular adult was singled out as being responsible for the safety of the children in the pool. In other words, no adult was given the task of watching over children playing in the pool. They were left to play unsupervised, and as any Las Vegas premises liability lawyer will tell you, it doesn't take long for an unsupervised child to drown in a pool.

This summer, you'll be doing a lot of entertaining in your own home, and your backyard pool. Ensure that the children are playing in the pool only when there is an adult caregiver present to keep an eye on them at all times. Don't simply assume that other adults will keep an eye on the children. This is how most drowning accidents happen. The American Academy of Pediatrics even recommends that you avoid installing a pool in the home, at least until the children are above the age of five.

However, if you have a pool, ensure that children are not alone, not just in the pool, but also around on the pool at all times. If you are watching over children, make sure you have a clear-unobstructed view of the children and keep them away from drains, and other openings.

Both motorists and motorcyclists have a strong role to play in helping prevent motorcycle accidents and keep motorcyclists safer.

If you are a motorist, keep the following tips in mind.

Avoid distracted driving. Switch off your cell phones to avoid having to pick up the cell phone to answer a call or read a message. If you are otherwise distracted, with your children or with other people in the car, pull over somewhere safe and deal with the distraction before you continue driving. Remember, as a distracted driver, you are much less likely to notice a motorcyclist in time to avoid an accident. That cell phone call, or message is not as important as saving a life.

Look out for motorcyclists near intersections, and while making turns. Look out for motorcyclists when you're backing out of a parking lot.

If you are a motorcyclist, keep the following tips in mind to enjoy a safe summer.

Wear a helmet that is approved by the Department Of Transportation, and make sure that the helmet fits you securely, and is comfortable to wear.

Ride a motorcycle that is equipped with antilock brakes. This can help reduce the risk of accidents involving skidding. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that the risk of an accident drops by 31% when your motorcycle has antilock brakes.

Avoid riding at night, and avoid riding in bad weather. Dress to be visible, and that includes wearing high visibility jackets, pants and helmets. Stick to speed limits, and obey all traffic laws - these also apply to you, and not just to motorists.

Vans, along with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles have a much higher risk of involvement in a rollover accident. 15-passenger vans are at an especially high risk of a rollover. However, there are technologies that you can use to help reduce the risk of an accident involving your 15-passenger van.

For example, antilock braking systems can help motorists retain control of their vehicles during heavy braking, which could increase the risk of a rollover. Some vans now also have lane-departure warning systems installed to could warn motorists when they begin to stray away from their lane. Sometimes, rollover accidents involve 15-passenger vans that have strayed from their lane, and a rollover occurs when the van hits the curb or a stationary object.

However, all the technology in the world cannot help reduce the risk of rollover if a driver is careless, or inexperienced. A 15-passenger van must be operated by a person who already has prior experience handling a vehicle like this. The challenges involved in operating a van are very different from those involved in driving any other car. Drivers, who are inexperienced in handling these cars, may be much more likely to make driving errors like overcompensating during steering, leading to a rollover.

Also make sure that your tires are inflated properly for the passenger load that your van is going to carry. Tires should be inspected regularly, and older tires must be replaced. Also fit your van with larger rearview mirrors that help the driver get a much better view of the back of the van, including the blind spots, and reduce the need for him to turn around while driving.