Safety Tips For A Dog Attack

A Brevard County woman narrowly escaped being attacked by two dogs recently. Police say that the woman was exiting her car when the dogs ran up to her, growling and foaming at the mouth. Fortunately she was able to close her car door before she was bitten.

Thankfully the woman was able to take shelter in her vehicle, but what if that's not a possibility?

• If a loose dog approaches you, stand completely still. Keep your hands at your sides and try to stay calm and quiet. 
• Do not make eye contact with the dog. 
• If you have been knocked to the ground, curl up into a ball. Keep your knees to your chest and your hands over your ears. Keep your face as close to your knees as possible. Again, try to remain calm. 
• Make very slow movements and don't run. This may excite them. 

There are steps dog owners can take to reduce the chance of an attack:

• Studies have proven that spaying or neutering your dog reduces aggression. 
•  Never slap, hit, or hurt a dog.
• Speak to your dog in a calm voice. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a time out. 
• Don't bother a dog when it is eating, or chewing a bone. 
• Never leave a child unattended with a dog. 88 percent of fatal dog attacks among two year olds happened when the child was left unsupervised with the dog. 
• 24 percent of fatal dog attacks involved a loose dog that was off their owner's property.
• Obey leash laws. You will be protecting your community and dog by doing so. 
• Do not chain your dog. Chained dogs are almost 3 times more likely to bite. Chaining a dog increases their stress, vulnerability, and protectiveness. Fencing is a safer, better solution. 

For more information on how to reduce your dogs aggression, visit www.americanhumane.org. If you have been attacked by a dog, contact Florida Animal Attack Attorney Jeffrey Sexton at (407) 293-1144.

Is Your Property Poorly Maintained?

Homeowners and businesses have a duty to make sure their property is reasonably safe. Premises liability is based on the concept that when individuals act without regard to their duty of care, the victim of a personal injury caused by that negligence should be compensated appropriately.

Every day, people are injured while on another party's property. This can include injuries that occur in someone's home, on a walkway, in a parking lot, or at a place of business such as a grocery store, department store, restaurant, amusement park, sports stadium, bar, nightclub, fitness center, or hotel. Often, people have the mistaken impression that wherever they suffer an injury, they may have a claim against the person who owns that property. However, unless the property has been negligently maintained, under Florida tort law, a property owner may not be liable.

Injuries resulting from poorly maintained properties are common and can involve:

• Assault at a place of business due to negligent security
• Poor parking lot or sidewalk maintenance
• Unsafe stairways
• Slip and fall accidents
• Falling merchandise (from shelves)
• Unsafe amusement park rides (overnight fairs)
• Dog bites or animal attacks
• Unsafe handrails
• Accidents at construction sites
• Injuries occurring in or around swimming pools, which can include spinal cord injuries, brain damage, or drowning

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of negligence on behalf of a home or business owner, contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton

Save A Life By Anchoring And Stabilizing Your TV, Furniture, And Appliances

One child dies every two weeks as a result of an appliance, a piece of furniture, or a TV falling on them. In an effort to prevent tip-over related accidents, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is encouraging parents to anchor and stabilize their furniture, appliances and TVs. When children decide to scale one of these items in search of a remote or game, the consequences are often tragic.

Between 2000 and 2011, 349 people were killed as a result of a TV, appliance, or furniture items overturning. Of that number, 84 percent were kids younger than 9 years old. Forty-five percent of accidents occur in the bedroom. It's believed that as families integrate flat screen televisions into their living rooms, the older, much heavier TV is moved into the bedroom. Often times we place our TVs on items, such as dressers, that aren't meant to hold a television. This is when disaster happens.

Even our ultra thin televisions can weigh as much as 50 to 100 pounds, which is no match for a small child. Kids that are involved in these types of accidents often sustain severe head injuries and other injuries resulting from being trapped or crushed by the item falling on them.

To help prevent tip-over tragedies, CPSC recommends the following safety measures in homes where children live or visit:

• Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.
• Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or anchor the furniture and the TV on top the base, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
• Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might attract children off of TV stands or furniture.
• Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.

Stay safe and have a happy New Year from Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

More Than Just A Bruised Ego...

It’s happened to all of us. That moment we wish we could erase from our minds. That painfully embarrassing moment you slipped and fell in front of everyone. Maybe it happened when you were in school and that boy or girl you liked saw it. Maybe it happened in front of a co-worker you can’t stand. Maybe it happened at a wedding.

Whenever or wherever it happened, we feel the same two sensations: embarrassment and pain. Often times, the embarrassment is worse than the pain. We just want to stick our head in the sand or wish ourselves away from the situation altogether. We may not even realize how seriously we may have injured ourselves. We don’t want anyone helping us. Some of us would sprint away with a broken leg just to get away from the humiliation.

The truth of the matter is, a bruised ego is far less serious than a broken leg. Human beings are flawed creatures and we trip from time to time; and as the world’s only bipedal creatures it’s understandable. But sometimes, we fall as a result of someone else’s mistake. Often, we are so mortified we fell, we don’t take inventory of why we fell, especially in public. At home, it’s a little less humiliating when we have an accident and we are more inclined to investigate the ‘why’ since we are much more familiar with our current environment.

If you do happen to slip anywhere, take notice of why. Don’t worry about your bruised ego, as it will eventually heal. Take pictures of the place you slipped and/or tripped. A great many times it could be the result of negligence, which could in turn entitle you to damages as well as preventing it from happening to someone else.

So remember, if you trip, slip, or fall, do your ego the favor of gathering information, getting medical attention, and contacting Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

Steps To Take After A Car Accident

There are no two automobile accidents alike in the State of Florida. Each particular case is comprised of its own set of unique injuries, damages, and losses. Most accidents are caused unintentionally from such distractions as cell phone use, GPS, stereo, or by other unsafe acts such as eating, looking at a map or simply not paying attention.

In other cases, factors include high speed and reckless driving, driving without a license, driving under the influence, or driving while intoxicated. These are not only negligent, but criminal.

Whenever you are in an automobile accident, it’s imperative that you notify the police and seek legal counsel immediately. Many times an accident can seem to be a run-of-the-mill fender bender. Days later, injuries can make themselves known -- and prove to be costly. Make sure no matter how small it is to alert authorities. A small fender bender may expose that the operator of the vehicle was in fact impaired, uninsured, or any one of the previous acts of negligence in the aforementioned paragraph. If that is the case, you may be entitled to an award for the damages incurred as a result of negligence.

Often times, it is just a simple fender bender and the two parties can swap information and go on their way, but better safe than sorry. If you are in an accident small or large, remember:

1. Alert the authorities.

2. Get the other drivers info.

3. Take a picture of their car and yours.

4. Retain legal counsel.

Contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton if you have been involved in a car accident.

Exercise Pool Safety Year Round

During the spring and summer months, and even into fall, Floridians have the luxury of swimming. When fall ends and winter begins, we tend to not give much thought to our swimming pools. Even though the swimming season is over, our vigilance for pool safety should be year round.

To ensure year round safety, make sure the following measures are taken to avoid accidents.

• Even though the pool isn’t in use, make sure there is ample lighting in the pool and around the area. If your pool is not equipped with a light, be sure to illuminate the perimeter of the pool with outdoor lights from your neighborhood home improvement store. Seeing the pool helps avoid falling into it and both animals and humans will benefit from this.
• Be sure to lock the gate. If your pool has a fence make sure there is a working lock on it. If you use a pool maintenance service, give them a copy of the key to gain access as needed. Curiosity about swimming pools is year-round for small kids, and some pets, so lock it up.
•  Get a motion sensor. If you have kids, pets, or both, think about investing in a motion sensor. For a relatively limited cost, you can have peace of mind. Anytime something or someone breaches the pool area, an alarm will notify you. Various sensitivity levels are available.

We want you to keep your family and visitors safe during the coming months by taking some of these preventive measures. However, if you or a loved one has been injured due to a pool area's negligent upkeep, contact Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton.

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is fast approaching. Kids and adults are picking out their costumes. But as exciting as this holiday can be for all, it is important to practice safety to avoid hazards.

If you live in a residential area and are expecting trick-or-treaters this year, practicing these preventative measures will ensure a happy and safe Halloween for visitors to your home.

• Make sure your property is well lit.

It is important that pedestrians have a clear and visible path from the sidewalk to your doorstep. Most will be wearing costumes and have compromised vision already, so make it as easy and safe as possible for them. Be sure to have ample lighting and avoid having any flames near the walking path.

• Put pets away.

Like the Fourth of July, Halloween is a dog's least favorite holiday. Instead of fireworks, it's an endless barrage of doorbell ringing... which is pure torture for any dog. Find a safe place for your pooch to hang out and get the ol' pup a rawhide to pass the time. Safety is also an issue. Many dogs don't reciprocate well to costumes, so keep that in mind as well. While you may know it's Darth Vader wanting a snickers bar, man's best friend may think the tike is a home intruder.

• Know what you're handing out.

If you're handing out candy, before you do -- check it. You remember being taught about stranger-danger, and Halloween candy scares as a kid? It still rings true today and perhaps more than ever. Buying candy that is individually wrapped is the best way to go. Before you hand it out, peruse it and discard any candy that is open, melted, or any that has a compromised wrapper. Avoid handing out baked goods, confections, etc. Should a child become sick or worse, you could be held liable. Parents are advised not to accept any home made goods and they should be thrown away.

In addition to these few safety tips, attaching reflective tape to costumes makes you more visible to vehicles if you plan on trick-or-treating at night. Also, stay in groups for added safety and carry a flashlight. Never walk through parks and never take unknown and unilluminated routes home.

We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween from The Law Office of Florida Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton!