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Monthly Archives: January 2017
Product Safety Organization Cites Dismal Effectiveness of Children’s Product Recalls
Jan 27, 2017 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith
When the organization, Kids in Danger issued its most recent report on children’s product recalls back in 2015, it was somewhat heartened by the results. While about one-quarter of all products recalled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) were for children, there was a slight reduction in child injuries and fatalities. Unfortunately, the majority of recalled children’s products (nearly 80 percent) remain in consumer hands after recall. Our Tuscaloosa accident attorneys want parents to understand the special challenges of keeping their children safe from dangerous products — and know what to do in the event any product causes injuries. Numbers Alone Add Challenges to Tracking the Safety of Children’s Products Many children’s playrooms seem to be stacked floor to ceiling with toys. Add strollers, cribs, car seats and countless other must-have products to the mix, and it would take a full-time analyst just to keep track of where each item is, much less whether they are all safe. Parents who dutifully register bigger ticket items have an advantage because manufacturers will notify them in the event of a safety recall. With some effort, parents can go further to protect their children, as follows: Sign up for recall lists: While the CPSC provides the most official recall information, child-dedicated sites like Safe Kids Worldwide allows parents to sign up for the most recent product alerts focused specifically on children. Inspect all products carefully: Before putting new toys or other products in the hands of children, parents should perform quality tests. […]
Read MoreApps Can Convert Smart Phones Into Distracted Driving Preventers
Jan 13, 2017 - Car Accidents by Cross & Smith
It is no secret that the use of cell phones while driving significantly increased car accident rates across the U.S. That impact increased sharply when smart phones brought everything from text messages to full Internet access behind the wheel of moving vehicles. Until recently, each Tuscaloosa auto injury lawyer at our firm believed that powered-off smart phones are the only safe phones to have in moving vehicles. However, the development of apps that focus on driving safety can help reduce the inherent risks. No Need to Power Off When Phones Can Be Smarter According to Consumer Reports, a number of cell phone companies now offer free apps that help drivers automatically avoid texting while driving with these features: Automatic activation: Most apps activate automatically when vehicles reach a specified speed. However, some apps must be turned on by the user before driving. Disabled texting: Drivers cannot send or receive text messages as long as any of the apps are activated. Auto responders sent for incoming text messages: Some of the apps automatically respond to incoming text messages to notify senders that they must wait for a response until drivers reach their destination. This feature is particularly helpful for stopping texters who send more and more messages when they do not receive an immediate response Monitoring of young drivers: Some apps allow parents to monitor the driving and texting activities of their children. Certain apps even assign points for safe-driving behavior, which parents can use to provide positive incentives for avoiding […]
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