Child Injuries and Death

October 4, 2016

Safest and Most Affordable Cars for Teens

If you have kids, you probably have mixed emotions about them getting their driver’s license. Jubilation because they can run to the grocery store for you, get themselves to sports practice without you having to leave work early, etc. But it can also be a terrifying time and with good reason. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens.

Recently, Mercury Insurance released a list of 2016 model year vehicles that had both good safety ratings and were inexpensive to insure. Based on these criteria, the winners were: Subaru Outback, Kia Sportage, Dodge Dart, Kia Soul, Honda HR-V EX, Hyundai Tuscon, Honda Fit , Honda CR-V LX, Hyundai Elantra GT, VW Golf Sportwagen SW. I know. I can hear some of you already: “There is no way I am buying my teenager a brand new car”. I get it. Our two older kids did not get new cars either. The good news is you can do this same type of comparison yourself for used cars. Continue reading

June 2, 2016

Eleven Safety Tips for Parents of Teenaged Drivers

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

The 100 days after Memorial Day are generally regarded as the most dangerous for teenage drivers. It makes sense, right? Kids are not in school so they are running the roads – headed to the mall, the pool, a friend’s house, etc. Did you know that teenagers are four times as likely to be in a crash than an adult? Six teenagers (ages 16-19) will die everyday in car accidents and nearly a quarter million teenagers will need emergency medical treatment because of car accidents. These statistics are terrifying but here are 10 things you can do to help keep your teenage driver safe: Continue reading

May 26, 2016

Ten Memorial Day Weekend Safety Tips and One Heartfelt Thank You.

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Memorial Day is a day to remember and be grateful for those brave men and women who have died while serving our country in the military. It is also the unofficial start of summer. Beach trips, parades, lake outings, pool parties and barbecues are on a lot of folks’ agenda. Here are ten safety tips to help keep your weekend fun and injury-free: Continue reading

February 25, 2016

If you see something, say something! (It’s the law)

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I have been meaning to write about this for days but work and other matters have kept me too busy to do so. But in the days since I first heard about this, I can tell you my anger has not dissipated. Earlier this month, Newsweek ran the following headline on a story: “New Catholic Bishops Told They Don’t Have To Report Sexual Abuse to Police”. French Monsignor Tony Anatrella told bishops they do not have a duty to report abuse to the police because that is the responsibility of the victims and their families. Oh really? Let’s discuss this for a moment. Continue reading

January 4, 2016

Need Help with Those New Year’s Resolutions?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

So, it is January 4^th. How many of your New Year’s resolutions are already busted? If you are like most of us, it is probably at least one. That is the bad news. But, here is the good news: below is a list of 10 easy New Year’s resolutions that are easier than losing 10lbs and will help keep you safe and prepared in 2016. Continue reading

October 30, 2015

Ten Steps To Safe Halloween Driving

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Tomorrow night is Halloween. If your kids trick-or-treat on the ever-popular Richland Avenue in Nashville or Main Street in Franklin, then they can collect candy without worrying about cars. But most streets in our area are not closed for trick-or treating, so it is imperative for drivers to exercise extra care to help keep Halloween safe. Here are 10 tips: Continue reading

October 6, 2015

Feel Free To Complain

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Some people are natural born complainers. Like this one from Middle Class Problems on Twitter: “A pecan from my maple and pecan slice has tragically fallen into my fresh coffee. Worst day ever.” (If you have never checked out Middle Class Problems, you should.) But some of us are loathe to complain. We do not want to be perceived as demanding, obnoxious, whiny, needy, etc. Or, we don’t complain because we think it will not do any good. But from my perspective as a personal injury lawyer, there are times when it is critical to complain. Below are 5 times you should complain freely and without hesitation. Continue reading

September 23, 2015

I Signed A Sports/Liability Waiver for My Kid. Is It Valid?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Whether your kid is involved in softball, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, football, cheerleading or other type of sport, the registration process almost certainly included a sports or liability waiver. Typically, the parent or guardian is asked to release the organization, coaches, etc. from any claims arising from their child’s participation. And, because the waivers are presented as a take-it or leave-it, negotiation is not an option. So, you sign it. And then, the worst happens: your child gets injured. What do you do next? Continue reading

September 2, 2015

DayCare Fails and 5 Tips to Avoid Them

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

This morning, I saw two troubling articles about daycare incidences. The first was a toddler who was covered in broken-skin wounds from being scratched multiple times and bitten 10 times in a single day. It is tough to look at the pictures. Look, I understand: kids bite. And if your kid attends daycare, do not be surprised if at some point they are either the biter or the bitten. But the pictures of this child go way beyond the norm and clearly indicate a lack of supervision by the staff.

The second story that riled me up this morning was about two daycare workers who instigated fights between children and then filmed it calling it a “fight club” like the popular movie. They even shared the videos on Snapchat. I would like to send those two daycare workers to a fight club with Ronda Rousey. But, I digress.

Since these two stories were about daycare fails and because September is baby safety month, here are 5 things you can do to help keep your child safe while at daycare. Continue reading

August 5, 2015

Is Your Dog Putting You At Risk of Getting Sued?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

If you follow us on Google Plus or regularly read this blog, then you know our family recently acquired a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel If you don’t follow us on Google Plus, then let me first say you should and second let me introduce you to Lincoln Day. Lincoln is the love of my 7 year-old daughter’s life. Thankfully, we are past the potty-training stage and are now working on what is appropriate behavior when guests arrive at our house, how to properly walk on a leash, etc. As my daughter is finding out, owning a pet is a big responsibility.

Unfortunately, some pet owners do not take it seriously enough, so we thought we would outline, from a legal perspective some considerations and actions you should be prepared to take before taking on a pet. Continue reading