Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibilities for both the safety of your family, and that of your guests. To avoid costly lawsuits or an unexpected tragedy, follow these tips to ensure the safety of your home.
1. If you have a pool, make sure it’s fenced in.
Property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their pools are safely blocked off, well-maintained, and safe to use. According to the CDC, From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day and one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. Many drowning accidents occur when a pool isn’t properly fenced or gated, the gate lock is left open, the lock or latch doesn’t work properly, the ladder leading out of the pool is in the wrong position and cannot be accessed, or there was a lack of supervision. Additionally, drowning can occur when a person’s hair, limb, or body becomes trapped in the pool drain. To prevent these accidents, fence in your pool, ensure the lock stayed latched and is properly secured, maintain all pool exits and drains, and monitor swimmers at all times. If you or a loved one has a serious accident by the pool, our Long Island drowning accident attorneys can provide you with the legal advice and assistance you need when pursuing your claim.
2. Lock up prescription medications and keep cleaning materials out of reach of small children and animals
In 2013, there were 42,032 accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Keep medicines and cleaning supplies out of reach of children and keep the nationwide poison control center phone number on hand at all times.
3. All firearms should be locked and unloaded
If you keep a gun in your home, the gun should always be unloaded when stored. Stored guns should be kept locked up, with ammunition stored separately. Hiding a gun is not enough when it comes to safety, as children and other individuals in the home could potentially find the firearm. Additionally, you should always lock up gun-cleaning supplies as these are often poisonous.
4. In cold winter months, stay on top of snow fall by shoveling frequently and put down salt to prevent ice
Homeowners have a legal responsibility to maintain a reasonably safe environment. If someone slips and falls on your property and it was determined that a safe environment was not maintained, the homeowner can be at fault under premises liability laws. To prevent an unwanted lawsuit, shovel frequently as snow comes down, lay down salt, and block off any areas that are unsafe to walk on.
5. Keep children safe around the family pet
Pets are a great addition to any household, but untrained or scared animals can cause serious injuries in children and adults. To prevent a dog from biting a child, follow these instructions. Additionally, always supervise children around pets and unknown animals.
Our attorneys are experienced in court and are prepared to fight for our clients at trial if a fair settlement is not reached. We are aggressive when seeking compensation for our injured clients and provide outstanding legal representation in premises liability cases.
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
Lee J. Odierno is the managing partner of Odienero Law’s no-fault department. Find out more about Lee on his profile page, or visit any of his social media profiles below:
