“Tell Them You Mean Business”

Dangerous toy accidents happen every 3 minutes. Are you prepared?

What would you do if a dangerous toy injured your child? Sound far fetched? Injury accidents involving toys happen all the time. Every three minutes, a child must be treated in an emergency room for an injury caused by a dangerous toy.

In 2009, an estimated 186,000 children under 15 years old were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In contrast, 152,000 kids sustained toy-related injuries in 2005. Dangerous toys were also linked to 12 deaths in 2009, down from 24 toy-related fatalities in 2007 and 2008, the CPSC reports.

The CPSC recalled 44 toys in fiscal year 2010, which ended Sept. 30. More toys have been recalled since then. Click here to find a complete list of recalled toys.

What makes a toy dangerous? Some have small, detachable parts which can pose a choking hazard. That’s why Fisher Price recalled several toys designed for young children. Other toys like rocking horses received safety warnings from the CPSC since the reins on the toy horse pose a threat of strangulation to children.

And even toys that have not been recalled can be dangerous, notes Joan Swartz, co-founder of World Against Toys Causing Harm, or WATCH. Sharp-edged toys or ones with projectiles can be dangerous in the hands of a child. That’s why WATCH cautioned against buying Spy Gear Viper Blaster. Eye injuries can happen with such toys. Watch this video to see WATCH’s 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2010.

Has your child been injured by a dangerous toy? Unsure what to do? Don’t take on large toy manufacturers by yourself. You need someone familiar with handling such complicated cases. You need someone who understands federal safety regulations. You need someone experienced, determined, dedicated to getting you results. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.

Our lawyers have years of experience fighting for victims of dangerous toys in Massachusetts. When you choose us, we work tirelessly for you! Companies have a responsibility to produce safe products. When they fail to do so, fight back. Contact Mark E. Salomone today. We mean business!

Massachusetts seatbelt use on the rise. What’s driving the increase?

Seatbelts save lives. As seatbelt use has increased nationwide, the fatality rate for motor vehicle accidents has plummeted. That’s probably why seatbelt usage continues to rise in Massachusetts. An estimated 67 percent of Massachusetts motorists wear seatbelts, according to a 2008 study. That’s up dramatically since 1998, when 51 percent of Massachusetts drivers wore seatbelts.

Even so, Massachusetts lags far behind the rest of country in seatbelt usage. The difference may have to do with different seatbelt laws in different states. States like Massachusetts have secondary enforcement seatbelt laws. This means police cannot pull someone over simply for not wearing their seatbelt in Massachusetts. Police in Massachusetts can only issue a $25 ticket for not wearing a seatbelt if there’s another traffic violation.

States with primary seatbelt laws (meaning police can stop someone simply for not wearing their seatbelt) report that 88 percent of motorists wear seatbelts. States without such laws report that 75 percent of motorists wear seatbelts.

Seatbelts are not perfect. They are only effective if they function correctly. And sometimes, seatbelts have fatal flaws.

Several years ago, a gifted young professional baseball player, Brian Cole, was killed when his Ford SUV rolled over and his seatbelt failed to hold him in place. An investigation found that Cole had on his seatbelt. Ford insisted there was nothing wrong with the seatbelt. The courts disagreed. Recently, a jury ordered Ford to pay Cole’s family $131 million, claiming the seatbelt did not operate correctly and contributed to Cole’s death.

Accidents happen fast. You life can change in an instant. What would you do if you were injured in a car accident? What if you couldn’t work? How would you pay your bills? What if your insurance company refused to pay you? You need an action plan. You need someone who’s not afraid to take on big insurance companies. You need someone who understands the law. You need someone experienced with winning such complicated cases. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.

Our lawyers have years of experience successfully representing car accident victims in Massachusetts. We know the games insurance companies play to avoid paying victims. Level the playing field. Call a law firm dedicated to getting results for our clients. Contact Mark E. Salomone today. We mean business.