West Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

With summer officially here, many West Virginia parents are stocking up on all types of toys to entertain antsy children over the summer months. New bicycles, playground equipment, games and other items can create hours of fun for young people, but they can also be very dangerous. As a parent, it is crucial that you check for recalls on new and old toys periodically to safeguard your children from potential dangers.

Both the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Recalls.gov, a collaborative website from six different federal safety agencies, list current and past recalls for products sold in the United States. On both of these sites, you can find specific recalls by brand and type. Toys and other products can be recalled for a myriad of reasons, including high levels of toxic ingredients (like lead or mercury), choking hazards, flammability hazards, laceration hazards and potentially dangerous chemical ingredients.

Investigate Safety Before You Buy
When you're shopping for summer toys for your family, be sure to consider a few things before you buy any toys:

- Are the toys age-appropriate for your children? Toys must be clearly labeled for use by a certain age group, so be sure your child is old enough to use the toy safely.
- Make sure the toy is BPA (bisphenol A) and lead-free. These ingredients are toxic to children, even in small amounts.
- Are there any small parts that might present a choking hazard to your child? Do any parts break off easily or come apart to present a hazard?

If a toy, regardless of a recall, injures your child, you must contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. Toy manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safe use of their products and they can often be held liable for injuries caused by their items.

Patients at West Virginia nursing homes and assisted living facilities have the right to quality health care, just like anyone else. However, in some less-than-reputable establishments, some residents complain of ill treatment, abuse and even wrongful death. Similar to medical malpractice cases, negligence of duty can lead to the death of an elderly patient and healthcare facilities can be held liable.

On February 19, 2010, Ms. Fern E. Radford filed a wrongful death claim against Hilltop Heath Care Center in Kanawha County for the wrongful death of Barbara E. Farrish. According to The West Virginia Record, Radford is the executor of Ms. Farrish's estate and is claiming that the center failed to "provide her with sufficient hydration, monitor her intake of fluids and notify her physician of significant changes in her condition" during her two-year stay at Hilltop. As a result, Radford claims, Ms. Farrish died from pneumonia that could have been prevented with adequate care. Radford is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Unfortunately, cases like this one are not uncommon. For many elderly patients, it is hard to find a trusted legal advocate. However, you can hire a personal injury attorney to fight for you or to defend a wrongful death case involving a loved one and a nursing home. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and companies who break the rules can be heavily penalized under the law.

For West Virginians, losing a loved one is a devastating blow to the family. The unexpected loss of a family member, spouse or child because of the negligence of someone else is all too often traumatic and shockingly sudden. The Mayo Clinic reports that the feeling of grief is different for everyone, from feeling numb and removed from daily life to being unable to carry on with regular duties due to a crippling sadness.

No matter how you handle your grief, it is a natural reaction to loss. Individual experiences vary from person to person, but you should never feel alone in your suffering. Grief is a universal phenomenon that we all go through during life. This fact doesn't make it any easier to endure, but it may help you understand the process. Experts advise people who are grieving to realize that they can't control it and to prepare themselves for the stages of grief, from denial to acceptance and all points in between. Sometimes people feel better after a few months, but others can suffer for years.

How a Lawyer Can Help
When you hire a wrongful death lawyer, you can relieve some of the stress associated with the loss of a loved one. A lawyer can handle all the paperwork for you so you can simply focus on your family. You shouldn't have to worry about gathering accident scene evidence, witness statements and haggling with an insurance company over an unfair settlement. A lawyer will work as an advocate for your rights after a wrongful death has affected your family.