| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | BICYCLE ACCIDENTS, Uncategorized

Bicycle Riders Should Replace Helmets Every Few Years

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Did you know that bike helmets only last for three to five years? According to a report by station WSVN-TV in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, the plastic and foam materials inside adult and child bicycle helmets break down after a few years, no longer providing the needed protection to riders. Small cracks below the shell of the helmet can also leave you vulnerable to injury.

Parents often pass down bike helmets to younger children, inadvertently putting them at risk for injury. Unless your children are very close in age, you should buy each child a brand new helmet every couple of years. Even the wear and tear of the older child on a helmet can be enough to make it unsafe for the younger child.

Check the Manufacturing Date
Helmets have a manufacturing date stamped on the inside of the shell cavity. If the helmet is banged up or has a manufacturing date more than five years old, it’s time to replace it. Similarly, when buying new helmets, be sure to check for the manufacturing date. Many stores will sell helmets that were made more than three to five years ago and most buyers are never the wiser.

Further, if you’ve had an accident while wearing a helmet, experts recommend that you replace it right away for an undamaged one. Even a simple bump on the head can be enough to shift the protective materials inside the helmet to render them useless for the next fall. If you have been injured by a faulty or outdated helmet, contact a personal injury lawyer who can explain your legal options.

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Uncategorized, WRONGFUL DEATH

Weston Family Sues Over Boy Scout’s Death

The family of a boy scout from Weston, Florida, have filed suit against the national, regional and local Boy Scouts, according to a July 15, 2010 article published in the Miami-Herald. In addition to the organization, Judith Sclawy and her husband, Howard Adelman, are also suing two other Scout leaders who organized a May 2009 hike, during which their son, Michael Sclawy-Adelman, 17, suffered from heatstroke and subsequently died.

The suit names several parties, including the Boy Scouts of America and its regional component, the South Florida Council, Plantation United Methodist Church, and scout leaders Howard K. Crompton and Andrew L. Schmidt.

The day of the incident, the Boy Scouts were on a mission to earn their Eagle Scout badges, and a 20-mile hike in the Everglades was a part of the program. But, with temperatures in the 100-degree range, Michael began to stumble around mile 15. Witnesses stated that Crompton gave him some water and a damp towel. After a bit, Michael stopped sweating and began to snore, which is commonly associated with heatstroke. Soon after, he vomited and then stopped breathing altogether. By the time helped arrived late in the day, he was already dead.

The wrongful death lawsuit claims that Boy Scout leaders failed to call help for 90 minutes after Michael fell seriously ill during the hike. Further, the parents allege that leaders were negligent in allowing the scouts to hike in 100-degree temperatures, and also for ignoring Michael’s symptoms of heat exhaustion for too long.

If you’ve experienced a wrongful death in your family, contact an experienced Florida attorney to handle your case. An attorney knows how to structure even the most complicated wrongful death suit to fight for what you deserve.