Animal control officials in Bryan County are urging dog owners to secure their pets after two pit bulls mauled a 92-year-old man to death in his own yard. According to a news report in the Durant Democrat, the fatal dog attack occurred on South Walnut Street in Mead. The elderly man was seen lying in his yard with multiple bites all over his body. He later died in an area hospital. The two pit bulls that belonged to a neighbor were taken into custody. It is not clear if the dogs’ owner has been charged or cited.
The American Humane Association reports that there are 238 dog bite-related fatalities each year in the United States. About 24 percent of these deaths involving humans are caused by unrestrained dogs off their owner’s property. The city of Durant requires pets to be secured, but the municipal ordinance does not specifically state how an animal must be restrained.
According to Oklahoma Statutes Annotated §4-42.1: “The owner or owners of any dog shall be liable for damages to the full amount of any damages sustained when his dog, without provocation, bites or injures any person while such person is in or on a place where he has a lawful right to be.” What this means is that under most circumstances, dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages caused by their pets.
Injured victims can seek compensation from negligent dog owners for damages such as medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, medications, cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorneys at the Maples Law Firm have a long and successful track record of helping dog attack victims secure the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. Please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a free and comprehensive consultation.
One person was injured in an Oklahoma City school bus accident after the bus collided with another vehicle in the southwest portion of the city. According to an Associated Press news report, one person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. A 17-year-old ninth grader and the bus driver were not seriously injured, but both were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
School bus accidents may be rare in Oklahoma City. But when they do occur, they have the potential to cause major injuries or even fatalities. Some of the common injuries suffered in Oklahoma City bus accidents include: broken bones, head injuries, back and neck injuries, and lacerations.
Not all school buses are required under the law to be equipped with seatbelts. Federal law requires buses weighing under 10,000 pounds to be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder restraint systems. However, larger buses, which constitute the majority of school buses on our roadways, are not required to have seatbelts.
When a school bus accident occurs, the bus company and/or the school district may be held liable for the injuries caused to students, depending on the cause and circumstances of the crash. Injured victims can file a personal injury claim seeking compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, physical therapy, and other related damages.
If your child has been injured in a school bus or auto accident, the experienced personal injury lawyers in Oklahoma City at the Maples Law Firm can help you better understand your rights. Please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a no-cost consultation.
This week dinner tables and kitchens across the country will be bustling with activity. And while that’s a recipe for great meals, it also presents increased risk scenarios for residential home fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated the number of home kitchen fire accidents was three times the daily mean for the nation, according to data for 2009. In addition, fires originating in the kitchen are the leading cause of home fires in general. During the four year period between 2005 and 2009, fire departments answered to approximately 155,400 infernos resulting from kitchen equipment; those accidents caused an estimated annual median of $771 million in property destruction, 4,800 injuries, and 390 deaths. With that, let’s review some important safety rules offered by the NFPA for cooking this Thanksgiving.
- Don’t allow anything flammable near the stove or oven, including wooden tools, mitts, paper or plastic packages, towels, drapery, and clothes.
- If you step away from meal preparation, turn off the heat on the oven and stove. Many devastating fires have occurred when a stove was left on and unattended for a short period of time.
- Always set a timer to stay on top of cooking times.
- If a small fire starts in a pan or in the oven, immediately switch off the heat and cover the fire with a lid to rob it of oxygen. If a fire starts in the oven, shut the oven door.
- If you cannot extinguish the fire within 30 seconds, exit the room and call 911 or the number for local emergency fire accidents.
If you’ve been injured in an Oklahoma fire that you think was caused by another party’s negligence, call the Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys with the Maples Law Firm at 1(888) 226-6159 for a free consultation.
Oklahoma residents are familiar with volatile weather phenomena of all types, from blizzards to tornadoes. However, the recent earthquake took many by surprise, and shook up employers who may have considered the earthquake clause in their operational safety obligations to be a far fetched concern. What is an employer’s safety obligation in the event of a natural disaster? What is good additional practice? A recent piece by News OK addressed those questions and a few surrounding issues. Below are the main points.
- Under both state and federal law, Oklahoma businesses are required to have an emergency action procedure ready to execute. Those who employ over ten people must put that plan in writing, while smaller companies can tell employees in person. At the very least, such a procedure should address evacuation, operational issues, and emergency contact information for family members.
- If an employee has health issues that were the result of a natural disaster, that individual may be qualified to take leave by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Additionally, if a member of an employee’s family experiences a health issue in relation to or made worse by the natural event, that individual could be allowed FMLA as well.
- If a natural disaster results in the closing of a company’s location for a continuing amount of time, thus putting employees on leave, a company must communicate insurance coverage choices (including COBRA) to these displaced employees.
A company is obligated to provide a safe working environment for employees and clients at all times, and this includes having a well-rehearsed, emergency procedure in place for all major scenarios. If you’ve been injured by an Oklahoma workplace accident, contact the Oklahoma personal injury lawyers with the Maples Law Firm at 1(888) 226-6159 for a free consultation.
Corporate giant Halliburton is facing lawsuits for allegedly causing groundwater pollution surrounding a former work site in Oklahoma that performed missile casing maintenance for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). According to recent reporting by the Insurance Journal, the company carried out its missile maintenance duties at a semi rural location near Duncan, OK, from 1965 to 1991. The site was shut down part way into the 1990s.
The company admitted that an ingredient to the missile fuel (ammonium perchlorate which is a salt that is easily assimilated into water) was found in the ground and in nearby residential water sources near the work site. It also said that it was in the process of assessing the degree of tainting to the water, and would provide bottled water in the interim, and potentially a temporary safe water system if necessary. It did not release a liability and property damage speculations; however, a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) claims it has made estimates.
Beginning last month, the injury lawsuits filed on the federal and state level state that the victims have been afflicted with medical issues, including thyroid problems (which has been linked to sustained perchlorate exposure), as a result of the contamination. The lawsuits claim that the company was aware of this problem, as well as others involving the release of radioactive and nuclear waste into the earth, for which Halliburton failed to take proper cautionary action to protect the local residents. Have you or your family been injured due to the negligent or reckless actions of a corporate party in Oklahoma? Contact the Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys with the Maples Law Firm at 1(888) 226-6159 for a complimentary and confidential case review.
In the small town of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, toxic coal ash is unloaded in large truck loads by a local power plant. And after years of battling illnesses and gridlocked, bureaucratic state authorities on the hazardous civic problem, its residents have filed a class action lawsuit against over 20 businesses and individuals associated with the dumping zone, including the power plant’s owner/ international energy powerhouse AES Corporation.
Town residents involved in the lawsuit say the coal ash (also known as fly ash) has riddled their small community with elevated instances of cancer and respiratory diseases. Out of the 30 households in the nearest proximity to the dumping grounds, over one half have suffered cancer, according to reporting by News 6. Over 500 individuals residing in Bokoshe, or within three miles of the dump zone, are part of the lawsuit. In addition, those involved have put together an advocacy group and an accompanying web site with information and videos regarding the lawsuit and its surrounding circumstances. The suit alleges that the defendants oversaw the disposal of toxic waste into a residential area, and also launched efforts to deceive the local community with misinformation about the health risks associated with the dumping activities. Its goal is to stop the dumping, clean the area of waste, and provide remuneration for the treatment of any illnesses resulting from the exposure or damages to property.
A Bokoshe resident told News 6 that the lawsuit is about community safety and corporate responsibility. This story is a reminder that all community members must speak up and bond together in the face of injustice. If you’ve been injured by the negligent actions of another party in Oklahoma, contact the Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys with the Maples Law Firm at (888) 226-6159 for a complimentary consultation.
While Halloween is one of the most festive and celebrated holidays of the year, accidents and injuries regularly occur for many reasons. Some of the common culprits include accidental fires, pedestrian visibility, and dangerous costumes. Thankfully the majority of these incidents can be avoided, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The agency outlined a few of the main offenders for producing Halloween injuries and a safety checklist for preventing them in a recent release. Let’s take a look at the key points.
Fire ranked among the largest causes of dangerous accidents. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says Halloween is one of the worst days every year for accidental fires. To minimize fire risks, use battery operated devices in lieu of candles, lanterns, or pumpkins. Also, only choose costumes made of flame resistant materials, and be careful when constructing your own as they will not be subject to the Federal Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA), which mandates costumes offered at stores to be certified flame retardant. If you do make your own costume, fabrics like nylon and polyester have natural fire resistant qualities.
In addition to staying clear of open flames, the CPSC advises trick or treaters to make sure they’re visible while walking and to keep an eye out for others. This can be achieved by using flashlights, battery operated illuminated devices, and reflective portions of costumes. The agency also said to pay attention to costume sizes, as poorly fitting wardrobes can cause falls, as well as obstruct vision and airways. If you’ve been injured during an accident that took place on Halloween that you think was the result of another party’s neglect, contact the personal injury attorneys in Oklahoma City with the Maples Law Firm at 1(888)226-6159. Call for a free case review.
Accidents involving tractor rollovers are amid the highest reasons behind farm and agricultural fatalities. Around 80 percent of accidents resulting in injury on farms stem from a tractor incident, and many of those include a rollover. Operators can take precautions to decrease the risk of rolling over, such as maintaining a slow speed, making turns and maneuvers slowly, refraining from making turns while moving uphill, and gaining a solid command over the vehicle through practice prior to operating it in a working environment. Outside of a driver’s operation, the most efficient measure to prevent rollovers is known as a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS).
The structure is basically a specially designed metal bar that protects the rider in the event that the tractor tips over. After being manufactured, an ROPS is put through thorough tests by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers to verify that the unit will sustain numerous levels of impact on the shielded area around the operator. Be sure to confirm a valid certification for a ROPS with the dealer. Homespun apparatus used as a substitute are not adequate and can even put an operator in additional peril due to amateur design defects or installation flaws. In combination with a ROPS system, tractor operators must use safety belts at all times to ensure protection in an accident.
Owners should retrofit older tractors with ROPS, with an authorized dealer serving as a guide for installation. While the price may seem high at first glance, don’t allow that to dissuade you, a program exists to help subsidize payments and provide assistance on cost, installation, and as much as $765 in rebate, also including shipping.
Have you been injured in a tractor rollover accident? Call 1-888-226-6159 to speak with the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys with Maples Law Firm to discuss your case today.
Although Labor Day marks the unofficial close of outdoor swimming pool season, drowning risks for young children are significant year-round. According to recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4.” The biggest risks are found inside the home with around 92 percent of drowning incidents happening in residential settings, according to the agency.
The CPSC reports 660 submersion household water accidents involving children younger than five years old, from 2005 to 2009. Out of those, there were 431 deaths, 212 injuries and 17 accidents with undetermined injuries. Most of the victims were under two years old and involved baths or bath-related products (the leading cause of drowning for children behind swimming pools), while buckets, containers and even landscaping equipment were also involved in accidents.
The majority of accidents reported occurred when a parent or caregiver left the child alone in a bath or near a water source for a brief amount of time while attending to a domestic task. In other cases, older siblings were left in charge of monitoring a child. A young child can drown in only a few inches of water, so a potential risk isn’t always easily discernible without proper education and awareness.
CPSC Drowning Prevention Instructions:
- Never leave a child unattended in a bath or near any water source, no matter the amount of water present.
- Never go more than an arm’s length away from a child in a bath tub. If you have to exit the room, take the child along.
- Never leave a young child in a bathtub under the supervision of another child
- Never leave any amount of liquid in a bucket or container unsupervised around a young child. Toddlers are top heavy and can fall into buckets headfirst.
In addition to those rules, putting locks on toilet seat covers and learning CPR can help avoid tragedy. Has your child has been injured due to negligent supervision near a household water source? Please call 1-888-226-6159 to speak with an Oklahoma personal injury lawyer with Maples Law Firm today for a complimentary case review.
The start of the school year can be a blur of activities that include gathering classroom supplies, picking out new clothes, and getting ready for athletic practices. However, it’s crucial that all families make safety awareness and discussion part of their hectic schedules. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has offered some of the following guidelines on back to school safety.
- Make sure your kids’ coats, jackets and “hoodies” do not have long strings attached to any portion of the garment, top or bottom. The CPSC reported 26 instances of fatalities involving children when a drawstring became stuck in playground equipment, a school bus door and other objects. “New regulations specify that you shouldn’t be able to see more than 3 inches of the string when the clothes are stretched wide,” the agency notes.
- One of the most important accessories in your child’s back to school wardrobe should be a helmet if he or she rides a bike, scooter, skateboard or anything else with wheels to school. The helmet must fit snug and secure (it should not move around on the head), without being uncomfortable or obtrusive. Consult a professional bike shop for the right fit. Helmets that have adjustable back straps for tightness and customizable padding typically work well.
- Train your children to take off their helmet once off their bike on the playground; it can become stuck in certain playground apparatus and cause injury.
- Lastly, the CPSC commands coaches, school officials and staff to provide proper instruction and safe playgrounds for athletic competition.
If your child has been injured during school activities, call the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys with Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159 for a complimentary case review.
