By the end of this week, most students in public and private schools in Middle Tennessee will be back to school. Whether you are happy or sad about that, here are some tips for keeping children safe this year and to also make sure you do not violate Tennessee law. Continue reading
Articles Posted in Child Injuries and Death
We Hate To Disappoint People, But We Do. Everyday.
At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we have two intake specialists, Penny Whitaker and Lauren Bates. When people call into the offices for a free consultation, Lauren and Penny take the basic accident information for a free review by one of our award-winning attorneys. Let me say, Penny and Lauren do a great job; they understand that when people call our office they are often confused about their rights and options, scared about what the future may bring and looking for help. And, we desperately want to help. But all too often, we can’t and that is where the disappointment comes in. This is never truer than when someone did do something wrong and injuries or death resulted. Let me explain. Continue reading
Dog Bite Claims Increasing Nationwide
Dog ownership can be terribly expensive. Our King Charles Cavalier, Lincoln, or President Lincoln if you are not on familiar terms, has a super-sensitive digestive system, so in addition to being regulars at our vet’s office, he eats prescription dog food and often needs a pill to calm his stomach. A friend of a friend just paid $4,000 to have her dog’s knee repaired after he tore his ACL.
Unfortunately, dogs are costing their owners and insurers even larger sums thanks to a nationwide increase in dog bite claims. Last year alone, dog bite claims accounted for a whopping one-third of all homeowners’ liability claims and totaled nearly $700 million dollars. In addition, the severity of dog bite injuries is increasing as too are the amount of the payouts (either via settlement or court judgments). So what should responsible dog owners do to protect their self and, just as importantly, others? Continue reading
May is National Bike Month: Celebrate Early With A Free Helmet for Your Child
May is National Bike Month, and you can celebrate early with a free helmet for your child. The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. is giving away free bike helmets to children this Saturday, April 28th at the 42nd Annual Pioneer Days at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro. The giveaway will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Multiple sizes will be available. Attendees are encouraged to stop by for their free child’s bicycle helmet but please arrive early rather than later as quantities are limited.
Did you know Tennessee law requires children under age 16 years of age to wear a helmet when they are biking. Here are a few other facts you may not know: Continue reading
For The First Time, Accidents Are Now The Third Leading Cause of Death
In 2016, the United States had a record 161,374 accidental deaths. According to the National Safety Council, every three minutes someone dies from a preventable accident. And every second, an American is injured in a preventable accident. These figures include motor vehicle accidents, falls, drownings, drug overdoses, etc. Obviously, we can and must do better. Safety on our roads, in our homes and in our businesses must become as much as a priority as curing cancer and preventing heart disease (the other top three leading causes of death)
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and your family: Continue reading
Your Christmas To Do List
For most of us, our Christmas To Do list looks something like: buy gifts, wrap gifts, send Christmas cards, decorate tree and house, attend parties, etc. In the hustle and bustle of all things Christmas, we often forget to do those things that can keep our families safe. At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we want everyone to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year without getting hurt, so here is your To Do list: Continue reading
Reminders for the First Day of School
Today is the first day of school for Williamson County. Our daughter Kate is entering 5th grade this year at Scales Elementary. Although she was embarrassed, she did relent and allow this picture upon arrival at school. And while it seems like just yesterday that we were going to the Boo Hoo breakfast for kindergarten parents not that much has changed. She still worries about liking her teachers, the dynamics of friendships and how much homework will be assigned. And, of course, as her parents, we still worry about everything, which brings me to some very important safety reminders for us all. Continue reading
Deadliest Days For Teens
We are roughly halfway between Memorial Day and Labor Day – that time of year which marks the deadliest days for young drivers. Summer has always been a dangerous time for teens because they are out of school and out on the roads. But, the National Safety Council anticipates the risk to be increasing as a result of cellphone use by teen drivers. In rear-end crashes, teen drivers take zero evasive action (braking or swerving) in the half of those types of car accidents. If a teen driver is using their phone to text, call, take photos, etc., their eyes are off the road for 4.1 seconds of the last 6 seconds before a crash. The end result is that teen drivers are three times more likely than an adult driver to be involved in a fatal car crash. So, what can you do? Below are some easy tips for keeping your teen driver safe: Continue reading
Summer Camp: Free Advice From Injury Lawyers
In a few weeks, our daughter Kate returns for her second year of overnight camp in North Carolina. She is beyond excited as she had a great time last year, and we are not nearly as nervous as parents this time around. Parents worry about lots of things when their kids head off to camp:
- Will they make friends?
- Will the camp serve food that my kid will actually eat?
- Will they get homesick?
- Will they remember to brush their teeth?
Of course, because both of Kate’s parents are injury lawyers, we can’t help but also worry about safety. A lot. So what are some questions you should be asking before you sign your kid up for a day or overnight camp? Continue reading
Beware of the “Lawyers”
Recently, I have seen two instances of people posing as lawyers and engaging in unscrupulous behavior. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is now involved in one of the cases, and criminal charges are pending against the other. So what exactly are these posers alleged to have done and what can you do to protect yourself? Continue reading