Statistics have shown that 3/4 of the 17,000 children injured yearly by falling furniture are younger than 6 years old. Children of that age are unable to understand the danger of climbing on furniture. The new flat panel TVs have a very high center of gravity and are prone to tipping over. Although they are light compared to the old style tube TVs, an average 32″ flat panel weighs approximately 25 pounds, sufficient to fatally injure a child, especially when falling from atop a dresser. The furniture that the TVs are placed on also has changed. as the TVs have become narrower and less stable, so has the furniture upon which it rests, creating a very dangerous situation.

Although legislation was introduced to to require stringent standards for the manufacturer of furniture that poses a substantial risk of tipping. Unfortunately, the legislation twice died in committee.

You can prevent such tragedies from occuring by following some simple precautions. The simplest and most secure is to use the straps and brackets that are supplied with some flat-panels. Sure, you’ll have to make some holes in your wall but holes can be easily fixed. Would you want to risk serious injury to your child because you were too lazy to drill a few holes in a wall? I didn’t think so. Also, eliminate temptation by removing toys and remote controls from atop the TV or furniture. Finally, the simplest and best solution: always be aware of what your children are doing and where they are.

If your child has been injured by a falling TV or  furniture, please contact attorney Frank J. Dito, Jr., Esq., at (718) 979-4300 so that you may discuss your legal rights. Remember, your time to do so is very limited so please call today

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As the warmer weather approaches, you can take some very basic steps to prevent such accidents from happening. Instead of opening windows from the bottom, as most of us do, open the windows from the top. Also, keep furniture and toys away from the windows. Your little ones will be tempted to get a better look at what is going on outside their home by climbing on a chair or their toys. You should also install stops to prevent your lower windows from opening more than 4 inches. Falls from open windows unfortunately result in traumatic brain injuries to children. Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children in the United States. More than one million children sustain brain injuries every year and approximately 165,000 require hospitalization. So please, if you have small children, regardless if you live in a house or apartment, install window guards and window stops. The short time that it takes to install these safety devices can prevent a life-altering injury to your children.

If your child has been injured because of your landlord’s failure to install window guards, please contact attorney Frank J. Dito, Jr., Esq., at (718) 979-4300 so that you may discuss your legal rights. Remember, your time to do so is very limited so please call today.

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I recently took my family skiing to Jiminy Peak resort in the Berkshire Mountains, east of Albany, New York. This year, we introduced my 5-year old son to skiing. For his first lesson, we made sure that we bought him a helmet. As an attorney, after representing numerous clients who suffered traumatic brain injuries, I will not ride a bicycle without a helmet or allow my son to use his Razor scooter without one. What I never thought about wearing was a ski helmet. Helmets were always the uniform of downhill racers or snowboarders but not the average skier. For 30 years, I wore a hat and never thought differently despite what I experienced first hand as an attorney. When I was skiing this year, I couldn’t help but notice that something had changed. Helmets were not only more prevalent, they had become an essential piece of equipment. So I decided to buy one. I traded in the wool hat for a plastic and Styrofoam number, similar to a bicycle helmet. Surprisingly, it was very comfortable and warm to wear. When I was able to access the internet, I wanted to know how effective helmets are in preventing injuries. The answer is plainly obvious. The Winter 2005 issue of

Other studies have shown that head injuries constitute only 5-15% of all injuries from ski and snowboard accidents, yet are the primary cause of disabling injuries and death. A study by A. Stewart Levy, M.D. in the Journal of Trauma noted that although head injury represents only a small fraction of skier and snowboarder injuries overall, it is the leading cause of death and serious injury on the slopes, including traumatic brain injury, skull fractures, heamtomas and concussions. The use of helmets, they note, would undoubtedly reduce the incidence and severity of head injury and death among skiers and snowboarders. One patient in the study that was wearing a helmet fell down a 15 foot embankment and struck a tree. He suffered only a mild concussion and was released from the hospital after an overnight stay! The benefits are clear – always wear a helmet. At a cost of only $50 for a basic helmet, can you really afford not to be without one?

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