Window Screens Keep Out Bugs, But Wont Keep Children In May 12, 2009

The CPSC reports that over 3,700 children are sent to emergency rooms each year because they have fallen from open windows. In Staten Island, along with the rest of New York City, window guards must be installed if you live in a building that has three or more apartments and a child under age 11 lives in your apartment. Even if you live on the first floor, you must have window guards if a child under age 11 lives with you. Your landlord is required by law to provide you with window guards if you meet the above requirements.

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.

Frank Dito is a New York Personal Injury attorney specializing in New York real estate law , New York business law, and New York franchise law. You can visit his Law Firm Decker, Decker, Dito and Internicola website by clicking here, download his FREE New York Car Insurance book, or call him at 718-979-4300 or 1-800-310-5520 for a free case analysis.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.