Thousands of accidents and injuries and deaths occur at homes every year. Home accidents and injuries can result from fires, falls, poisonings, drownings, suffocations, and violence. Many of these accidents are caused by defective products, conditions, and carelessness, are preventable. As a result, many home accidents give rise to legal action for the resulting injuries. Many deaths are caused by smoke and toxic gases from burning materials, improper electrical circuits, carbon monoxide, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, allowing children access to dangerous objects, unsupervised swimming pools, to name a few. If you are a homeowner, it is important that you maintain your property in a safe condition, and to be aware of dangerous products and materials. It is also important to have homeowners insurance in case someone is hurt on your property.

Legal claims involving home accidents can involve complex legal and technical issues. The following are a few important legal, factual and evidentiary matters that should be considered when evaluating a claim.

• In case of a fire, did the smoke detector work properly?

• In cases involving carbon monoxide, what was the source?

• For electrical accidents, was a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI in place?

• For slip and fall cases, what was the conditions that caused the accident?

• For glass cuts, were shower doors, patio doors, window walls, or any other large glass panel in your home should be made with safety glazing materials (safety glass)?

• Were handrails on stairs securely mounted to both sides of the stairs?

• For night falls, were stairwells, hallways, walkways and entrances properly illuminated?

• Was the accident caused by an electric and gas appliances that failed to conform with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or other recognized standards?

• For children’s accidents, were unsafe items "child-proofed"? Were matches, lighters, flammable liquids, potentially poisonous household cleaners, garden pesticides, auto chemicals, pool cleaners secured? Were there edge guards for sharp-edged furniture and fireplace hearths? Was there protective surfacing under and around all outdoor playground equipment?

• For drowning accidents, was there a four-foot fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate, rescue equipment, and improper supervision?  

It is important that an experienced legal team evaluate all home claims. Complex legal, factual, and evidentiary issues may be involved. If you, a loved one, or friend are injured or suffer illness because of home accident, you should take immediate steps to protect your or their interest. Do not compromise your rights by making statements to the press, insurance investigators, potential defendants, their representatives, and do not sign anything. Consider the suggestions in our accident guide, and call us immediately. We are here to help. At Larry King, P.C., we recognize the unique issues pertaining to your claim. You can call us at (757) 595-8100 seven days a week, 24 hours a day, everyday of the year. We also offer a free legal-infoline service, and you can now contact us on this web site by using our Personal Injury Contact form. We are committed to doing the extra things it takes to help our clients. If you would like to know more, make a selection from the above box.