Home & Family

This section offers legal and safety guidance for Virginia families — from home safety and child protection to liability issues that can arise around the house or in the neighborhood. We share tips for preventing accidents and keeping your family safe from hidden risks.

Halloween Hazards: Drunk Driving and Pedestrian Accidents

The combination of increased alcohol consumption and a surge of pedestrians, often vulnerable children, poses a significant risk for accidents on Halloween. Understanding these risks and taking proactive measures is paramount to ensuring everyone stays safe.

By Richard Shapiro

/ 29 Oct 2024

Halloween Hazards: Drunk Driving and Pedestrian Accidents

What Are My Rights If I Was Bitten While Trespassing?

A dog owner might not be held liable for a bite if it is determined that the victim was trespassing at the time of the incident or committing some other type of crime on the owner’s property.

By Eric Washburn

/ 28 Aug 2024

What Are My Rights If I Was Bitten While Trespassing?

When Children Suffer Brain Injuries in Accidents

If your child suffers any suspected head injury, it is crucial to seek medical care immediately. Not doing so could cause serious complications, including death and the potential for lasting disabilities.

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 5 Jul 2024

When Children Suffer Brain Injuries in Accidents

Recalled Dangerous Infant Sleeper Still Being Used in Daycare Centers

In the United States, the federal agency that is in charge of making sure that the products we use every day are safe is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Included in the CPSC’s bailiwick are products made for infants and children. These products have…

By Randy Appleton

/ 3 Oct 2019

Understanding Dog Bite Laws in North Carolina

Attacks by dogs hospitalize hundreds of North Carolinians each year. Family pets inflict the overwhelming majority of those injuries, which often require more than a tetanus shot and a couple of stitches. Under North Carolina law, dog owners have strict liability for the harm (and…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 4 Dec 2018

Three Types of North Carolina Defect Product Lawsuits

Each day, victims are injured or killed because of a defective or dangerous product. Almost on a weekly basis, we read or hear news reports about the latest recall or accident caused by a product that turned out to be dangerous. Vehicle recalls – such…

By Eric Washburn

/ 12 Feb 2018

Ninety Percent of Recalled Children’s Products Never Returned

Thousands of products are recalled every year because the manufacturer finds some type of defect or danger in their product. The danger may be in the original design or occurred during manufacturing. The majority of these dangers are discovered by consumers who purchase the product…

By Eric Washburn

/ 20 Oct 2017

3 Year Old Suffers Fractures At Florida Trampoline Park

A three-year-old boy in Florida suffered pelvic fractures while jumping at a trampoline park in Tampa, Florida last week. The injuries and accident have raised new questions about the safety of trampolines for young children. The mother told the media that her three-year-old son broke his…

By Eric Washburn

/ 18 Jul 2017

Eletrocution Death At North Carolina Pool Raises Safety Worries

There are increasing calls to improve public safety after a tragic pool death in North Carolina due to electrocution where a lifeguard died. Experts say it is a very dangerous and invisible problem that can lead to paralysis or death in seconds. Thousands of volts…

By Randy Appleton

/ 1 May 2017

5 Year Old North Carolina Boy Killed in Atlanta Rotating Restaurant

A five year old boy was killed after he was crushed to death on April 14 in a rotating restaurant at the top of a tower in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The child was caught between a table and a wall as the floor was moving.…

By Randy Appleton

/ 16 Apr 2017

Sporting Events and Drinking: Dangerous Combination

We citizens of North Carolina love our sports teams. Whether it’s a game hosted by the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, or the Carolina Hurricanes, you can count on a full house of enthusiastic fans cheering their team on. Many spectators who attend these games also…

By The Legal Examiner

/ 13 Nov 2016

Brain Injury Lawsuits Reveal the Risk of Treadmills

Going to the gym is supposed to be good for our health, but each year, thousands of Americans suffer injuries at fitness centers. They fall off equipment, drop heavy weights, or push themselves beyond their limits. The results can be serious injuries, including head injuries.…

By Randy Appleton

/ 29 Oct 2016