Falling Furniture Can Cause Personal Injury to Children

Unknown to many is the fact that as flat-screen televisions become more popular in the United States, the number of accidents in which children are injured increases as well. This is because there have already been hundreds of cases reported in which children have been injured by flat-screen TV’s that have fallen from off the wall or the entertainment unit on which they sit. Although these televisions are generally lighter than their more traditional counterparts, they are much more likely to cause injury than standards television sets. One reason for this is because these televisions have a smaller degree of surface area on which they can rest, so they can be incredibly unstable. The entertainment units often come equipped with that same design and same level of instability. Another reason is due to the lighter weight. The lightweight feature makes flat-screen televisions easier to carry and, as a result, easier to tip over by both children and adults alike.

There are literally thousands of children across the nation that are injured every year because of falling furniture. Since the production of flat-screen TV’s has continued to increase over the last fifteen years, the reported injuries involving falling furniture has increased by nearly 50%. In fact, nearly 50% of all childhood injuries sustained by falling furniture are the direct result of falling television sets. The majority of the injured victims of falling furniture are children less than five years old. Although deaths resulting from these accidents are thankfully not as common as the injuries, they still occur on a regular basis. It’s true that children are the typical victims of these types of accidents, but adults are also subject to injury from falling furniture, including flat-screen television sets.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recommended a few guidelines that can help consumers avoid injury from falling flat-screen television sets, particularly for children. Where possible, it is recommended that consumers place their flat-screen TV’s close to the ground. This will create more stability at the base of the television. Also, in the instance that the television does still fall, the distance will be reduced, decreasing the impact it will have upon landing. Parents should remember not to place their children’s toys on top of the television set, either. Oftentimes young children will attempt to climb atop a television set in order to reach those toys, calling the appliance to fall and injure them. If placing the flat-screen television set close to the ground is not an option, make certain that you use extra strength brackets or safety cords in order to mount the TV to the wall. A flat-screen TV falling from a significant distance can be fatal for small children. Lastly, do your best to get a television set with a solid base. Many flat-screen television sets are created with the majority of the weight at the top, making it easy for them to tip over. Attempt to purchase a flat-screen that is more weight-balanced for the safety of your family.

If you are injured in California, consider hiring a Los Angeles California personal injury attorney to help protect your rights and get you money from medical bills, lost wages and more.