Chicago Injury Law Blog

Deep frying a turkey on Thanksgiving has become a popular trend, leading to delicious yet potentially dangerous results. Deep fried turkeys carry a greater fire risk than their traditional baked counterparts, and additional safety steps should be taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Every Thanksgiving results in reports of house fires caused by deep frying turkeys.  When oil is used to cook, there is a risk that the oil will splatter and catch fire, leading to serious burns. Turkey fryers are even more likely to cause burns because they combine gallons of oil, open gas fires, and unstable frames. 

Removing the turkey from the deep fryer can also lead to serious injuries. These turkeys are often heavy and extremely hot, and burns can occur while lifting the turkey or making contact with the sides of the cooking pot.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends several safety tips if you decide to deep fry your turkey. The agency says that turkey fryers should always be used outdoors at a safe distance from buildings and other flammable materials; you should check the oil temperature and avoid overfilling the fryer; and never let children or pets near the fryer.

Personal injury attorneys at the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

The current recession in the U.S. has many negative consequences, including high unemployment causing many consumers having less money to spend.   As a result, those impacted can become depressed, stressed, and even suicidal.  Time Magazine recently reported on a negative consequence for children from the recession.   Researchers have found that parents’ stress and worry over finances has possibly led to an increase in shaken-baby syndrome cases.

Shaken-baby syndrome occurs when a young child is shaken violently by an adult, usually to stop their crying or tantrums.  The force of shaking can cause the brain to shift, crushing blood vessels and damaging developing tissue.  The child may develop visual and hearing problems, seizures, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, or even death.

Researchers analyzed data on 512 cases of head trauma in four hospitals around the nation and found that the number of cases of shaken-baby syndrome had increased from 6 per month (the steady rate since 2004) to 9.3 per month.  Their findings correlate the rise in these cases with the recession. This is not the first time a period of stress for adults has been correlated with a rise in shaken-baby syndrome.  Time Magazine reports that after a devastating hurricane hit North Carolina in 1999, researchers found that in the six months following the disaster, the rate of brain injuries caused by child abuse increased five times from the rate before the disaster.

Nursing home residents at Bethesda Retirement Center in Chicago usually spend their time knitting or quilting. One day, they decided to try something different, and headed out to Evil Olive nightclub dressed as a biker gang.  After recruiting hairstylists, make-up artists, professional costumers and tattoo artists, the seniors got transformed for their night of fun. The event at the Evil Olive was attended by over 100 people, including members of the Latino American Motorcycle Association and Chicago’s Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. The nursing home residents were even able to raise money to help purchase a touch screen computer for the retirement center for internet use.