Garage Door Injuries
The garage door is often the most highly used entrance to your home, as the convenience of a keypad and an automatic entry system make it convenient to use. Unfortunately, garage doors can present a safety hazard, especially for young children, who can be crushed under the weight of the heavy doors.
To keep children safe, it is important to evaluate the condition of your garage door and make sure that it is up-to-date in safety features. If your garage door system is old, you should install a new, modern system. In 1993, the Consumer Product Safety Commission began to require that all new garage doors have an “external entrapment protection system.” These systems include a sensor which will cause the garage door to reverse if an object is obstructing the door’s path in order to prevent the entrapment of a small child or other injuries.
Older systems do not reverse at all, or only reverse after contact with an object, which itself can cause serious injuries, especially to young children or pets, or can cause extensive property damage. If your door was manufactured before 1993, it is important to update your garage system
To keep children safe around garage doors, remember:
- Teach children to never try to cross beneath the garage door while it is moving.
- Never let kids play with garage door remote controls.
- Mount the keypad out of reach of children and where the operator can clearly see the moving garage door.
- Learn how to use the emergency release in case someone is trapped under the door. Usually, the emergency release is a rope hanging from the motor which, when pulled, will disconnect the system so that you can lift the door manually.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective or malfunctioning garage door, the Iowa personal injury lawyers of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. can fight to help you get the compensation you need from the party responsible for your injuries. Contact our offices today at 877-327-2600 to speak to a qualified attorney.
