Riding with your pet in the car can certainly liven up any trip. However, taking your pet on a drive can turn from fun to dangerous in a matter of seconds. Like any other passenger, pets have safety rules, too. Keep you and your pets safe in the car and avoid car accidents by following these tips:

Properly restrain your pet. An unrestrained pet is free to wander all over your car, possibly wedging themselves inconvenient or dangerous and distracting you from the road. In the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet could hit the dashboard or go through the windshield at high speeds. Before heading out, make sure your pet is restrained. There are special car harnesses designed for your pet, or for maximum protection, put your pet in a well-ventilated carrier.

Don’t open windows all the way. Many dogs enjoy the wind in their faces, but letting your pet hang their heads out the window can be hazardous. Your pet could be injured by dirt, dust and debris.

Don’t leave your pet in your car unattended. No matter how long you will be away from your car, it’s never advisable to leave your pet in the car alone. Even with the windows cracked, hot and cold weather can be deadly to dogs.

Travel with pet supplies. Especially on long trips, make sure to travel with food, water, medications, waste supplies, favorite toys and other things your pet needs. Also, don’t forget pet ID tags and any other paperwork that would helpful in case of an emergency.

The personal injury lawyers at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience are always looking out for your safety, on the road or otherwise. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please call us today at 800-501-2782 for a free initial consultation or contact us online at www.sgplaw.com/contactus.php.

During the summer in Arizona, swimming pools are practically mandatory for keeping cool and refreshed. However, if the right safety precautions aren’t taken, pools can result in very serious injuries and fatalities, particularly for inexperienced swimmers and young children. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death in Phoenix for children under the age of five. Keep your pool safe by following these tips:

Always supervise children near pools. Even if your child is not in the water, make sure to have at least one adult watching in case of an accident. Drowning can take place in as little as a few inches of water within a few minutes, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

Don’t substitute flotation devices for proper supervision. Even the best floatation devices cannot adequately protect inexperienced swimmers from drowning.

Don’t run near pools. Pool decks can be slippery, so be extra cautious when walking near pools to avoid slips and falls.

Look before you leap. Diving and jumping into too-shallow water results in thousands of injuries and death in the U.S. each year. Before jumping or diving, make sure the area is clear and the pool is deep enough.

Keep a first aid kit, rescue equipment and emergency contacts handy. In case of an emergency, make sure supplies and important phone numbers are easily accessible.

Fence your pool. In Phoenix, all homeowners are required to completely fence their pools, spas and hot tubs to prevent drownings. According to the law, homeowners must enclose their pools with a non-scalable (at least five feet high) fence with a self-latching gate (the latch must be out of the reach of small children).

Negligence on the part of the pool owner, including improper supervision, can lead to very serious consequences. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident in the Phoenix area, the personal injury attorneys at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience can make sure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled. Please call us toll-free at (800) 501-2782 or visit www.sgplaw.com for more information.

Every time before you take a drive, it’s important to make sure your car is in good working order. Unfortunately, many of us are too busy to do even a basic check before heading out. A malfunctioning car could lead to a breakdown that will leave you stranded, or worse, a serious car accident. Checking your car on a regular basis could not only prevent more expensive repairs but problems with your car before they become hazardous. The following is a quick check guide to ensure that your car is in good shape before traveling:

Engine Oil: The oil you put in your car is critical to the success of your engine. Oil is not only what fuels your engine but also what protects it from wear-and-tear. Make sure your car is properly lubricated by changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (or 3 months – whatever comes sooner). In addition, make sure your car has sufficient levels of oil by checking every week or so. To check your car oil, locate the oil dipstick in your car, pull it out, wipe it clean with a rag, dip it back in again and pull it out. The level of oil should be close to the Full marker. If not, pour in more of the recommended oil for your car (check your owner’s manual for more information).

Transmission Fluid: A blown transmission could cost you thousands of dollars, so make sure you cut off transmission problems at the pass by checking transmission fluid regularly. To check transmission fluid, make sure your car is in park but running. Then, just like with your engine oil, dip, wipe, re-dip and examine your wick to ensure that your transmission fluid is clean and at the right levels. Your transmission fluid should be slightly pink. If not, have it replaced.

Coolant: This mixture of water and antifreeze in your radiator keeps your engine at a normal operating temperature year round. To prevent your motor from overheating, make sure your vehicle’s coolant is clear, not cloudy, and at the sufficient levels as marked on the reservoir. Also, be sure to check your radiator on at least every two years for corrosion.

Tires: Underinflated or overinflated tires can cause serious problems on the road, especially when driving at high speeds. Ensure that your tires are inflated to the recommended levels for your vehicle, and aren’t showing any signs of significant wear and tear. Moreover, in case of emergencies, make sure your car is stocked with at least one spare tire and a working tire jack.

Battery: The average battery lasts about three and a half years, but with Phoenix’ extreme weather, batteries can die much sooner. Check your battery and battery cables regularly for corrosion or cracks, and clean or replace if necessary.

Brakes: Your brakes ensure that you can stop within a reasonable amount of time. Screeching, clicking and grinding brakes are all signs of aging brakes in need of repair or replacement. If you’re hearing these sounds, check brake fluid levels as well as the condition of brake hoses.

Checking your car on a regular basis can put a stop to most breakdowns, but just in case, it’s a good idea to carry an emergency kit in your car. Booster/jumper cables, a jack, a tire gauge, a first aid kit and a blanket are just a few items you may want to carry with you in case of an emergency.

An auto accident can cause you plenty of distress, whether in the form of a serious injury and/or mounting repair and medical bills. Know and protect your legal rights by talking to a personal injury attorney. The lawyers at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience have plenty of experience dealing with auto accident causes, as well as plenty of other causes involving serious injuries and even fatalities. For more information, please contact us for a free legal consultation.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networking sites are great for connecting and sharing with friends. However, as social networks become more popular and widespread, activity on these sites is becoming more and more open to scrutiny. Insurance adjusters, attorneys and other parties regularly scour media profiles of parties involved in personal injury cases for fraud, exaggeration, conflicting statements and additional evidence. Sharing the wrong things on these sites can be more than simply embarrassing; they can cost you thousands of dollars.

If you’re involved in a personal injury lawsuit, follow these tips to prevent your social media activity from potentially sabotaging the outcome of your case:

Make sure all profiles are private. Adjust the settings of any social media profiles so that they aren’t viewable by the public.

Check your network. Ensure that you’re only connected to people you know and trust.

Don’t share any details about your injuries or case. For best results, refrain from sharing any information related to your injury, accident or lawsuit online.

A personal injury lawyer can advise you on what to do to make sure your injury lawsuit has a satisfactory outcome.

For legal advice and guidance following an injury in the greater Phoenix area, enlist the Mesa personal injury law team at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience. For a free initial consultation, please call us toll-free today at 1-800-501-2782.

Disclaimer: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.