Distinguishing Luck and Liability
An Orlando personal injury attorney may tell you that few accidents are simply a matter of “bad luck”. The superstitious person can blame spilled salt or the wrong side of the bed, but ultimately it is faulty products, negligent behavior, and plain carelessness that are the real cause of most personal injury claims. However, one can benefit from abiding by many of the most practical and well-known sources of “bad luck”. Many superstitions are based on actual injuries that can occur if you are not cautious. Speak to a qualified personal injury attorney in Orlando if you accidentally “step on a crack” and land on a personal injury claim.
Walking Under a Ladder
While the myth is centuries old, the rule of never walking under a ladder still carries obvious practical application today. A person walking under a ladder might be hit by falling tools or knock over the person standing on the ladder. Some ladders today even come with warning signs indicating as such. Falls from ladders and construction accidents involving ladders are common injuries seen by any Orlando accident attorney.
Opening an Umbrella Indoors
Think of opening an umbrella not only as a potential claim for a personal injury attorney in Orlando but simply as a matter of etiquette. This superstition began in the Victorian era when umbrellas were quite fashionable and also adept in knocking over vases and other valuable art pieces that Victorians loved to display in their homes. The risk of damage is just as probable today if you are not careful, you can even poke out an eye.
Breaking a Mirror
A broken mirror really could result in 7 years of bad luck if someone is injured by the broken glass. In any situation, particularly involving businesses open to the public, property owners are responsible for quickly and thoroughly cleaning up broken debris before anyone has the chance to step or fall on it. Superstitions about mirrors began in ancient Rome, but the practical applications still apply today.
Black Cats
Is your well-meaning but misguided neighbor leaving out food for the stray cats in the area? A rise in the number of feral cats is a danger to everyone, especially small children that are most at risk for scratches and bites from infected strays. An Orlando personal injury lawyer may be involved in more than just bad luck if your neighborhood is filling with cats.
During the Bubonic Plague, black cats were seen as a well-recognized omen of death. Many major historical figures were said to have suffered from ailurophobia (fear of cats), and an estimated 15 percent of the population today share some level of that same fear. The chief realistic concern is the fear of being bitten or scratched, and the concern is not unmerited. An Orlando personal injury attorney is necessary just as easily for cat attacks as for dogs. Far worse than dog bites, cat bites may quickly lead to severe infections that often result in hospital care and long-term damage.
