Summer is Here – Is There Danger Lurking in Your Lawn?

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we represent personal injury clients throughout the state of Delaware. If you’ve suffered an injury due to another party’s recklessness or negligence, our legal team works with you to recover the compensation you deserve. If you’d like to know more, schedule an appointment in our Wilmington, Newark or Seaford offices.

The return of warm weather, for many people, means the return of outdoor chores, like gardening or cutting the grass. And we really do cut the grass! Americans on average spend 70 hours a year mowing the lawn. Carefully manicured, emerald green lawns tend to be a status symbol and a real estate agent’s dream. But is spending all that time on lawn care really all that safe?

Lawnmower injuries and safety

Some people see mowing the lawn as a way to get some exercise outdoors. Some just see it as a chore. Regardless of how you see it, it’s important to stay safe while you do it. Did you know that, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 80,000 people go to the emergency room each year due to lawnmower injuries? And nearly 13,000 of those injuries are to children under the age of 19. One more startling statistic—lawnmowers are the leading cause of limb amputation for children under 10.

It’s crucial to understand how to operate both walking and riding mowers safely, and not to allow young children to operate or play around on power mowers. And always ensure your machinery is in good working order.

Toxic chemicals and fertilizers

Your lawn mower’s spinning blades and gas engine aren’t the only dangers hiding in your yard. In our efforts to keep our lawns green and lush, many of us also put a lot of fertilizers and pesticides on our grass. In fact, we put about 67 million pounds of it on our lawns each year, releasing dangerous greenhouse gases and causing toxic runoff into our waterways.

So what can you do to protect yourself—and the environment? For one, you can make an effort to reduce your mowing. One way is “sustainable landscaping,” where you replace grass with native plants or grasses. This can also cut down on your water bill, as native plants and grasses don’t need as much water. Sustainable landscaping also helps an area retain biodiversity.

Whatever you decide to do with your yard this summer, please be safe. And if you or a family member are injured due to a faulty lawnmower or other outdoor tool, the personal injury attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help. We’ll listen to your story and work with you to ensure you’re compensated for your injuries. Our lawyers serve clients in the Wilmington, Seaford, and Newark areas. Call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form today.

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