Whose fault is it?
In my past profession as a police officer and involved in many investigations, I was privy to many excuses as to why people do what they do. Many of these people cannot and will not accept responsibility for their actions, regardless of how silly it will make them look.
Even as I enjoy my retirement in the public sector, I realize that some folks are having difficulty in acknowledging fault.
On August 17th, HLN broadcasted that a man married to a reality show star had committed suicide and some were blaming the “Bravo” channel because of the stress they caused for being featured on the show. I’m pretty sure you have to agree to be on the show, knowing your life will be an open book.
While in a parking lot of a business complex, I watched as two cars, both backing out at the same time, at the same speed, back into each other.
Both drivers claimed they had the right of way per their insurance companies.
When I investigated vehicle accidents on-duty, drivers would drive into stationary objects, such as fire hydrants, parked cars or buildings, only to claim the object should’ve been placed somewhere else.
Drunk drivers would place stuffed animals in the driver’s seat when I walked up to the window, claiming the teddy bear was driving.
Drivers under the influence of prescription painkillers and muscle relaxers claiming the doctor prescribed the pills to them so it must be okay to drive, seemingly not noticing the warning labels on the pill bottle. “May cause drowsiness”, “Do not operate heavy machinery” (Can you pick up your car? It’s heavy and it’s machinery).
We all remember the case where the elderly lady spilled hot coffee in her lap for McDonalds and sued because she received burns to her crotch area.
In the past, if we spilled something, it was due to clumsiness. Now it’s the establishment’s fault and an attorney is getting involved.
Now most coffee cups you receive now have the warning “Caution – Hot liquid”.
Really?
As far as warnings on products, it’s getting pretty ridiculous what is printed on the labels based on something that happened to someone.
A group called the “Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch” (Click here) started a contest on how lawsuits have changed the way product warning labels read now.
Past winners. The 81 year old scalding coffee lap lady from McDonalds (who got $2.9 mil) and a gentleman who won $50,000.00 because his teeth got caught in a basketball net, blaming the net company.
One label on a bottle of drain cleaner reads: “If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product”.
A warning label on a fishing lure with three hooks claims “Harmful if swallowed”.
Sleeping pills. “May cause drowsiness”.
A household iron warns “Do not iron clothes while they are being worn”.
Baby stroller company says “Remove child before folding”.
Warning label on a laser printer toner cartridge. “Do not eat toner”.
A CD player had an unusual warning. “Do not use the UltraDisc 2000 as a projectile in a catapult”.
I really wish I was there to watch as some cerebrally-challenged individual try these feats that initiated these warning labels.
It seems reminiscent of a reality TV show as the characters attempted to do the most insane stunt, and live through it for the sake of entertainment. At least, they knew pain was inevitable.
How about catapulting someone as they tried to swallow a fishing lure while eating toner and holding a hot cup of coffee in their lap, holding scissors?
So much could go wrong.
Catapult might not launch far enough (couldn’t be operator error).
The curvature on the hooks might not have the right radius for swallowing.
The toner might look like cake mix.
They should’ve known I was going to put 180 degree fluids between my legs so they should’ve designed a better cup to hold it in.
My mom never told me not to play with scissors.
Sorry mom…
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