Public safety is rarely spoken about until something goes wrong. It is the responsibility of those in power, like elected government officials, to ensure the safety of the people of their town or city. However, ensuring their well-being requires considering the upkeep and maintenance of long-lasting infrastructure.
This includes infrastructure that has been around for a long time, such as underground pipes, electrical wiring and water treatment facilities. As a result, it can be difficult for many of these officials, and even the public itself, to fathom that these things can eventually break. This causes towns and cities to neglect essential infrastructure maintenance, which periodically results in dangerous lapses in public safety. When you find yourself the victim of such a situation, there are steps that you can take to advocate for yourself.
Hire a Lawyer
At the end of the day, government officials are responsible for preventing dangerous lapses in public safety. It is their responsibility to remain vigilant and educate themselves about any potential problems that could arise in the future. Therefore, when something goes wrong, as it did at Camp Lejeune with harmful water contamination issues, you have legal recourse. You can hire a lawyer to fight on your behalf in court.
Failing to properly maintain a town or city’s infrastructure can cause a large number of people a lot of trouble. There are examples of illnesses, including cancer, and even death resulting from such situations. If not contained or addressed, these are problems that can even affect multiple generations of people. For example, there have been chemical spills that have resulted in birth defects in the children of pregnant women near the affected areas. This is why you must ensure to hold the people responsible for such issues liable in court.
Contact Your Politicians and Community Members
Whether or not there has been a lapse in public safety, you should contact your politicians and let them know that it is an important political concern of yours or an issue that you care about deeply. The reality is that even though this should be something they care about no matter what, politicians are unlikely to act on something they do not think the public cares about. After all, they are mainly concerned with making themselves look good and useful in order to get re-elected. Therefore, they will focus on what they believe the public desires. Consequently, you need to support policies that solve existing public safety issues or prevent them from happening in the future.
Another great idea is to speak with your community about the importance of investing in infrastructure, whether for repairs or replacements. Make it clear to them that their well-being and the well-being of their children depend on it.
Although things might feel like they are out of your control, you can advocate for yourself after a lapse in public safety. Among other things, you can hire a lawyer to represent your interests in court and speak to your politicians and community members about your concerns.
