PHOENIX (CBS5) -
When the weather finally starts cooling down, people start opening their windows and a Valley family wants to warn you about something before you do: the potential dangers of sun screens.
"It was about 4:30 in the afternoon and... it's really hard to talk about," Guy Larsen said.
The family had just installed sun screens in place of their bug screens.
Bug screens are the shades you're used to seeing on your windows.
"The sun screen on the other hand is tacked onto the outside of the house," Lori Berke, Larsen's lawyer said.
"They're a false sense of security and if they get pushed on, they're going to, more than likely, pop out," Larsen said.
Which is exactly what happened to then 10-year-old Jessica Larsen who was just looking out her window at a helicopter flying by.
"And so I just like pressed on it, and like I fell," Jessica said. "When I landed my legs were flat out and I was leaning and I didn't think my legs were there. I thought they were gone."
"They pretty much gave us the worst news that you could possible get except for had she died or something you know. It was pretty devastating," Jessica's mom, Carolyn Larsen said. "Her back was broken."
Jessica was told she'd never walk again.
Fast forward four years and the Larsens, with the help of their attorneys, were awarded a $2.75 million settlement.
Jessica is one tough cookie. She has got involved in wheelchair track and got second place in the paralympic trials after only training for six months.
Her unbelievably strong spirit takes her to places her body can't.
Her parents have one last warning.
"People really need to be aware that sunscreens are installed different than bug screens and they need to task how they're installed and be aware of it," Guy Larsen said.
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