Washington Injury Attorney Blog

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 3 million Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured between 1993-2004 after The Center for Auto Safety alleged that the plastic gas tanks in the vehicles were installed too far back and too low making the vehicle unsafe in the event of an auto accident.

The Center for Auto Safety petition says that the design of the gas tank is "so bad that Chrysler frequently settles lawsuits without extensive discovery and subject to confidentiality agreements."

A search of the NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reports System (FARS) found that between 1992 and 2008 there were 172 fatal fire accidents and 254 fatalities involving the vehicle. The petition said, "There have been at least 44 crashes with 64 fatalities where the Most Harmful Event is fire." The document compared the Jeep with the now-infamous Ford Pinto.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents and the family of those killed. We also represent people who have been seriously injured due to defective and dangerous products. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Click here to read the Center for Auto Safety Petition on Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Char-Broil LLC, of Columbus, GA, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a voluntary recall of vertical gas smokers. In all, approximately 18,450 units in all are being recalled as they pose an injury hazard to consumers.

According to the recall notice, the smokers were designed with a hose/valve/regulator which does not allow sufficient gas to flow and if the flame is extinguished and reignited, an explosion can occur.

Char-Broil has received reports of doors bursting open and hitting consumers. Reported injuries include burn injuries to the face and head, head concussions and lacerations.

The units were sold at Walmart and other retailers between March 2008 and June 2010.

Contact Char-Broil at (866) 671-7988 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.charbroil.com for a free replacement hose assembly.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous and defective products and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The journal Pediatrics just published a study that says that using an infant safety seat designed for motor vehicles outside of a car poses a risk of serious head injury.

According to the study, the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention program has had reports of many injuries due to the misuse of the seats.

Injuries include:

• The seat falling from an elevated surface like a table
  
• The seat overturning and the child suffocating on a soft surface like a bed
  
• The seat overturning and the child suffering strangulation due to the restraint strap.

Pediatrics is encouraging car seat manufacturers to provide engineering and design improvements which may reduce the tipping hazard. Pediatricians, parents and child care providers need to be aware of the potential hazard of misusing Child Restraint Systems.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and those who have been injured by dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the recall of the first generation of Nap Nanny® Recliners while the death of a baby girl from Michigan is being investigated. The preliminary investigation into the child's death found that the baby was caught between the Nap Nanny® and a crib bumper after the Nap Nanny® was placed into a crib. The Nap Nanny web-site says the product is not for use in a crib and it is intended to be used on the floor only.

The CPSC and Baby Matters LLC, of Berwyn Pa. has had approximately 22 reports of small infants hanging or falling out over the side of the Nap Nanny®.

The CPSC says that 30,000 units are being recalled. For more information, see the Nap Nanny® website.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that Bed Bath & Beyond has issued a voluntary recall of Solar Lighted Cantilever Umbrellas after 21 reports of the umbrellas collapsing. Several reports of injuries have been noted.

According to the CPSC media release, there have 7,600 units sold. The umbrellas were sold exclusively at Bed Bath & Beyond stores between February and June 2010.

The umbrellas are a hazard because a plastic connector may break causing the umbrella to collapse. While the reported injuries have been minor including a bruise and abrasion, an umbrella collapse could cause a head injury, which could be serious.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

See the CPSC web-site for more information.

Baja Motorsports along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety (CPSC) commission has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 308,000 go-carts and mini bikes because they pose a burn and fire hazard.

According to the recall notice, there was one instance of a serious burn injury due to a leaking or detaching gas cap. The notice also said the throttle can stick and pose an acceleration hazard to users. There have been 25 reports of injuries due to the face or other body parts because of a sticking throttle.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous and defective products and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

For further information concerning the recall, consumers can contact Baja Motorsports toll-free at (888) 863-2252 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit their website at www.bajamotorsports.net.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) proposes new rules governing the sale, re-sale and use of drop-side baby cribs. This year, there has been numerous recalls of cribs across the U.S. because the drop-side can detach when hardware breaks can and a child can become entrapped, suffocate or fall out of the crib.

Pottery Barn Recall

The most recent crib recalls have been from Pottery Barn after there were 36 reports of cribs malfunctioning or sides detaching which resulted in injuries to six children. The retailer has recalled 82,000 cribs because of strangulation, suffocation or fall risk.

The CPSC proposes rules, which would go into effect next year, calling for banning sales of drop-side cribs from stores and banning their use in hotels and daycare centers.

Safety Precautions for Parents

The CPSC provides the following safety tips for parents who have drop-side cribs:

• Do not use a crib with missing, loose or broken parts.
• Make sure crib components are tightened regularly.
• Make sure the crib sides move up and down smoothly.
• Make sure the sides do not become disengaged which could lead to a space which might entrap a child.
• Do not use a crib that is more than 10 years old.
• If you have a problem with a crib or question about it, use the Consumer Product Incident Report.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous defective products and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has broadened their recall of Tylenol products after metal particles, chemical contamination and dangerous bacteria has been discovered in some lots.

Some of the recalled products include:

• Children's Tylenol, Infants' Tylenol and Children's Tylenol Meltaways
  
• Children's Motrin and Infants' Motrin
  
• Children's Zyrtec
  
• Children's Benadryl
  
• Tylenol Extra Strength and Tylenol PM
  
• Benadryl Allergy and Ultratab
  
• Motrin IB

Check the McNeil web-site for details of which lots are involved in the recall. http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous and defective products. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Quality Food Centers (QFC) has issued a recall of their Broccoli Raisin Salad that they sold by the pound in the deli service department on July 10th.

According to the recall notice, the salad may contain walnuts though walnuts are not listed as an ingredient on the product label. Some people are severely allergic to walnuts and ingestion of the nut may cause a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction.

QFC says the salad was sold in stores in Oregon and Washington . QFC has offered to provide a refund or a replacement product.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become sickened because of dangerous products including those that cause foodborne illness. For more information, see the QFC web-site.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Burn injuries can be one of the most devastating injuries a person can experience. Not only are burn injuries very painful but the worst burns can leave the victim with permanent scarring, and nerve damage and severe burn injuries can even kill.

Most of us have experienced a burn injury at one time or other during the activities of every day life. We all are in contact with objects that can easily burn us. The kitchen is probably the most dangerous place in the house as people often burn themselves while cooking either from hot pots and pans or from steam. Most kitchen burns are relatively minor and can be treated at home. However, severe burns need immediate medical attention as they can affect muscle tissue, bones and blood vessels.

Burn injuries, however, can be caused by other substances not just the ones one might generally think of. For example, you can get serious burns from sunlight, radiation and chemicals. There are other side effects of burn injuries than just to skin tissue. For example, smoke inhalation can cause to respiratory disease and problems.

Burn Injuries at work

If you are burned at work, your employer owes you a duty of care. This is especially important if your work involves dangerous materials that can imperil your health. It is the duty of your employer to insure that all equipment and tools are in good working order, that all chemicals are safely stored and handled and that employees have proper safety training and safety equipment.

Burn injuries in motor vehicle accidents

Motor vehicle accidents can also be the source of burn injuries. While the most common type of car accident injury is whiplash or broken bones, sometimes a motor vehicle will catch on fire due to a collision and the occupants of the vehicle will suffer burns.

Burn injuries in public venues

Sometimes freak accidents occur while people are out and about which result in a burn injuries. One example is when a restaurant server or flight attendant spills hot food or drink resulting in a burn injury.

Seeking compensation for a burn injury

If your burn injury was caused by the negligence of another party or because of a defective or faulty device, you may be entitled for compensation for your injury including lost wages, medical care and for pain and suffering. A knowledgeable and skilled personal injury attorney can help assess your case and work with you to make sure that your rights are protected.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing burn accident victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Merck & Co. the manufacturer of Fosamax, an osteoporosis drug, has been ordered to pay Shirley Boles, 72, $8 million dollars finding that her jaw disease, osteonecrosis, was caused by taking Fosamax.

The crux of Boles' suit is that Merck failed to warn doctors and patients that the drug might effect the flow of blood to the jaw, causing jawbone-tissue death. In finding against Merck, jurors found that Fosamax is defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous according to Bole's attorney.

Merck faces hundreds of product liability lawsuits because of allegations that the drug caused the jaw-destroying condition.

This case is considered a "bellwether" case and its determination may lead to out-of-court settlements.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous and defective products and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Source:
Business Week
Merck Loses $8 Million Verdict in Trial over Fosamax
June 25, 2010

The FDA says a product sold as 'Generic Tamiflu' on the internet has been found to contain an antibiotic which could cause serious and life-threatening side effects to people who are allergic to penicillin products.

FDA tested the 'Generic' version of Taimiflu that there representatives were able to purchase on the internet and found that it did not contain oseltamivir, an ingredient in the genuine Tamiflu. Instead, it contained cloxacillin. The FDA was able to purchase these so-called Generic programs without a written prescription; currently there is no generic version of Tamiflu available for sale in the US.

The FDA advises consumers to purchase medication only from National Association of Boards of Pharmacy cites. Check the Verified Internet Pharmacy Sites (VIPPS) web-site to determine if an online pharmacy is legitimate.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group, a firm specializing in personal injury and product liability. We represent people who have been seriously injured by defective and dangerous products and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission along with IKEA home furnishings has issued a recall of roller blinds, all Roman blinds, and roll-up blinds due to the strangulation risk they pose to children.

The recall notice is for 3,360,000 units.

The recall was issued after there were reports of one strangulation and two near-strangulation to small children due to the product.

The blinds were sold at IKEA stores. In the Pacific Northwest, there is an IKEA store in Renton, Washington and one in Portland, Oregon.

For more information, contact at IKEA toll-free at 888-966-4532 anytime or www.ikea-usa.com.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A 4-year-old boy from Kansas has died after he suffered a traumatic brain injury when a television fell on him. Max Gordon of Stilwell, Kansas died at a hospital after an older-model TV tipped over.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, TV-tipover accidents which result in death are not that uncommon. In fact, they estimate that 180 people were killed between 2000 and 2006 due to tipped-over furniture.

THE CPSC recommends that parents, daycare providers and others use specially designed straps which, when fastened to the wall, prevents televisions and other pieces of furniture from tipping over.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by slip, trip and fall accidents and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages caused by the negligence of another.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

In an article published in The Seattle Times, Lyndsey Layton writing for The Washington Post, reports that the federal government seeks to prohibit the sale of drop-side baby cribs saying they pose "lethal dangers to children." The Feds seek to make this move after 32 babies were killed in crib accidents since 2000.

The feds are proposing the following rules for crib manufacturers: banning sales of drop-side cribs; prohibiting the use of drop-side cribs in places such as day-care centers and hotels; requiring crib manufacturers to provide adequate mattress support; testing cribs to ensure that cribs hold up to shaking and jumping; design cribs so that assembly is "idiot proof" so that it is impossible for people to assemble them incorrectly.

According to the article, the fatalities attributed to drop-side cribs were caused when the side became partly detached from the crib because of defect, poor design or improper assembly.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products and the family of those killed. Washington state has a wrongful death statute which allows the family of a person who has died because of the negligence of another person or entity to sue on behalf of their deceased loved one.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) along with Family Dollar Stores Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of 1.8 million "Auto Fire" toy dart gun sets after the asphyxiation deaths of a 9 and 10 year old boy in two separate states.

The toy dart guns are imported by Henry Gordy International and are only sold at Family Dollar stores and manufactured in China.

The toy is a danger because if the toy dart is placed in a child's mouth, it can be inhaled into the throat, causing asphyxiation.

Click here for the full recall notice on the CPSC web-site:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10234.html

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products and the families of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Food and Drug Administration says that McNeil Consumer Healthcare is issuing a voluntary recall of some infant and childrens' liquid medications due to some quality, purity and potency problems. Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg, MD said on the FDA web-site:

“We want to be certain that consumers discontinue using these products and that they know what to do if they have concerns about a specific product. While the potential for serious health problems is remote, Americans deserve medications that are safe, effective and of the highest quality. We are investigating the products and facilities associated with this recall and will provide updates as we learn more.”

The FDA noted that the recall is not due to adverse medical events but as a precautionary measure.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is recalling:

• Tylenol Infants' Drops
• Children's Tylenol Suspensions
• Children's Tylenol Plus Suspensions
• Motrin Infant Drops
• Children's Motrin Suspensions
• Children's Zyrtec Liquids in Bottles
• Children's Benadryl Allergy Liquids in Bottles

For more information, see McNeil's webs-site: http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Kelsey Macom, 36, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 30 days in jail, three months of home detention with electronic monitoring and three years of supervised release for tampering with a consumer products reports The News Tribune of Tacoma.

Macom, a resident of Buckley, had tried to get money from Coca-Cola by falsely claiming that her daughter's throat was cut by a shard of glass that was in a Dasani brand bottle of water; Dasani is owned by Coca-Cola corporation.

Macom admitted that her claim was fraudulent when Food and Drug Administration agents presented her with evidence that she had previously received a $1,500 settlement from another company after claiming her daughter was cut by glass contained in a chocolate bar.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of defective or dangerous products or because of the negligence of another.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Toyota Motor Corporation has temporarily suspended sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 after Consumer Reports magazine issued a "Don't Buy" safety rating because of concerns that the vehicle has a high risk of rollover accidents because of a flaw in the Electronic Stability control system .

Consumer Reports magazine put the car through a series of tests, pushing the vehicle to its limits. The tests were conducted at speeds of 60 miles per hour and were repeated by four separate Consumer Reports drivers. They also said they have had no reports of deaths or injuries caused by the stability problem.

Consumer Reports said:

When pushed to its limits on a handling course on CR's test track, the rear of the GX CR purchased slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control." 

This is the first time Consumer Reports has ever placed a "don't buy" or "not acceptable" warning on any vehicle manufactured by Toyota.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and the families of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages. We also represent people who have been seriously injured by dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Source:
Market Watch
Reported by Shawn Langlois
Consumer Reports: Don't buy the Lexus GX 460
Toyota's woes mount as rollover risk found in luxury SUV
April 31, 2010

Washington State Fire Marshal Paul Perz announced the release of the annual report 2009 Fire in Washington. The report details the causes of the 59 fire fatalities in Washington state in 2009.

According to the report, there were 8.8 fire deaths per million in population. Most fire-related fatalities occur where people live or sleep with 70% of the fatal fires classified as residential fires.

The causes of fatal fires for 2009 are:

• undetermined - 24%
  
• smoking related - 17%
  
• electrical appliances - 14%
  
• intentionally set - suicide or murder - 10%
  
• under investigation - 7%
  
• meth lab or drug manufacturing- 5%
  
• portable gas powered heating appliance - 5%
  
• vehicle-related - 5%
  
• cooking

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious burn injuries due to car accidents, defective products and construction or industrial accidents and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.