Product Liability Law Blog

Toyota is recalling over 90,000 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVS because the seat belts in the third row may not secure a child restraint system properly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the seat belt webbing is not being properly secured by the automatic locking retractor. This is causing the webbing to “spool out during normal driving.” This failure could affect the ability of a child restraint system to function properly and cause serious injury to a child during a motor vehicle accident.
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Child Restraint Systems
Child restraint systems are used to secure infants and kids safely in cars so that their injuries are minimized in the event of a motor vehicle crash. There are child restraint laws in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia that requires that children in motor vehicles be secured by some type of restraint system.

It is important that the child restraint system you use for your child is functioning properly, free from manufacturing defects, and is secured properly. It is also important that the seat belt that you use to secure the child restraint system is working properly so that the system can work correctly.

Defective Seat belts and child restraint systems can lead to many kinds of serious injuries when there is a serious auto accident, including:

• Roof crush injuries during a rollover crash
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Blunt force injuries
• Cuts and bruises from being thrown into doors or through glass windows
• Death

Our automotive products liability law firm is known for helping victims of auto accidents recover personal injury compensation for their injuries, pain, and suffering. We have recovered over $150 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients.

Child safety seat belt problems force Toyota to recall 90,000 Highlanders, Automotive Business Review
Toyota Recalls Highlander, Highlander Hybrids for Seat Belt Problem, ConsumerAffairs.com, May 3, 2008

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Toyota

Continue reading " Toyota Recalls 90,000 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs Because of Child Safety Seat Belt Problems " »

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Posted In: Defective Seatbelt and Restraint System Cases , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars , Toyota Safety Issues

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Last week, Walt Disney Store announced the recall of 8,000 Tinker Bell wands and 4,100 Pirates of the Caribbean sleeping bags due to excessive levels of lead. Both products were made in China.

The sleeping bags’ zippers contain lead paint. The wands have lead paint on their pearl beads. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that there have been no reports of injuries related to the products.

The products were sold in Disney Stores from April to October 2007. Consumers are instructed to stop using the products immediately and return them for a full refund.

Disney began independent tests on all of its toys last September after Mattel began recalling millions of toys. Mattel’s recall included 436,000 “Sarge” cars from the Disney-Pixar movie “Cars.” Disney mandates that its toy makers test every toy for lead before shipping them.

Exposure to excessive levels of lead can lead to serious injuries, including seizures, learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and death. Why, then, were toys even made using such high levels of lead paint?

In China, where many of the toys recalled because of too much lead are made, paint with greater levels of lead are less costly than paint with low lead levels. Using paint with high levels of lead reportedly also results in richer paint colors.

Even though China has a tougher paint standard, at no greater than 90 parts of lead per million, than the US’s standard, which allows up to 600 parts per million, enforcement of lead regulation in China is more relaxed. Many paints in China when tested reportedly exceed the US standard for lead.

Sometimes, there are no signs to indicate exposure to excessive levels of lead. Potential indicators of lead poisoning in children include appetite loss, stomach problems, sleeping difficulties, and problems paying attention.

Our product safety law firm represents children and their families across the United States that have been injured because of defective or dangerous toys. One of our dangerous toy lawyers can explore your legal options with you during your free consultation.

Disney recalls sleeping bags, magic wands over lead paint, MercuryNews.com, May 22, 2008

Why Lead in Toy Paint? It’s Cheaper, NYTimes.com, September 11, 2008

Related Web Resource:

China bans lead paint in toys exported to U.S., MSNBC.com, September 11, 2007

Recalls

Continue reading " Walt Disney Recalls Pirates of the Caribbean Sleeping Bags and Tinker Bell Wands Because of Lead Paint Violations " »

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Posted In: Injuries to Children & Minors , Toys

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning 15-passenger van users to drive safely this summer. New research shows that the number of deadly 15-passenger van rollovers increases between June through August, with 31% of all 15-passenger van rollover accidents occurring during this busy travel period.

While the number of 15-passenger van deaths continues to decline, too many accident fatalities and injuries that are still happening. 58 people died in 15-passenger van accidents in 2006. Just this year, in British Columbia, 8 people died when a 15-passenger van fishtailed and ran into a large truck.

While driver inexperience, driver negligence, and improper maintenance can lead to 15-passenger van accidents, another major problem is the way the 15-passenger vans are designed. The more occupants riding in a 15-passenger van, the more prone it is to becoming involved in a rollover crash because its gravity center moves back and up.

This makes the 15-passenger van harder to control during an emergency situation and means that even if the van is used as intended and designed, with no more than 15 passengers riding the van, occupants are at risk of serious injury or death in the event of a rollover accident or a collision with another motor vehicle.

Placing cargo on top of a 15-passenger van can also increase the risks of a rollover. The NHTSA also has found that 15-passenger vans are more likely to be involved in a single-auto rollover collision than other motor vehicles.

15-passenger van accidents and rollovers can lead to serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, head injuries, neck injuries, and death. While the US federal government has banned school districts from using 15-passenger vans, there are still many 15-passenger vans driving on US roads.

Our auto products liability law firm represents injury victims and their families throughout the United States with 15-passenger van lawsuits against the vans’ manufacturers.

Nation’s Top Vehicle Safety Official Urges 15-Passenger Van Users to Drive with Caution this Summer, NHTSA.gov, May 12, 2008

Federal probe sought into 15-passenger vans after deadly school trip, CBC.ca, January 15, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Reducing the Risks of Rollover Vans in 15-Passenger Vans, NHTSA.gov

Study Confirms 15-Passenger Van Rollover Risk, Consumer Affairs, May 26, 2005

Continue reading " NHTSA Warning Highlights Dangers of Riding in 15-Passenger Vans " »

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Posted In: Automotive Product Liability

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Ford Motor Inc. is voluntarily recalling over 655,000 F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT Pickup Trucks following reports of 11 minor accidents. 2005 and 2006 models with 5.4 liter 3-valve engines are affected by the recall.

The automaker wants to repair a hose that could affect a truck’s braking power if the hose were to become swollen and detach from the intake manifold. The driver might then lose the “assist” function that gives the brakes extra power and would have to step on the pedal more forcefully to stop the truck.

Brake Problems
Brake problems can lead to awful consequences for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, especially when one of the motor vehicles involved is a large, heavy truck. Injuries sustained in a truck accident can be catastrophic and may result in spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or massive internal injuries.

Examples of other brake problems that can cause serious accidents:

• Defective parking brakes
• Problems with the hydraulic lines
• Damaged brake pads
• Brake failure

If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident or a car accident that occurred because of a defective auto part, you may be able to hold the auto manufacturer, the car dealership, or the auto maintenance shop financially responsible for your injury accident. Calling attention to the product defect may also get the problem fixed and prevent other people from getting hurt.

Over the years, our products liability law firm has successfully represented many injury victims of defective motor vehicles. We take your automotive products liability case very seriously. We even employ an in-house engineering staff that are experts on vehicle safety and design.

Ford recalls more than 655,000 trucks, CNN.com, May 14, 2008

Ford Recalls Trucks for Faulty Break Hose, NewsInferno.com, May 15, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Recall Information, Ford Motor Co.

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Posted In: Automotive Product Liability

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Kohl’s, Neiman Marcus, True Religion Apparel, Life is Good, Gilden Activewear, Dollar Days International, Cayre Group, and Seena International have agreed to pay $320,000 in penalties to settle allegations made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that they failed to give immediate notice that they were selling clothing with drawstrings—a combination that is known for causing serious injuries to children.

In 1996, The CPSC had provided retailers and manufacturers with guidelines that suggested that no drawstrings should be placed in the neck or hood area of children’s clothing. It also recommended that drawstrings in pants or at the waist level only be a certain length. In 2006, the CPSC told clothing makers and sellers that any clothing that violated its guidelines would be recalled for defects.

All eight companies have recalled the clothing. They claim they were not aware they had violated the law.

Since April 2007, there have been over 18 recalls involving more than 190,000 units of children’s clothing that came with drawstrings around the waist or neck. There have been no reports of serious injuries associated with the recalls over the past year, but there have been serious injuries and fatalities in the past.

From 1985 to 1999, 48 incidents involving drawstrings on children’s clothing getting tangled on nursery furniture, playground equipment, or other items have been reported. 22 deaths were also reported, including a 14-year-old whose clothing drawstring got caught on a bus handrail. The girl died after she was dragged under the bus.

Drawstring on clothing can also pose a strangulation hazard for children if the strings were to wrap around the child’s neck too tightly or become tangled or stuck on an external object. Drawstrings with small objects attached to them that can easily fall off may pose a choking hazard for children that might swallow the pieces.

Our defective products liability law firm represents the families of children and infants that have been seriously injured or killed because of defective clothing, defective nursery products, dangerous toys, hazardous furniture, and other dangerous or defective consumer goods.

Clothing Retailers Settle With Safety Panel, Washington Post, April 23, 2008

Eight Companies Including Kohl's Must Pay Fine, Associated Content, April 24, 2008

Children's Rain Ponchos with Drawstrings Recalled by Daiso Due to Strangulation Hazard, CPSC.gov, May 12, 2008

Related Web Resource:

CPSC Recommended Drawstring Guidelines (PDF)

Continue reading " Retailers Pay $320,000 Fine For Selling Defective Children's Clothing With Drawstrings " »

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Posted In: Clothing

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On April 24, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Waxcessories® Inc. announced the voluntary recall of 830,000 electric simmer pots. There have been over 160 reports of wires and cords coming loose from the pots, and Waxcessories® and the CPSC were concerned of the electric shock and fire hazards that the simmer pots might pose to users.

No injuries have been reported so far. The simmer pots are used for melting scented wax and were made in China. All Waxcessories® electric simmer pot designs and styles are included in the recall.

Across the United States, our product safety law firm represents clients that have been seriously injured because of defective products. One of our electrical product defects lawyers can discuss your products liability case with you during your free consultation.

Electrocution Injuries
Defective products can lead to all kinds of serious injuries, including burn injuries and electrocution injuries. A person can sustain an electric shock injury when he or she comes into direct physical contact with an electrical current or an electrical source.

A person may experience electric shock from a defective hair dryer, heater, household appliance, an electrical work tool, or any other product requiring the use of electricity. Improperly installed power lines in homes and offices and other public premises can also lead to serious—even fatal—electric shock injuries.

The strength of the current and the parts of the body that are affected by electric shock can determine the seriousness of the injury.

Symptoms of electrical shock are not always evident, but serious injuries can include cardiac arrest, burn injuries to the skin, nerve or muscle damage, respiratory failure, hearing problems, seizures, deformity or broken bones at the point of contact on the body, spinal cord injuries, and unconsciousness after direct contact with an electrical source.

Related Web Resources:

Waxcessories® Recalls Electric Simmer Pots Due to Risk of Fire and Shock, CPSC.gov, April 24, 2008

Waxcessories

Continue reading " 830,000 Waxcessories Electric Simmer Pots Recalled Because Loose Wire Connections May Cause Electric Shock " »

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Posted In: Electrical Product Defects , Electrocution/Electric Shock

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