Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

Salsa Bicycles is recalling about 8,600 bicycles because the handlebar stems can crack or break, posing a serious fall and injury hazard to riders. According to this news report in Consumeraffairs.com, Salsa Bicycles has apparently received three reports of handlebar stems breaking. One such incident ended up with a rider breaking his wrist.

The recall involves all CroMoto S.U.L. stems sold as individual aftermarket units as well as several models of complete Salsa bicycles: Ala Carte, El Mariachi, Casseroll Triple, Casseroll Single and La Cruz. The aftermarket bicycle stems are black and have the word “Salsa” painted on the extension. The recalled products, manufactured in Taiwan, were sold by specialty bicycle retailers nationwide from November 2007 through December 2008. They were sold for between $60 and $65.

Continue reading " Defective Bicycle Handlebar Stems Recalled " »

Five people were injured, one critically, in a Los Angeles County big rig accident after a tractor-trailer struck at least four vehicles in Rolling Hills Estates, CBS News reports in this article. Los Angeles County Fire Department officials believe the big rig’s brakes may have failed on a downhill slope just before the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Palos Verdes North. The accident occurred the morning of February 24, 2009.

First of all, I’m relieved that this Rolling Hills commercial truck accident did not result in catastrophic injuries or death. I hope and pray that the person who was critically injured in this accident recovers from the injuries quickly and completely. Please keep these injured victims in your prayers.

California tops the list in the United States for the highest number of big rig accidents in any given year. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s statistics, in 2007, there were 361 large trucks involved in fatal accidents and 10.635 big rigs involved in injury accidents in California. Large truck accidents are notorious for causing catastrophic injuries or death because of the size and weight of these big rigs and the intensity of the crash. Occupants of smaller passenger vehicles are more likely to suffer a major injury or death in these big rig accidents.

In this case, if the news report is accurate, the tractor trailer lost its brakes while going downhill and was basically “out-of-control” when it struck the other vehicles. The fact that the big rig’s brakes failed tells me that the tractor trailer was either overloaded or not properly maintained.

Continue reading " Big Rig Accident in Rolling Hills Estates Injures Five " »

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has said it will require auto manufacturers to significantly increase the strength of vehicle roofs to receive the agency’s top safety pick ratings. The Institute conducts several crash tests each year and encourages auto makers to add safety features to reduce auto accident injuries and fatalities. The IIHS ratings are widely used by consumers to evaluate vehicles and by auto makers in their marketing efforts. IIHS has said that they will now require auto makers to have a 4.0 rating to win a top safety pick. Our source for this blog was this news report in Detroit News.

A study that was released by IIHS this month reaffirms the widespread belief among consumer advocates and personal injury attorneys that a 1.0 increase in roof strength will reduce the risk of fatalities in a single-passenger rollover crash by over 20 percent. It will cost auto makers just a few hundred dollars per vehicle to make that change. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put off adopting a new standard that requires auto makers to improve their vehicles’ roof strength. The current standard is more than 35 years old now, which is appalling considering that nearly 10,000 people die in only rollover accidents each year in the United States.

Continue reading " Vehicle Roof Strength will be Mandatory for IIHS’ Top Picks " »

I’m happy to announce that our Orange County law firm has signed up to participate in a paid internship program for high school students from low income areas, which is coordinated by the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. OC-ALA runs a program called Project SELF (Summer Employment with Law Firms). This is a summer internship program the group administers in collaboration with the Orange County Bar Foundation.

OC-ALA began with only 12 charter members, but now has a membership of more than 150 administrators. Their mission is to meet the needs of all members through “education networking and the exchange of information.” OC-ALA provides a lot of opportunities for leadership and helps enhance the visibility and credibility of the legal management profession through community service projects and partnerships with various legal associations.

What does Project SELF aim to accomplish? Basically, it provides high school students with the opportunity to become a paid intern at a local California law firm or law-related agency or business, giving them a unique and valuable educational experience. OC-ALA of course cannot achieve their goal of giving these youngsters this valuable opportunity without the willing participation of local law firms. Each law firm that signs up for this program can participate by employing one or more students for 30 hours a week during an eight-week internship at $2,000 per intern to cover the intern’s wages for the period of the internship. The program runs from June 22 through Aug. 14.

Continue reading " Bisnar Chase to Participate in OC-ALA’s Project SELF Summer Internship Program " »

American Honda is recalling about 420 of its 2009 model Odyssey vans to fix a problem with the brakes, Consumeraffairs.com reports in this article. Company officials say that incorrect brake hoses were installed during assembly. Over time, the hose can contact the caliper bolt potentially creating a hole through which brake fluid can leak. This could cause a sudden brake system failure and lead to a crash.

The recall has already begun and if you own one of these vehicles, you should start getting those recall notices in the mail. Dealers will inspect both the front brake hoses and replace them if they are defective. If you have any more questions, please call Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236. NHTSA’s Web site also has basic information about this auto product defect recall.

Continue reading " Honda Recalls 2009 Odyssey Vans for Brake Defects " »

Six foreign students from the Bay Area were killed on February 19, 2009 after their 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle went out of control, rolled over and crashed into a tree. According to this article in the Santa Maria Times, the SUV’s driver, Jeanne Ostrowski, 19, drove into the median on the southbound 101 Freeway near Los Alamos and for unknown reasons overcorrected. The SUV then crossed the southbound lanes before rolling over and crashing. Two passengers were ejected and the vehicle burst into flames. All of the deceased victims were between 18 and 30 years old.

My heart goes out to the families of those who were killed in this horrific California SUV rollover crash as well as the driver, Jeanne Ostrowski, who has been hospitalized with major injuries. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of all the young people who died in this crash. Please keep them in your prayers. I also wish Ostrowski the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

California Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which is looking into this tragic accident, has determined that alcohol was not a factor and also that Ostrowski was not speeding at the time of the crash. However, they have not yet determined whether or not the occupants of the Land Cruiser were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. Ostrowski’s life was saved because of Good Samaritan, retired Kings County firefighter John Duthie, who stopped and pulled Ostrowski out of the vehicle before it became fully engulfed in flames. He is no doubt a true hero.

Continue reading " Los Alamos SUV Rollover Accident Kills Six Students " »

Nimisha Emmanuel Gohil, a 38-year-old San Bernardino County prosecutor, died in an auto accident on Highway 71 the morning of February 17, 2009, the San Bernardino Sun reports in this article. Deputy District Attorney Gohil was traveling north on the highway near Euclid Avenue when her vehicle rear-ended a tow truck parked on the right shoulder.

Shortly before the accident two other vehicles had lost control because of the rain and struck a concrete median. Both vehicles were stopped on the right shoulder. A tow truck with its emergency lights was parked on the shoulder when Gohil lost control of her 2005 Toyota Sequoia and struck the left rear of the tow truck. Gohil was pronounced dead at the scene. A California Highway Patrol officer, who tried to get her out of the vehicle, was unsuccessful because the Toyota Sequoia was extensively damaged.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Nimisha Emmanuel Gohil for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS), there were two Chino Hills auto accident fatalities and 93 injuries involving traffic accidents in 2006. In San Bernardino as a whole, during the same period, 351 deaths and 10,842 injuries were associated with auto accidents.

Continue reading " Orange County Woman Killed in Chino Hills Auto Accident " »

Children’s product manufacturer Evenflo is recalling more than 200,000 of its ExerSaucer Children’s Activity Center because it poses a risk of fall hazard to young children. Apparently, when used as an activity table, the cap on one end of the product can loosen and detach. The company has received 11 reports of dislodged end caps that resulted in nine injuries. In one case, a child suffered a broken collarbone because of this product defect. Our source for this blog was this news report.

This recall involves the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun stationary activity centers manufactured in the United States between October 2006 and December 2008. The model number for these recalled products is 6231711. No other models are included in this recall because they do not use the defective end caps that spurred this recall. Also, company officials say the problem occurs only when the center is used as an activity table.

Continue reading " Defective Evenflo Activity Centers Recalled for Fall Hazard " »

Four people were injured in a Los Alamitos auto accident February 13, 2009 after an out-of-control Porsche struck a sport utility vehicle, the Long Beach Press Telegram reports in this article. The driver of the Porsche, who was heading east on Katella Avenue, lost control of the car. The vehicle jumped the center divider and knocked down a tree sending the car sideways into westbound traffic. The Porsche then hit the passenger side of a newer model silver Honda CR-V.

A man and a woman in the Porsche were taken to an area hospital with critical injuries while a mother and her son in the Honda SUV suffered moderate injuries. Police are saying that rain and speed may have been factors in this horrific Orange County auto accident. There is no mention in the newspaper article of whether alcohol or drugs could have played a part in this collision.

I’m relieved that this auto accident did not cause any fatalities although some of the victims have suffered critical injuries. I’m also glad that the child in the SUV was not seriously injured. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were two Los Alamitos auto accident fatalities and 111 injuries relating to traffic accidents in 2006. In Orange County as a whole, 199 deaths and 14,981 injuries were reported as a result of auto accidents during the same period.

Continue reading " Orange County Auto Accident Injures Four " »

The Disney Store is recalling about 20,000 “Handy Manny” toy tool sets because it contains small parts that could pose a choking hazard to young children. The company has apparently received two reports of children who started to choke on the pieces. So far no deaths have been reported. Our source for this blog was this news report in the consumer watchdog Web site, Consumeraffairs.com.

The recalled Playhouse Disney Handy Manny tool set is a plastic, eight-piece toy set that includes a tool box, hammer, saw, pliers, wrench, tape measure and two screwdrivers. The name “Handy Manny” is embossed on one side of the tool box. The product’s UPC (#405144100614 or #422147400633), can be located on the packaging. These toys, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at the Disney Store nationwide from October 2007 through January 2009 for about $15.

Continue reading " Disney Toys Recalled for Choking Hazard " »

Hill Sportswear is recalling 300,000 Kid brand pullovers and sweatshirts after a 3-year-old boy in Fresno, California, was strangled to death when the drawstring on his hooded sweatshirt became entangled in a playground set. According to this news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the recalled sweatshirts – Kid Pullover Hood Sweatshirt and Kid Zipper Sweatshirt with Hood – have drawstrings through the hood. These strings should be removed right away because they pose a serious strangulation hazard for children in Fresno.

This recall includes the Kid Pullover Hood and Kid Zipper with Hood. The recalled sweatshirts were sold at various small retailers in California and Texas from August 1999 through December 2008 for about $8. Parents who bought these pullovers or sweatshirts are urged to immediately remove the drawstrings from the garments or return the clothing to the place of purchase or to Hill Sportswear for a full refund. Consumers with more questions are asked to contact Hill Sportswear at 1-877-322-8760.

Continue reading " Sweatshirts and Pullovers Recalled for Strangulation Hazard " »

Jazmin Bojorguez, 21, of Los Angeles was killed in a two-car crash in Santa Fe Springs on February 14, 2009. According to this article in the Whittier Daily News, Bojorguez was the passenger in a vehicle driven by a 20-year-old man. Their vehicle was eastbound on Telegraph Road when it collided with a Nissan Pathfinder at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue. The vehicle then struck a palm tree and a cement pole and rolled over many times. Bojorguez was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the Nissan Pathfinder was apparently not injured in this Los Angeles County fatal auto accident.

Whittier police officials say it appears one of these vehicles ran a red light. Investigators are also looking into the possibility of the involvement of alcohol. Neither driver has been arrested or cited pending an investigation.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of young Jazmin Bojorguez for this tragic, untimely and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

There are many questions that remain to be answered here. Which one of the vehicles ran the red light? Which one of the drivers was operating under the influence of alcohol? Why did Bojorguez get ejected from the vehicle? There is no mention in this article if Bojorguez was wearing her seatbelt.

Continue reading " Woman Ejected and Killed in Los Angeles County Rollover Accident " »

I came across this news interview in The Orange County Register with John Clinard, manager of Ford Motor Company’s Western region communications and Octavio Navarro, assistant manager of Western region communications. The interviewer basically asks questions about Ford’s plans for the future and for surviving this economic downturn, which has especially been hard on auto manufacturers.

These Ford officials were asked a number of questions about how they would make their cars better. Clinard and Navarro talked about a lot of general issues from fuel efficiency to quality control. But one topic that was conspicuously missing in their conversation was – auto safety. There was absolutely no talk about how Ford would persevere to make their cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles safer for its occupants. Better tires, seatbelts, seatbacks, anti-rollover technology, better airbags and most importantly better roof strength – these issues were just not in the picture.

As Southern California auto product defect attorneys who have represented victims of substandard vehicles made by Ford Motor Company, we are appalled that “auto safety” is not one of the issues Ford officials are overly concerned about. Our firm has represented clients in seatbelt failure, seatback failure and roof crush cases associated with Ford vehicles. In these cases, our clients had lost loved ones or had themselves been catastrophically injured in auto accidents involving defective Ford vehicles. For Ford officials, making automobiles safer does not seem to be of interest and certainly isn’t a priority.

Continue reading " Ford Not Interested in Making Safer Vehicles? " »

A crash test done by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) on three big pickup trucks – Chevy Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan – show that the side crash protection provided by these 2009 model vehicles is “wimpy at best.” According to this news report in Consumeraffairs.com, these three pickups earn poor or marginal ratings in the IIHS side crash tests and although they are equipped with side airbags, the protection offered to occupants is no better than marginal.

IIHS officials say they expected these three pickups to ace the side impact tests given their size, weight and height. But as it turned out, these large vehicles tested poorly even when compared with passenger cars that were tested by IIHS. While the Dodge Ram earned a marginal rating, the Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado earned poor ratings when tested without their optional side airbags. The Titan’s rating improved slightly with side airbags, but the Silverado’s poor ratings remain unchanged even with the side airbags.

IIHS’s side impact tests gauge occupant protection in vehicles struck in the side by sport utility vehicles or pickup trucks. Results of such a test can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories, but that’s not true of frontal crash test ratings. That’s because the kinetic energy involved in the side test depends on the weight and speed of the moving barrier. So technically, the three pickups that were tested should have an advantage in side crash tests over smaller vehicles.

Continue reading " Three New Model Pickup Trucks Weak In Side Impact Crashes, Study Shows " »

Marzocchi brand bicycle forks are being recalled for a product defect that could cause a crash, Consumeraffairs.com reports in this article. The suspension system on bikes with the recalled forks could become completely compressed and fail to return to its original position after a forceful landing. This can apparently cause riders to lose control of the bicycle and crash. The forks can also expand forcefully if the consumer attempts to repair it, posing a risk of serious injury. So far, the company has eight reports of damaged forks including one report of an injury from a fall.

These defective bicycle forks were sold for installation on mountain bikes. The recall involves certain 2008 model year 888RC3WC suspensions with date codes beginning with T07D07, T07D08 and T07D09. The forks are white or black with red and black artwork on the legs. These forks that were manufactured in Taiwan, were sold at various bicycle parts distributors and retailers nationwide between July 2007 and September 2007 for between $1,000 and $1,700.

Continue reading " Defective Bicycle Forks Recalled for Serious Injury Hazard " »

New research done at the Traffic Safety Center of UC Berkeley shows that placing infants and small children in age-appropriate car safety seats significantly reduces the odds that they will die in the event of an auto accident. According to this article on Health Day’s Web site, the recent study demonstrated that infants’ odds of dying in a car crash dropped by three-quarters if they were placed properly in a safety restraint seats. Older children also reduced their risk of dying in a crash by at least 60 percent, the report stated.

Auto accidents are the leading cause of injury and death for children older than 1 year. More than 500 children under the age of 3 died as a result of traffic collisions in 2005, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 93 percent of babies younger than 1 year were placed in child safety seats in 2006 while 91 percent of children between ages 1 and 3 also rode in car seats. The UC Berkeley study also found that safety seats were most effective in preventing fatalities in rollover crashes, in rural environments and accidents involving light trucks.

Continue reading " Child Safety Seats Save Young Lives, New Study Finds " »

KTM North America has recalled about 2,700 defective all-terrain vehicles because the vehicles’ brakes and steering could fail. According to a public safety alert issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the rear brake caliper support can break and the front brake operation can experience a loss of pressure, posing a risk of the rider losing braking and steering control. Such a product defect, no doubt, could lead to catastrophic injuries or death.

These ATVs, manufactured in Austria, were sold by KTM dealers nationwide from August 2007 through January 2009 for between $9,300 and $11,700. The model name and KTM logo are located on the side of the recalled ATVs. The following models are included in this recall: 2008/2009 450 XC; 2008/2009 525 XC; 2009 450 SX; and 2009 505SX. Consumers who own these defective ATV products are asked to stop using them right away and immediately contact their local KTM dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Those who own these ATVs should have received recall notices in the mail by now. For more information, please call KTM at 1-888-985-6090.

Continue reading " Defective ATVs Recalled for Brake and Steering Failure " »

Field & Stream is recalling at least 6,700 defective camp stoves, which they say pose a hazard of serious burn injuries. According to this news report in Consumeraffairs.com, gas could flow through these burners at a rate that could produce higher than expected flames. Further, rain water in the burners can also prevent proper ignition and allow gas to build up and ignite without warning.

The defective camp stove recall involves the Field & Stream dual burner camp stove, which is a propane-fueled portable stove. The style number can be found on the product’s packaging. The Field & Stream logo can also be spotted on the back panel of the stove behind the burners. The stoves, made in China, were sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and through the company’s Web site from January 2008 and October 2008 for between $100 and $200. So far, no injuries have been reported, but U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission officials say in their consumer alert that those who own these camp stoves must stop using them right way.

Continue reading " Defective Camp Stoves Could Cause Severe Burn Injuries, Officials Say " »

A mother and her infant were reported to be doing well after their Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle crashed and rolled over on the 241 toll road in Foothill Ranch the afternoon of February 3, 2009. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, the black Ford Explorer swerved to the right from the number two lane and rolled over at least once. The SUV apparently left skid marks and debris across two lanes of traffic before coming to rest on its wheels. Both the mother and the baby, who were not identified, were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. But officials say both were not seriously injured.

I’m extremely relieved that this incident did not involve catastrophic or fatal injuries. Given the intensity of the crash, it’s a miracle that both escaped without any serious injuries. This is yet another case that proves seatbelts and car seats do save lives. In this case, the mother was buckled up and her infant was securely placed in a car seat, which saved both their lives. I wish them the very best for a complete physical and emotional recovery from what must have been a traumatic experience.

Continue reading " Orange County Ford Explorer Rollover Accident " »

Officials from several local, county and federal agencies pulled over numerous big rigs on the 57 Freeway in Brea that were in violation of federal truck safety regulations the morning of February 4, 2009, The Orange County Register reports in this article. Local law enforcement officials as well as California Highway Patrol officials were on the lookout for a variety of commercial vehicle violations. Some truckers were overloading their vehicles and others were driving with faulty brakes that were not routinely inspected as required by federal law. The checkpoint was run at Tonner Canyon Road on the 57 Freeway, which truckers apparently use to bypass a weigh station on the 91 Freeway.

Officials usually issue anywhere between 150 and 175 citations at these checkpoints per day, they say. Some of the violations described in this news report are extremely disturbing. One of the trucks pulled over had a registration reporting its weight at 10 tons, but the truck actually weighed 30 tons. One truck driver was operating his big rig with a suspended license and two truckers were stopped for faulty brakes. One of the drivers told the Register that he checks his truck every morning, but usually does not check his brakes. Several drivers were also cited for pulling over on the freeway shoulder for a non-emergency situation.

Continue reading " Officials in Orange County Catch Big Rigs Violating Federal Safety Regulations " »

Kenneth Donald Diaz, 21, was killed in a San Diego rollover accident on Feb. 1, 2009, when he lost control of his vehicle on the Interstate 805 and crashed, 10 news reports. Diaz was driving his Mercury sedan north on the 805 Freeway in San Diego County’s Otay Mesa area when he lost control and veered off the freeway. Diaz’s car rolled several times and struck a large eucalyptus tree leaving him pinned inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say he may have been traveling at a high rate of speed, but California Highway Patrol’s traffic investigators are looking into what exactly caused Diaz to lose control of his vehicle.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of young Kenneth Donald Diaz for losing their loved one in such a tragic and untimely manner. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this young man.

Statistically there is a high probability of catastrophic injury in a rollover accident. According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is an average of 40,000 fatal auto accidents in the United States each year. Out of these fatal crashes, 25 percent, or nearly 10,000, involve rollover accidents.

Continue reading " San Diego Rollover Crash Kills Man " »

Paul Townsend Ayers, 55, died in a motorcycle accident in Fallbrook the afternoon of January 31, 2009, the North County Times reports in this article. Ayers, a Vista resident, was headed west on Lilac Road following another friend who was on a motorcycle. For an unknown reason, Ayers drove off Lilac into a culvert near the Interstate 15 Freeway. Ayers, who was riding an on road/off-road street-legal bike, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His friend apparently did not see the crash occur. California Highway Patrol officials say alcohol or drugs were not involved in this accident. There were also no skid marks on the street or any obvious indications of what may have caused Ayers to lose control and crash his motorcycle.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Paul Townsend Ayers. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 5,154 motorcycle accident related fatalities in the United States in 2007. The number of motorcycle accident deaths has consistently increased over the years, these statistics show. California is among the top five states that have the highest number of motorcycle accidents.

Continue reading " San Diego County Crash Kills Motorcyclist " »

Mavic USA is recalling about 12,000 defective bicycles because the bicycles’ front wheel rim can break during use, posing a fall and crash hazard to riders. According to this news report, the recalled bicycles have R-SYS and R-SYS Premium front wheel rims. These rims were sold as original equipment on various bicycle brands and were also sold separately. The rims are 22 mm in diameter with 16 tubular, unidirectional carbon spokes.

These faulty wheel rims, manufactured in France, were sold at specialty bicycle retailers from May 2007 through December 2008 for between $700 and $750. Consumers are asked to immediately stop using bicycles with the recalled front wheel rims and contact their bicycle retailer for a free replacement rim. If you’d like more information about this recall, please call Mavic USA at 1-800-664-9228. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety alert, Mavic USA has one report of an injury involving broken teeth.

Bicycle accidents, even when they happen at slow speeds, can cause serious injuries to the rider. When bicycle riders are thrown to the ground as a result of a bicycle part that breaks or comes apart, they could suffer serious head injuries or concussions. In the one injury that was reported to the company that sold these defective bicycle rims, a rider broke his teeth. These types of injuries could result in permanent deformities.

Continue reading " Bicycles Recalled for Defective Front Wheel Rims " »

A company called Dorel is recalling about 100,000 Safety 1st SmartLight stair gates. The hinges that hold these stair gates can apparently break, posing a fall and serious injury hazard to infants and toddlers if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs. This recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were made before December 2007, are made of white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that lights up on approach. Our source for this blog is this news report.

The gates were sold at most large children’s retail outlets nationwide including Babies R Us and Wal-Mart between January 2005 and December 2007 for about $60. Consumers who own these gates are asked to stop using them right away and contact the company to get a free repair kit. For more information, please call 1-866-690-2540 to get their free repair kit.

Continue reading " Defective Children’s Safety Gates Recalled " »

Four-year-old Kayley Ishii of Mission Viejo died in a tragic accident after she climbed into a front-loading washing machine and her little brother switched it on. According to this news report, Kayley was in the water-filled machine for at least two minutes before her mother found her. Orange County Sheriff’s officials say the girl climbed into the washing machine the afternoon of February 2, 2009 and her 15-month-old brother managed to start the machine either by bumping against it or pushing a button. The washing machine’s controls were apparently only 20 inches from the floor and the start switch was a simple push button.

My heart goes out to this Orange County family. I cannot imagine the grief and the emotions they are dealing with right now. Tragic! I offer my deepest sympathies to everybody who knew and loved little Kayley. The Ishii family will certainly be in my prayers.

The first question that pops in probably every person’s mind after reading this story is: “How could this tragedy have been prevented?” Of course, when it comes to incidents involving children – be it swimming pool accident or those involving household appliances – it can all happen very quickly. Children can be creative and a lot quicker than adults in executing their ideas. You could take your eye off your toddler for a minute or for a few seconds and it could happen – just like that.

Continue reading " Orange County Girl Killed in Washing Machine Accident " »

A Torrance motorcyclist is suing Caltrans after he was seriously injured in an Orange County motorcycle accident, which he says was caused by a blind curve on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, 42-year-old James Kubeck was involved in an accident on July 6, 2007 on Pacific Coast Highway and 26th Street. He was driving south on the highway when a car made a left turn in front of him causing Kubeck to lose control of his motorcycle and crash. Caltrans has apparently filed a response stating 24 reasons the agency is not liable for this injury motorcycle accident, including negligence on Kubeck’s part.

Kubeck’s complaint states that he was driving at the posted speed limit on that street, but a sharp curve in the road prevented the driver of the other vehicle from seeing him. As a result of this motorcycle versus car accident, Kubeck suffered a broken neck and sternum, a punctured lung, lacerated liver and a torn aorta, spending two months in the hospital. Caltrans claims that both Kubeck and the other driver were negligent because they did not approach the curve with caution. But Kubeck contends that the blind curve was even worsened by the fact that cars were parked along the highway blocking the driver’s views.

Continue reading " Man Sues Caltrans In Connection with Orange County Motorcycle Accident " »

Toyota has issued two major recalls this week – one involving its Lexus models for a potential corrosion problem and the other involving its Yaris 2006 and 2007 models to fix a problem with its front seat belt retractor. Toyota is recalling about 215,000 Lexus GS, IS and LS models that are equipped with aluminum fuel delivery pipes, commonly referred to as fuel rails.

Ethanol fuels with low moisture content can corrode the internal surface of these fuel rails possibly causing fuel leakage, which could in turn trigger a fire. Dealers will inspect and replace these rails free of charge when the recall begins later this month. For more information, vehicle owners may call Toyota at 1-800-255-3987.

Continue reading " Toyota Recalls Lexus and Yaris Models for Auto Product Defects " »

Seven Chinese tourists were killed and 15 others were injured after a tour bus overturned on a highway near the Hoover Dam in Dolan Springs, Arizona, on January 30, 2009. According to this Associated Press news report, the fatal bus accident occurred about 190 miles northwest of Phoenix. The driver of the bus apparently lost control of the vehicle. The bus was traveling north on the U.S. 93 when it veered left and then right across the median. It rolled over at least once before coming to a stop.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said all but one of the fatally injured victims was ejected from the bus. The bus driver was also said to be in critical condition. The tourists on the bus were Chinese nationals who had arrived in San Francisco from Shanghai. The Chinese Government is yet to release the names of the victims. There were a estimate of 15 to 20 passengers in the bus. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials are investigating the cause of the crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the families of these victims, who were killed in this tragic bus accident. I also pray for those who were injured in this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Here was a group of people who’d come to the United States to travel and have a good time. It’s heartbreaking! Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

Continue reading " Arizona Bus Crash Kills Seven, Injures 15 " »

The salmonella-tainted peanut butter, which has so far sickened 500 people and killed eight nationwide, was distributed to at least 10 agencies in Orange County, state health officials have announced. The recipients of these contaminated products apparently include special education schools, juvenile detention centers and school districts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an expanded recall of all products processed at the Peanut Corporation of America’s plant in Georgia, which they say, is the source of this lethal salmonella outbreak. Our source for this blog was this news report in The Orange County Register.

Lawmakers have called for criminal probes of the facility owned by The Peanut Corporation of America that had manufactured the peanut butter after FDA officials found evidence of salmonella, and continued to ship the products knowing that they were contaminated. According to this news article an FDA report states that the plant not only shipped products that failed lab tests, but that it never cleaned parts in the plant that were under suspicion. Prior FDA inspection reports showed 10 violations of federal food safety standards at the Georgia plant. The company found salmonella in its products seven times in 2008 and five times in 2007, but shipped them out anyway after a second test “cleared” the product.

This information, unfortunately, comes too late for those who have suffered and those who continue to suffer from the horrible effects of this potentially lethal food-borne illness. As we have seen, salmonella infection can kill and this outbreak has killed seven people so far in the United States. To find out now that this company knew its products were contaminated and still sent them and made no effort to clean up, is appalling to say the least. It is absolutely unacceptable. If this report is accurate, they knowingly poisoned the nation’s population. They should be held criminally and civilly responsible for their negligence and utter disregard for the safety and well-being of their consumers.

Continue reading " Several Orange County Residents Sickened by Contaminated Peanut Butter " »

JAKKS Pacific is recalling about 500,000 defective Spa Factory Aromatherapy kits because of an explosion hazard. According to this news report in Consumeraffairs.com, pressure from the buildup of carbon dioxide in the jars of Bath Bombs/Balls or Bath Fizzies can cause the caps on the jars to blow off, posing explosion and projectile hazards. The mixtures that these kits are made of can also contain citric acid, which can get into the eyes during an explosion and cause eye irritation.

So far, JAKKS and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have received 88 reports of exploding jars including 13 personal injuries cases. The type of injuries range from eye injuries from the flying caps to cuts, bruises and swelling. This particular recall involves the purple caps on jars in the Spa Factory Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain and Bath Benefits Kit toys. The jars are used to make Bath Bombs/Balls and Bath Fizzies. These kits were apparently sold at Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Target and toy stores nationwide between August 2008 and January 2009 for about $13.

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