Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

Manuel Garcia Baltazar, 26, was killed in a rollover car accident on the 10 Freeway in Riverside County, California. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, officials are puzzled as to what caused this fatal car accident and why Baltazar lost control of his pickup truck. Baltazar was ejected from the truck and died at the scene of the early morning car crash, which occurred on July 29, 2009. California Highway Patrol investigators say he was not wearing his seatbelt.

Baltazar was reportedly traveling eastbound on the freeway in the fast lane when his 2003 Chevrolet truck went off the roadway on the left. He then overcorrected and skidded into the dirt where the truck rolled once. Officials don't know how fast he was going, but according to witness reports, Baltazar was not speeding. No other cars or vehicles were involved in this car crash and CHP officials also say that alcohol or drugs were not a contributing factor.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Manuel Garcia Baltazar for their tragic and untimely loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Baltazar. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading " Riverside Rollover Car Accident Kills Man " »

Subaru has issued a defective auto product recall for about 15,000 of its model year 2005 to 2006 Baja pickup trucks. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, cracks could develop in the fuel hose connection to the fuel pump, causing a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel pump bracket with a "new and stronger part." This vehicle safety recall is expected to begin in September.

Fuel hose defects are no doubt dangerous especially in this case because they can cause vehicle fires, which could result in catastrophic burn injuries or even death to the car's occupants. I'm pleased that Subaru is recalling these defective vehicles. However, as with any product recall, one has to wonder whether the auto maker has been dragging its feet over this recall. Many auto and product manufacturers do too little too late when it comes to recalling their defective and malfunctioning devices or parts. I hope this is not one of those instances and that consumers will hear about these dangerous and defective products and have the faulty fuel hoses repaired.

Continue reading " Defective Subaru Fuel Pipes Pose Fire Hazard " »

A sport utility vehicle blew a tire the afternoon of July 22, 2009 causing a California car accident in San Bernardino County, which killed a 10-year-old girl. According to a news report in the Victorville Daily Press, the left rear tire tread of the SUV separated while the car was traveling in the fast lane of the 15 Freeway near Oak Hill Road. The driver, the girl's mother, lost control of the SUV that spun around backward and careened into the guardrail across the freeway, California Highway Patrol officials said. The 10-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl's cousin, uncle and the driver suffered minor injuries.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of this young girl who was killed in this car accident. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child, especially her grieving parents. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Continue reading " Defective Tire Causes Fatal California Car Accident " »

A 25-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident early morning on July 24, 2009, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports. The Downey, California, resident, who has not yet been identified, was traveling north on Studebaker Road when the motorcycle he was riding struck a concrete guardrail near Loynes Drive. The motorcyclist died at the scene. Anyone who saw this motorcycle crash or has more information is asked to contact Long Beach Police at 562-570-7355.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Fatal Motorcycle Accident " »

Did General Motors have knowledge of auto defects that could have prevented the death of a young mother?

A little over two years ago, Joanna Campbell was a passenger in a GMC SUV when the vehicle rolled over in a roof crush accident along Interstate 90 in Wyoming. Ms. Campbell was partially ejected from the vehicle and eventually succumbed to a severe skull fracture. She left behind two children.

Continue reading " California Auto Defects Lawyers File Wrongful Death Action Against General Motors, Seat-Belt Manufacturer and Car Dealer " »

A 21-year-old man, driving a white Nissan Versa, suffered major injuries in a Orange County car accident the morning of July 24, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. The man had veered off the road on Los Alisos Boulevard near Trabuco Road in Mission Viejo, California, and sustained major head injuries, Orange County Sheriff's Department officials say.

Continue reading " Orange County Car Accident Leaves Man Seriously Injured " »

Sevca LLC. is issuing a defective product recall for 94,000 Sevylor Tow Behinds with Quick Hitch connectors. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the Quick Hitch, which connects the towable to the boat, can break and project pieces of the plastic Quick Hitch back to the boat. If this happens, individuals can be struck and there is the potential for serious personal injury. The company has apparently received one report of a boat occupant being struck by a piece of Quick Hitch still attached to the towrope. This product recall involves Sevylor Tow Behinds with Quick Hitches manufactured between 2005 and 2009. These defective products were made in China and sold in department and retail stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2008 for between $50 and $240.

Continue reading " Defective Product Recall Involves Tow Behinds that Pose Risk of Serious Injury " »

Polaris Industries is issuing a defective product recall for about 4,700 2009-model all terrain vehicles because the valve assembly can fail in freezing temperatures causing oil to leak into the exhaust system and pose a fire and burn hazard to the rider. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, Polaris has received six reports of the valve assembly failing in freezing temperatures resulting in three fires. So far, no injuries have been reported.

This product recall involves the Polaris ATVs with model year 2009 that were sold under the market names ESP XP850 and Sportsman XP 850. Polaris dealers nationwide sold the ATVs from September 2008 through June 2009 for about $9,000. Consumers who own one of these defective ATVs must stop using the vehicles in sub-freezing temperatures and call their Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. If you are a registered owner, you should receive a direct mail notification about this recall.

Continue reading " Polaris Recalls Defective ATVs " »

Fiesta Gas Grills is issuing a defective product recall for about 88,000 of its Blue Ember gas grills because the hose of the grill's gas tank can get too close to the firebox and be exposed to heat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. According to a consumer alert put out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fiesta has received 161 reports of grill fires resulting in nine personal injuries including two incidents of major burn injuries in different parts of the body, six incidents of minor burns and one incident involving temporary hearing loss.

This product recall involves Blue Ember liquid propane outdoor grills that were sold at various home centers and retailers nationwide from November 2006 through June 2008 for between $400 and $500. Consumers who own these grills are asked to stop using them right away and call Fiesta Gas Grills to get a free replacement grease pan assembly and instructions for installing the part and the gas tank. The grill should not be used until the new grease pan assembly and the gas tank have been properly installed. Consumers are also asked to inspect the gas burner hose and regulator, which will be replaced free of charge if there are signs of damage.

Continue reading " Defective Gas Grills Recalled for Serious Burn Hazard " »

Lindsay Nava, 24, of Glendora, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the morning of July 19, 2009 after her car flipped several times on the 210 Freeway in Azusa, the Pasadena Star News reports. Nava was driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla east on the freeway near Vernon Avenue when for unknown reasons, she lost control of the Toyota and veered off the roadway, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Toyota rolled over several times. Nava died at the scene of the car crash, Los Angeles County Coroner's officials said. CHP is still investigating the cause of this fatal car accident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Lindsay Nava for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Nava. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 249 injuries involving car accidents in Azusa. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 deaths and 56,475 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of car crashes.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Fatal Rollover Car Accident " »

Antonio Gonzalez, 38, died in a personal injury accident after his clothing became entangled in some equipment the morning of July 16, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Gonzalez was apparently asphyxiated when part of his clothing was caught in between machine rollers at an Irvine facility. Gonzalez was taken to an area hospital but died a few days later. Officials did not say what kind of work Gonzalez was doing at the time.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Antonio Gonzalez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Heath (DOSH) 2005 statistics, there were 453 deaths relating to industrial and construction accidents in California. Out of these victims, 76, died as a result of contact with some type of object or industrial equipment.

Continue reading " Orange County Fatal Industrial Accident " »

Miguel Figueroa, 48, and Rosanne Martinez, 40, suffered major injuries in a Tulare car accident the night of July 11, 2009, according to a news report in the Visalia Times Delta. The injury accident occurred on Highway 99 when the 2005 GMC Safari van that Figueroa was driving overturned. Both Figueroa and Martinez suffered injuries and were taken to an area hospital. California Highway Patrol officials reported that Figueroa lost control of the van and it rolled over when he tried to regain control.

My heart goes out to both the injured victims--Figueroa and Martinez. I hope and pray that they have a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 40,000 Americans die in car accidents each year. Out of these, at least 10,000 car accident fatalities involve rollovers, officials say.

Continue reading " California Van Rollover Accident Injures Los Angeles Residents " »

Brookstone Pharmaceuticals is recalling all lots of its Concentrated Acetaminophen Drops that come in 16-ounce bulk containers because of misleading packaging. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the container is comparable to the size generally used to package regular strength acetaminophen liquid preparation. That along with the absence of an integrated dosage delivery device is contributing to dosing errors among consumers. An overdose of acetaminophen could result in dangerous drug injury including liver toxicity, kidney damage and blood disorders.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has apparently received several medication error reports that document personal injuries and fatalities in children less than 3 years of age. However Brookstone officials say that they have not heard about any of these adverse effects. Customers who have this medication are asked to stop using it immediately.

Continue reading " Drug Recall Issued to Avoid Potentially Fatal Dosage Errors " »

A 55-year-old woman was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident the afternoon of July 14, 2009, 10news reports. The woman was reportedly driving a Volkswagen north on Scott Street when she tried to turn onto westbound Nimitz Boulevard. She was struck by another car traveling eastbound on Nimitz Boulevard, San Diego police officials said. The injured woman was transported to an area hospital with two broken vertebrae and a fractured hip. No one else was injured.

My heart goes out to this injured victim. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 84 fatalities and 6,516 injuries involving car accidents in the city of San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, 268 deaths and 14,641 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

Continue reading " Woman Injured in San Diego Car Accident " »

A worker suffered a fatal personal injury the morning of July 13, 2009 after he became entangled in a cardboard recycling machine, CBS News reports. The worker, who has not been identified, was working at a recycling facility in the 3900 block of North Mission Road in Lincoln Heights. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department officials. The man's death is still under investigation.

My heart goes out to the families, friends and co-workers of this accident victim who was killed while on-the-job. I offer my deepest condolences to them. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health's (CAL/OSHA) industrial accident statistics for 2005, 76 workers died that year from contact with equipment and machinery. Totally, 253 deaths relating to industrial accidents were reported in California in the year 2005.

In this Los Angeles industrial accident, it is not clear what exactly caused the worker to become entangled in the recycling machine. At this point, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Was the injured worker trained adequately to perform his job? Was he following safety procedures? Did he have knowledge of those safety procedures? I trust an investigation by local authorities as well as CAL/OSHA officials will provide some answers. Usually these investigations take weeks if not months, to be completed.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Fatal Industrial Accident " »

The University of California (UCI) Medical Center in Orange County is using defective products--particularly pain-control pumps--that have caused drug overdoses in patients, according to an Associated Press news report. A complaint filed with California health officials on July 9, 2009, states there have been five accidental drug overdoses as a result of these defective products at the UCI Medical Center since last year. The faulty medical devices resulted in one patient going to intensive care. A hospital spokesman reportedly told AP that nursing errors--not defective products--caused three of those five overdoses. He says no malfunctioning drug pumps are still in use and that safer models are being "phased in."

This is apparently not the first time that the UCI Medical Center has been in trouble. In May, the state fined the Orange County hospital $50,000 for violations, which caused a patient's death. Last year, federal inspectors cited numerous problems regarding patient care and procedures.

Continue reading " Defective Medical Devices Cause Drug Overdoses in Orange County Hospital " »

A major nationwide beef recall prompted by E. Coli food poisoning also involves 47,615 pounds of beef triangle tri tip sent to Costco warehouses in Los Angeles and the rest of California. About 380,000 pounds of potentially E. Coli-contaminated beef that has been recalled were produced by Colorado-based JBS Swift Beef Co. Los Angeles Public Health officials say their department launched an informational campaign as soon as they found out about the food recall. Officials say most of the stores contacted were aware of the E. Coli beef recall and that all of the affected products had been removed from store shelves. So far no cases have been reported in Los Angeles of people becoming ill from the recalled meat. Costco officials apparently destroyed all of the recalled beef by June 19.

The recalled beef products were distributed under the name of Morton's of Omaha Steakhouse Classic Tri Tip and Morton's of Omaha Rosemary, Garlic and Chardonnay Seasoned Tri Trip. Heath officials said that their follow-up calls to Costco confirmed that none of the Los Angeles stores had any of the recalled beef on their shelves.

E. Coli is a large and diverse group of bacteria mostly transmitted through contaminated food. Some kinds of E. Coli can cause diarrhea while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. The most common symptoms of E. Coli food poisoning include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and fever. In some rare cases, an E. Coli infection can result in kidney damage or even death.

Continue reading " Thousands of Pounds of Recalled Beef Sent to California " »

Users of Zicam cold remedies who have lost their sense of smell as a result of using the defective drug have found themselves a Zicam lawyer in order to file for a class action lawsuit against drug manufacturer Matrixx Enterprises. According to a news article in Consumeraffairs.com, the class action lawsuits were filed in federal court in California and state court in Missouri. The California lawsuit was brought on behalf of anyone who bought Zicam while in California or from a manufacturer or other source in California within the four years preceding June 23, 2009. The Missouri lawsuit defines a class of all St. Louis County residents who bought Zicam products in the year preceding a safety warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June.

On June 15, 2009, the FDA warned consumers to stop using Zicam intranasal cold gels and nasal sprays after receiving more than 130 complaints from consumers whose sense of smell was completely gone or diminished from having taken these defective drugs. Apparently, zinc gluconate, one of the active ingredients in Zicam cold medications can cause irreparable and irreversible personal injury from damage to intranasal tissue.

Continue reading " Victims File Zicam Class Action Lawsuits " »

Federal officials have announced new rules aimed at reducing food poisoning outbreaks--especially salmonella and E. Coli infections that have been commonly occurring in the United States over the last two years or so. According to an Associated Press news report, a food safety panel established by President Obama has developed new safety standards for foods such as eggs, poultry, beef, leafy greens, melons and tomatoes, as well as for better coordination and communication among the agencies that oversee the nation's food supply. The recent string of breakdowns in our country's food safety system led to a surge in food poisoning cases.

Thousands of Americans were sickened and many killed as a result of these outbreaks involving spinach, peanut butter, pistachio nuts, beef and other contaminated food products. Earlier this year, a massive salmonella outbreak in peanut products sickened hundreds nationwide and led to nine deaths. Just this last month, Nestle Toll House cookie dough and 380,000 pounds of beef produced by Colorado-based JBS Swift Co. were recalled because of E. Coli contamination.

Continue reading " Food Poisoning: Federal Government Tightens Food Safety Standards " »

A series of defective product recalls have raised concerns about so-called "smart" airbags and occupant detection systems and whether the front passenger airbag in a car can be fooled into not deploying when it should or deploying when it should not. According to a news article in the Washington Times, consumer safety advocates are worried about such erroneous airbag detection, which they say could cause serious injuries and even death in the event of a car crash.

The occupant detection system of the front passenger seat is designed to signal the airbag whether to deploy, when to deploy and in some systems with how much force to deploy based on the weight of the passenger. That sounds like a pretty smart airbag. However, when these systems malfunction because of a product defect, passengers risk injury or death. Some of these systems apparently use sensors on a mat in the seat bottom to determine passenger weight. Others use bladders filled with gel. Safety researchers say that these smart systems are problematic because a number of different auto makers are having trouble getting it right.

Continue reading " Defective Airbags Not So "Smart" After All " »

One man was seriously injured in an Irvine car accident after the Chevrolet pickup truck he was driving rolled over and crashed on the northbound 5 Freeway the afternoon of July 2. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the Chevy pickup truck lost control on the Jeffrey Road off-ramp and rear-ended a white sport utility vehicle before rolling over. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital. There is no word on whether anyone else was injured in this Orange County rollover car crash.

I'm relieved that this car accident victim did not suffer fatal injuries in this rollover crash. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Rollover crashes are notorious for causing catastrophic injuries or death because of the intensity with which they occur. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 40,000 fatal traffic accidents in the United States each year. Out of these fatal car crashes, 10,000 are rollovers.

California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reports eight fatalities and 842 injuries involving car accidents in Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 178 deaths and 14,185 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of car accident.

Continue reading " Orange County Rollover Car Accident Injures One " »

The products liability attorneys at Bisnar | Chase closely monitor product safety recalls, especially those with the potential for serious injury or death. This week, Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc. is recalling about 4 million inflatable baby floats because the leg straps in the seat of the float can tear causing children to unexpectedly fall into or under the water, posing a risk of drowning. So far, there have been 34 reports of float seats tearing, causing children to fall under the water. However, no serious injuries or deaths have been reported in connection with these products.

The recalled inflatable baby floats were sold in a variety of styles and colors. The names and model numbers are located on the packaging. A date between 08/02 and 07/08 is molded on the valves of the defective products. The baby floats not included in this product recall can be identified with the lettering "NP" molded on the valve.

These are no doubt dangerous and defective products that could lead to serious personal injury or death and I'm glad that Aqua-Leisure is trying to get them off the market. Most of us, as parents and grandparents, know that babies and toddlers must be watched carefully around pools, bathtubs and spas. Drowning risks for small children right in and around your home are many and it only takes an inch or two of water to pose a serious risk for infants and toddlers.

Continue reading " Defective Product Recall Issued for Baby Floats " »

The death of an 8-month-old baby has led to yet another defective product recall involving 400,000 Simplicity cribs. According to an Associated Press news report, Simplicity Inc. is recalling the defective cribs, which put babies at risk of death by suffocation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which issued an alert to consumers, said those who own these cribs should stop using them immediately and look for an alternative sleeping arrangement for their infants. The 8-month-old baby in Houston, Texas, died when it got stuck between the mattress and the defective drop-down side of the crib.

According to CPSC officials, the plastic hardware on these defective cribs can break or deform causing the drop side to detach and create a gap where infants can get trapped. CPSC has so far received 25 reports of the drop side detaching. The cribs were reportedly sold at department stores, children's stores and other retailers nationwide from January 2005 to June 2009 and cost between $150 and $300. CPSC is asking that consumers return the cribs to the store where they were bought.

My heart goes out to the family of the 8-month-old baby that died as a result of this defective product. I offer my deepest condolences to the parents of this child.

Continue reading " Baby's Death Spurs Product Defect Recall Involving Simplicity Cribs " »

Paul Kim, 52, was killed in an Orange County rollover car accident near the 241 toll road in Anaheim, The Orange County Register reports. Orange County Fire Authority officials doing inspection work the morning of June 28, 2009 noticed Kim dead from serious personal injuries in an overturned vehicle by the 241 toll road. Kim was in a 2003 Toyota Sienna at the bottom of an embankment north of the Windy Ridge Wildlife Underpass, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Toyota Sienna had been traveling northbound on the 241 toll road when it apparently veered off the road for an unknown reason, crashed through the guardrail and went down an embankment. California Highway Patrol officials estimate the fatal car accident occurred around 8:45 a.m. on June 28.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Kim. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Kim. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 30 fatal car accidents and 2,006 injuries involving car crashes in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 178 deaths and 14,185 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of car crashes.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Orange County Rollover Car Accident " »