Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

Toyota Motor Corp. will issue a massive vehicle defect recall involving 3.8 million cars in the United States to address problems with a floor mat that could cause the accelerator to get stuck and cause a car accident. According to an Associated Press news report, the recall will involve the 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry; 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon; 2004-2009 Toyota Prius; 2005-2010 Tacoma; 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra; 2007-2010 Lexus ES350; and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

Continue reading " Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Cars for Defective Floor Mats " »

Enrique Yepez, 62, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident San Bernardino car accident the morning of September 27, 2009 after the vehicle he was a passenger in rolled over and struck a tree. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Yepez was riding in the back of a 1992 Honda Civic traveling west on the 10 Freeway near Citrus Avenue in Fontana when one of its tires blew out. The car then overturned and crashed into a tree, California Highway Patrol officials said. Yepez died at a local hospital shortly after the car accident. Two other occupants of the Honda were hospitalized with injuries.

Continue reading " Tire Blowout Causes Fatal San Bernardino Car Accident " »

Ryan Kritz, 20, died in an Orange County car accident on September 26, 2009 after he crashed his car through a concrete block wall and landed in a home's swimming pool, in Orange, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Kritz was headed north on Cannon Street in an Acura sedan and near Via Escola when he drove over the center median, crashed into a wall and landed in the swimming pool of a home in the 5000 block of Full Moon Court. Kritz was pronounced dead at the scene. No one at the home was hurt. Police do not know yet whether alcohol or drugs played a part in this accident.

Continue reading " Orange County Fatal Car Accident " »

A bankruptcy court judge overseeing Chrysler assets has approved a $24 million settlement in the auto products liability lawsuit filed by the family of Los Angeles longshoreman Richard Mraz who died when he was run over by a 1992 Dodge Dakota due to a transmission defect. According to an Associated Press news report, the settlement comes two years after a Los Angeles jury awarded $55 million in damages to Mraz's family. The family's lawsuit alleged that DaimlerChrysler had failed to fix and properly warn consumers about a transmission defect that made it seem as if the trucks were in park position when they were actually between gears. After Chrysler's bankruptcy filing in April, negotiations began in this case, which resulted in the settlement this week.

Continue reading " Chrysler Auto Products Liability Case Resolved " »

Wojciech Aleszewicz, 29, a British skydiver was killed after he suffered serious personal injury in a skydiving accident in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, on September 18, 2009. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, Aleszewicz collided midair with another skydiver shortly after they started their jump. He fell 200 to 300 feet hitting the ground at the east end of Skylark Airport. It is not yet known whether Aleszewicz's parachute failed during his descent. The other skydiver who was involved in the collision escaped with minor injuries and wasn't identified.

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Mitsubishi is issuing a vehicle defect recall for about 530 of its Endeavor sport utility vehicles from the 2010 model year. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, Mitsubishi officials are saying that the retainer bracket, which is used for the seat-mounted side airbag frames, may not have been properly welded and could fail in the event of a car accident. The product recall only includes vehicles manufactured between May 26 and July 28, 2009. Dealers will check the weld and, if necessary, replace the seatback assembly free of charge when the recall begins this month.

Continue reading " Mitsubishi Recalls Crossovers for Airbag Defect " »

Eric Sandoval, a 5-year-old boy was fatally injured in a San Bernardino car accident after the van he was a passenger in, went out of control and crashed on Mount Baldy Road. According to the San Bernardino County Sun, 27-year-old William Sandoval was driving the 1995 Chevy Astro van the afternoon of September 19, 2009 when he experienced engine trouble. Sandoval was unable to stop the van but apparently, still able to steer it as it continued down the road.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Boy Killed in Car Accident " »

The California auto products liability attorneys auto products liability attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE have fought pretty much every large auto maker on behalf of injured clients. Joshua David Newman was one of those clients we were honored to represent. We took on Nissan Motor Co. when the seatbelt anchor of his Nissan Sentra ripped out and caused him serious personal injury. In Joshua's case, he not only suffered a traumatic brain injury, but also ended up with a lifelong heart condition as a result of the car accident. Josh passed away last week after he collapsed while working out at the gym. His father, Keith Newman, was with him. Josh could not be revived.

Continue reading " A Dear Client and Friend Passes Away " »

Medtronic has issued a defective product recall for some of its LifePak CR defibrillators because humidity may cause them to malfunction. According to a news report, these defibrillators were manufactured and distributed between July 9 and August 19, 2008. Defibrillators are medical instruments that are designed to fix abnormal heart rhythms by delivering electric shocks. Company officials say the recalled products may break down in humid conditions and may fail to analyze heart rhythm accurately. As a result the defibrillator may fail to send the required electric shocks or delay sending it, which may result in serious personal injury or death to patients. The company has not yet announced the scope of this defective product recall.

Continue reading " Medtronic Recalls Defibrillators for Product Defects " »

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has ordered four companies to pay about $615,000 in fines for manufacturing defective products that posed a safety hazard to consumers. According to an Associated Press news report, these companies improperly sold hooded sweatshirts or jackets that have drawstrings at the neck, posing a strangulation hazard to children, which can result in serious personal injuries or death.

Continue reading " Defective Product Manufacturer Slapped With Fines " »

Toyota is ordering dealers to inspect their cars after a recent fatal San Diego car accident that was caused by a stuck accelerator in a Lexus killing California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, his wife, 13-year-old daughter and brother-in-law. According to an Associated Press news report, Toyota Motor Sales USA has announced that dealers must make sure all Lexus and Toyota vehicles have proper mats.

Continue reading " Toyota Tells Dealers to Inspect All Cars for Defective Floor Mats " »

A slip and fall accident can occur when and where we least expect it, sometimes leading to serious personal injuries.

California Personal Injury Lawyer Testimonial

Continue reading " Victim of Slip And Fall Helped By California Personal Injury Lawyers " »

Three people -- Robert Dejardin, 76, Josette Safarian and San Jose resident Maria Safarian were killed in a San Francisco car accident after their vehicle careened off Highway 280 in Millbrae, California, crashed and caught fire. According to a KTVU news report, the fatal car accident occurred September 10, 2009. Both Maria and Josette Safarian were pronounced dead at the scene. Dejardin was taken to an area hospital where he later died. Another occupant was also hospitalized with unknown injuries.

Continue reading " San Francisco Area Car Accident Kills Three " »

Muranaka Farm Inc. is recalling 1,005 cases of parsley distributed in 10 states including California over food poisoning concerns. The Moorpark, California, company says it is issuing the voluntary recall because the parsley may be contaminated with salmonella, according to an Associated Press news report. The recall involves cases of 60-count fresh bunched parsley. Apparently, a sampling conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), showed bacteria in the parsley. The contaminated parsley cases were distributed mostly in California, but were also sent to Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

Continue reading " Food Poisoning Alert: Cases of Salmonella Contaminated Parsley Recalled " »

Five people--36-year-old Raul Romero, a 26-year-old woman and three other passengers including a 6-year-old and a 21-month-old baby--were seriously injured in a San Diego car accident. The accident occurred September 8, 2009 on the Interstate 8 after the rear left tire on a Ford Explorer SUV blew out causing the vehicle to roll over and crash, according to a Channel 6 news report. Romero, the driver of the Explorer, was not able to keep the SUV from spinning out across the roadway and overturning, California Highway Patrol officials said. All the occupants of the Explorer were properly restrained at the time of the accident, officials said.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this Ford Explorer SUV rollover accident. I hope and pray that their injuries were not catastrophic or life-threatening. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep these victims in your prayers.

Continue reading " Tire Blowout Causes San Diego Car Accident Involving Ford Explorer " »

Robert Smith, 38, and Maria Del Rio, 34, were injured in a Ventura car accident the afternoon of September 7, 2009, after Smith lost control of his Jeep and crashed on the Highway 101. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, Smith was driving south on the Highway 101 near Telephone Road when he lost control. The Jeep then rolled over and ended up on its roof nearly 300 feet from the freeway. Smith suffered major head injuries. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Del Rio suffered minor injuries. Both were reportedly wearing seatbelts. Officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.

My heart goes out to Robert Smith, who suffered critical injuries in this crash. I'm relieved that Maria Del Rio did not sustain life-threatening injuries. I hope Smith pulls through his injuries soon and has a complete recovery. He will be in my prayers.

Continue reading " Ventura Rollover Car Accident Critically Injures Man " »

According to the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWIRTS), 759 people were killed and 82,480 others were injured in car, motorcycle, pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Los Angeles in 2007. Penny became part of this statistic after her car accident.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers Help Woman Injured in Car Accident " »

The pharmaceutical liability attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE continue to hear heartbreaking stories about individuals who lost their sense of smell after using Zicam cold remedies. In June, Matrixx, the company that makes Zicam, recalled several Zicam cold remedies including Zicam nasal gel from the market after thousands of complaints nationwide that the medications were causing consumers to lose their sense of smell, and in many cases, their sense of taste.

Continue reading " Zicam Class Action Lawsuit Attorney Concerned about Dangerous Drug Effects " »

The California personal injury lawyers of Bisnar | Chase have filed a products liability and wrongful death lawsuit against Ford Motor Corporation, Bridgestone Tire Corporation and TRW Vehicle Safety Systems.

The case stems from the April 2009 death of Milton Perry Jr. in a rollover crash. Perry was driving a 1991 Ford Ranger SUV when one of his tires blew out, causing him to lose control of his car. The SUV then rolled over several times and ejected Perry who suffered serious injuries that led to his death.

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the SUV manufactured by Ford failed to properly protect Perry during the car crash and that Bridgestone was aware that its tires were unsafe. It also claims that the SUV's restraint system, manufactured by TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, were inadequate to protect an occupant during a rollover crash.

Continue reading " California Personal Injury Lawyers File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Ford, Bridgestone and Seatbelt Manufacturer " »

In 2002, an 18-wheel truck collided with an SUV on a Texas state highway. The woman driver, her 14-year-old son, 70-year-old mother, and her pregnant 17-year old daughter were killed. Only a 14-month old infant survived the horrific car accident. The truck driver was found to have a history of safety violations and used a fake social security number to get a commercial driving license. Despite all this, the trucking company allowed him to continue to drive for over a year.

In 2007, a father and his two daughters were killed in Detroit after their car was hit by a 75-ton gravel truck. It was discovered that the truck driver had been taking the powerful epilepsy drug, Tegretol, which is known to cause drowsiness and delayed reaction time. The truck driver admitted to receiving no formal training from his employer and failing to inspect the truck's brakes and tires before heading out on the road.

Continue reading " Unsafe Trucks Kill Thousands Each Year in Car Accidents " »

Pirelli is issuing a defective product recall for certain batches of its Pzero Corsa tires because tire tread separation can occur at high speeds increasing the risk of a car accident. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the recalled tires were manufactured between June 2007 and July 2009. Partial tread and/or belt edge separation can apparently occur at high speeds at and over 168 mph. Such tread or belt edge separation can result in a serious car accident. Pirelli has not yet provided a recall notification schedule or remedy for the product defect.

Continue reading " Defective Tires Recalled for Possibility of Tread Separation " »

Phillip Lee Leffert, 49, was identified as the man killed in a fatal Orange County car accident the night of September 3, 2009 after his Ford Explorer SUV went out of control on the 91 Freeway and crashed in Anaheim, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Leffert was driving his 1999 Ford Explorer on the number two lane on the eastbound 91 Freeway when it suddenly veered across all lanes and crashed into several trees. Leffert was pronounced dead at the scene. The Orange County Coroner is in the process of investigating the cause of death.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Phillip Lee Leffert for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading " Orange County Fatal Car Accident Involves Ford Explorer " »

California Highway Patrol officials are still looking for answers in a San Diego car accident that killed one of their own – 19-year CHP veteran Mark Saylor, his wife, Cleofe, 45; his daughter, Mahala, 13; and his brother-in-law, Chris Lastrella, 38. The entire family was killed in a fiery accident, which officials say occurred as a result of a stuck accelerator. Saylor was driving a 2009 Lexus ES 350 that came from Bob Baker Lexus of El Cajon where Saylor had dropped off his car for servicing. According to a news article in the San Diego Union Tribune, Toyota, which manufactures Lexus cars, had recalled the all weather floor mats in its 2008 Lexus models because of complaints about the mats sliding forward and jamming the accelerator. The manager of the dealership is telling officials he is not sure which mats were in the Lexus that was loaned to Saylor.

Continue reading " Auto Products Liability Attorney Concerned about Defective Toyota Floor Mats " »

The pharmaceutical litigation attorneysat BISNAR | CHASE, for the last 30 years, have fought for the rights of injured victims who suffered the devastating consequences of dangerous or defective drugs. Dangerous drug effects are also often the result of misleading marketing by drug companies. We saw an example of such corporate greed when the U.S. Justice Department announced that Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, has agreed to pay a $2.3 billion civil penalty for trying to sell drugs for uses not approved by federal regulators. Pfizer paid the fines to settle criminal and civil allegations that it illegally sold four drugs for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When a drug is marketed or promoted for non-authorized or "off-label" uses that are not approved by the FDA, there is no question that public health and safety is at risk.

Continue reading " Pharmaceutical Litigation Lawyer Concerned about Illegal Marketing Practices " »

The auto products liability attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE have always been concerned by serious personal injuries and fatalities caused to young children as a result of power windows. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency which oversees auto safety standards, said recently it is not necessary to require that power windows operate in reverse to prevent the injury or deaths of children who could be accidentally caught in them, according to an Associated Press news report.

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An 8-year-old girl died in a California car accident lawyer after a rear tire blowout caused the Ford Explorer SUV she was in, to roll over and crash on the Highway 99 in Modesto. According to a news article in the Modesto Bee, 35-year-old Amalia Perez was driving a 1999 Ford Explorer on the highway the evening of August 29, 2009 when the SUV began to shudder. California Highway Patrol officials say the left rear tire then blew out. Perez applied the brakes causing the Explorer to turn to the right. Perez lost control as the SUV left the highway and rolled down an embankment.

The child was ejected from the Explorer. Perez and 17-year-old Arnulfo Sanchez sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital. Officials say the 8-year-old girl who was ejected may not have been wearing her seatbelt. Perez and Sanchez were buckled up. CHP officials are also saying alcohol was not a factor in this fatal car accident.

Continue reading " Fatal California Car Accident Caused by Tire Blowout " »