Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

The Washington State Supreme Court has recently ordered Orange County-based Hyundai Motor Co. to pay $8 million in an auto product liability case involving a man who was rendered paraplegic in a car accident. The victim, Jesse Magana, sued the auto maker in 2000 in connection with a 1997 car accident when the Hyundai Accent in which he was a passenger, went off a roadway and hit a tree. Magana was ejected from the rear window and he claimed that his injuries were caused partly by seatback defects. The Hyundai Accent's seatback collapsed during the crash, the lawsuit alleged.

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Federal regulators have issued a auto product defect recall for 110,000 Toyota Tundras due to excessive erosion of the vehicle frame which can cause the spare tire mounted underneath the vehicle to fall out posing a roadway hazard for other motorists. According to a CNN news report, the recall was issued in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated in its safety alert that road salts can lead to the corrosion in these pickup trucks. The corrosion can also cause serious brake defects by damaging the rear brake lines and causing the brake system to fail, federal officials say.

Continue reading " Toyota Tundra Trucks Recalled for Corrosion, Brake Defects " »

Drug manufacturer, Pfizer, has been hit with $103 million in two punitive damage awards in pharmaceutical liability cases involving Prempro, a hormone replacement drug made by Wyeth, which was recently acquired by Pfizer. According to a news report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the drug was linked to breast cancer in the victims. The total damages include $28 million awarded to Donna Kendall, an Illinois woman. In another case, a judge this week unsealed a verdict reached earlier this year where a jury awarded $75 million in punitive damages to another Illinois resident, Connie Barton, who was afflicted with breast cancer as a result of taking Prempro, which was used to treat menopause symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

Continue reading " Pfizer Faces $103 Million in Punitive Damages over Defective Drug " »

Volvo will issue a vehicle defect recall for about 8,438 of its 2010 XC60 SUVs because of a problem that could cause the seatbelt to become detached from the seat frame during a side impact crash. According to a report in Left Lane News, the problem was discovered during crash testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which released a report on the problem, stated that the driver's seat side cover panel or seat control panel in certain driver-side collisions may cause the seatbelt to detach.

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Federal officials have issued a defective product recall for more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs made by Stork Craft Manufacturing, in the single biggest crib recall in the nation's history. According to an MSNBC news report, this product recall involves 1.2 million cribs in the United States and about 1 million in Canada where the company is based. Apparently, these cribs have a serious product defect where the drop-side plastic hardware can break or deform causing the drop-side to detach. This basically creates a space between the drop side and the crib mattress where infants can become entrapped and suffocate. Such unforeseen drop-side detachment can also cause dangerous fall injuries to young children.

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The driver of a pickup truck was killed in a fiery Los Angeles car accident after his vehicle blew a tire and then crashed into a concrete wall on the 210 Freeway. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the accident occurred the afternoon of November 22, 2009 on the westbound lanes of the freeway in La Canada Flintridge. California Highway Patrol officials said the impact from the collision sent debris flying into the eastbound lanes of the highway striking two vehicles and a motorcyclist, who was transported to an area hospital with moderate injuries.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Car Accident Caused by Tire Blowout " »

Grand World Inc., a New York-based importer, has issued a defective product recall for about 641,000 pacifiers that fail to meet federal safety standards and could pose a choking hazard to infants. According to a consumer safety alert issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall involves the Bobby Chupete brand pacifiers, which have a ring-shaped handle and a heart-shaped mouth guard with two ventilation holes. The nipple is made of latex. Federal officials say the mouth guard on these pacifiers, which were manufactured in China, is too small, posing a choking hazard to young children who use them.

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L. G. Sourcing has issued a defective product recall for more than 600,000 of its Perfect Flame SLG Series gas grills sold at Lowe's Stores. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the burners on these grills can deteriorate causing irregular flames. The lids of some models can ignite, posing serious burn injuries to consumers. So far, the company has received nearly 40 reports of fires from these defective burners and close to 23 reports of the lids igniting. The company stated that one eye injury related to this product defect required surgery. In 21 other incidents, consumers sustained burn injuries to their hands, arms or face.

Continue reading " Defective Gas Grills Recalled for Fire Hazard " »

A 4-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a car accident after the SUV she was a passenger in, crashed and rolled over on Highway 101 in Monterey County, the Monterey Herald reports. According to the news report, the girl was riding in the right rear seat of a Dodge Durango SUV that was being driven by her mother, 23-year-old Luz Acosta. The SUV was traveling on the Highway 101 near Somavia Road the morning of November 19, 2009 when the woman lost control of the SUV. The Dodge crossed the center divider and two southbound lanes, rolled over and came to rest on the west side of the roadway. The child was ejected from the vehicle and was seriously injured. The extent of the mother’s injuries is not known.

Continue reading " California Rollover Car Accident Seriously Injures Toddler " »

California Personal injury claims can be very complex. Many accident victims need professional attorneys to help with the settlement process. This is not always the case, however. How do you know if you need an attorney?

People who are involved in a California car accident can handle their own claims. It is similar to handling your own injury. If you injury is a scratch on your arm you can put some antiseptic on it and a Band-Aid. If you have a broken arm that needs to be set, I don't think you want to handle it yourself. This is the same with auto accidents. The more serious the accident, the more you are going to need professional help.

Continue reading " How Do You Know If You Need A Car Accident Lawyer? " »

San Miguel Produce of Oxnard has issued a food poisoning alert for its bagged kale because the produce tested positive for listeria. According to a news report in The Suburbanite, the kale was tested by the state of Ohio's Department of Agriculture. Their tests indicated a positive test of listeria. The products involved in this recall are 10-ounce packages with the label "Cut'n'Clean Greens." No illnesses have been reported as a result of these products. San Miguel Produce is now performing an independent assessment of these products. Company officials say they cannot confirm the presence of the bacteria in their produce. San Miguel has recalled all kale products with the "use by" date of November 9, 2009 with the lot code of 14398 to be discarded.

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A California-based children's advocacy group is releasing new defective product information -- specifically about toys with high levels of lead in them. According to an Associated Press news report, the Center for Environmental Health tested about 250 children's products bought at major retailers and found that lead limits exceeded federal limits in seven of them. The toys with high lead levels include those carrying the popular Barbie and Disney logos such as a Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit, a Disney Tinkerbell Water Lily necklace, a Dora the Explorer Activity Tote, children's shoes, belts and ponchos.

Continue reading " Lead-Tainted Toys Still on Store Shelves " »

Lisel J. Wiedemann, 17, was killed and four others sustained critical injuries in a Riverside car accident the night of November 15, 2009. According to a news report in The Desert Sun. Lisel was the rear middle passenger in a 2008 Dodge Caliber and sustained a broken neck and head injuries, that were fatal. Joseph Nichol, 18, suffered collapsed lungs, a broken back and a brain injury. Raul Gonzalez, 18, sustained facial and back injuries. Lydia Lee Emer, 18, who was driving the crossover vehicle sustained injuries to her face and arm while a fourth passenger, an unidentified 17-year-old girl, sustained arm and head injuries. All injured victims were transported to an area hospital.

Continue reading " Fatal Riverside Car Accident " »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Class I defective product recall for all lots of Synthes USA, Ti Syntex II Vertebral Body Replacement, a medical device used in a portion of the spinal cord to replace a collapsed, damaged or unstable part of the spine. The FDA has received reports of "moderate to severe loss of vertebral body replacement of height" caused by a failure of the central component. This failure is apparently occurring at six to 15 months after the device is implanted.

Continue reading " Defective Spinal Implants Recalled " »

Even as Toyota is grappling with auto products liability issues surrounding its recent recall of Toyota and Lexus sedans, the Los Angeles Times' review of federal records is showing that more than 1,000 Toyota and Lexus owners have reported incidents involving "sudden acceleration" since 2001. According to the in-depth, investigative report, these owners reported that their cars suddenly accelerated on their own, "in many cases slamming into trees, parked cars and brick walls, among other obstacles." These car accidents apparently resulted in at least 19 deaths and numerous injuries over the last 10 years.

Continue reading " Toyota Owners Have Complained About Sudden Acceleration for a Decade, Report Shows " »

Two people were killed and 14 people sustained injuries in a Portland car accident after their 15-passenger van slid on black ice early morning November 12, 2009 on the Interstate 84 near Baker City, The Oregonian reports. The deceased were identified as Joshua John Pischura, 20, of Geneva, Ohio and Taune Nicole Winter Pepper, 23, of Deer Trail, Colorado. The 2002 Ford van was carrying members of a Colorado Church's Bible study group that was headed to Portland for a conference. The van was apparently marked with the logo of the New Life Worship Center at Federal Heights, Colorado, and was carrying teenagers and young adults who were enrolled at the church's Bible school.

Continue reading " Fatal 15-Passenger Van Accident in Portland Area " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking Honda Motor Co. and Takata Corporation about why the auto maker delayed an important vehicle defect recall involving defective airbags. According to a news report, the federal agency is questioning Honda and Takata, who are Honda's airbag supplier, and asking for an explanation as to why the first recall did not include cars from the second recall. A total of 444,000 Accord and Civic sedans were recalled for potentially deadly airbag defects. The airbag inflator in these Honda vehicles can apparently rupture from too much internal air pressure sending metal fragments through the airbag and striking the occupants of the vehicle.

Continue reading " Federal Officials Ask Honda Why It Delayed Product Defect Recall " »

Officials say a tire defect may have caused a San Diego car accident, which killed two people on the 15 Freeway the evening of November 9, 2009. According to a 10news report, the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer SUV driver by 40-year-old Ramon Arciniega was going north near Deer Springs Road in Escondido when the tread separated from the left rear tire causing Arciniega to lose control of the SUV. The Trailblazer crossed over onto the right shoulder and rolled down an embankment flipping several times before it came to rest on its roof. Arciniega and a passenger -- 52-year-old Evangelina Quiroz – were taken to an area hospital. Two other passengers – both said to be from Mexico – were fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released.

Continue reading " Tire Tread Separation Causes San Diego SUV Rollover Accident " »

Maclaren is issuing a defective product recall for about 1 million umbrella strollers because of a side hinge that poses serious injury risk to young children. According to an MSNBC news report, a side hinge mechanism in these defective strollers poses the risk of cutting or amputating a child's fingers when the stroller is being opened or closed. This product recall applies to all Maclaren strollers that were sold in the United States since 1999. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has apparently received reports of 15 incidents in which children were hurt in the past 10 years.

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A 23-year-old man killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he lost control of his 1999 Ford SUV, which rolled over, The Signal reports. The man, who has not yet been identified, was driving his SUV north on Highway 14 in the Antelope Valley when the SUV crashed and overturned just north of Red Rover Mine Road in Acton the night of October 30, 2009. The driver apparently drifted into the median shoulder after which the SUV continued on the dirt median, crashed into a guardrail, hit a sign off the freeway and rolled over. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. California Highway Patrol officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal car crash. No one else was injured.

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As an auto products liability lawyer who has represented numerous clients injured by vehicle defects, it hardly surprised me to read a Los Angeles Times news report about Toyota's "no defect" claim over 3.8 million recalled vehicles. The Toyota and Lexus sedans were the subject of the auto maker's largest vehicle recall in history and came after a San Diego car accident when a loaner Lexus driven by a California Highway Patrol Officer accelerated out of control and crashed, killing him and three of his family members.

Continue reading " Federal Agency Rebukes Toyota over "No Defect" Claim " »

Nissan North America is issuing a vehicle defect recall for 163,659 of its Rogue compact crossovers from model year 2008 and 2009 because of an issue that could affect steering wheel response and cause a car crash. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a safety alert cautioning consumers about a screw in the steering gear housing that can become loose and fall out. If that occurs, officials say that the steering response can become compromised.

Continue reading " Nissan Recalls Vehicles for Steering Defect " »

Nissan North America is issuing a vehicle defect recall for more than 10,500 model year 2009 Sentra sedans that come equipped with Bosch master cylinders because of the risk of brake fluid leaking from the master cylinders. According to a news report in Automotive Fleet, the amount of brake fluid that is in the master cylinder reservoir could decrease to below the minimum level causing the system warning indicator to light up. The brakes at this point will not function properly.

Continue reading " Nissan Recalls Sentra Sedans for Defective Brakes " »

After a car accident, it is important to contact a California car accident attorney who can help obtain a fair settlement from the insurance company. California residents are injured in serious car accidents every year. Many of them never file a lawsuit. Instead they file a claim not knowing the difference.

Continue reading " The Difference Between A California Car Accident Claim And Lawsuit " »

General Motors has issued a vehicle defect recall involving about 53,000 Chevy, Pontiac and Saturn cars over a possible fire danger. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the auto maker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have issued a recall after determining that a fuel leak can lead to a vehicle fire. The recalled models include 2006-2007 Chevy Cobalt; 2007 Pontiac G5; and 2006-2007 Saturn Ion.

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Chrysler is issuing a vehicle defect recall for many of its rear wheel drive Chrysler and Dodge models because they may have been built without a front wheel spindle nut. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, this could basically lead to a tire-wheel separation when the vehicle is in motion leading to a serious car accident. The models affected by this recall include: Chrysler 300 2009-2010; Dodge Challenger 2009 and 2010 models; and Dodge Charger 2009-2010. When the recall begins, dealers will inspect the tire and wheel assembly and if necessary, repair the spindle nut installation at no charge to the consumer.

Continue reading " Chrysler, Mazda Issue Auto Product Defect Recalls " »

At least two people have died and 26 people have become ill as a result of an E. coli food poisoning outbreak involving contaminated ground beef, the Associated Press reports. The complaints prompted a product recall involving 546,000 pounds of ground beef sold by Fairbank Farms in New York. The two reported deaths were in New York and New Hampshire, according to officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The recalled beef products were reportedly packaged between September 15 and September 16 and may have been labeled with sell-by dates from September 19-28. The beef was sold under various labels at B.J's Wholesale, Trader Joe's, Price Shopper and other large retailers.

Continue reading " Food Poisoning From Contaminated Beef Causes Deaths, Illnesses " »

A car crash. can be a stressful experience. The accident happens within seconds. The results can last a lifetime. Some of the injuries that happen after a California personal injury require professional help.

Knowing that you may miss a few of the details during the stress of the moment, it's good to know the most important things to remember no matter what. After you and the other driver are safe, the police have been notified, and the driver's information has been recorded, it is good to stay calm.

Continue reading " The Most Important Thing You Should Do After A California Car Accident " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a defective product recall for Mia Moda child safety car seats. The federal agency has recalled 5,540 Mia Moda infant and child seats with their bases, and models Viva and Viva Supreme. These child safety seats apparently have sharp edges that can cut the harness. There is also the possibility of the car seat's base cracking in the event of a car accident. NHTSA officials warn that children in these car seats may not be properly restrained and their risk of injury or death is heightened. Consumers who own these defective products are asked to immediately stop using them. The manufacturer will give registered owners a full refund and official recall notices will start going out this month.

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After reports of numerous deaths and serious California personal injuries involving off-road recreational vehicles (also known as ROVs), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted this week to write mandatory rules to regulate these types of vehicles. According to a CNBC news report, design defects in these four-wheel vehicles have led to more than 100 deaths since 2003. ROVs are vehicles that resemble a cross between a rugged-looking golf cart and a miniature Jeep and have a roll cage or metal bars framing the cab.

Continue reading " Government Seeks to Regulate Off-Road Vehicles " »