Product Defect Liability Lawyer Blog

An Orange County car accident the morning of January 26, 2010 left two people injured, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. The injury car collision apparently occurred after a driver lost control and slammed into other vehicles waiting on an off-ramp of the 55 Freeway in Orange.

California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of a Honda Civic lost control of the vehicle and suddenly drove across the on-ramp and the divider before crashing into several vehicles including a Chevy Silverado, a Ford Ranger, a Mercedes Benz C240 as well as a Honda Odyssey van, which were waiting on the off-ramp for the light at Chapman Avenue. Both the drivers of the Civic and the Mercedes sustained injuries in this Orange car accident.

Continue reading " Two Injured in Orange County Car Accident " »

In an unprecedented move, Toyota Motor Corp. has stopped the sales of eight of its models involved in a recently issued auto product defect recall because the accelerator pedals can become jammed causing these vehicles to accelerate suddenly. The Los Angeles Times reports that Toyota will stop the production and sales of eight models affected by the recall including the top-selling Corolla and Camry until the problem can be evaluated and fixed. These auto product defects have proven to be extremely dangerous because of their potential to cause serious injuries and deaths.

Continue reading " Sudden Acceleration Problems Cause Toyota to Stop Sales of Eight Models " »

Honda has issued a vehicle defect recall for 646,000 of its Fit models worldwide of which more than 140,000 are in the United States. According to a Reuters news report, the problem involves the driver's master power-window switch, which can overheat and cause a fire when it makes contact with "excessive liquid" such as heavy rain. So far, seven incidents have been reported in the United States. A similar incident involved a child who was killed in South Africa after a car caught fire. Honda officials believe that death may be related to the problem with the defective switch.

Officials say only 10 percent of the models will need new switches. In other vehicles, a water-tight skirt will be installed to keep the switch dry. Honda Fit owners affected by this recall can expect to receive a notice in the mail soon.

Continue reading " Defective Power Window Switches Spur Honda Vehicle Recall " »

Toyota Motor Corp. has expanded its vehicle defect recall to include 1.1 million more vehicles to the 4.2 million already recalled due to defective floor mats that can cause the gas pedal to get jammed, according to a CNN news report. In an unprecedented move this week, the Japanese auto maker stopped production and sales of eight of its vehicle models, including its top-selling Corolla and Camry models. Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles over the defective floor mats as well as another issue relating to accelerator pedals that can stick and cause sudden, unintended acceleration.

Continue reading " 1 Million More Toyotas Recalled for Defective Floor Mats " »

Toyota Motor Corp. has stopped selling eight of its models covered by a recently issued vehicle defect recall because of gas pedals that can stick and cause sudden acceleration. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, this is an unprecedented step taken by an auto maker of actually stopping sales and production of eight models. These include the top-selling Camry and Corolla because their accelerator pedal can stick and cause "runaway acceleration," which could of course, lead to a car crash and cause catastrophic injuries or even fatalities.

Continue reading " Toyota Halts Sales of Eight Models Affected by Vehicle Defect Recall " »

Personal injury victims are faced with a variety of new challenges after a car accident. Dealing with insurance companies, treating your injury, and trying to do your usual day-to-day duties can become stressful.

Continue reading " Learn Why Insurance Companies Limit Payouts " »

A company in Rhode Island has recalled about 1.2 million pounds of Daniele brand pepper-coated salami and other sausage meats after numerous cases of salmonella food poisoning across the country. According to an ABC news report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there were 184 potentially outbreak-associated cases across 38 sates. Thirty of those cases were reported in California, including six from Los Angeles. Nationally, more than 35 people have been hospitalized. So far, no fatalities have been reported relating to the salmonella outbreak.

The recalled salami and ready-to-eat sausages were sold at grocery stores, warehouse stores and online, including Costco, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Amazon, and other locations. Most of these recalled products were sold under the Daniele brand name, but several items under the labels of Boar's Head, Black Bear, and Dietz & Watson are also part of this recall. The earliest cases of salmonella poisoning involving these products were noticed in July 2009.

Continue reading " Salmonella Outbreak Leads to Salami Recall " »

Last week, the Associated Press reported and we blogged about a massive defective product recall involving 1.5 million strollers, after several children's fingertips were amputated or severely injured. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the defective stroller's hinges that opened or closed the canopy, posed a danger to children. Our friends at the American Association for Justice (AAJ) have issued a statement emphasizing the need for a "new decade of corporate accountability." The advocacy group's goal, rightly so, is to level a playing field that offers too many advantages and tilts the balance way too much in favor of powerful corporate interests.

AAJ's President Anthony Tarricone issued a statement recently saying that the last decade turned out detrimental for consumer rights with the government protecting negligent corporations, the country going through an unprecedented economic crisis and big business' unrelenting attempts to undermine the civil justice system. Almost on a daily basis, we see adverse effects of defective products being put in the market by negligent product manufacturers.

Continue reading " Holding Wrongdoers Accountable -- Our Common Goal " »

Auto makers, in 2009, recalled the most number of defective autos since the last five years, according to an article in Detroit News. Officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that in 2009, auto makers recalled 16.4 million vehicles, which is the highest annual tally since 2005. Leading these recalls was Toyota Motor Corp., which recalled 4.87 million vehicles, most of those for sudden acceleration problems. Ford came in second with 4.5 million vehicles largely because of its recall involving faulty cruise control switches that posed a fire hazard. General Motors recalled 2.2 million vehicles; Chrysler 590,000; Honda recalled 454,000 primarily for airbag defects; Nissan 706,000; Hyundai and Kia about 1.3 million.

Continue reading " Vehicle Defect Recalls Surge in 2009 " »

Dorel, a Barbados-based company, has issued a defective product recall for about 635,000 cribs after a 6-month-old baby boy was strangled to death by getting trapped in one of these cribs. That fatal incident occurred when the drop-side hardware of the crib broke. According to an Associated Press news report, the recalled cribs were made in China and Vietnam and were sold at major retailers nationwide such as Kmart, Wal-Mart and Sears. According to federal officials, the recall involves 20 models of Dorel Asia cribs with both drop sides and front rails. The drop sides can detach, creating a space where the child can be trapped and become suffocated.

Continue reading " Defective Cribs Recalled after Infant's Death " »

Toyota Motor Corp. has issued an auto product defect recall for 2.3 million vehicles because their gas pedals can stick, causing sudden or unintended acceleration. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, this recall is separate from the Japanese auto maker's earlier recall of 4.3 million vehicles to prevent gas pedal entrapment by the floor mats. That was also said to have caused unintended or sudden acceleration. The most recent recall issued this week involves eight Toyota models including the popular Corolla and Camry models. Toyota officials are saying that they received several complaints from consumers about accelerator pedals that remained depressed. They are calling it a "mechanical problem."

Continue reading " Toyota Recalls 2.3 Million Vehicles for Unintended Acceleration Issues " »

Graco has issued a defective product recall for about 1.5 million strollers after the children's products manufacturer received several reports of children's finger tips getting cut off by stroller hinges. According to an Associated Press news report, Graco has received seven reports of children placing their fingers in the stroller's canopy hinge as it was being opened or closed. Of those cases, five children had their finger tips severed while two children sustained cuts on their finger tips.

Continue reading " Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers after Children Get Fingers Severed " »

The California personal injury lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE have recently filed a products liability injury lawsuit against Pepsico, Inc., The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., Metal Container Corporation and New Albertson's, Inc.

The product liability injury lawsuit arises from serious injuries sustained by Lynda Ryan when she opened a can of Diet Pepsi. Ms. Ryan had been storing a 12-pack of Diet Pepsi, purchased from an Albertson's retail outlet in Blythe, California, in an ice chest in the back of her car. She had consumed most of the beverages over a period of days without incident or reason to believe there was anything wrong with any of the cans.

Continue reading " California Products Liability Lawyers File Suit Against Pepsi " »

Chrysler has issued an auto product defect recall for several vehicle models because of a potential defect in the brake system that could result in sudden brake failure. According to a Reuters news report, the recall involves 2010 model year Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Nitro as well as Jeep Liberty, Commander, Grand Cherokee SUVs and 2009-2010 model year Dodge Ram trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in some of the vehicles, "the clip retention tab on the brake pedal was improperly formed or not installed during the manufacturing process." This manufacturing defect could result in sudden brake failure and could cause a car accident. The auto maker says there have been no reports of injuries or accidents relating to these auto product defects.

Continue reading " Defective Brakes Lead to Chrysler Vehicle Recall " »

A California meat packing company has recalled about 864,000 pounds of beef products over food poisoning concerns, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website. Huntington Meat Packing Inc. of Montebello, California, issued the recall over fears that the products may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced this week. The problem was apparently discovered during a food safety assessment that was done by FSIS personnel. The recalled products were produced at the Los Angeles-area plant from January 5, 2010 to January 15, 2010. USDA has classified this as a "Class I" recall, which means that the risk of contamination and illness is high.

Each of the recalled boxes of beef has the establishment number "EST. 17967." The products were apparently shipped to several distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in California. So far, federal officials have not received any reports of illnesses associated with this batch of recalled meat.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Meat Packer Recalls Beef over Food Poisoning Concerns " »

Two men, identified as 22-year-old John Kaminski and Truman Charles Switzer, 24, were killed in a Ford Bronco rollover accident in San Bernardino County the morning of January 17, 2010, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. The driver of a 1991 Ford Bronco was going south on I Avenue in Hesperia, when he lost control near Alston Avenue. Police said the Bronco rolled over at least three times. Kaminski and Switzer, who were sitting in the back of the Bronco, died at the scene. San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials said Kaminski was wearing a seatbelt, but that Switzer was not buckled up. Switzer was ejected from the vehicle. The condition or extent of injuries suffered by the driver and front passenger is not yet known.

My heart goes out to the families of Kaminski and Switzer for their tragic and untimely losses. I offer my deepest condolences to these grieving families. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading " Rollover Accident Fatally Injures Two in San Bernardino " »

E. coli-contaminated beef, which was recalled in December over food poisoning concerns, has sickened 21 people in 16 states including California, according to a news article in Consumer Reports. Out of the 21 food poisoning victims, nine have been hospitalized and there is at least one reported case of hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS, a dangerous condition that could lead to kidney damage or even death.

Continue reading " E. coli Tainted Beef Results in Serious Food Poisoning Cases Nationwide " »

Sagittarius Sporting Goods is issuing a defective product recall for about 10,000 Master Forge five-burner gas grills that were sold at Lowe's stores nationwide. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the flexible rubber hose on the LP gas tank on these grills can come into contact with the burner box, causing the hose to melt and rupture, when the grill is hot. This poses a fire hazard with a serious risk of burn injuries. So far, the company has received two complaints of the hose melting and rupturing but, no injuries have yet been reported due to this product defect.

Continue reading " Gas Grills Recalled for Fire and Burn Hazards " »

Frankie G. Hill, 46, was killed in a Riverside car accident after the vehicle she was driving struck another pickup truck on the Ortega Highway the afternoon of January 13, 2010. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, Hill was driving a pickup when the vehicle crossed the double yellow lines on a curve and went right into the path of the other vehicle, near Grand Avenue. California Highway Patrol officials said Hill was trapped in her vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other pickup was treated and released from a local hospital. His passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Hill for their devastating loss. I also hope the two injured victims, especially the more seriously injured passenger, will make a quick and complete recovery. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

Continue reading " Riverside Car Accident Causes Fatal Injuries " »

The California auto defects lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE recently filed a products liability injury lawsuit against Nissan Motor Co., LTD., Nissan North America, Inc., Nissan Design America, Ikeda Engineering, Vintec Co., Johnson Controls and Autoliv Safety Technology.

The auto products liability injury lawsuit arises from injuries sustained by Jaklin Mikhil Romine from an October 2006 rear-end crash where her defective seatback collapsed.

Jaklin was stopped at an intersection in Pasadena, California when her car was impacted from behind. Jaklin's seat broke, collapsing backwards, causing her body to be flung from under her seatbelt and shoulder restraints, propelling her head to strike the rear passenger seatback. The defective seatback did not function to protect her properly as she sustained catastrophic and severe head and spinal injuries resulting in permanent incomplete quadriplegia.

Continue reading " California Auto Defects Lawyers File Products Liability Injury Action Against Nissan " »

Subaru has issued an auto product defect recall for about 5,724 Subaru Impreza WRX (2002-2003) model vehicles sold in 16 cold weather states because fuel leaks in the fuel delivery line could result in a fire when there is an ignition source. According to a news report in Edmunds.com, Impreza owners complained of a fuel odor. So far, no fires, car accidents, injuries or fatalities have been attributed to this particular auto product defect.

Continue reading " Subaru Recalls Defective Autos over Fire Hazard " »

Cuong Thach was lucky to escape injuries in an Orange County SUV rollover accident, which occurred the morning of January 12, 2010, The Orange County Register reports. The accident occurred on the northbound 57 Freeway near Tonner Canyon Road when a rear tire went flat and Thach's Toyota 4Runner rolled over several times. He was able to walk away from the crash. California Highway Patrol officials said Thach got the flat from a bald back tire.

It is indeed fortunate Cuong Thach was not seriously injured in this Toyota 4Runner rollover accident. In such cases, however, it would be in the best interests of accident victims to visit their doctor right away, for diagnostics tests. It has been my experience that not all injuries surface right after the crash. I'm relieved no one else was involved or injured in this accident.

Continue reading " Orange County SUV Rollover Accident " »

An Associated Press investigation is revealing some serious product defects in children's products, specifically cheap metal jewelry such as charms and bracelets that are being sold in New York, Ohio, Texas and California. According to an article in Consumer Reports, Chinese manufacturers of cheap metal jewelry are resorting to cadmium, now that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has regulated the acceptable levels of lead in children's products. Just how dangerous is cadmium? On the U.S. Center for Disease Control's (CDC) priority list of the 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks number seven.

Continue reading " Children's Products with Poisonous Cadmium Sold in California " »

Nine people sustained injuries, one critically, in a Los Angeles car accident after a Toyota Sequoia SUV rolled over on the 210 Freeway. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the crash occurred the evening of January 9, 2010 on the eastbound 210 Freeway in Irwindale when the SUV rolled over and went about 30 feet down an embankment.

California Highway Patrol officials said a 40-year-old man, who was a front passenger, was not wearing his seatbelt. He was ejected and sustained critical internal injuries. Two infants, two children and four other adults were also transported to the hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The SUV's driver apparently told officials that she lost control of the vehicle because another driver made a sudden lane change in front of her.

My heart goes out to the critically injured victim in this case. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I also hope and pray that the other injured victims make a full recovery.

Continue reading " SUV Rollover Accident in Los Angeles Injures Nine " »

LG has issued a defective product recall for 98,000 of its Goldstar and Comfort-Aire dehumidifier models after getting reports of several fires associated with these products. According to a news article on Consumer Reports, LG has received 11 reports of property damage incidents involving arcing, heat smoke and four reports of fires that spread to a building structure causing significant smoke and/or water damage. The power connector for the compressor can apparently short-circuit posing fire and burn hazards. So far, no injuries have been reported.

Continue reading " LG Recalls Defective Dehumidifiers for Fire Hazards " »

Dorel Juvenile Group is issuing a defective product recall for about 213,000 Safety 1st Disney Care Center play yards and Eddie Bauer Complete play yards because children could suffocate in them. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the one-piece metal bars supporting the floorboard of the bassinet attachment can come out of the fabric sleeves and create an uneven sleeping surface, posing the hazard of suffocation or positional asphyxiation.

Continue reading " Defective Play Yards Recalled for Suffocation Hazard " »

Medical device company ev3 Inc. has issued a defective product recall for catheters that could crack and result in serious personal injuries to patients. According to a news report, the company in November sent a letter to customers about the problem and telling to stop using the Trailblazer Support Catheter. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the defective catheters were distributed in September and October. These devices are thin, flexible tubes that are inserted into a vein or body cavity to allow drainage of fluid or to allow access to a surgical instrument. The company has not said whether any patients were injured as a result of these defective products.

Continue reading " Defective Product Recall Issued for Catheters " »

Ray Castro, 16, was killed in a San Diego car accident after the car in which he was a passenger went out-of-control and fell off an elevated freeway interchange in Mission Valley, 10news reports. California Highway Patrol officials said Ray was traveling in a 1993 Corolla that overturned on the connector between the 15 and 8 freeways, the night of January 5, 2010. The teenager was ejected from the sedan and died as a result of blunt-force injuries shortly after the crash. Several others were also seriously injured in this crash. CHP officials are still looking into what caused this fatal car accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ray Castro for their shocking and sudden loss. Apparently, he died minutes before his 17th birthday. Tragic! Please keep this grieving family in your prayers. I also hope and pray that the other injured victims of this crash make a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Fatal San Diego Rollover Car Accident " »

Bert Lowell, 52, sustained fatal personal injuries after the all-terrain vehicle he was riding overturned, the San Bernardino County Sun reports. Lowell was apparently operating the ATV on a hillside near Stoddard Wells Road, in Apple Valley, the night of January 1, 2010 when it rolled over, throwing him off the vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, shortly after the accident. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating this fatal rollover accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bert Lowell for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. This grieving family will certainly be in my prayers.

Continue reading " Fatal ATV Rollover Accident " »

Seven people sustained injuries in an SUV rollover accident on the Highway 101 the afternoon of December 31, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. The accident occurred when Kyle Homad, 23, lost control of the SUV and crashed. A tanker truck traveling in the same direction as the SUV tried to move from the third to the second lane, causing another driver who was in the second lane to swerve into the lane where the SUV was. This sudden movement caused Homad to lose control of the SUV and crash. The other driver remained at the scene but the driver of the big rig that attempted to make the unsafe lane change, left the scene, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Continue reading " SUV Rollover Accident Injures Seven " »

Timothy Wallace, 21 and another man were killed in a Los Angeles car accident after their car rolled over, according to a CBS news report. The bodies of Wallace and the other man, also 21, were found the morning of December 30, 2009 in a field near the 6600 block of East Avenue K in Lancaster. California Highway Patrol officials determined that their deaths were the result of a traffic accident. A 2008 Nissan with side damage was found near the men and in a ditch about 100 feet off the road. CHP investigators believe the car must have rolled several times and that the men may have been ejected from the vehicle.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Timothy Wallace and the other deceased victim of this car crash. Please keep them in your prayers.

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

Federal officials have started receiving vehicle defect complaints regarding Toyotas -- this time with regard to the 2010 Toyota Prius. According to an MSNBC news report, drivers are reporting sudden brake failure in these vehicles. A consumer quoted in the story says the brakes in his Prius suddenly failed when he approached an intersection. Eventually, he had to slam back down on the brake pedal just in time to avoid crashing into pedestrians.

Continue reading " Complaints Pile Up about Braking Problems in 2010 Toyota Prius Vehicles " »

A Los Angeles Times investigation has revealed what we as auto product liability attorneys have known for years -- Toyota Motor Corp. the name which has been synonymous with reliability is, well, not so reliable. In fact, the Times' in-depth investigative report shows that the world's larges auto maker has consistently delayed auto product defect recalls and tried to blame human error in cases where owners claimed vehicle defects.

Continue reading " Toyota Has a History of Covering Up Auto Product Defects " »