Toyota has issued a vehicle defect recall for about 8,200 Lexus 2010 Luxury sedans in the United States and Japan for computerized steering problems that could potentially cause a car crash. According to an Associated Press news report, the Japanese auto maker, which has recently been plagued by numerous recalls, received complaints from consumers about steering wheels that came off-center during certain driving maneuvers, and out of alignment with the direction of the car wheels. So far, Toyota has received 12 complaints about this issue in Japan, but says no car accidents have occurred as a result. Toyota has sold about 3,800 of these vehicles in the United States.
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Brian Chase, California auto defect and personal injury lawyer with and partner of the law firm BISNAR | CHASE, appeared on Los Angeles’ FOX 11 Ten O’Clock News last night, Thursday May 20th. He was featured in a report discussing the dangers of defective automobile seats and seatbacks. Brian says defective seats are likely installed in about 95% of vehicles and are a widespread problem.

Major catastrophic and fatal injuries have been a result of the defective seats. The mother of a daughter who was killed in an accident involving a defective seatback and a woman who was paralyzed in a similar defective seatback accident, both appeared in the report as well. Brian has represented the victims of these accidents, and has helped bring the auto defect to the public’s attention.
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Target is issuing a defective product recall for about 350,000 woven storage trunks that can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the lid of the trunk can drop suddenly when released posing a danger to small children who are opening or reaching into these trunks.
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Step2 has issued a defective product recall for about 2.5 million Plastic Buggies riding toys after receiving several reports of injuries due to the handles in these toys detaching. According to a Consumer Reports article, so far, the toy maker has received 28 reports of the handle detaching, all of which resulted in injuries to children. This product defect recall involves Push Around and Whisper Ride buggies.

The toys, which were manufactured in the United States, were sold at major retailers and specialty stores from August 1999 through March 2010 for between $29 and $59. Only buggies that have yellow plastic knobs are included in this recall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is asking consumers who have these products at home to stop using them and contact the manufacturer for a free repair kit.
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A pregnant woman sustained critical injuries in a San Bernardino car accident after her car collided with a school bus in Victorville. According to a news report in the Victorville Daily Press, the major injury car accident occurred the evening of May 17, 2010, when the Victor Valley High School District bus carrying students was traveling north on Ninth Avenue.

The woman was stopped in her BMW at Lindero Street. Police say based on preliminary investigations that the woman did not see the bus and pulled in front of it. She had to be cut out from the wreckage and airlifted to a trauma center for treatment. The bus driver and a 12-year-old student were also taken to a hospital with complaints of pain. No one else seems to have been injured. An investigation is ongoing.
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Brian Chase, California personal injury attorney and partner of BISNAR | CHASE, will appear on Los Angeles’ FOX 11 Ten O’Clock News to talk about defective automobile seats. The special report focuses on the growing numbers of automobiles equipped with defective seatbacks and the accidents caused by them.

As a leading auto defect lawyer, Chase has represented many people who have been victims of accidents involving defective auto parts. One recent lawsuit, led by Brian, sought damages for a woman who was left a quadriplegic after her seatback collapsed. Another suit represented the driver of a Ford vehicle who lost her young daughter to fatal injuries caused by the driver’s seatback collapsing backwards.
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Chrysler has issued an auto product defect recall for 40,131 of its vehicles including the 300 sedan, Dodge Challenger and Charger, Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee as well as Dodge Ram pickup trucks. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the defect involves an issue in which the key can be removed from the ignition without the vehicle’s gear shift being in the “parked” position. All models involved in this recall are for the 2010 year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall notice saying these defective vehicles may have been built with a wireless ignition node module “exhibiting a binding condition of the solenoid latch.”
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Jennifer Shay Hubbard, 32, of Ventura was killed in a car accident after she lost control of her vehicle and crashed on Highway 101, near Highway 33, in Santa Barbara. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, Hubbard was traveling north on Highway 101 the morning of May 15, 2010, when she lost control of her car, and hit a guardrail in the center divider. The impact of the collision tore out the driver’s side door. The vehicle then went across freeway lanes and struck a light pole. Hubbard was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. California Highway Patrol officials say, based on preliminary investigations, that Hubbard may not have been wearing her seatbelt.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jennifer Shay Hubbard for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Apparently, Hubbard was a nurse who was on her way to work. Those who knew and loved Hubbard say she was devoted to helping people and also, was a loving family member.
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Claire’s has issued a defective product recall for about 19,000 “Best Friends” charm bracelet sets because of excessive levels of cadmium in the children’s jewelry. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the heart lock charms attached to the bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. The recalled bracelets are silver-colored chains with metal pendants and heart, lock and key charms with different colored stones. These bracelets were manufactured in China and were sold exclusively at Claire’s stores nationwide from February 2009 to January 2010 for about $12 each. Consumers are asked to immediately take these pieces of jewelry from their children and return them to any Claire’s store for a full refund or replacement product.
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Yet another defective product recall has been issued for drop-side cribs. This time, the product defect recall involves C&T International/Sorelle cribs in which the hardware can disengage from the tracks, causing the drop-side to detach from the crib, Consumeraffairs.com reports. When such detachment occurs, a space is created between the drop side and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become entrapped and suffocate. When the drop sides detach completely, it poses a fall hazard to children. So far, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and C&T/Sorelle have received 104 reports of incidents involving drop-side detachment. Six infants sustained bruises and abrasions from becoming entrapped or falling after the drop-side collapsed.
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