Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products - Most Popular

Portable Air Compressors Recalled Due to Fire and Electrical Hazards

Jenny Albano — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:09:56 GMT

Advance Stores Co., in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling about 64,000 Strike Force Portable Air Compressors due to fire and electrical hazards.

The compressor's motor can overheat and ignite the protective cover, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Also, the cover might not prevent internal components from being touched, which poses an electrical shock hazard. The firm has received four reports of fires. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled air compressor is a 4.6 gallon, 3.5 HP Strike Force and includes the following model and serial numbers:
BMM2524 (25254) JWAPC4005xxxxxxxxx
AC251FT (2516) YFJAC4005xxxxxxxxxx
APC4005 (4005) CSCC4005xxxxxxxxxxx
The portable air compressor has black twin air tanks and all the model and serial numbers can be found on the compressor's housing.

The recalled product was available only at Advanced Auto Parts stores across the United States and at www.partsamerica.com from October 2006 to December 2007.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Slip-And-Fall Injuries Around Pools - You May Be At Risk!

Edward Smith — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:48:25 GMT

A swimming pool is the recreational zone for your family. But, it can also become an accident-prone zone! Slip and fall injuries around pool decks are not uncommon. So, if you care about your family read this and find out how to make your swimming pool a safe place.

Are Your Ladders Trustworthy?

You can't have a pool without a ladder. Whether you have an in-ground pool or above-ground one, always make sure that the ladders are in proper condition. They should be secured tightly and have no loose hinges. Never, ever, keep a broken ladder!

Remember:
â€¢ If there is a ladder tread or step that is cracked or broken, fix it at once.
â€¢ See to it that your ladders don't damage the floor or walls of the pool.
â€¢ Every year, examine the bumpers and rubber pads. Replace them, if necessary.

Can You Rely On Your Diving Boards?

What is the most dangerous component of your pool? The diving board! It is responsible for more than 50 per cent of pool accidents. So, watch out!

â€¢ Make sure that your diving board is secured tight and has no cracks, slick surface, or loose hardware.
â€¢ The danger increases when the deck is wet. Anyone can slip on it and injure him or herself.
â€¢ Fix proper lighting around your diving board at night.
â€¢ Drinking and driving is dangerous. But, "drinking and diving" means placing yourself on dangerous waters as well!! So, make sure nobody dives into the pool in a drunken state.

Have You Tried Swimming Pool Slides?

They are good substitutes to diving boards. They not only look attractive with their alluring designs and colors, but also increase the safety quotient of your pool. Most of the swimming pool slides contain a water connection, which requires a supply line from the filter system or pool return. You can even get smaller slides requiring no water source.

Remember: The critical thing about slide installation is safety. You must install them as per the specifications provided by the manufacturer. There should be no piling on the slide or horseplay.

Does Your Deck Surface Spell Danger?

The commonest slip-and-fall injuries happen due to slippery deck surface. So, make sure that the area around your pool is dry. If there are puddles around the pool, it is the responsibility of the owner to warn the guests about it.

If someone has a slip-and-fall accident, he or she will have to prove the negligence of the owner in letting the puddle around the pool. And if there are tiles on the surface, the injured will have no problem in filing claims of negligence against the pool owner. So, if you own a pool, be careful!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Edward Smith

Harry Potter Bookends Have Too Much Lead

Amber Wheat — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:57:49 GMT

The federal paint standard has taken quite a few hits in the last few years. With outsourcing of manufacturing and lax supervision of plants in other countries, many large corporations have had to pull children’s toys off of the shelves.

It all began with Thomas the Tank Engine. A great train toy that has spawned books, movies, lunchboxes, and anything you can think of really. In 2007 they pulled a series of trains that were painted red and yellow when they discovered one of their plants in China had substituted the required paint with a cheaper lead laden paint to save money. RC2, the company that owns Thomas the Tank Engine, found the problem on their own before any kids got sick and initialized the recall of their own accord.

Because Thomas products were so well known and the recall had such a big impact, other companies followed suit and began testing their products. This created the great Matel exodus. So many toys from Matel were tainted that whole aisles in Target and Walmart were empty. But thanks to the efforts of consumer product safety groups, the parent companies, and, of course, the commission, toys are probably the safest they have ever been.

But mistakes still happen. Harry Potter bookends from Hong Kong were found to have too much lead in their paint. As usual, go to the website to get the company’s contact information and please take the product off your shelves. Like Thomas, Harry Potter is extremely popular and widespread, this recall may effect many people.

As always, if you or someone you know has been injured by a defective or dangerous product, you can contact us anytime.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amber Wheat

Yo-Yo Rides Recalled by Chance Rides Manufacturing

Amber Wheat — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:42:00 GMT

Amusement park rides are meant to give patrons a thrill, but this ride goes a bit too far. With defective and dangerous parts, the Yo-Yo ride made by Chance Rides Manufacturing was involved in two accidents. The collapse of the ride in May injured twenty-three people in Angels Camp. Back in March 2006, a malfunction at Six Flags Over Texas left nine people with bruises and strains.

Only eighty-five of the rides have been recalled, but all owners and regulators will be issued a new maintenance guide and a kit to identify potential problems.

Amusement park rides are no strange thing to California. With Disneyland, Marine World, the California State Fair, 50+ county fairs, SeaWorld, Raging Waters, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and many, many others, California has had more than its share of ride accidents. Really, when you think about it, our track record is amazing. Every year maybe only three or four people get hurt. Take a look at www.rideaccidents.com, it is kind of scary to see a whole list of accidents, but based on the number of rides out there, there really is a very low percentage of injury or death.

Amusement park rides are regulated by federal, state, and local rules (well, at least some are). I was surprised to learn that there is a difference between “amusement park rides” and “carnival rides.” Where carnival rides are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (my favorite commission), amusement park rides are “exempt from all federal safety oversight”.

Beyond that, the rules and regulations vary from state to state. California has very active public safety officials that inspect, investigate, and prepare public reports on the safety of rides, but some states only require self-inspection for ride owners, and some have no safety laws. Florida alone has state standards and then exempts its three largest parks from those standards.

The next time you go to the fair, you may want to do some research on the rides first. And take a look at the back of your ticket if you’re issued one, many times it will have a bunch of legal language in small print denying liability if you get injured at the fair.

So what recourse do you have if you are injured by an amusement park ride? I don’t know, I am not a lawyer, but I work for lawyers, so please give us a call. You do take a certain risk when you want a thrill, but you also have an expectation of walking away unharmed. It is not unreasonable to assume the rides are safe.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amber Wheat

Ortho Evra Patch: 60% more estrogen and potentially higher risks

Ed Smith — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:06:10 GMT

Users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch are cautioned to consult with their physicians about ongoing usage of this drug. The manufacturer of this patch, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc, lists many potential side effects to be aware of.

Approximately 4 million women have used the patch since it was put on the market in 2002. According to the FDA, women who used the patch are exposed to 60% more estrogen than those who are taking a more conventional birth control pill. This significantly increases their risk of a serious adverse event, including death. Specifically, there have been reports of life-threatening blood clots, fatal heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolisms, and other serious problems among Ortho Evra users. A February study showed the patch doubled clot risk compared with the pill. In November 2005, the FDA required that Ortho McNeil change the label for Ortho Evra to include information about the higher levels of estrogen.

The manufacturer of this patch is currently reviewing the medical records and histories of users who were hospitalized after strokes and clots in the legs or lungs following use of Ortho Evra.

Again, consult with your physician if you use this drug and consider your options carefuly, especially if you are suffering from any of the following side effects:

Acne, appetite changes, bladder infection, bleeding in spots during a menstrual period, bloating, blood clots, breast tenderness or enlargement, cataracts, chest pain, contact lens discomfort, decreased flow of milk when used immediately after birth, depression, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fluid retention, gallbladder disease, growth of hair on the face or back, growth of hair on the chest or stomach, hair loss, headache, heart attack, high blood pressure, inflammation of the large intestine, joint pain, kidney trouble, lack of menstrual periods, leg pain, liver tumors, lumps in the breast, menstrual pattern changes, migraine, muscle pain, nausea, nervousness, pancreatitis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), reduced tolerance to carbohydrates, secretion of breast milk, sex drive changes, skin infection, skin rash or discoloration, stomach cramps or pain, stroke, swelling, temporary infertility, unexplained bleeding in the vagina, vaginal discharge, vaginal infections (and/or burning and itching), visual disturbances, vomiting, weight gain or loss, yellow skin or whites of eyes

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Avoid Online Red Yeast Rice; Contains Lovastatin

Courtney Mills — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:19:50 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers not to purchase three types of red yeast rice products from online suppliers. These products are called Red Yeast Rice, Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, and Cholestrix. Red Yeast Rice is sold by Swanson Healthcare Products, Inc., and manufactured by Nature's Value, Inc. Cholestrix is sold by Sunburst Organics.

The FDA has determined through careful analysis and consideration that these products all contain lovastatin, an active pharmaceutical ingredient in the prescription drug Mevacor, indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol.

FDA in a news release the agency advised that it had sent letters to both companies encouraging them to pull the red yeast products from the marketplace, or risk further enforcement action by the FDA.

Red yeast rice is a preparation of rice that has been fermented by red yeast, Monascus purpureus. Used for many centuries in China and Japan for its salutary properties, red yeast rice has recently been discovered by American scientists and has emerged as a staple in America among certain groups for lowering their blood cholesterol.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Product Liability and Children's Toys

Laura Mackie — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 20:51:07 GMT

On December 7, 2006, the U.S. government reported at least one child has died and 19 others have needed surgery since 2003 after swallowing magnets used in toys. Researchers have found that most of those cases involved tiny (but strong) magnets that became linked together in the children's digestive tracts, squeezing the intestines and in some cases even causing perforation. Jonathan Midgett, the study's lead author said the magnets have become common in the U.S. toy market in the past five years because they have become cheaper to produce. They are used in building sets, action figures and dolls.

Lawsuits generated due to product liability spurred Mega Brands Inc. to recall 3.8 million Magnetix building sets. The company also agreed to add warning labels to their product. Magnetix agreed to pay $13.5 million to settle the lawsuits. Mattel Inc. recalled more than 4 million Polly Pocket play sets, dolls with small magnets in their hands, feet, clothing and other accessories.
Federal and industry officials hope to have a warning label ready within six months for toys containing magnets.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Laura Mackie

Non-Surgical Option To Knee Replacement Surgery

Ed Smith — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:15:25 GMT

One alternative to knee replacement surgery is injections. Viscosupplementation, is just one of several injection methods individuals can choose as an alternative to knee replacement surgery.

Viscosupplementation or Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections are designed to cushion and lubricate the knee joint. Benefits from this form of injection include: reduction in pain and increased mobility. Though this alternative can prove effective, viscosupplementation will not cure arthritis or repair damaged cartilage in your knee. Side effects from this procedure are generally mild and usually do not last for a long period of time.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Knee Replacement Defects

Ed Smith — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:25:45 GMT

In the past years many people have had problems with knee replacements being defective. This has been a huge problem as a few companies have had to recall their products.

Smith & Nephew, global provider of leading-edge knee replacements, recalled an orthopaedic implant from the US market. The company mentioned that it had ceased sales of two of its defective knee systems due to a high number of follow-up operations. Many patients fitted with the defective implants have required a revision of the procedure due to them loosening.

Another company that has had to pull their knee replacements off of the market is Sulzer Orthopedics Inc. The company also had to correct the production of many hip implants. Apparently they found oil residue on the replacements which was caused by a manufacturing error at the plant.

If you or anyone in your family has had a knee replacement and would like more information please contact us.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Fosamax may cause "Dead jaw"

Ed Smith — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:08:54 GMT

Fosamax is a prescription drug used to treat a variety of bone related conditions, is a type of drug known as bisphosphonates. Fosamax was approved by the FDA in 1995. Fosamax and bisphosphonates are most commonly prescribed to prevent and treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. However, it is also approved to prevent and treat osteoporosis in both men and women, to treat Paget's disease of the bone, and to treat patients with cancer that has metastasized to the bone. It is estimated that doctors wrote 39 million prescriptions for Fosamax in American alone.

t has been discovered that there is a connection between Fosamax and a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which is also known as "dead jaw." ONJ is a condition in which the bone tissue in the jaw fails to heal after any minor trauma, such as a tooth extraction, causing the bone to be exposed. This exposure can lead to infection or fracture and can require surgery to remove the dying bone tissue.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith