The Injury Lawyer Directory Blog

GlaxoSmithKline, producer of the antidepressant drug Paxil, was sued on July 28, 2006 on behalf of Adrian Vasquez of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Adrian was born with life-threatening defects on April 19, 2004 as a result of his mother's intake of the dangerous drug Paxil during her pregnancy. Her doctor had prescribed her Paxil due to depression that naturally occurs with pregnancy, causing Adrian to suffer heart problems since birth. At eight days old, he began a series of three open heart surgeries attempting to repair his heart. In March, 2005 he underwent another surgery involving the placement of a pacemaker. He was finally discharged from the hospital on April 3, 2005, weeks before his first birthday. Adrian's heart will require multiple surgical operations as he grows older, attorneys say, which may include operations adjusting the pacemaker, implanting artificial valves, and perhaps even a heart transplant. All of these surgeries are very risky for an infant, causing immeasurable stress to the family.

In the lawsuit presented in July, Glaxo was held responsible for these injuries under the allegations that they "promoted and maintained Paxil on the market with the knowledge of Paxil's unreasonable risk to the public in general," adding that, "by directly and indirectly advertising, marketing, and promoting Paxil for the treatment of women during pregnancy and by placing this drug in the stream of commerce knowing that Paxil would be prescribed to pregnant women in reliance upon the representations ... that Paxil was safe and effective for the treatment of women during pregnancy and without significant risk to the fetus."

If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective drug such as Paxil, please feel free to contact a personal injury lawyer such as Pomerantz, Perlberger and Lewis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On August 3rd, 2006, Ford Motor Co. announced the recall of 1.2 million vehicles nationwide. These recalls are in addition to an extensive list started in January of 2005, when it was discovered that a Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch in the vehicles was potentially dangerous, responsible for numerous episodes of engine fires. The incidents resulted in various lawsuits across the nation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had disclosed that Thursday that it had completed a thorough analysis concerning the cause of the vehicle fires over the course of two years. While there are currently vehicles equipped with the switch found responsible, NHTSA has not designated them dangerous. Ford has agreed to comply with any future requests concerning the safety of the automotive part, but doesn't expect any future recalls at the present time. Kristen Kinsley, Ford spokeswoman, stated, "If we felt the switch was unsafe we'd be recalling all of them.... we're confident we've captured all of them."

Interestingly, non-Ford vehicles that use the same Texas Instruments switch have not been identified as dangerous. Ford automobiles that have been recalled thus far include:

• 1994 - 2002 models of the Ford F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks
• 2000 - 2002 Excursion models
• 1994 - 1996 Econoline vans
• 1996 - 2002 E-450 vans
• 1998 Explorers
• 1998 Mercury Mountaineers

The total number of Ford recalls so far is 6.7 million - 5.8 million of which are in the United States. The total recall would make the fourth largest recall in U.S. history. Last year, the Detroit News reported that Ford intends on reimbursing $50 per vehicle to fix the problem, putting the total cost of recalls at about $290 million.

Safety administrations have received 1,472 complaints on malfunctioning cruise controls, with 65 instances of vehicle fires, and while there are no reported deaths, several families have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Ford for fires allegedly started by Ford vehicles. There have been at least 13 lawsuits initiated by the faulty product fires, and since 1998 have resulted in government investigations. Ralph Nader has harshly criticized Ford's actions, claiming that the automotive company of failing to confront the issue with the flammable cruise control system. Nader wrote in 2005, "How much longer will you allow this $20 part to imperil the public?"

The NHTSA report showed that the problem with the vehicles was that a fatigue failure in the brake seal allowed fluid to corrode the cruise control switch when it was pointed upwards. According to the report, "the brake systems generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the (switch) to fail and in certain installation orientations catch fire."

If you or someone you know has been injured due to a defective product or has been injured in an automobile accident, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney in your area. Clark, Perdue, Arnold and Scott Law Offices in Columbus, Ohio have experience in a wide variety of personal injury lawsuits.

Teflon is a household product used to make things like saucepans and grills slippery and heat resistant. It has revolutionized the cooking industry by making cookware more sturdy and manageable, providing easy clean-up after use and more control over heat distribution. It was discovered in 1938 by DuPont chemist Roy Plunkett, who had been attempting to find a refrigerant at the time. It was used during the "Manhattan Project" when General Leslie Groves learned of its resistant properties and ordered his scientists to use it on the gaskets in order to resist the bomb's corrosive gas, uranium hexaflouride. By 1950, DuPont was making millions a year by advertising the substance as a low-friction coating for gears and ball bearings. The coating found its way into kitchenware in the 60's. It was also eventually used as a stain-protectant for carpets and drapes, as well as a lining for medical implants as the substance is one of few that isn't rejected by the human body.

The problem with Teflon in kitchenware is that when the materal is heated to a temperature higher than 600 degrees Farenheit, it breaks down and releases chemical fumes composed partially of perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA. PFOA is a proven carcinogen (observed through animal studies) which is known for causing nerve-damage and death as well as cancer. In humans, a reversible flulike condition known as polymer-fume fever can be developed with adverse effects on the human system. Due to the popularity of Teflon and other harmful materials with this issue, about 95% of Americans have traces of PFOA in their blood. While there has not been a study directly linking Teflon to death or harm in humans, DuPont was recently forced to settle a $107.6 million lawsuit wherein 50,000 West Virginia residents claimed that the materal caused PFOA poisoning in its residents near the Ohio River resulting in birth defects and other health problems. DuPont has pledged to reduce the amount of PFOA used in Teflon in order to minimize the dangerous emissions into the environment by 2015.

Those who are still in contact with Teflon and other non-stick cookware should keep in mind that it is dangerous to use the slippery wares in high heats, especially when empty. Submerging hot, non-stick pots and pans into cold water is also dangerous as it promotes fume emission.

If you or someone you know has been injured by a dangerous product like Teflon, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney such as Jonathan R. Mani & Damon L. Ellis of the Mani Ellis Law Firm in West Virginia.

A recent study released from Harvard shows that children exposed to second-hand smoke have more trouble breathing when under general anesthesia during surgery. The study appears in the current journal Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and was conducted by Dr. Dwight Jones of the Boston Children's Hospital and Dr. Neil Bhattacharyya of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

The study involved 400 children undergoing surgery procedures such as removal of fluid in the middle ear or hernia operations with standard protocol. About 40% of the children had been exposed to secondhand smoke throughout their lives, according to their families. These children generally exhibited more difficulties in surgery than children who had not been exposed to secondhand smoke. 38% of children exposed to secondhand smoke secreted more mucus, causing difficulties in surgical procedures. These children were also prone to breath holding and were found likely to have airway constrictions. The most difficult time for the children was in the wake-up period of the procedure, when their glands and senses were active and aware of their environment.

If you or someone you know has suffered difficulties due to second hand smoke or premise negligence, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney for more information on injury law and what you can do to help. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos in New York, New York are experienced personal injury lawyers willing to supply consultation and answer questions.

Bicycling in America today is seen as both a joyous family activity and a serious fitness sport. It isn't uncommon to see a cyclist in brightly colored spandex racing along the side of a highway in the early morning hours, well-equipped to face the dangers of the speedy sport with such precautions as kneepads, wrist guards and helmets. Families on leisurely bicycle outings in parks or neighborhoods generally neglect such protective devices in order to free themselves to their natural environment. A casual, slow ride in an enclosed area doesn't call the need to most people for bicycle helmets and other safety gear, but does that really mean the danger is being evaded?

In 2005 alone, United States hospital emergency rooms treated around 64,500 bicycling-related head injuries. Half of the deaths recorded from such injuries were children under the age of 15.

A serious head injury can happen in even the most tranquil environments, and a traumatic brain injury is typically a result of a sudden jolt, not exclusive to impact injuries. Many records of traumatic brain and head injuries occurred on sidewalks and at stop signs, sometimes due to outside factors such as other drivers neglecting pedestrian right-of-way. Helmets would prevent anywhere from 45% to 88% of these injuries.

Bicycle helmets are typically with a thin but strong outer shell of polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber which distributes the impact force and prevents penetration by sharp objects. The expanded polystrene foam lining inside of helmets further helps distribute impact force and absorbs energy, keeping the brain from suffering extreme motion within the cranium. While more expensive bicycle helmets are promoted in the sports market, a less expensive model of helmet will generally provide an equal amount of protection, provided that it is worn correctly. Encouraging the use of bicycle helmets for you and your family could prove to be a necessary precaution when a serious bicycling accident occurs.

If you or someone you know has suffered traumatic brain injury or you would like to learn more about helmet safety and bicycle injuries, please feel free to contact personal injury attorneys.

Jennifer Beglin of Louisville, Kentucky died in 2003 when greif-stricken family members made the inevitable and tragic decision to take her off of life support. She had been in a coma for about three months, induced from an overwhelming amount of blood loss in a routine rectal surgery operation.

What went on in the operating room that day has many versions. According to the Beglin family, it was a terrifying circus of errors and unpreparation, regardless of where it came from. "There were way too many mistakes for us to just let go," according to her son, William Beglin. Doctors were calling for blood from the blood bank only one story below while trying to balance Mrs. Beglin's condition. She had a history of blood problems, but for there were no records to be found at the hospital as to what blood she would need, and when. The hospital would later claim that the doctors should have called for blood sooner, while the doctors maintain that it was the hospital's sheer negligence that caused the wrongful death of Jennifer Beglin.

The jury issued in Mrs. Beglin's case on August 1, 2006 agreed with the doctors' verdict. The hospital was held accountable for missing information and general neglect of their patient. The lawsuit issued approximately $9 million to the suffering family after their three-year court battle, which 16-year-old Kelly Beglin feels is proof that a wrong has been righted. "It's been a long journey with a bittersweet end, and a fight they hope their mom to be proud of. She would be happy that we can now go to where we want to college and I think in the end it's justice for her," says Kelly. The sum was decided independently of the family by the jury, who took into account missing income such as Mrs. Beglin's lost payroll, upcoming family medical bills, and $1.5 million in support to each of the children. The real hope for the Beglin family is that future incidents involving medical malpractice at the University Hospital in Kentucky will be avoided because of the lawsuit. Mr Beglin states, "I think some things need to change at University of Louisville Hospital.... I think they are going to after this verdict."

If you or someone you know has been injured due to medical negligence, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney in your area such as Robbins and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia.