Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

A California mother recently received a $4.6 million settlement for the injury caused to her son when he was circumcised at one week old. Melanie Hall settled with Miltex Inc, a Mogen circumcision clamp manufacturer, and parent company Integra Life Sciences Holding Corp for defective manufacturing that resulted in 85% of the tip of her son's penis being amputated, according to the lawsuit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 56 percent of U.S.-born males are circumcised in hospitals. The Mogen clamp, Gomco clamp, and Plastibell are the devices used in the majority of circumcisions performed in the U.S.

In August 2000, the FDA alerted the public with a public health notification regarding the Mogen and Gomco clamps following 105 injury reports between July 1996 and January 2000. Penile injuries included cuts, hemorrhaging, amputation and urethral damage.

The FDA has received 139 additional reports since their 2000 public health notice for issues related to circumcision clamps, 51 of which were injury reports. 21 of those reports involved Mogen clamps. Although Miltex ceased distribution of Mogen clamps in 1994, some of its devices continue to be used.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Product Liability Lawyer Discusses Injuries Related to Circumcision Clamps" »

Last month, toy manufacturer Fisher Price recalled more than 10 million toys in the U.S. due to injury and choking hazards. The recall includes tricycles, toys, and high chairs. Several children were injured, and seven needed stitches from the use of these products. For more information on this story, please see the report by ABC News. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns people who own any of these recalled items to stop using them and contact the manufacturer for repair kits and replacements.

According to CPSC statistics, there were 12 reported deaths linked to toys in 2009 among kids under 15 years old. More than half of those deaths (58%) were from riding toys including tricycles. That same year, there were approximately 250,100 injuries from toys which required treatment in emergency rooms.

As Coral Springs defective products attorneys working on product liability cases, we help people who have been injured and families of people who have been killed due to defective products such as dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, dangerous children's products, and defective vehicle design and manufacture. Our attorneys use their experience to hold negligent manufacturers accountable and obtain justice for the victims and families of victims whose lives have been changed due to defective products.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Injury Lawyer Warns Consumers Against Using Recalled Fisher Price Toys" »

An Iraq War Veteran from St. Petersburg, Florida, was killed on Sunday, September 11th, when a SCUBA tank exploded inside his home. According to reports, an investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of this potential wrongful death case, including whether the SCUBA tank was defective.

Alerts have been issued in the past warning people about risks of injury and death from tank explosions. There have been incidents where the cracking of the alloy around the fill ring has caused explosions, along with too pure an oxygen mix or overfilling of tanks. SCUBA tanks that are found to be defective upon inspection should not be used and a warranty claim should be filed with the manufacturer.

In a case involving wrongful death due to a defective product, the family of the victim should contact an attorney specializing in personal injury and products liability who can help determine their rights and investigate the case.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Wrongful Death Attorney Looks at Possible Product Liability Case in SCUBA Tank Explosion Death" »

At least one person has been injured following a single-vehicle car crash in West Palm Beach. The auto accident happened in the morning hours of July 14, 2011, when a car lost control and crashed into a tree, resulting in the car catching fire. It is yet undetermined how many passengers were in the vehicle. The vehicle hit a utility pole before striking the tree, resulting in nearly 3,000 people losing power for about two hours on the morning of the accident.

More than 1.75 million single-vehicle crashes happened in the U.S. in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those crashes, 18,745 were fatal and 489,000 resulted in injuries.

Single-vehicle accidents are sometimes caused by defective vehicle equipment or design, such as defective brakes, steering systems, or tires. These types of equipment and design problems can lead to car accidents with catastrophic injuries, and in some cases, death. A product liability attorney can help determine liability and hold the negligent party accountable for damages in a single vehicle accident.

In some cases, single-vehicle accidents are the result of poorly maintained roadways. Unsafe road conditions may be caused by a construction company that set up a road improperly, or other defect in the maintenance or traffic control of the road.

Continue reading "West Palm Beach Car Accident Results in Residential Power Loss " »

An ATV crash over the July 4th weekend has resulted in injuries to three people and the firing of two Miami Beach police officers. Kitzie Nicanor and Luis Almonte were injured when an ATV driven by officer Derick Kuilan crashed into them. The ATV was also carrying a female (non-police) passenger, who sustained minor injuries. Kuilan was on duty when he operated the ATV, which had been issued by the Miami Beach police department. The Miami Beach police department confirmed that Kuilan and his partner, police officer Rolando Gutierrez, were seen at the Clevelander Hotel prior to the accident. An investigation is on-going to determine whether alcohol was a factor in this ATV accident.

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) first became available in the U.S. in the early 1970s and have gained popularity ever since. Unfortunately, these vehicles have also been linked to serious injuries and deaths over the years. According to ATVSafety.gov, there were 376 deaths and an estimated 131,900 injuries related to ATVs in the U.S in 2009.

Continue reading "Miami ATV Accident Leaves 3 Injured" »

As the busy summer travel season approaches, and with Memorial Day weekend around the corner, it is a good time to discuss the importance of checking one's tire conditions in order to prevent tire blowouts. As the Sun Sentinel reports, two recent car accidents involving tire blowouts bring awareness as to how dangerous - and preventable - tire blowouts are.

The first, which occurred two weeks ago, involved a family that was injured when a tire on their SUV blew out on I-95, causing the vehicle to roll over. The second occurred the very next day, where a tire blowout led to the death of a woman on the Turnpike.

According to tire manufacturer statistics, each year, about 535 deaths and 23,000 car crashes are caused by tire blowouts. As Coral Springs car accident lawyers, we feel it is necessary for Florida drivers, as well as tourists visiting Florida and who will be driving on Florida's roads to be informed on tire blowouts. Below are some of the common causes of tire blowouts and also helpful tips on how to prevent it from happening:

Excessive Wear
Inspect your tires on a regular basis to make sure they are in good condition and that there is enough tread. The website tirerack.com offers specific information on measuring the tread on your tires to make sure they are safe to drive.

Overinflated and Underinflated Tires
A tire that is overinflated causes a car to become unstable. A tire that is underinflated can lead to extreme heat inside the tire, causing a blowout. Make sure to check your tire pressure often. The Florida Highway Patrol recommends drivers check their tires before each car ride. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your car and make it a habit to check your tire pressure.

Heat
Florida is well known for its high temperatures year round. A tire is more likely to rupture in hot temperatures, making Florida's roads very susceptible to tire blowouts. Low tire pressure and heat can be a deadly combination (see above).

Overloading
Busy travel weekends such as Memorial Day mean heavier loads in people's vehicles. Carrying too much weight in your car puts extra strain on your tires. Check your vehicle manufacturer's maximum weight limit, typically found on a placard on the driver's side door.

Defective Tires
In some cases, a tire blowout is caused by a defect in tire manufacture. A personal injury lawyer with experience handling products liability cases will fight for your rights and hold the tire manufacturer accountable for their defective product.

Continue reading "Personal Injuries Due To Car Accidents Often Result From Tire Blowouts" »

A Miami woman suffered serious personal injuries when a defective product she was cooking with exploded on May 19, 2011. The 79-year-old woman, whose identity has not been released, was using a pressure cooker, when it exploded after falling on the floor. A piece of the pressure cooker ended up cutting off her left leg. The woman survived the accident, and doctors are now working in an attempt to save her leg.

Another news story regarding a products liability case based on defective pressure cookers happened in 2007, when HSN paid an $875,000 penalty to settle allegations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that HSN did not immediately report consumer burn injury complaints. According to CPSC allegations, HSN got a minimum of 25 safety complaints about the pressure cookers they retailed from September 2001 until around October 2004, but only reported them in February 2005.

It is mandatory that companies such as HSN report consumer complaints regarding defective and dangerous products to the CPSC. According to Federal law, these reports must be filed immediately in order to alert the public about any safety issues pertaining to personal injuries.

As Coral Springs products liability lawyers, we handle cases dealing with dangerous products and defects in design and manufacture under a negligence cause of action, as well as cases of strict liability. Under strict liability, the Plaintiff (person injured) is not required to prove that the manufacturer or seller of a product was negligent in producing or selling the product as the manufacturer or seller have a duty by law to produce and sell safe products. Lawsuits alleging strict liability or negligence each have their pros and cons and it is important to discuss your case with an injury lawyer who can recommend the best strategies for you case.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Looks at Products Liability and Strict Liability for Pressure Cooker Possibly Causing Leg Amputation" »