Author Archives: Morrison Wagner

September 18, 2014 News
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Crest toothpaste raising health concerns due to polyethylene additive

The Crest line of toothpastes have recently come under fire by dentists and consumer advocates due an additive of tiny plastic beads that have been included in the make-up of several kinds of the toothpaste. The polyethylene ingredient is apparently not needed as one of the active ingredients, according to the Crest manufacturer, a subsidiary of consumer product giant, Proctor & Gamble. Scientists say that the substance is actually a chemical name for plastic and is supposed to be biologically inactive. They explain that the tiny microbeads are the size of grains of sand and were added for color and aesthetic purposes. However, dental experts note that the plastic pieces can still cause serious health problems or dental disease, such as gingivitis, despite their being inert. Some dentists and periodontal specialists note that some patients have been found to have the polyethylene microbeads lodged in their gums, leaving a route open to introduce bacteria and infections into the gums. Company officials for Crest have announced, after a lengthy fight with dentists and consumer product safety advocates, that they are removing the potentially dangerous ingredient from all of their toothpaste products. They believe that it will take approximately six months to complete this removal of the plastic ingredient, while critics feel that this is much too long of a timeline to correct a dangerous condition for consumers. In the meantime, activists want to see the company issue a dangerous product recall in order to warn potential victims of the hazardous situation and advise them to see their oral health specialists. If you or someone you know has been exposed to this potential health hazard, you should speak to your doctor or dentist. You also have the right to consult with an attorney with expertise in consumer product liability. See this article for more about the dangerous use of polyethylene additives in Crest toothpaste as well as other various consumer products and even some foods.

Illustrative photo by Thegreenj (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

September 11, 2014 News
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Ongoing research reveals possible treatment for traumatic brain injury

A recent medical study showed that treating victims of head injury with xenon gas may minimize the degree of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The gas has been used as a medication for general anesthesia and also tired as a sedative for critical care patients. However, this early-stage study into head injuries suggests that the medicine should be further studied for accident victims and other sufferers of TBIs. Doctors explain that traumatic brain damage often occurs as a result of a car crash, slip and fall accident or assault. War time injuries and explosions can also cause severe head injuries. A mild traumatic brain injury, often referred to as a concussion, can leave the victim with memory problems, personality changes, headaches, dizziness, anxiety and depression. Medical experts say that the more severe the injury to the brain, the more severe and permanent the symptoms can be for the victim. They note that the initial accident or trauma is only the beginning of the process of brain injury. There’s a secondary injury that occurs over the next hours to days that can sometimes create more problems and disability than the initial injury. The researchers believe that the xenon gas is able to protect the health of the brain cells and prevent this further neurological injury, if given soon after a crash or other accident with head injury.

The scientists have also been studying the use of xenon gas for newborn babies who have suffered oxygen deprivation during birth. Possible causes of such lack of oxygen during delivery of an infant can include damage or problems with the health of the placenta or umbilical cord, an umbilical cord that is wrapped around the newborn’s neck, a birth injury, or prolonged labor and delivery of the infant. Experts posit that some of the causes can be due to a doctor’s mistake, missed diagnosis or hospital error while other problems can’t be prevented. The ultimate outcome of the oxygen deprivation can be devistating and leave the infant partially or even fully brain dead. The research scientists hope that their investigation into the use of xenon in these sick or injured patient will help prevent further brain damage. You can read more about the use of this gas as a medicine in brain injuries here.

Illustrative photo by Abu-Amero KK, Al-Dhalaan H, Bohlega S, Hellani A, Taylor RW. [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

September 03, 2014 News
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Construction accident injures worker in New York City subway tunnel

New York – Fire department rescue teams were sent racing to the scene of a construction accident in Manhattan according to reports. Witnesses say that an injured worker had to be extricated from an Upper East Side subway tunnel that was being built for the Second Avenue subway line. Officials explain that the worker suffered a leg injury when a heavy piece of equipment fell on him after breaking loose. He was unable to move on his own due to the seriousness of the accident injuries and a crane was used to lower firefighters down to help. Rescue teams began treating his wounds while he was lifted out of the construction site and transported to an emergency trauma room of a nearby hospital. The cause of the construction injury is still unclear and investigators were looking into why the object fell on the worker. Work safety activists say that it is important for employers to provide proper training and safety gear to their employees. It is also necessary to secure machines and equipment properly in order to avoid work accidents. Investigators will need to determine if all applicable laws and regulations regarding safe work site practices were being observed at the time of the accident. To find out more about this subway accident and work injury, check out this article.

Illustrative photo by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York (“Weekend Work 2012-08-13 01″Uploaded by tm) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

August 31, 2014 News
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Dangerous cars sold after flood damage

A used car dealer was arrested for illegally selling flood damaged cars after last year’s hurricane. The cars, believed to have been sold to New York and New Jersey residents, were severely damaged by flood waters and were declared “totaled” by their insurance companies. However, this did not stop the owner of the used car seller from selling the hazardous vehicles as regular, safe cars. Car safety experts explain that the salt and water mixture together with the sand and debris from the flood waters can have dangerous effects on the cars, leading to a car fire and/or a car accident. Experts have expressed concern regarding the dangers created by the negligent sale of the potentially deadly vehicles that has created a hazardous condition for everyone on the road. According to officials, the damaged cars were given false identities when the seller created fake ownership titles.

The safety, legal and moral implications of creating the false paperwork apparently did not bother the owner of the car salespeople. They have been arrested and charged with various crimes that endanger public safety. In the meantime, the cars that have been identified as having potential to create an accident, fire or other hazard, have been taken off of the road. Experts say that these vehicles must not be driven and are useful only for spare parts. They warn that use of the vehicles can otherwise lead to injury or wrongful death. Industry specialists explain that electrical components can short circuit or overheat and moving parts may malfunction. Other concerns involve internal rust damage that can lead to a dangerous leak. Investigators will need to continue researching the sale of the dangerous vehicles in order to determine if there are any other cars involved. As of now, no injuries or car crash incidents have been reported involving these vehicles. A New York City accident lawyer noted that if anyone was injured by one of these cars, they have the right to speak to an attorney to decide on the best course of action. More on this investigation of dangerous car sales can be found here.

Illustrative photo by Andrea Booher (This image is from the FEMA Photo Library.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

August 19, 2014 News
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Several motorcycle accidents in New York cause injuries and death

New York – Observers in the area are closely watching multiple motorcycle accident injuries and deaths as investigations continue in what appears to be an cluster of such collisions. A series of motorcycle crash incidents have occurred in Westchester over the past three weeks, with two of the accidents occurring this past Saturday. At least 3 people were injured in the accidents and one was killed. The biker that died in the accident had suffered fatal injuries after his bike collided with a bus. In that bus accident, some of the bus passengers reportedly also suffered injuries but none were reportedly life threatening. Investigators were looking at the possibility of speeding in that accident.

Police in Long Island report that another motorcycle collision occurred in Nassau County that left a woman dead. That bike accident also occurred over a weekend, on a Sunday. However, yet another unrelated bike crash in Queens, NY caused an additional wrongful death on a weekday. The cause of these motorcycle crashes continue to leave activists wondering what can be done to prevent recurrences. Some initiatives have included stepped up enforcement of no speeding laws, prevention of aggressive driving or road rage and education about the dangers of drunk driving. Public safety specialists believe more legal actions need to be taken against dangerous drivers that act negligently and cause motor vehicle accidents. Find out more about the recent bus crash and motorcycle collisions here.

Illustrative photo by Stahlkocher [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

August 12, 2014 News
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Fatal accident on New York Thruway involved wrong-way driver

New York – Earlier this morning a car crash occurred on a major highway, killing the drivers of both involved vehicles. According to officials, the driver of a pickup truck was driving the wrong way on the New York State Thruway in Rockland County, when his truck hit an oncoming SUV car. The car collision caused fatal injuries and sent emergency crews racing to the scene of the wrong-way accident. Reports show that the driver of the vehicle that had been driving on the wrong side of the highway was actually a New York City police officer, although he was off-duty at the time of the early morning truck accident. Video footage of the accident scene shows that the 2 vehicles apparently were involved in a head-on collision, causing severe damage to the front seat compartments, mostly on the driver’s side. Trauma specialists note that this type of car crash can be the most serious, involving 2 heavy vehicles that were both travelling at high speeds and hitting each other head-on. They explain that the velocities of the truck and the SUV add together to create a deadly motor vehicle accident. The types and severity of accident injuries are often also much more serious when this type of accident occurs.

Investigators are continuing their evaluation of the crash to determine what caused it. Possibilities include speeding, reckless driving, drug use and drunk driving, especially when the collision includes a wrong-way accident. An accident lawyer says that the at-fault driver, or in this case, the driver’s estate and car insurance company, faces a strong possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit. It is unclear if there were any other victims of the crash or the nature of any injuries. You can see more about the wrong-way collision here.

Illustrative photo by U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

July 31, 2014 News
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Heavy glass window falls, injures 3 in Manhattan construction accident

New York – A workman and two pedestrians were injured on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk this past Thursday. The wounded victims were hit by large broken pieces of a glass window that crashed down from an office building above. According to investigators, it all started with a construction accident inside the building that was undergoing renovation work at the time. Workers were hard at work when either a piece of machinery or scaffolding apparently crashed into the window, cracking it and sending heavy chunks of glass slamming onto the sidewalk below. One of the injury victims was a worker who was taken to the hospital for treatment of an unknown leg injury. At least one of the injured bystanders had suffered a head injury according to witnesses of the pedestrian accident. She was also taken by ambulance to the trauma department of a nearby emergency room for emergency treatment.
Public safety advocates have explained that the accident requires further investigation to determine if all necessary precautions were taken by the construction company to ensure the safety of the area. This includes worker safety to prevent a work injury as well as an accident that endangers the health and lives of bystanders. Officials say that laws and regulations are in place to prevent injuries and deaths from these types of preventable accidents. However, some have complained that workers and employers take dangerous shortcuts all too often, leaving innocent civilians at risk for serious injuries or wrongful death. Some activists report that particular construction bosses and workers have been guilty of outright negligence that led to an accident. It usually falls upon the buildings department and agencies such as OSHA to monitor worksites and prevent these types of accidents. See more about this construction injury here.

Photo by Borofkin (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

July 28, 2014 News
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Bus crashes injured pedestrians and bicyclist in New York City

New York – A pedestrian accident left two women with severe injuries after they were hit by a bus in Manhattan. The bus crash occurred when the women were crossing the intersection of 47th Street and 10th Avenue in Midtown. The bus driver was turning left onto the side street and apparently had a green light according to witnesses. However, pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk usually have the right-of-way over motor vehicle traffic. The bus struck the pedestrians and left one of the women crushed under a back wheel of the vehicle. The other accident victim was thrown to the ground after being hit and suffered a leg injury. Emergency crews rapidly responded to the scene of the collision and had to extricate the trapped victim from under the tire. Police explain that the bus was owned and operated by a private transportation company. They were continuing their investigation into the cause of the bus accident and the safety record of the bus company.
Reports also show that a second, unrelated bus crash occurred only four days later, this time in Brooklyn, NY. That bus was operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who issued a statement that the cause of the accident was actually the bicycle rider. Witnesses reported that the bike rider was working as a delivery man when he suddenly pulled out in front of the bus. The bus then crashed into several cars as it apparently swerved. It was unclear if anyone on the bus suffered any accident injuries. An accident lawyer noted that if substantiated, the bicyclist can face charges and a lawsuit for causing a motor vehicle accident. See this article for more details about the bicycle accident.

Photo by AEMoreira042281 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

July 18, 2014 News
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Questions mount regarding safety of medications containing niacin

Medical studies point to dangerous medication side effects of taking niacin but many doctors still prescribe the drug. Hundreds of thousands of patients in the United States are being given prescription Niacin according to recent statistics. Even more take the medicine without prescription, sold as vitamin B-3 over-the-counter in pharmacies, supermarkets and online. However, ongoing research of the prescription drug reveals that there are considerable side effects and possible health dangers in taking it. Some believe that the studies and literature clearly point to increased risk of wrongful death that has been ignored by many doctors and hospitals. The most common brand name of the medication is Niaspan, that is manufactured by a large U.S. drug company. Experts say that the nearly $1 Billion sales of the medicine in the U.S. alone may explain why the potentially hazardous product hasn’t been recalled from the market. There are many individuals and companies that have a lot of invested interest in ignoring the crucial warnings regarding the pills. Some have suggested that it is the responsibility of the drug makers to halt sales of the medication until they have more thoroughly studied its health effects. They contend that it is negligent for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to continue selling a product that hasn’t been fully researched and may quite possibly be injuring the public health. People who are taking niacin-related medication should discuss any concerns with their healthcare professional before stopping it. If you or someone you know may have been injured by a medication, you have the right to speak to an injury attorney that specializes in medical malpractice and liability https://morrisonwagner.com/contact/ to discuss your case. Read about the current medical research on niacin here.

Illustrative photo by Ragesoss (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

July 13, 2014 News
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Garbage truck accident in Brooklyn causes injuries and death

New York – A car crash involving a BMW versus a garbage truck occurred on Wednesday, according to police. The truck crash apparently began when the driver of the car slammed into the privately owned and operated truck. Emergency services reported that one of the passengers from the car, a man in his twenties, died from massive trauma during the collision. At least 2 other people were injured in the motor vehicle accident, including another passenger and the driver of the car. Those accident injuries have required emergency treatment according to reports. The 2 workers that were in the garbage truck did not require transport to an emergency room but may require evaluation for possible injuries. Trauma doctors note that some injuries from an accident may only become evident hours, days or even weeks after the initial incident. This is why doctors recommend that anyone who is involved in a serious accident with injuries, should be evaluated soon after the crash, even if the injured victim was someone else involved in the incident. They note that if there was enough force to cause injuries to another person in the accident, then there’s a higher likelihood that other people also suffered an injury. This is even more so the case if there was someone killed in the accident. Such injuries can include a spinal injury, internal bleeding or even a broken bone.

While the injured victims are tended to, the police continue to investigate the cause of the truck collision. They have reported that the driver of the car may have been a drunk driver and this may have caused the accident. In fact, the driver had been charged with driving while under the influence (DWI) in the past and there was a warrant out for his arrest. The current DWI charge would bring a more severe penalty in light of the wrongful death in this case. Find out more about the drunk driving accident here.

Illustrative photo by Kevin.B (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons