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Tag Archives: dangerous product

February 04, 2022 News
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Protocol, equipment failures led to deadly fire in Bronx apartment building

New York – Fire officials say that their initial investigation into a fatal apartment fire has shown significant equipment ‎failures. In addition, protocols meant to prevent such tragic disasters were not properly followed. The ‎deadly fire in a residential housing building in the Bronx claimed the lives of at least 17 fire victims. Of ‎these victims, reports show that 8 of them were children who died in the fire. Investigators note that ‎the initial cause of the accidental fire was a faulty malfunctioning heater that was left on after ‎residents left the apartment. The portable electric faulty heater apparently shorted and sparked, ‎causing it to catch on fire. Public safety experts say that sale of such a dangerous product should be ‎banned, as it easily can contain defective parts. The use of such a well-known fire-prone heating ‎device has long been discouraged, especially when used in a room that in unattended. Safety ‎protocols say that such a device should be turned off when one leaves the area in order to prevent a ‎dangerous situation that can lead to melting, malfunction and fires. ‎

Spread of the deadly smoke from the fire was caused when the automatic closing arm of the door was ‎broken. That equipment failure led to the quick envelopment of the building in smoke that suffocated ‎multiple residents. Firefighters reported that they found several of the smoke inhalation victims ‎collapsed in the stairwells. Safety experts say that building codes normally include venting of potential ‎smoke from a building fire out of the stairwells. They explain that this is important to provide a mode ‎of egress from a multi-story building fire like this one. See this article for more information and videos ‎about the equipment malfunctions and errors that led to these multiple fire deaths.‎

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit via Mike Goad [License]

January 19, 2020 News
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Car recall announced due to dangerous defective part

Car safety experts are warning about a potentially deadly faulty part that was installed on some Mercedes-Benz cars. This has led to a product safety recall of these vehicles in order to try to repair the hazardous situation. The specific models of cars involved in the product recall have been determined to have used a faulty bonding glue that attaches the sunroof to the vehicle. The glue material has been shown to break down and can cause the sunroof to break off. Concerned car safety specialists say that this can cause a dangerous car accident if the sunroof goes flying at high speeds. It can hit another car or cause a pedestrian accident. It can also cause the driver of the car to lose control and crash, leading to accident injuries or even wrongful death. It is unclear at this point if any car crash incidents have been linked to this potentially dangerous product. See this article for further details about this car recall.

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August 30, 2019 News
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Injury lawsuits may follow claims of injury and illness caused by vaping

New York – Vaping illness is a growing concern in New York, much as it has become a concern throughout the world. The various vaping, or electronic cigarette, products only began being marketed approximately 13 years ago. Inadequate long-term information on the health effects of these e-cigarettes is available, despite the widespread marketing of these products to consumers. Outrage has been brewing amongst safety advocates, especially due to the marketing tactics used to get children, teens and adults hooked on these products. Some have accused manufacturers and retailers of vaping supplies of targeting audiences of people who would have avoided any form of smoking. They claim that the manufacturers and sellers of these products make possibly false claims about the health and safety of their products. It has now been noted that there are possible links between vaping and lung illness, such as asthma and even chemical pneumonia. Other research indicates a possible brain injury or chemical connection that causes seizures due to vaping. Further research is needed and ongoing according to scientists and doctors.

In the meantime, lawmakers and regulators have been looking closely into the topic. Several lawsuits have already been filed against the makers of vaping products. In addition, there have been in-depth discussions and lawsuits filed against deceptive marketing techniques that target innocent victims. A personal injury lawyer in New York has expressed concern regarding vaping lung illness connections as well as the possibility regarding seizures being caused by electronic vaping cigarettes. The injury lawyer specialist notes that injury lawsuits may be filed, including a class action lawsuit, if indicated. You can see this article for more information regarding this possible dangerous product.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Jacek Halicki [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

April 14, 2019 News
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Product Recall :: Play sleepers linked to infant deaths

Product safety experts have declared a significant concern over a possible dangerous product. Claims of possible wrongful death have been blamed on popular play sleepers. Advocates note that up to several dozen infant babies died when they were in the devices. They explain that the babies rolled over in the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleepers when they were not seat-belted into the seat. The infants then could not breath due to the position and choked to death according to doctors. The concern raised by parents is that the device was unsafe for the age and stage of development for which the product was marketed. They noted that additional precautions, safety designs and warnings should have been in place to prevent personal injury or death. They add that the manufacturer was aware of the deaths of several accident victims from the dangerous situation but did nothing about it. The dangerous product recall was only started after the threat of personal injury lawsuits became overwhelmingly imminent. Unsuspecting parents say that there needs to be more accountability by the manufacturers and sellers of products such as these. Full investigation, follow up and immediate action must be taken when a hazardous or defective product is suspected. Any delayed recall places the public at significant risk according to health and safety specialists. To find out more about this defective product recall check out this site.

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March 03, 2019 News
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Dangerous milk distributed from New York dairy

New York – Health officials issued an urgent warning about milk contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria. They say that the milk was being sold as raw, or unpasteurized milk, in Hudson Valley area. Some of the dangerous product may have even been sent to further away locations. Doctors explain that the bacteria-contaminated milk can lead to a potentially serious medical illness called Listeriosis. The food poisoning illness can lead to severe complications, especially for the very young and old as well as immunocompromised patients, such as those with cancer or other health problems. Pregnant women are also at serious risk for fetal injury or illness, according to obstetricians. The local department of health has demanded that the farm owner immediately stop selling the unsafe product. While the situation in this dairy is still unclear, some cases of Listeria can occur due to unclean facility practice or improper maintenance. Health and safety officials have strict guidelines for farms, food suppliers and shippers as well as for retail stores in order to prevent such dangerous situations. Further inspections and research into the source of the contamination with bacteria will be needed to clean up the facility and ensure a safe product. See this article for more about the hazardous product and potential Listeria outbreak concerns.

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March 31, 2016 News
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Dangerous foods require product recalls to protect consumer safety

A slew of recent food recalls have included Perdue chicken found to have pieces of plastic in it, concerns of spoiled Bumble Bee cans of tuna, dangerous foreign objects such as shards of glass in Nestle frozen food products and Listeria contamination concerns with Starbucks breakfast sandwiches. Consumer safety activists have expressed grave concern regarding the nature of the potentially dangerous product recalls. They insist that improved safety control must remain the highest priority of all food manufacturers and not profits, as some companies believe. Some experts have questioned the speed at which some food recalls begin while others note that the extent of recalls and the advertising of them are lacking. Public health professionals explain that a dangerous food product must be removed from store shelves and supply warehouses immediately. However, some companies delay such decisions due to concerns regarding their image or loss of money due to a recall. Even once a hazardous product recall has been initiated, some businesses do a poor job of publicizing it, leaving customers at risk of illness, injury or death. Product liability is a serious concern and must be seen by corporations as more than a financial decision, but rather a human one. A top injury lawyer in New York City explains that many people get sick, suffer an injury or are victims of wrongful death due to simple negligence by companies that don’t take their responsibility seriously. Activists encourage all businesses to follow the good examples set by owners who follow through on their obligations to the public. If you or someone you know has been injured by a dangerous product, you have the right to speak to an attorney. Find more about the recent food product recalls here.

Illustrative photo credit: Rusty Clark [License]

March 13, 2015 News
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Breaking: McNeil Consumer Healthcare pleads guilty in contaminated medicine case

McNeil, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, is the medication company that makes several popular over-the-counter medications, including Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl. The company has pled guilty in a federal court to charges or improper disclosure in a case where they were accused of manufacturing and selling dangerous medication that was tainted with metal particles. As part of the settlement, the medication manufacturer will pay $25 Million in fines. The lawsuit details show that the company was apparently aware of improper quality control that led to production and sale of dangerous product. Plaintiffs explain that the company refused to investigate and correct the problems, despite having been warned by consumers who had found obvious contaminants in bottles of their liquid medicines. Court records show that the contamination was later identified as metal and toxic chemicals that were not supposed to be there. It is believed that these dangerous chemicals made their way into the medications during the manufacturing process, possibly due to negligent maintenance. Consumer advocates say that the metals may be a toxic health hazard, especially for babies and young children, the population that these polluted medications were intended for. Some say that the ingestion of these dangerous chemicals can lead to developmental injuries, such as brain damage and learning disabilities.

The same pharmaceutical company has gone through a series of product recalls for other tainted medications over the past several years. A New York City law firm points out that this case appears to be another in a series of production and medication errors made by the company. It raises the questions of product liability and endangering the public health. Consumers who believe that their health may have been adversely affected by these dangerous medicines should see their doctor for evaluation. In addition, an ill or injured consumer has the right to speak to a top injury lawyer for assistance. You can see further details about the federal court case and guilty plea here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: Mike Mozart [License]

January 28, 2015 News
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General Motors braces for more faulty ignition switch lawsuits

A dangerous product recall for defective parts in many General Motor (GM) vehicles has been in place for nearly a year. The car recalls have expanded since then, encompassing many car models manufactured as early as 2003 and as recently as 2011. Records show that well more than 300 wrongful deaths and more than 2,700 car accident injuries have been blamed on the defective car parts causing a crash. An administrator has been instructed to sort through the claims and lawsuits, in an effort to compensate the victims. At least 50 of those car crash death cases and 75 of the personal injury cases have been determined as eligible for compensation by the company. However, a deadline has been set for injury victims or the family of someone killed in a car collision to file a claim against the car company. GM has reportedly braced for a possible increase in the number of last minute claims and accident lawsuits against them in the coming days. Some of the injured people have sought the assistance of personal injury lawyer experts in order to make sure that they recover the money that they deserve. Analysts believe that the company has been trying to settle the lawsuit cases quickly, before the results are published from investigations into how much and when the car manufacturer knew about the dangerous situation regarding the flawed ignition switches. Accusations have circled for some time that the company were negligent by ignoring the known problem for many years, leading to many additional motor vehicle crashes. For further details about the ignition switch recall program, please see this article.

Illustrative photo by Ballista on en.wikipedia [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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

March 21, 2014 News
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Electrical shock hazard concerns trigger product recall

The makers of a popular breast pump have issued a dangerous product recall this week. They explain that there is a concern of injuries being caused by an electrical shock from the faulty machines. The concern arises from loose connections between the adapter and the electrical source. Experts say that a poor product design can lead to this type of hazardous situation and needs to be addressed quickly. They note that safe electrical engineering is important when producing electrical machines of any kind. However, they note, breast pumps are considered medical devices since they are used by new mothers to extract supplemental breast milk for the baby. This means that the product recall needs to be coordinated by the Food and Drug Administration. Reports from the manufacturer show that no women or babies have been injured so far by these products. However, some product safety advocates warn that companies aren’t always fully forthcoming about details of possible injury caused by the use of one of their products. They sometimes blame outside causes for the injuries in order to avoid negligence lawsuits. Consumers who think that they may have been injured by a dangerous product are encouraged to seek legal counsel in order to determine their rights. Check out this article for details regarding the breast pump recall.

Illustrative photo by Wencke g (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons