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Tag Archives: product recall

February 13, 2022 News
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Redefining accidental injuries, fatalities and responsibility

An important but under-recognized movement has developed to truly improve ‎safety and prevent “accident injuries.” For way too long designers, manufacturers and society ‎leaders have ignored the well-known dangerous situations and hazardous conditions that exist ‎in the modern world. This sometimes manifests by poor road design, dangerous construction ‎site planning or manufacturing of faulty products. Once someone – or many people – have ‎been injured or were killed by poor design or negligent implementation, the people ‎responsible for the tragedy write it off as an “accident.” Many refuse to take any blame of ‎negligence and refuse to take the opportunity to declare a faulty product recall. More ‎importantly, they don’t make full efforts to redesign their product or re-do their design to ‎prevent further injury or death. It is no secret that some roads and highways are dangerous ‎and are more prone to car crash or pedestrian accidents. Likewise, some high-intensity ‎electrical products are known fire hazards. Yet others pose a serious risk of choking hazards or ‎other similar dangerous situations that need to be corrected. The concept of a wrongful death ‎lawsuit developed in an attempt to hold offending parties accountable for their actions or ‎even inactions. Personal injury lawsuits are likewise used as a tool to not only compensate ‎injury victims but to also create change in the world of those who design, develop and ‎manufacture consumer products or facilities.
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A recent book ‎was written about this topic, bringing to the forefront the idea of how to make necessary ‎changes before tragedy strikes. A top New York law firm has a long history of fighting for the rights of people ‎injured in a “car accident” that may not have actually been exactly just an accident after all. ‎This team has a tried a true history of fighting to change the reality and protect victims of faulty ‎products, work injury, slip and fall injury or even medical malpractice. The time has come to ‎make sure that designers, manufacturers and companies are held responsible for their actions.‎

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Billie Grace Ward [License]

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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July 26, 2018 News
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Concerns regarding possible delayed recall of defective car seat

Potentially dangerous defective child car seats were recalled by the manufacturer several months after the company performed its own collision safety tests. Federal investigators have now been examining whether the manufacturer of the seats possibly delayed reporting the defective product and instituting the recall. Guidelines require companies to report safety problems within five days to the appropriate government agency, in this case the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, evidence has shown that the business that produced the child restraint system had information several months earlier about the dangerous condition. This was based on safety problems that were evident on quality and safety testing that the company had conducted on the seats during a car accident. Product liability is a responsibility that manufacturers and distributors must take seriously. Concerned parents and safety advocates have voiced concerns regarding the situation, saying that this breech of public trust leaves the public in danger. Some have pointed out that negligent reporting of safety problems must be dealt with harshly. The potential dangers in this case could include head injuries leading to traumatic brain injury, internal organ bleeding, fractures and nerve injury. You can refer to this article for more about the car seat safety product recall.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Tetris L [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons

March 10, 2017 News
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Takata airbag manufacturer pleads guilty to fraud

The world’s largest vehicle airbag recall was sparked after, analysts say, the Takata manufacturer fraudulently claimed that their airbags were safe. However, the company now admits that they knew for many years that there was a defective part that could cause the device to explode. This, in turn, could lead to a more serious and deadly injury from a car accident. The company has produced tens of millions of dangerous airbags that have been installed by motor vehicle manufacturers around the world. Everything from cars to SUVs to trucks have dangerous airbag components made by this company and have been recalled. The guilty plea by Takata comes along with an agreement to pay a hefty $1 Billion in fines and penalties. However, this money is not earmarked to go to the injury victims and families of victims killed in a car crash that may have been affected by the hazardous situation. A top injury law firm in New York explains that this doesn’t shield the manufacturer or others from a personal injury lawsuit. In fact, it has been noted that some of the car companies allegedly knew about the dangerous condition posed by the defective airbag problem but continued to install them anyway. This opens those car makers to injury and wrongful death lawsuit as well, according to experts. Product liability laws describe the actions that should be taken by all involved to ensure that consumers aren’t injured by a product that is known to be potentially dangerous. You can find out more about this product recall and repercussions here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Credit: Robin Corps [License]

November 30, 2016 News
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Baby strollers and carriers: Head injuries, traumatic brain injury and other hazards

Researchers looking at injuries caused by strollers and baby carriers have noted an increased number of children suffering a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). They compared statistics of accident injuries from 1990 until 2010 and saw a marked increase in these diagnoses following head injury. However, it is still unclear whether the spike is related to more dangerous stroller design and manufacturing. An alternative theory is that it can be attributed to more parents bringing their children to a doctor or emergency room for evaluation of possible wounds or more astute diagnosis by doctors. Public safety advocates say that some parents may be more aware of more subtle injuries than they used to, driving them in larger numbers to seek evaluation and treatment for their baby. Some believe that increased public education on the seriousness of head injury and the long-term effects of cognitive function following a concussion (post-concussional disorder) may have led to these changing statistics. Whatever the cause, activists say that continued pressure on manufacturers and government regulatory agencies is necessary to continue to improve child safety, prevent dangerous or defective products from being sold and maintain product liability to prevent negligence. Dangerous product recalls are one way that industry and governmental bodies maintain responsibility and prevent injury or death. You can see more details about the recent baby stroller hazard study here.

Illustrative photo credit: Matthew Yglesias [License]

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]

May 26, 2014 News
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Serious injury blamed on defective office chair

An office desk chair has been recalled after more than two dozen victims have fallen and been injured, including at least one serious injury. Office Depot, an office furniture and supply store, sold the desk chairs for approximately nine years and have received numerous complaints from injured workers. It is unclear as to how long the manufacturer and retail company have known about the dangers of the faulty product. It has now come to light that the welding on the bottom of the chair can break and cause a fall injury. Reports show that some of the injured victims suffered a head injury, neck and back injuries, broken hip, fractured bones as well as contusions and abrasions from falling off of the broken chair. Consumer protection specialists therefore triggered the product recall, hoping to prevent further accidents and injuries. An accident lawyer in New York explains that injuries arising from a product liability case such as this can lead to several different types of personal injury lawsuits. These may include a negligence lawsuit if the factory that produced the product, or store that sold it, knew that their product was breaking or poorly made. A workman’s compensation lawsuit may need to be filed if the injury occurred at work. In some circumstances the injured victim may need to file for long-term or even permanent disability. Find out more details on the current broken chair recall here.

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

January 22, 2014 News
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Car company gears up for recall amidst allegations of gas tank safety problems

The Chrysler Group, a US-based car manufacturer, has announced that they will start recalling one of their popular Jeep SUVs in order to make a necessary repair. The car recall is apparently being implemented in order to mitigate concerns of a safety hazard regarding the vehicle’s gas tanks. Car safety advocates have claimed that a design flaw placed the fuel tank in a dangerous location, creating the possibility of a fuel line rupture and fire during a rear-end collision. Rear-end accidents are common and should be taken into consideration when designing and building a car, according to experts. The company plans on adding a trailer hitch to the back of the SUV in order to more support to the vehicle in case of a rear crash. Some safety advocates have expressed concern regarding this proposed fix, believing the repair may not solve the problem. The car company had been asked to institute a dangerous product recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but refused. An investigation was started into the problem but has reportedly been closed now that Chrysler has declared their product recall. Outcries against the closing of the safety investigation have arisen. Various activists have warned that the true nature of the danger of gas tank fires or explosions cannot be discovered without a proper third-party inquiry. See more about this motor vehicle recall here.

Photo by M 93 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-de], via Wikimedia Commons

December 23, 2013 News
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Baby carrier device recalled due to danger of fall and injury

A trendy child carrying product, similar to a baby sling, has been recalled by the Playtex manufacturer due to concerns regarding the safety of the item. The company released a statement describing their concerns and the reason for the dangerous product recall. The plastic buckles that secure the safety straps on the pouch can break or crack, causing the baby to fall and get hurt. They stated that they had received 87 reports of the buckle failure before issuing the recall alert to the public. In fact, there were also at least two events where the child fell from the carrier and at least one where the injured child had to receive emergency medical treatment. Critics of the current hazardous product recall system say that action is only undertaken after considerable numbers of the products have been placed on the market and broken or otherwise malfunctioned. The companies leave it up to consumers to levy complaints against the merchandise’s lack of safety or outright dangers. Citizens are left to fight, to prove that a product broke and injured someone, and that the company should take responsibility for it. Some activists have pointed out that the consumer is left at risk until the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the company issue warnings or a proper recall of the item. Often, a recall is only issued once a victim has already suffered a personal injury or wrongful death. Even then, a recall can get held up with administrative red tape that continues to leave the public in danger. Independent safety specialists warn that product safety must become a more prominent issue well before someone gets hurt in an accident. Details about the current baby hip carrier recall can be found here.

Photo by Thomas Nugent [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons