Articles by Robert Reeves on ArticleSnatch.com

Companies Protest NHTSA Study That Led to Proposed Rental Car Safety Legislation

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:09:03 -0400

Last week, the California car accident attorneys at our firm had blogged about a new piece of legislation that has been introduced by New York Sen. Charles Schumer, to reduce the risk of accidents caused by defective rental cars. Now, the three major rental car agencies in the US have written a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, finding faults with an NHTSA study that had been used by Sen. Schumer as a basis for the proposed bill. According to Sen. Schumer, he was inspired by the study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and used it while drafting the legislation, called the Safe Rental Car Act. Loopholes in current laws allow rental car companies to continue to rent out vehicles that have been recalled by automakers, while automakers themselves are not allowed to sell cars once they're on the recall list. This loophole has meant millions of rental car customers are at risk when they rent vehicles that have already been recalled by automakers. According to Sen. Schumer, rental car companies must be barred from renting out cars that would not be allowed to be displayed in auto dealer lots or showrooms. **End Summary** Topics: car accident attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Older Driver Tests are Inadequate to Gauge Accident Risks

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:45:17 -0400

The San Bernardino car accident attorneys at our firm regularly monitor developments related to highway safety, including the special challenges that elderly motorists face. A study by Canadian scientists shows that the tests that are typically used to gauge older driver's fitness levels, may be completely inadequate to accurately gauge the driver's ability to drive. These tests merely measure the person's ability to read highway signage, and may not really analyze his ability to react to the signs on a crowded street. According to scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, the biggest drawback with driving tests is that they are typically conducted in a doctor's setting which does not involve real-life experiences. A doctor's office is clean and uncluttered, and involves none of the chaos that you would normally find on a crowded street. In a doctor's office, an older driver is not required to filter through clutter, and focus only on the things that are important. For instance, in the doctor's office, it's hard to replicate conditions that would require an elderly motorist to focus on a pedestrian stepping off a curb. **End Summary** Topics: an Bernardino car accident attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Abbott Labs Leads in FDA Pharmaceutical Safety Inspection Failures

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:17:13 -0400

According to data from the Food and Drug Administration, safety violations at pharmaceutical plants increased in 2010. The administration found safety violations at 54% of the plants that were inspected last year, which was a spike of 20% from 2007. Leading the pack in failure to clear safety inspections was Abbott Labs. Abbott Labs failed about 59% of its 111 inspections. It was followed by Pfizer, which failed 57% of 202 inspections. Merck failed 15% of 134 inspections by the FDA and last year's recall czar Johnson & Johnson failed 40% out of 161 inspections. Some of the best results were achieved by Mylan, which passed 79% of 56 inspections last year. Overall, 80 drug makers failed more than 50% of their FDA inspections. The analysis was conducted by Bloomberg, and included data from 10,000 inspections at American pharmaceutical plants between 2000 and September 30, 2010. The analysis initially placed Pacira Pharmaceuticals at first place in the number of flunked safety violations, stating that the company had an 82% rate of failing inspections. However, the analysis is from 2010, and since then the company has changed hands to new management. **End Summary** Topics: Pharmaceutical Liability Lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

63% of Teen Motorists Admit to Cell Phone Use While Driving

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:17:13 -0400

There's more bad news for injury attorneys and parents concerned about the widespread use of cell phones while driving among young drivers. A new poll study by the US Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports Magazine found that distracted driving continues to be widespread among the young driver population. The study found that 63% of people below the age of 30 admitted to driving and using a cell phone over the previous month. Among respondents above the age of 30, 41% said that they used cell phones while driving and 9% admitted to texting and driving. It's not just the fact that cell phone use and texting while driving is so popular among young motorists that concerns Orange County car accident lawyers. It's also the fact that teen and young motorists seem to be so oblivious to the dangers and accident risks from such behavior. Only about one third of the respondents in the survey said that it was dangerous to use cell phones or text when driving. According to the Department of Transportation, distracted driving caused 5,474 fatalities in accidents in 2009. **End Summary** Topics: Orange County car accident lawyers]]> injury attorneys]]> Cell Phone While Driving]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Study Shows 5% of Americans Have Fallen Asleep at the Wheel

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:17:03 -0400

According to new statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5% of Americans have fallen asleep at the wheel over the previous month. For Los Angeles car accident attorneys, this is yet more proof that California needs to be doing much more to take the problem of drowsy driving more seriously. According to the study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7% of Americans who were surveyed in the study, reported having either dozed off or fallen completely asleep at the wheel over the previous 30 days. The survey, which was conducted in 2009, included 74, 571 adults in 12 states. 38% of the respondents reported that they suddenly fell asleep while at the wheel on at least one occasion during the previous month. 35% of the respondents admitted that they got an average of less than seven hours of sleep within a 24-hour period. That is much less than the minimum recommended sleep that the National Sleep Foundation recommends. The organization recommends that Americans get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. **End Summary** Topics: Los Angeles car accident attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Manufacturing Defects Contribute to More Radiation Errors, Injuries

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:07:17 -0400

The New York Times is again putting the spotlight on excessive radiation-related injuries, this time at a large West Virginia hospital that continued to expose patients to over radiation, in spite of federal warnings about instances of excessive radiation at other hospitals. The hospital, Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, continued to over radiate patients for more than a year after federal officials raised an alert about similar instances in other hospitals, including California. In November, the Food and Drug Administration had issued a final report on hundreds of radiation-related overdoses during brain scans at other hospitals around the country. There has been much media attention on the fact that hundreds of patients had suffered injuries from excessive radiation. Many of these patients include those who suffered injuries from being exposed to massive blasts of deadly over radiation during routine CT scans for diagnosis of strokes at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Center. According to federal records, Cabell Huntington Hospital was aware of the overdoses that were going on around the country for at least three months. However, the hospital still did not take any steps to prevent incidences of over radiation on its own premises. **End Summary** Topics: California personal injury attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Slow Cookers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:33:17 -0400

This recall is the latest in a series of recalls linked to defective products yanked off the market because of fire and burn hazards. The CPSC has announced a recall of more than 7,000 slow cookers sold by Burlington Coat Factory of New Jersey. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the cooker's control panel can overheat and melt. This can cause a potential fire hazard. Approximately 7,460 slow cookers are included in this recall. The cookers were manufactured in China. Burlington Coat Factory has received several reports of smoking and burns involving these cookers. The company has received 60 reports of control panels smoking, melting and sparking. Burlington Coat Factory has also received three reports of panels catching fire. 14 of these incidents caused minor damage to the countertops. However, none of these incidents resulted in injuries. The slow cookers included in the recall are the Bella Kitchen 5 Quart programmable slow cookers. These cookers were black in color, and had Bella Kitchen printed on the control panel. This recall only includes those cookers that come with model number WJ-5000DE and date codes 0907 or 0909. **End Summary** Topics: product liability attorneys]]> dangerous product]]> injury]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on an injury from a dangerous product, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Gas Pipeline Explosion: California Regulators Will Impose Hefty Fines on PG&E

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:44:02 -0400

California regulators plan to impose hefty penalties on Pacific Gas and Electric Co., in relation to the company's failure to maintain proper records on its pipeline network. The disclosures about the company's failures emerged after the deadly pipeline explosion that killed eight people last year. On September 9, a gas pipeline belonging to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in San Bruno ruptured and exploded, killing eight people. The resulting inferno consumed several nearby homes. In all, dozens of homes were destroyed, and several people were injured. Since then, investigations into the pipeline explosion have focused on recordkeeping practices at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Specifically, the investigations have focused into errors in recordkeeping that caused the company to make mistakes about the state of its pipelines. For instance, the records mentioned that the pipeline that had ruptured had no welds, but investigations later found that there was indeed a weld running through the pipeline. The National Transportation Safety Board recently concluded its investigations into the pipeline explosion. The agency concluded that the company relied on erroneous information about the pipeline that exploded on September 9. Since then, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. **End Summary** Topics: San Bruno injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Simple Tests Before Getting Back on the Road Could Help Prevent Accidents after Stroke

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:16:18 -0400

A new study looks at how to gauge the driving abilities of a person after a stroke, in order to minimize accident risks. Researchers have defined a set of three tests that can be performed at the doctor's office, to gauge a stroke victim's ability to drive safely after a stroke. The results of the study have been published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology. According to the researchers, the three tests take just about 15 minutes to perform, and can be performed in a doctor's office. The first of these tests is a road sign recognition test that measures the person's ability to recognize road signs, as well as other aspects of traffic safety knowledge. The second test is a compass test that assesses the person's visual perceptual speed as well as mental speeds. The third is a trail-making test that assesses the person's visual motor tracking and scanning abilities based on the completion of the test. According to the researchers, people who fail in these tests are much more likely to fail an on-the-road evaluation too. To fail a test, a person would have to do the following. **End Summary** Topics: Los Angeles injury attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Lack of Certification for Medical Technologists Increases Risk of Radiation Injuries

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:05:20 -0400

The New York Times is continuing with its expose on radiation injuries, involving excessive dosages of radiation that have already contributed to dozens of injuries and fatalities all over the country, including in California. The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center radiation scandal stunned the country, when it was revealed that several patients had received excessive dosages of radiation from improper use of equipment at the hospital. As California injury lawyers have found, it's not just adult patients that have borne the brunt of excessive radiation. Premature babies have been exposed to over radiation at some of the country's busiest hospitals. Many of these instances of over radiation are being linked to inexperienced and unqualified medical technologists. The instances of over radiation at a New York hospital have been documented in the NYT article. Full body x-rays on infants, known as babygrams, have always been controversial, and have been rejected by the medical community because of the adverse health effects on infants. However, these were used indiscriminately at an NYC hospital. When doctors at the hospital found that several premature infants had received the babygrams, they implemented controls on the use of radiation on babies. **End Summary** Topics: California injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Americans at High Risk of Injuries from BPA

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:05:04 -0400

A new study finds that Americans have more exposure to bispenol A, the chemical that has been traced to a number of diseases, including cancer and diabetes than people in other countries. The results of the study are contained in a report by the Canadian Medical Association. The researchers relied on previous studies into the effects of bispenol A on human health. They found that compared to countries like Canada and Germany, people living in the US have excessive levels of the chemical in their system. Bispenol A is a chemical compound that is found in clear plastic bottles as well as the linings of beverage cans. In fact, a study conducted by Consumer Reports in 2009, found that bispenol A was found in almost all cans, including those containing juice, tuna, soup, and green beans. The researchers found that bispenol A in the urine of Americans was at least twice as high as that found in Canadians. The researchers have no information about any differences in the use of food and beverage cans between Americans and Canadians. **End Summary** Topics: Orange County injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Drunk Driving Accidents and Spring Break in California

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:46:17 -0400

Over the next few days, thousands of college students in California will head for Spring Break, a yearly ritual that involves partying, friends and copious amounts of alcohol. Drinking is almost synonymous with Spring Break, but it's important for students to know the dangers of drunk driving over the break. Most colleges in California will break between the second and third week of March. But cities like San Diego will play host to large numbers of college students on their break, and law enforcement officers will be alert to the increased risk of accidents caused by drunk driving offenders. Unfortunately, the numbers of drunk driving accidents involving college students hikes significantly during and over Spring Break. Although law enforcement officers have been able to bring down the numbers of fatal accidents caused every year due to drunk driving, they have made little progress in reducing the numbers of accidents related to alcohol and involving teenage or young drivers. This category of drivers tends to be the most immune to law enforcement efforts to curb drunk driving. Much of this can be blamed on peer pressure. **End Summary** Topics: California car accident lawyers]]> drunk driving accidents]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

No Injuries Reported in Metro Escalator Collapse

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:46:05 -0400

Commuters on a Metro escalator had a narrow escape from injuries on Friday, when an escalator at the Foggy Bottom Station in Washington DC suddenly collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the staircase. No injuries or fatalities were reported, but the incident underscored again the serious escalator safety issues that plague Metro. According to commuters, who were unlucky enough to be on the escalator at the time, there was suddenly a huge noise, and then the escalator collapsed. Several of the steps piled over one another, leaving a hole that was around 3-feet wide. At least one person lost her balance and fell backwards and almost into the hole. Some of the commuters were on the escalator at the time, and just about managed to avoid falling into the hole. Several commuters suffered bruises, but those were the only injuries reported. Metro is currently conducting an investigation into the causes of the collapse. This the second time that Metro escalator riders have had a nasty experience in recent months. Last October, at least six people were injured when the escalator slipped backwards, causing all of the passengers to end up in a pile at the bottom. **End Summary** Topics: California premises liability attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Kit by California Company Could Speed up Process of Salmonella Poisoning Detection

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:15:15 -0400

Conventional Salmonella testing kits can take up to 10 days to detect contamination in eggs. However, a new detection kit being developed at the University Of Pennsylvania, could speed up the process of Salmonella detection in eggs, making it faster for local and state health apartment to test possibly contaminated eggs. Last year, a nationwide epidemic of Salmonella poisoning caused more than 2,000 people to become ill from salmonella food poisoning. The Food and Drug Administration, a little late in the day, announced a recall of more than half a billion eggs processed at an Iowa farm. That triggered a chain of events that has dragged the company that processed those eggs, all the way to Washington DC. Part of the trouble with detection of Salmonella is that conventional testing can take a minimum of 10 days to confirm the presence of Salmonella in eggs. During the time that it takes to confirm the contamination, more people in California may be at a risk of food poisoning from eating contaminated eggs. Now, the University Pennsylvania has collaborated with a California-based company to develop a new DNA--based detection that can detect Salmonella contamination much better. **End Summary** Topics: California food poisoning attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

14 People Injured in New York Bus Accident

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:53:19 -0400

The California bus accident attorneys at our firm keep track of highway and safety issues from around the country. In a terrible tragedy, 14 persons have been confirmed dead in an accident involving a tour bus headed for Manhattan, New York. The accident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, and left at least 19 people injured. According to the New York Times, the tour bus was headed for Manhattan, and was traveling at high speeds when it flipped over on the highway. The bus skidded for some distance before it crashed into a sign pole, which ripped through a bus, slicing it into half. 14 people were killed, and out of the 19 who were injured, five are reported to be in a critical condition. . There were 32 people on board the bus, all ranging in age from their 20s to 50s. The passengers in the bus were on their way back to Chinatown from the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The impact of the bus accident was deadly, and left severe injuries. **End Summary** Topics: California bus accident attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Increasing Amount of Product Recalls Due to Burn Hazards

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:01:23 -0400

The Consumer Product Safety Commission last week recalled two separate products because of potential burn hazards. In the first recall, the CPSC announced a voluntary recall of Golden tea lights for fire risks. According to the recall notice, about 350,000 tea lights that were imported by Pier 1 Imports of Fort Worth, Texas have been included in the recall. The recall has been announced because the flame from the tea lights can be very high, posing a potential burn hazard. According to the CPSC, the company has received at least four reports of tealights burning with a high flame. One of these incidents ended with a minor burn. The tea lights were sold by Tier Imports from September 2002 January 2011. The CPSC is warning consumers to stop using the recalled units immediately, and return them for a free replacement. The same recall has also been announced in Canada, and involves 30,000 units. The second product being recalled for potential burn and fire hazards are remote control systems manufactured by Florida -based Niles Audio Corporation. According to the company, if the battery falls from the remote control during operation, it can actually rupture and ignite. **End Summary** Topics: California burn injury lawyers]]> recalled products]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Poll Suggests Perceived Senior Motorist Accident Risks Are Very High

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:52:04 -0400

A new poll indicates to California car accident lawyers that there is widespread support for driving restrictions on elderly drivers. According to a new Marist Poll telephone survey, drivers aged 65 and above should have to retake their driver's test in order to retain their license. The survey included more than 1,000 adults, and was conducted between January 6 and January 10 this year. The poll showed that younger Americans are highly in favor of strengthening test requirements for senior motorists. 84% of drivers below the age of 30 believe that it is necessary that drivers above 65 retake their driver's test. 76% of drivers between the age of 30 and 44 believed that 65-year-old senior motorists need to take their driver's test. As the age of the motorists surveyed increased, their concerns about the safety of senior motorists also seemed to decline. For instance, 62% of drivers aged between 45 and 59 believed that senior motorists needed to retake their driving test at age 65. Almost half the people aged above 60 in the survey thought that it was a good idea to get senior motorists to retake their drivers test. **End Summary** Topics: California car accident lawyer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Elder Abuse Cases on the Rise

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:04:03 -0500

A new report by the Government Accountability Office would concern California elder abuse lawyers. According to the report, there has been an increase in the number of elder abuse cases, and this is causing tremendous pressure on adult protective services across the country. The report by the Government Accountability Office found that approximately 14.1% of non-institutionalized older adults have been subjected to neglect and abuse over the past year. This abuse included physical, psychological and sexual abuse, as well as financial exploitation. The Government Accountability Office says that these people are at a high risk of abuse, because of a number of factors. These persons already suffer from physical and cognitive impairments and this makes it difficult for them to identify and recognize abuse, leave alone defend themselves against it. A study conducted in 1997 in Connecticut found that older adults, who were not able to perform daily routine activities like bathing and dressing themselves, were much more likely to be abused. Besides, a study conducted in 1980 in Boston, found that respondents who were in poor health were much more likely to be abused. Older adults who suffered from mental problems had a higher abuse risk. **End Summary** Topics: California elder abuse attorneys]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

More Lawmaker Support for Rental Car Safety

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:20:20 -0500

Consumer safety groups and California injury lawyers have called for stronger regulations to prevent accidents involving defective rental cars. More voices are being added to those calls, including that of influential senator Charles Schumer, who has now introduced legislation that would prevent rental car agencies from renting out cars that have been included in a safety recall. The concern about the operating practices of rental car agencies has spiked since the family of two California sisters filed a lawsuit against Enterprise Rent-a-Car. That lawsuit was related to an accident involving the two sisters and a car they had rented from Enterprise. That car, a Chrysler PT Cruiser had been recalled by the company at least one year earlier for a safety problem linked to a fire hazard. The two women were driving the Cruiser, and were involved in an accident. The Cruiser burst into flames, killing the two sisters. Their family realized that the Cruiser had been involved in a Chrysler Recall at least one year earlier. They filed a lawsuit against Enterprise too. A jury found the company liable earlier this year, and ordered the company to pay the family $50 million in damages. **End Summary** Topics: California injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

NHTSA Drops Proposed Power Window Safety Rule

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:08:12 -0500

Every year, two dozen children have to be rushed to emergency rooms after being injured from power windows. These injuries range all the way from lacerations to strangulations. California personal injury attorneys have long supported new regulations that would require automakers to equip power window systems with auto reverse mechanisms. It is disappointing to learn that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dropped these proposals. The auto reverse mechanisms that California safety advocates have called for could prevent thousands of power window-related injuries every year. The auto reverse mechanism would be able to detect when an object is in the path of the window, and would block the window, stopping it from its upward ascent. These auto reverse mechanisms work similarly to the ones that are currently installed in garage doors all over California. These mechanisms provide the only foolproof system to prevent power window-related injuries and strangulations. The 2000 children, who are rushed to emergency rooms, are a fraction of the children involved in power window-related accidents every year. **End Summary** Topics: California personal injury attorneys]]> California injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

California-Based Firm Recalls Hazelnuts Because of E. coli Contamination Fears

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:58:20 -0500

Food safety groups and California food poisoning attorneys have been concerned about the many food contamination scandals that originate in our state. In the latest food recall announced by a California company, Los Angeles-based DeFranco and Sons has announced a voluntary recall of nut products, including hazelnuts, because of fears of E. coli contamination. According to DeFranco and Sons, the products were bulk and consumer packaged in-shell hazelnuts and mixed nut products that contained in-shell hazelnuts. The company says that the products have been linked to at least seven cases of E. coli poisoning in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. In-shell hazelnuts, also known as filberts, and mixed snacks containing the filberts were distributed nationwide between November 2 and December 22, 2010. According to the company, the in-shell hazelnuts were likely sold in 2 pounds and 4 pound packages of mixed nuts, 1 pound packages of in-shell hazelnuts and open bins of nuts in grocery stores. Consumers have been advised not to buy the in-shell hazelnuts as well as the mixed nuts containing the hazelnuts. **End Summary** Topics: hazelnut recall]]> California food poisoning lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Burn Injuries from Heated Car Seats under Spotlight

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:01:15 -0500

This week, consumer advocacy group Safety Research and Strategies and burn treatment doctors asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to review the safety of car seat heaters. These have been around for a while now, and have been very popular, especially during winter and cold climes. According to these advocates, in many cases, the seat heaters can be heated to excessive temperatures, causing burns to drivers and passengers. In the case of disabled people, the risk of burn injuries is even higher. A person with no physical challenges is able to turn off the seat heater if he finds it's too hot to tolerate. However, a person with physical disabilities who suffers from lowered or no physical sensation in his lower limbs, may not feel the rising heat quickly enough to prevent a burn. The temperatures of some heaters can rise to up to 160 degrees quickly enough. Some auto manufacturers have limited the heating capacity of their heaters to 105 degrees. That is the maximum limit that doctors advise. However, there are many manufacturers out there whose seat heaters have the capacity to heat the seat to 120 degrees. **End Summary** Topics: Burn Injuries]]> California burn injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Facebook Proof Supplied in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:23:16 -0500

A wrongful death lawsuit in Chicago alleges that a motorist, who struck a 70-year-old man and killed him, was distracted by a cell phone. The family of the victim is claiming strong proof of the accident - a Facebook status update that the female motorist posted during the seconds just after she struck the victim. The lawsuit accuses the 21-year-old motorist of driving a vehicle without focus, driving while using cell phones, and failing to stop in time to avoid the victim. The victim's family is pointing to strong proof in the form of a Facebook status update that the motorist made. The status update is dated December 7, 2010, at 7:54 AM. According to cell phone records from the victim Raymond Veloz, he made a call to 911 at that exact date and time. The victim, 70-year-old Raymond Veloz had just been involved in a minor accident with another motorist, and had gotten out of his vehicle. He was standing at the other driver's car, when he was struck by Araceli Beas. He suffered serious injuries, including a partially severed leg and suffered severe blood loss. **End Summary** Topics: Wrongful Death Lawsuit]]> California car accident attorneys]]> California Wrongful Death Lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Study Shows Most Dog Bites Actually Involve Smaller Dogs

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:15:20 -0500

Most of the attention on dog bites in the US centers on larger, more aggressive breed like Rottweilers, German Shepherds and pit bulls. However, a new study confirms something that California dog bite lawyers have always known- many dog bites in the country involve smaller breeds like Chihuahuas and Shi Tzus. The study analyzed records of dog bites in New York City in 2010. There were a total of 3,609 dog bites recorded in 2010, and nearly a quarter of those bites involved pit bulls. These breeds were involved in 850 dog bites in the city last year. According to the New York Health Department, the 3,609 dog bites recorded last year were the largest such number on the record. The pit bull was followed by the Rottweiler, Shi Tzu, Chihuahua and standard poodle. While all kinds of breeds of dogs may be involved in bites, more serious or even fatal dog bite incidents can be traced to attacks by pit bulls. There are several reasons for this. **End Summary** Topics: California dog bite attorney]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .

Disney Sued over Restaurant Burn Injuries

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:25:03 -0500

Walt Disney World is facing a personal inquiry lawsuit from a California family after their child suffered scald burn injuries at the Orlando theme park last year. The family from Chula Vista Michael and Maria Harris this week filed a suit in San Diego federal court. In March, the family had made a trip to the Florida Disney World. According to the lawsuit, the injuries occurred when the family sat down to dinner. Four-year-old Isaiah was sitting on an unsteady chair. As his chair toppled over, he grabbed the tablecloth to prevent himself from falling. A cup of nacho cheese flew off the table and into the boy's face. He suffered serious burns to his face, especially his lips. The complaint alleges that Disney made no efforts to monitor and regulate the temperature of the nacho cheese that was being served to child customers. According to the family, they tried to settle with the company and when these efforts failed, decided to file a lawsuit. There is no information about the kind of damages the family is claiming. The lawsuit alleges that Disney served the cheese negligently and carelessly, and is claiming damages for severe emotional distress. **End Summary** Topics: Restaurant Burn Injuries]]> Burn Victims]]> California burn injury lawyers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated to the representation of burn victims. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us .