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Kia Recalls 146K Cars With Defective Airbags

by on January 18, 2012 in Accident, defective product, product liability

Kia recalled almost 146,000 vehicles due to defective airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall involves Kia Optimas made from 2006 – 2008 and the 2007 – 2008 Kia Rondo. The release said a flawed spring system may become damaged over time, disabling the driver’s side airbag.

The official recall is expected to begin in March. The company said they became aware of the problem last week, but were not aware of any injuries or airbags that did not deploy due to the defect.

The release said Kia will attempt to notify owners and dealers will replace the affected part. Owners may call 1-800-333-4542 to get in touch with the company. You can read the full recall notice by clicking here.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured while using a defective product, the attorneys at Dwyer & McDevitt are here to assist you. We are your Chicago personal injury attorneys and may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

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NHTSA Conducts Further Studies On Chevy Volt Fires

by on January 6, 2012 in NHTSA, product liability

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Agency announced they opened a safety defect investigation in November into the potential risk of fire in Chevy Volts.

According to the agency, both battery intrusion, along with coolant leakage must be present to enable post-crash fires. Furthermore, the known fires seemed to have all begun in laboratory tests.

The press release stated General Motors came up with a solution to retrofit Chevy Volts with a cage to protect the car batteries from fires and that the cage seems to prevent the damage to the battery that is causing the fires.

NHTSA is expected to completed the research and analysis of the tests in the next few weeks.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a serious personal injury or product defect, you need an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney fighting for your rights. Contact Dwyer & McDevitt today and find out how we can assist you.

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IL Consumer Group Releases Annual Dangerous Toys List

by on November 23, 2011 in Accident, defective product, product liability

Findings from a new survey show toxic and dangerous toys are still available on store shelves.

The Illinois Public Interest Research Group’s 26th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report released Tuesday showed several toys on store shelves showed levels of lead and phthalates as well as toys that posed a choking or noise hazard.

Key findings in this year’s report showed three key points:

  • Some toys with high levels of toxic substances were still available at retail shops, including toys containing phthalates and lead. Both are shown to have adverse health effects on young children.
  • Some toys with small parts that could be choking hazards were still available for children three and younger.
  • Some toys that exceeded hearing standards recommended by the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders were also available.

The group is seeking to educate consumers, especially parents and caregivers about potential hazardous toys before the holiday season.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured by a hazardous toy or another hazardous product, the Chicago personal injury attorneys at Dwyer & McDevitt, Ltd. will fight to help you obtain fair compensation. Contact our offices today for your free, initial consultation.

IL PRIG Survey Press Release

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CPSC Fines NJ-based Company $1.1M For Defective Product

by on October 18, 2011 in Accident, accidental death, product liability, wrongful death

A New Jersey-based company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1.1 million last week after they allegedly failed to report a defective product to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

According to a press release from the CPSC, Henry Gordy International, Inc. of Plainfield, N.J. agreed to pay the penalty after failing to report hazards involving their children’s dart set.

At least three deaths have been associated with the dart set. The CPSC said Henry Gordy knew about the hazard as early as May 2006, but failed to report it to the CPSC, which is a requirement by federal law. The CPSC also alleged Henry Gordy made a misrepresentation about the product and didn’t disclose what they were aware of when the CPSC was investigating in 2009.

In May 2010, the Family Dollar Stores, Inc. along with the CPSC announced a recall of 1.8 million Auto Fire Target Sets after Henry Gordy refused to conduct the recall. The sets were sold between September 2005 and January 2009 at Family Dollar and each set contained a toy gun, soft, pliable plastic toy darts and a small target.

CPSC believes this product is hazardous because if a child places the toy dart in his or her mouth, the toy can be inhaled and may block the child’s airway.

Federal law mandates manufacturers, distributors and retails report to the CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining information of a potential product hazard.

Henry Gordy denies all allegations of knowledge of the defect.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, you need a Chicago products liability lawyer to review your case and guide you. Contact the lawy offices of Dwyer & McDevitt, Ltd. today for your free case evaluation.

Read press release >>

 

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IIHS Releases Study On Booster Seats

by on October 17, 2011 in Accident, IIHS, product liability

A report released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that many booster seats can be safe, but parents and caregivers must pay attention to how they fit individual children.

According to the report released Thursday, the institute tested 62 boosters, both backless and high-back seats, to evaluate how they fit an average 6-year-old child in the most common vehicles.

In order to obtain the best rating, a “best bet,” a seat belt must rest across the occupants lap, not across their belly and it also must rest across the middle of their shoulders, not the outside or the inside of it.

Of those tested, 31 were named “best bets” and another five were named “good bets.” Twenty fell into the “check fit” category and the remaining six of those tested fell into the “not recommended” category.

Those not recommended were the following: Evenflo Chase, Evenflo Express, Evenflo Generation 65, Evenflo Sightseer, Safety 1st All-in-One and Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite.

Researchers did note that although these models were not ideal, they were still better than no seat and consumers should continue to use until a suitable replacement could be made.

It is important to note that some models that have both a backless and high-back mode had different ratings, depending on the way it was used.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in an accident or by a defective product, our offices may be able to assist you. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

Read more of the report here >>>

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CPSC Recalls Target Blenders

by on September 22, 2011 in Accident, product liability

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Target have issued a recall of a Chefmate blender which may pose a laceration hazard.

According to the press release, the plastic pitcher may separate from the blade, leaving the blade exposed. There have been 11 reports of the blade separating from the pitcher and in seven of those, consumers suffered serious lacerations to their hands and/or fingers.

The recall affects all Chefmate 6-Speed Blenders, model BL-10.

Approximately 304,000 units were sold at Target Stores for about $14 each. The company is asking consumers to immediately stop using the product and return it to your nearest Target for a full refund.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective product, you may have a personal injury case. Contact our offices today for a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer at Dwyer & McDevitt today.

CPSC Blender Recall

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Chicago Becomes First City To Ban Crib Bumpers

by on September 10, 2011 in Accident, accidental death, product liability

Chicago became the first city in the United States to ban the sale of crib bumper pads Thursday after the Chicago City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ban the sale of all crib bumpers within the city of Chicago.

On Wednesday, the ordinance passed a joint health and consumer protection meeting, despite protests from industry representatives. It then headed to the entire council for a vote.

Bumper pads are oftentimes found in coordinating crib sets sold in all types of stores. They usually wrap around the inside of the crib and tie to the crib slats.

Numerous investigations have found that crib bumpers may be linked to some infant suffocation deaths and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents avoid bumpers that are “pillow-like” if they use them.

Recently, the Consumer and Products Safety Commission said it was investigating several reports of infant deaths in connection with the use of the bumpers. The ordinance is expected to take effect in 180 days.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, the team at Dwyer & McDevitt, LLC can fight for you. Call us today for your initial free consultation.

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54,000 Clip-on High Chairs Recalled

by on August 20, 2011 in Accident, CPSC, product liability

The U.S. Consumer and Products Safety Comission issued a recall for 54,000 clip-on chairs after determining the chairs could fall when the clamps were worn, causing injury to the child in it.

The chairs, which clip on to a table, pose a hazard because missing or worn clamp pads allow chairs to detach from table surfaces. There have been reports of children’s fingers being pinched, cut, crushed or amputated and children have suffered bruising from the chairs as well.

The chair is for infants and toddlers. It has a nylon fabric seat and a metal frame with clamps.  There were available from Target, Toys R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and online from Amazon and philandteds.com from between $40 to $50 each. They were available from May 2006 to May 2011.

Consumers should immediately stop using the chairs and contact Phil and Ted’s at 1-855-652-9019 or visit their web site at www.philandteds.com/support for additional information.

If you or your loved one has been injured by a defective product, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Dwyer & McDevitt. We can help you determine if you have a products liability claim and can help walk  you through the process if you do.

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Black and Decker Agrees To Pay $960,000 Penalty

by on August 10, 2011 in product liability

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Black and Decker has agreed to pay a civil penalty of just under $1 million for failing to report a defective product.

According to the CPSC news release the CPSC alleged Black and Decker failed to report several safety defects and hazards concerning the Grasshog XP as well as withheld information the CPSC requested during the investigation.

Federal law mandates manufacturers, distributors and retailers report to the CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining any information of a product defect or hazard.

According to the news release, Black and Decker knew about the rising incidents and injuries with the Grasshog from May 2006 to October 2006, but did not give the CPSC full details until October 2006.

Also, since the CPSC did not have the full information, the case was initially closed after Black and Decker allegedly withheld information during the investigation.

By the time of the recall in July 2007, there were more than 700 reports of issues with the Grasshop trimmer and 58 injuries resulting from its use.

The company agreed to pay $960,000 as a penalty.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective product, we may be able to assist you. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

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‘Zach’s Law’ To Help Promote Soccer Goal Safety

by on August 2, 2011 in Accident, accidental death, product liability

Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law Tuesday that aims to increase the safety of soccer players on the field.

The Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act is dubbed ‘Zach’s Law’ after 6-year-old Zach Tran who was killed in October 2003 when an 18-foot by 6-foot, 184-pound goal tipped over and struck him in the back of the head as he was practicing.

The bill requires “any organization that sets up, moves, or stores a movable soccer goal to follow all applicable guidelines for anchoring, securing, and counterweighting (the) goal.”

Additionally, beginning this month the act will ban the manufacturing or sale of movable soccer goals that are not tip-resistant.

Tran’s family was with the governor as the bill was signed. Since Zach’s death, the family has begun an organization called Anchored for Safety, which helps educate the public on the dangers of unanchored soccer goals. According to the site, 36 deaths can be attributed to non-anchored soccer goals since 1979.

Illinois is the first state to impose such safety measures.

If you or your loved one has been injured by a defective product, you may have a products liability case. You need lawyers who are compassionate and will fight for you. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

House Bill 1130

Anchored For Safety

 

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