Georgia Injury Lawyer Blog

Toyota is being taken to task for delaying the recall of vehicles subject to sudden acceleration. Amid reports that Toyota is going to recall its highly successful hybrid, the Prius, for brake problems, there are serious questions being raised as whether the automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration responded quickly enough to reports of sudden acceleration in some of its other models.

Insurer State Farm has revealed that it notified NHTSA in late 2007 that it was seeing an increase in sudden acceleration trends with other Toyota and Lexus automobiles. State Farm said it received numerous inquiries about alleged unwanted acceleration problems in Toyota and Lexus vehicles in recent years.

Toyota has undergone several investigations about such concerns starting in 2004, when complaints were lodged about sudden acceleration in the 2002 and 2003 Toyota Camry and Lexus ES models. NHTSA opened a file on Toyota in 2007 to look into acceleration issues on Lexus models, but closed it seven months later.

It wasn't until after the death of a California state policeman and his family in a Lexus incident that that Toyota issued recalls. The incident was recorded on a very disturbing 911 tape. If you have not heard the call, it can be located by Googling.

Since the incident, Toyota has recalled 5.2 million Toyota and Lexus models in the U.S. for floor mat issues, and 2.5 million in January over sticky gas pedals.

Congress is also studying Toyota's and NHTSA's reactions. On Wednesday, the House committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding a hearing on the gas pedal issues. On Feb. 25, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee is holding a hearing on whether Toyota and NHTSA acted swiftly enough.

Japanese newspapers reported Sunday that Toyota would soon announce a recall to deal with Prius brake problems. In a letter to U.S. dealers over the weekend, Toyota said it will inform them of the fix to the Prius problem this week.

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have seen our share of dangerous products recalled for one reason or another; however, last week's recall of numerous Toyota models of automobiles and trucks probably sets a new record. In late 2009, Toyota issued a recall of 4.2 million vehicles because it was thought that they could interfere with the gas pedal and cause sudden acceleration. Now Toyota has issued a recall affecting 2.3 million vehicles and has suspended the sale of eight models, including their most popular model, the Camry, over faulty gas pedals that could stick and cause unexpected acceleration and result in an automobile accident.

Toyota is working with CTS Corp., which manufactures gas pedals for Toyota, to redesign the pedals and to find a remedy for what is believed to be a condensation problem which can cause the pedal to move slowly or in some cases get stuck.

In the meantime, there are thousands of potentially dangerous vehicles of the road which could suddenly accelerate and cause serious injuries to the occupants and others or even cause the wrongful death of innocent people.

If you or a loved one is injured as a result of the sudden acceleration of a Toyota product, call one of the Georgia injury lawyers immediately for a free consultation. In all of these cases, it is crucial that the automobile be preserved so that it can be inspected by experts.

Last fall Toyota announced the largest auto recall in U.S. history after numerous sudden unintended acceleration accidents were reported, many of which resulted in fatalities. Now, Toyota has announced an additional recall of 2.3 million vehicles to correct this same problem. Why the additional recall? It appears that Toyota is doing so because ABC News is soon to report an increase in sudden acceleration cases since the recall last year. According to news reports, there have been 60 new cases of sudden unintended acceleration cases involving Toyota vehicle.

In one tragic occurrence outside of Dallas, Texas, four people were killed when a Toyota sped off the road through a fence and landed upside down in a pond. Even though Toyota has long blamed maladjusted floormats for the unintended acceleration problem, however, in this particular accident, the floormats were found in the car’s trunk where the owners had been advised to put them as part of the earlier recall. Thus, the evidence continues to mount that this problem with Toyotas is not caused by floormats but rather by onboard computer glitches and other engineering issues.

While we are pleased that Toyota has finally recalled its dangerous products, obviously, it is disturbing that Toyota refused to do so earlier for all affected vehicles. From the reported news coverage, had it done so, it may be that an additional 60 cases involving injuries and/or fatalities may have been avoided.

Georgia injury lawyers know that defective and dangerous products of all types are sold in this country. The use of some of the dangerous products have resulted in serious injuries and in some cases death. Several years ago, the Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP represented the family of a young boy in a products liability case. The boy died in a house fire caused by a defective humidifier. The types of dangerous products run the gamut.

A new product recall involving baby strollers was reported just this week. After the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission got reports of children's fingertips being amputated, Graco Children's Products, Inc. a division of Newell Rubbermaid, recalled a million and a half strollers. The recall applies to Graco's Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems, which were sold at various retailers, including Walmart, Target, Toys "R" Us from October 2004 to December 2009. The CPSC has received reports of 5 fingertip amputations and 2 fingertip lacerations.

If you or a loved on have been injured as a result of a dangerous product, call the Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP for a free consultation.

Georgia injury lawyers close attention to dangerous product recalls. In a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler Group LLC announced the recall of 24,177 vehicles due to a potential defect in a brake system that could result in automobile accidents from sudden brake failure.

The recall includes 2010 model Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Nitro, and Jeep Liberty, Commander and Grand Cherokee SUVs. The recall also applies to 2009-2010 model year Dodge Ram trucks.

According to Chrysler, the clip retention tab on the brake pedal pin on some of the vehicles was improperly formed, or not installed, during the manufacturing process. Although Chrysler is unaware of any automobile accidents related to the defective product, it could result in sudden brake failure.

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have been representing injured victims of dangerous products for over 45 years. Many of these cases involved serious injury and some involved the wrongful death of the client. If you or a loved one have been injured by a dangerous and defective product of any kind, contact us for a free consultation at (800) 228-9159.

Children are being exposed to dangerous chemicals in toys and items manufactured in China. In recent years there have been numerous recalls of goods manufactured in China due alarming safety concerns. However, it seems the Chinese are continuing to flood the US market with dangerous and even deadly products.

Lab testing organized by The Associated Press revealed that cadmium is present in children's jewelry, sometimes at levels exceeding 90 percent of the item's total weight. Cadmium is a soft, whitish metal that occurs naturally in soil. It's perhaps best known as one half of rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, but also is used in pigments, electroplating and plastic.

Most people get a microscopic dose of the heavy metal just by breathing and eating. Plants, including tobacco, take up cadmium through their roots and people absorb it during digestion or inhalation. Without direct exposure, however, people usually don't experience its nasty side: cancer, kidneys that leak vital protein, bones that spontaneously snap.

Cadmium is particularly dangerous for children because growing bodies readily absorb substances, and cadmium accumulates in the kidneys for decades.

Upon receiving notice of the findings, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reacted swiftly and began an investigation into the presence of the toxic metal cadmium in children's jewelry imported from China.

The promise to take action as quickly as possible followed by hours the release Sunday of an Associated Press investigative report that documented how some Chinese manufacturers have been substituting cadmium for lead in cheap charm bracelets and pendants being sold throughout the United States including:

• Three flip flop bracelet charms sold at Walmart (contained between 84 and 86 percent cadmium)
• Two charms on a "Best Friends" bracelet bought at Claire's (consisted of 89 and 91 percent cadmium)
• Pendants from four "The Princess and The Frog" necklaces bought at Walmart (ranged between 25 and 35 percent cadmium)

Potentially dangerous products not cleared for safety and effectiveness by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) have been removed from the market until they are in compliance with federal regulations.

All are products made by Sybaritic Inc., a major player in the development of beauty and spa products used in laser surgery and dermatology and spa treatments.
One product promises skin that is "soft, supple and youthful." Another, a laser therapy device, zaps unsightly veins, scars and unwanted hair. Another, a hydrospa tub, is advertised to provide the "ultimate luxury."

But according to the FDA, these devices were not approved by the FDA and lack the proper federal review for safety and effectiveness. In response to the FDA action, Sybaritic has agreed to stop making the products in the United States until they are in compliance with FDA quality standards.

The agreement with the FDA is part of a consent decree reached between the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed for an injunction late last year, and three of Sybaritic's top executives.
Sybaritic agreed to comply with FDA quality regulations for all of its devices and obtain appropriate agency clearance before selling or distributing any of its products. The company must also retain an independent expert to inspect its operations and to certify to the FDA that appropriate corrections have been made.

If the company fails to follow the consent decree, the FDA could order it to cease manufacturing and distributing the products and then could recall them. The company could also face damages of $15,000 a day and an additional $15,000 for each violation.

Some of the products cited by the FDA include moist steam cabinets or tubs (under names such as Hydration Station, Spa Oceana, Spa Jet and Spa Fengshui), laser systems (NannoLight MP50, LaserPeel Trimatrixx and SkinClear SVRH), ultrasound and non-invasive skin therapy systems (Dermosonic), and microdermabrasion systems (SkinBella).

Although the FDA said it is not aware of any injuries associated with the use of Sybaritic products, it still advises consumers to stop using them.

The product liability lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP pay close attention to the recall of dangerous products that can lead to the wrongful death of innocent people. This week, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Polaris Industries has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 8,500 all-terrain vehicles because of a potentially dangerous steering problem, caused by a defective and dangerous front-end component. The recall applies to 2009-2010 models of the Polaris Sportsman ATV. Although there have been no reported injuries to date, there have been 19 reported incidents involving the ATV. According to Polaris the front suspension ball joint could separate from the steering knuckle, causing the rider to loose the ability to steer the ATV. Depending on the circumstances, if this occured, it could result in the operator being seriously injured or it could result in the wrongful death of the rider.

Anyone who owns a 2009-2010 Polaris Sportsman is encouraged to return it to the closest dealer who will make the necessary repairs free of charge.

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have represented the victims of dangerous products of all kinds for over 40 years. If you have been injured or lost a loved one as a result of using a dangerous product, the attorneys at Finch McCranie, LLP can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-229-9159.

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP handled a wrongful death case several years ago wherein we represented the family of a young boy who died in a house fire caused by a defective humidifier.

This week it was announced that Home Depot is recalling Chinese manufacture dehumidifiers because they pose a fire hazard according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall involves approximately 2,000 Hampton Bay model HB-50 dehumidifiers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that an internal component can fail causing it to overheat posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. The dehumidifiers were sold by Home Depot from November 2000 through May 2007. Home Depot has received approximately 18 reports of the dehumidifiers catching fire.

After the wrongful death case that our attorneys handled several years ago, we take these dangerous product recalls seriously as should consumers. If you have been injured or lost a loved one as a result of a defective product, contact the Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP who have over 40 years of experience representing injured clients.

The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP have successfully litigated many cases involving merchandise falling from shelves in commercial establishments and seriously injuring and killing shoppers. However, what many people do not realize is that this danger also exists in homes.

For young children, the home is a playground, and while many parents childproof to ensure that their home is a safe place, some may not be aware that unsecured TVs, furniture and appliances are hidden hazards lurking in every room. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents to take simple, low-cost steps to prevent deaths and injuries associated with furniture, TV, and appliance tip-overs.

The CPSC estimates that in 2006, 16,300 children 5 years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms because of injuries associated with TV, furniture, and appliance tip-overs. Between 2000 and 2006, CPSC staff received reports of 134 tip-over related deaths.

Additionally, the CPSC reports it is aware of at least 30 media reports of tip-over deaths since January 2007 involving this same age group.

Typically, injuries and deaths occur when children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests, and appliances. In some cases, televisions placed on top of furniture tip over and cause a child to suffer traumatic and sometimes fatal injuries.

Recent revisions to the voluntary safety standards for clothes storage units provide for the inclusion of warning labels and additional hardware to secure the furniture to the floor or wall.

To prevent these devastating events, the CPSC advises as follows:

Make sure free-standing ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.

Dangerous window shades that pose a strangulation risk are being recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of more than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds because of the risk children may be strangled by the cords.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported since 2006, while three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.

Roman shades can become dangerous if a child's neck gets stuck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind, or if the cord gets wrapped around a child's neck.

Roll-up blinds pose a strangulation threat if the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on it, or if a child neck's gets between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

The CPSC urged parents to examine all shades and blinds in the home and make sure they have no accessible cords. They also advised parents not to place cribs, beds or other furniture close to windows because children can climb on the furniture and reach the cords.

Several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, JCPenney and Pottery Barn, are also participating in the recall. Consumers can obtain free retrofit kits for Roman shades and roll-up blinds online at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling the Window Covering Safety Council toll-free at 1-800-506-4636.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that about 24,000 Amby Baby Motion Beds – hammocklike beds have been recalled. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission the side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause an infant to roll and become trapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric or mattress pad, posing a suffocation risk.. The CPSC has instructed customers to stop using the products immediately.

The beds, made by Amby Baby USA of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were sold online through Ambybaby.com and other retailers begging in 2003. Fortunately, according to the CPSC there was only one model of the bed sold. To date there have been two known infant deaths - a 4-month old in Georgia and a five-month old in Oregon.

The Atlanta, Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP bring years of experience and success to clients who have been injured or lost loved ones due to defective and dangerous products. Our attorneys have the specialized knowledge required to successfully bring these claims and aggressively pursue each case until conclusion. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous or defective product please contact us for a free consultation.

The serious injury lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP handle many automobile related cases. A significant number of these involve product defects. One such defect that has remained under publicized is the threat posed by power windows to children.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, estimates there are 1,995 injuries and six deaths a year related to power windows.

A consumer protection group, Kids And Cars, is calling upon NHTSA to require all automobile makers to equip vehicles with automatic reverse features so that a window will automatically stop and reverse when it hits an obstruction while closing. This is similar to the auto-reverse features found on almost all garage doors.

NHTSA says in various regulatory documents that several new safety requirements involving power windows show it is doing a good job tackling what it describes as a small, but persistent problem. However, Kids And Cars, says that NHTSA is seriously underestimating the problem based upon data that the group has obtained. It says that the method used by NHTSA to track the problem is seriously flawed in that it does not account for many private physician visits.

But, both NHTSA and Kids And Cars agree that on average five children a year die from power-window accidents.

NHTSA has taken steps to require automakers to make power windows safer. Starting on Oct. 1, 2008, all passenger vehicles must have power switches that are recessed, thereby reducing the chance that a child could close a window by leaning on the switch. By Oct. 1, 2010, power windows may be closed only by pulling up on a switch.

NHTSA is also being required by law to consider whether to require an auto-reverse feature on all power windows. The agency has looked at several alternatives and reports that it has concluded for the time being that auto reverse is not needed on all power windows. It is considering a requirement that auto-reverse be installed on one-touch or express-up switches.

Regardless of the decision that NHTSA reaches, all adults should be extremely vigilant when children are in a vehicle to insure that they cannot be injured by a power window.

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP are well aware that there are many dangerous products that come to market. This week Federal Safety Regulators have announced the recall of more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs made by a Canadian manufacturer. It appears that part of the mechanism that allows the rail to slide up and down can break which can allow a child to get wedged between the bed and the rail, resulting in the child’s suffocation and death. The recall covers cribs manufactured and distributed between January of 1993 and October of 2009 and sold at major retailers. It has been reported that Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said that her agency likely had not acted fast enough in recalling cribs made by Stork Craft Manufacturing.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of a dangerous product, call the Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP for a free consultation.

The dangerous uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota vehicles appears to be caused by more than improper fitting floor mats. Yesterday, Toyota said it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats.

As a temporary step, Toyota will instruct dealers to shorten the length of the gas pedals beginning in January while the company develops replacement pedals for their vehicles. New pedals will be available beginning in April, and some vehicles will have brake override systems installed as a precaution.

The top selling car in America, the Toyota Camry, and the hybrid Prius are among those recalled. Also included is the Lexus ES350, the model in a fatal accident in California that killed a retired highway patrolman and his family when the vehicle began to accelerate in an uncontrolled manner.

In September, Toyota advised owners to remove the driver's side floor mats to prevent the gas pedal from potentially becoming jammed.

The latest recall includes 3.8 million vehicles, including the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Toyota Avalon, 2004-09 Prius, 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-10 Toyota Tundra, 2007-10 Lexus ES350 and 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350. Toyota officials said about 4 million vehicles would be covered, including new cars and trucks sold since September and others manufactured since the recall was announced.

On Tuesday, Toyota also announced a recall of 110,000 Tundra trucks from the 2000-03 model years to address rust on the vehicle's frame.

The United States government has attributed at least five deaths and two injuries to floor mat-related unintended acceleration in the Toyota vehicles and has received reports of more than 100 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck. A Massachusetts-based safety consultant who has investigated the Toyota cases, however, has found more than 2,000 incidents involving 16 deaths and 243 injuries potentially tied to the Toyota gas pedals.

If you are driving a vehicle and the accelerator pedal becomes stuck , Toyota advises drivers to press on the brake with both feet and then shift the vehicle into neutral, which will disengage the transmission. Toyota advises that drivers should continue braking until the vehicle comes to a stop.

A driver can also try shutting off the engine or turning the key to the "ACC" position on the ignition. Drivers will not lose control of the steering or the brakes. But once the vehicle is turned off the driver won't have the benefit of power brakes or power steering. For vehicles that have a start/stop button for the engine, drivers are advised to hold the button for three seconds to turn it off.

The Georgia injuries lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have been representing victims of dangerous products for over 40 years. Some of those victims died as a result of injuries they sustained in automobile accidents from defective seat belt designs. Remember the cars with the separate shoulder strap that automatically came across as soon as the car was started. It was a novel, but dangerous design. Recently the Commercial Appeal reported that a 14-year old boy, who was left paralyzed below the waste from a 2002 automobile wreck, has been awarded $6.5 million by a Memphis jury. The boy, who was 6-years old at the time of the accident, was in the backseat of his grandfather’s 1995 Mercury retrained by an adult seatbelt. The shoulder strap was behind the boy because it did not fit. When his car was struck head-on by the second car, the boy was seriously injured. The accident resulted in the wrongful death of the boy’s father, grandfather and driver of the other car. Ford Motor Company was found to be 15% liable for the total $43.8 million judgment for an adult seatbelt that was defective and not suitable for a child.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident , tractor trailer accident or been seriously injured as a result of using a dangerous or defective product, contact the experienced Georgia injury attorneys at Finch McCranie, LLP. For a free evaluation of your case, call us at 1-800-228-9159.

Our Atlanta product liability attorneys have learned that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., today announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs. Included in the recall are 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States and 968,000 units distributed in Canada.

The CPSC is urging parents to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. Consumers are advised to contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

The company has been notified of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments; 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation:deaths.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.

Major retailers in the United States and Canada sold the recalled cribs including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.
The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.

Georgia injury lawyers are very much aware of the number of dangerous drugs that make it to the market. Lobbying efforts by the powerful drug companies and the FDA’s failure in recent years to police the pharmaceutical industry has resulted in more than a few dangerous drugs coming on the market. We read last week that a Philadelphia jury recently awarded $75 million in punitive damages to an Illinois woman who developed cancer after taking one of Pfizer’s menopause drugs. The jury awarded $3.7 million awarded in actual damages. More than 6 million women have taken Prempro, a hormone replacement drug, used to treat symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings during menopause. A study in 2002 by the Women’s Health Initiative suggested women who used hormone replacement drugs are at higher risk for developing breast cancer. According to news reports, the Illinois woman took Prempro for 5 years before she developed breast cancer in 2002. So far, Pfizer’s Wyeth unit has lost 5 of the 8 cases tried with 33 more scheduled for trial.

As we have all seen, prescription drugs can have serious side effects. Other drugs which are thought to cause health problems include birth control drugs, Yaz and Yasmin which were manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Georgia Injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLPhttp://www.georgiainjurylawyers.net/Dangerous-Drugs.cfm have pursued prescription drug injury cases and other personal injury lawsuits in Georgia for over 40 years. If you are somebody you care about has been injured or killed by an unsafe prescription drug, call us today at 1-800-228-9159 for a free evaluation of your case.

Our Atlanta automobile product defect attorneys have written many blogs critical of automobile manufacturers for delaying or resisting recalls of dangerous products. Now Volvo deserves credit for quickly and voluntarily issuing a recall due to a dangerous defect. Volvo is recalling 9,667 of its 2010 XC60s, most of them in the United States and Canada, because in a crash test the driver’s seat belt came undone.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a side-impact test on the XC60 in early October of this year as part of routine testing to select its Top Safety Pick awards. The test involves a barrier striking the driver’s side at 31 miles an hour. The barrier is supposed to represent the front end of an S.U.V. or pickup truck.

During that test, the driver’s seat belt in the XC60 detached from the point to the left of the driver’s hip at which the belt is anchored to the vehicle.

Volvo said the problem was caused by ribs inside the housing that cover the anchoring point. The belt was not cut, but the impact caused the ribs to put pressure against the permanent mount and the seat belt popped loose.

Volvo said there were no reports that this had happened before and it never happened in any of the about 50 side-impact tests conducted by Volvo.

Despite this being the only reported instance of this happening, Volvo quickly announced the recall and reported the problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Volvo announced it will begin to notify owners in two to three weeks. The company said repairs involve modifying the housing of the seat-belt attachment and should take about 30 minutes. The repairs will be made at no charge to the owner.

Volvo deserves credit for this quick action which may save lives.

The Women’s Health Initiative has issued warnings in the past that certain hormone replacement medications have the ability to harm many women. For example, Prempro is a drug that has been taken by as many as 6 million women in just one year. Statistically, it did not seem that the increased risk of developing breast cancer from using this hormone replacement therapy was all that great. Statisticians stated that there would be a .08% additional case of breast cancer for every 10,000 women that did take Prempro as opposed to those that did not. Another .07% of women that take Prempro would have a heart attack. 0.8% additional women taking Prempro would have a stroke. Apparently, these numbers were based on a research into the number of additional cases reported and extrapolations therefrom.

Statistics do not sound all that harmful when taken in the abstract. .08% does not sound like a great risk. However, if 6 million women took Prempro in any one calendar year, that .08% would mean an additional 4,800 additional breast cancer cases. 4,200 more heart attacks and 4,800 more strokes. Moreover, there are many other side effects which are related to the use of hormone replacement therapy.

Despite the life threatening and significant health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy such as Prempro, countless women continue to use hormone replacement therapy. After all, it has been around for many years and has almost become accepted, some calling it a rite of menopause passage. Some women look to drugs now to deal with menopause as opposed to more healthy means of reducing the menopause symptoms without deadly side effects of some of the hormone replacement medications. While synthetic hormone replacement therapy such as Prempro may provide some relief from menopausal symptoms, based on research done to date, it does not appear that some of the synthetic replacement therapy is not worth the risk, particularly when safe alternatives exist for use by women.

We have noted recently in following the litigation associated with Prempro that some of these cases are now going to trial. Recently there was a huge verdict up in Philadelphia where a jury found that the manufacturer had failed to disclose its knowledge of the increased risks associated with the use of Prempro returning a large punitive damage award. While some medications might be more harmful than others, obviously, all women deserve the right to know the truth and particularly deserve the right to know what risks are

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