South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Landscape Structures is recalling its children's slides. Roughly 900 Slalom Glider slides have been recalled because they pose serious fall hazards to children. What can happen is that the side and top of the slide does not have the proper transition platform. Nearly 20 child injuries in Boca Raton and elsewhere have been reported because of this defect. These injuries include fractures to the arms and legs, fractured collars bones, bruised arms and bruised spleens. The slides can be used alone or can be used as an attachment to other playground equipment. Item numbers 172627 and 156456 are involved in the recall. They were sold from 2006 to 2011. If you have one of these slides, don't let children play on them anymore and call the company at (888) 438-6574 or visit the Landscape Structures website to get either a full refund or an exchange for another piece of equipment.

Our Boca Raton child injury attorneys understand that there are many child products out there that have the capabilities to cause seriously injury your child. For this reason, parents are urged to keep an eye on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. This federal website offers the most recent information regarding dangerous children items and other dangerous household items. Consumer products should be designed to meet a certain federal safety standard. When manufacturers fail to meet this standard, injuries and fatalities result. When this happens, you need to seek the guidance of an experienced defective products attorney to help you to fight for your rights.

Other Recent Recalls from the CPSC:

-Tumblekins Toys: These items have been recalled by International Playthings because they pose serious laceration and choking hazards to small children. There were approximately 31,000 of these products sold in the U.S. from March to December of 2011. These toys can break apart and can have sharp edges, which cause the choking and laceration hazards to children. There have already been reports received regarding this defect. This recall covers the fire station, the farm play set, the roadster, the fire truck, the police car, the off-roader and the school bus. If your child has one of these toys, remove it from their possession immediately and call International Playthings at (800) 445-8347 or visit the e-mail the company.

-Dancing Teapots: These items have been recalled by Ganz because they pose a serious burn hazard to children. There were roughly 2,100 sold in the U.S. and another 200 sold in Canada from December of 2011 to January of 2012. The problem with these items is that the handle of the teapot can get hot when hot water is inside. The handle can get so hot that it poses a serious burn hazard to users. Covered under the recall are the teapots with the UPC number 661371626062 and SKU number ER19252. If your child has one of these teapots, stop using it immediately and call the company at (800) 724-5902 or visit the Ganz website.

-Indie & Indie Twin Strollers: These items were recalled by Bumbleride because they pose serious fall hazards to children. There were nearly 30,000 sold in the U.S. and another 3,000 sold in Canada from 2009 to 2011. There have been nearly 40 accidents reported of the stroller's front wheel cracking. Additional reports have stated that the stroller tipped over. Injuries have also been reported from the defects. The model numbers covered under the recall are I-205, IT-305, I-110, IT-111, IT-108 and I-107. If your family has one of these strollers, call the company at (800) 530-3930 or visit the Bumbleride website.

Continue reading "Defective Products in Boca Raton and Elsewhere Threatening Child Safety" »

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there has been a voluntary recalled announcement regarding 2012 Bicycles with carbon forks that were made by Advanced Group. There are about 500 of these products covered under the latest recall.

In 2011, there was another 14,000 of these bicycles recalled. These products were distributed by Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., of Morgan Hill, California and manufactured by Advanced Group of Taiwan. These products have been deemed unsafe and likely to cause injury in Boca Raton and elsewhere.

If you have one of these products, you're urged to contact Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. by calling (877) 808-8154. Or, you can contact the company by visiting its website at www.specialized.com. Consumers are urged to share information regarding this recall to friends and family member to help to avoid any injuries.

Our Boca Raton defective product injury attorneys understand that the CPSC often recalls products that consumers use every day. Sometimes products are even recalled years after they hit the market. It's important for consumers to pay attention to the latest safety recalls in order to avoid any injuries from defective or unsafe products. In one of the CPSC's most recent recalls, the Bicycles with Advanced Group carbon forks have been recalled. It is illegal to resell these products. If you own one of these bikes, you're urged to contact the company for information on how to repair the product or how to get your money back. If you've already been injured by this faulty product, you're urged to contact an experienced injury attorney to help you to fight for your rights as an accident victim.

What has happened with these bikes is that the brake component, which is in the bike's carbon fork, can come loose from the fork and can allow to brakes to hit the spokes of the wheel. All of this can pose a dangerous fall hazard.

Luckily, there have been no injuries reported so far.

Wondering if you have the bike?:

-The recall covers the 2012 Tricross Sport and Comp model bikes.

-These bikes come in a variety of colors.

-The bicycles have the word "Specialized" printed on the bottom part of the tube frame in the front.

-The model name of the bike, which is located on the top tube, is "Tricross Comp" or "Tricross Sport."

-The bicycles were sold at authorized Specialized retailers across the country from June of 2011 through November of 2011.

-They ran about $1,200 to about $2,000.

If you have one of these bicycles that has been recalled, the CPSC suggests that you stop using it immediately and take it to an authorized dealer for a free repair to the bike or for a free replacement carbon fork.

Consumers are urged to stay up-to-date with the most recent consumer product recalls from the CPSC. You can visit the Commission's website regularly or you can just sign up to receive recall e-mail updates.

Continue reading "Defective Bicycles Recalled for Posing Threats of Injury in Boca Raton and Elsewhere" »

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is here to protect consumers from unreasonable risks of death or injury in Boca Raton from defective products, many of which can be found in your own home.

Many of these injuries are caused by defective products that pose threats of mechanical, electrical or even chemical hazards. They also include children's products. Common defective products include include cribs, toys, cigarette lighters, power tools, household products and chemicals and so much more. The CPSC contends that its efforts have contributed to a 30 percent decrease in the death and injury rate that is associated with consumer products over the last 30 years.

Our Boca Raton defective products attorneys understand that many common household items wind up on the CPSC's recall list every month. It's important for parents and consumers to check this list periodically. Many injuries and deaths can be prevented with proper updates and consumer knowledge.

Our law firm is here to get you started on the road to a safer household. We are here to share some of the latest safety recalls with you.

ANTILOP High Chairs High Chairs Recalled by IKEA:

The chairs are currently being voluntarily recalled. There were nearly 200,000 sold from IKEA stores in the U.S. and in Canada. The chair's restraint buckle can unexpectedly open and children can fall from the seat. There have been nearly 8 reports of accidents already. Injuries have been reported as well. These chairs were sold in white, blue and red. Model numbers include 701.467.92, 501.467.93 and 300.697.24. The items were sold at IKEA stores from August of 2006 to January of 2010. If you have one of these chairs, contact IKEA for a replacement restraint.

LED Flashlight Sets Recalled by Target:

These flashlights have been recalled because the flash lights can heat up, smoke or melt when turned on. This poses both a burn and a fire hazard. There were nearly 60,000 sold from Target stores in the U.S. from October of 2010 until December of 2011. Incident and injury reports have already been received for this product. The UPC code is 490021010049, which is located on the back of the light's package. If you have one of these lights, take it back to Target for a full refund.

Children's Chairs and Stools Recalled by Elegant Gifts Mart:

The chairs and stools are currently a part of a voluntary recall because the yellow paint on the metal frame violates the Lead Paint Standard. Nearly 2,000 chairs and about 1,500 stools were sold at 1 to Seven stores in Puerto Rico from September of 2010 through June of 2011. Item numbers involved in the recall include JCA8036 and JCA8037. If you have one of these products, take it to any 1 to Seven store in or contact Elegant Gifts Mart for a full refund.

Please check out the CPSC's recall list periodically throughout the year to help to avoid any unnecessary injuries.

Continue reading "CPSC's Recall List Updated to Help Prevent Injuries in Boca Raton and Elsewhere" »

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently warned us of the dangers of defective Halloween costumes but the concerns don't stop there for parents, guardians or caretakers this time of year. The holidays are fast approaching and soon it will be time to start thinking about what gifts and toys to buy for our little ones this holiday season.

Several recent CPSC toy recalls have been a reminder of just how many dangerous toys are on the market nowadays and that several can cause a severe injury to children in Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral or elsewhere in Florida.

Boca Raton defective toy product attorneys know that manufacturers have a responsibility to test and certify toys and children's products that are being put on the market for retail and when they don't comply with federal standards it can be downright deadly for a child. Children are most at risk of choking accidents but can also be subject to falls, fractures, bruising, burns, suffocation and poisoning.

In 2008, the CPSC reported 19 deaths related to defective toys for children 14 years-old or younger. The most common causes of toy-related deaths for children in 2008 were from airway obstruction, drowning and incidents on riding toys.

There were over 235,000 toy-related injuries severe enough to be treated in a hospital emergency room in 2008 which was almost 6,000 higher than the 3-year average from 2006-2008. Almost half of injuries treated were to the head and face and 47 percent of injuries were classified as abrasions, contusions or lacerations. Thirty-five percent of the children treated at the hospital were under age 5.

In order to improve child product safety and catch some of the hazards and defects before they get distributed to the market, the CPSC recently announced new third party testing and certification rules.

Manufacturers, labelers and retailers will now be subject to third party testing to ensure children's products meet safety standards prescribed by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. They will also be required to keep up-to-date records on file for testing and certification, and undergo a re-test and re-certify process for any product that changes design, the source of its components or has changes made to the manufacturing process.

Consumers who are purchasing a toy for a young child this holiday season should keep in mind the dangers it could cause to the child's health. To check if a product has been recalled for choking, fall, burn or other hazards, visit Toy Hazard Recalls.

Florida PIRG wants to remind parents, guardians, caretakers or other consumers that there are resources out there to help with holiday toy shopping. Use their interactive smart phone website while you shop to check on a recalled product, get tips about toy shopping or what hazards should be considered before you buy.

Continue reading "Fort Lauderdale Parents Concerned About Dangers of Defective Toys During the Holiday Season" »

Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics made new recommendations for parents to keep children in rear-facing safety restraints until age two or until they reach the maximum height or weight restrictions designated on the car seat dictated by the manufacturer.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers know that booster seats and child safety seat restraints are a child's only saving grace in most Naples car accidents involving small children riding in the vehicle. Annual testing for crash protection and perfect fit becomes all that more important in determining which products are the most recommended by the experts and will keep your children injury-free if an accident occurs.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently rated booster seats to help parents whose children have grown past the rear-facing and forward-facing car seat phases, feel more at ease for their child's safety while riding in a vehicle.

This year's list is comprised of a record high 31 'best bet' seats which typically range in price from $15 to several hundred dollars. A child booster seat is classified as a 'best bet' when the seat belt fits appropriately in any car, SUV or minivan for a child between the ages of 4 and 8 years-old. Five seats were added to the list as 'good bets' and six others were not recommended at all.

Booster seat ratings began in 2008, deeming only 10 'best bets' that year. Last year, 21 seats were classified as a 'best bet'. Seats were rated on belt fit, not how they performed in a crash test. Booster seat manufacturers have begun using the Institute's test protocols to update and improve the design which has had an impact on rating the last few years.

In order to evaluate, a test dummy representing the height and weight of a 6 year-old is used. Engineers measure how the shoulder restraint and lap belt fit the dummy in each seat. The lap belt should be positioned on a child's upper thigh while lying flat across the leg. The shoulder strap should lie across a child's shoulder. When positioning is too high or too low it usually translates to a child moving it behind their head or below their arm because it is uncomfortable to leave it in its current position.

Some parents like the advantage of purchasing a dual-use booster. However, parents need to be careful because some dual-use seats are rated 'best bets' in one mode but when you change it over to the other mode it isn't rated as high. For example, the Evenflo Big Kid Sport is rated 'best bet' for the backless mode but receives a 'check fit' rating for the highback mode. The Harmony Dreamtime is the only dual-use seat on the market that received a 'best bet' rating for both modes. The Combi Kobuk Air Thur received a 'good bet' rating for both the backless and highback modes.

Consumers are urged to check model numbers and manufacture dates when using the Institute's ratings because some booster seats are redesigned or refurbished and use the same name but aren't rated the same as before after the changes are made.

If you need to review child restraint seats matched up to the recommended age and weight requirements, visit Healthy Children online for more information.

Continue reading ""Best Fit" Rating Doesn't Measure Crash Protection in Fort Myers Car Accidents Injuring Small Children" »

Our Boca Raton Injury Lawyers wish you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend. Please celebrate responsibly, leave the fireworks to the professionals and don't drink and drive.

As the South Florida drought continues, it's possible that fireworks throughout Palm Beach County could be cancelled for Fourth of July weekend, the Palm Beach Post reports, but that doesn't mean people should rush out to light their own fireworks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2008, 7,000 people were injured and seven people died because of fireworks injuries. Children made up nearly half of those injured. Boca Raton child injuries can be scary and dangerous, so please use caution.

The annual fireworks show at the Sunset cove Amphitheater is being threatened by dry conditions throughout the county. According to the Post, the drought index is 550 and the county and other South Florida counties are already under a burn ban. Gov. Rick Scott has put a temporary ban on campfires and put the state under a state of emergency. Fire officials are working to figure out if it's possible to continue with the show despite the conditions.

While fireworks displays can be fun to watch, they should be left to the professionals. And even still, falling debris in fireworks shows can be a hazard. Accidents are perhaps more likely in your backyard. Sparklers burn at more than 1,000 degrees and can catch a person's clothes on fire. Eyes, hands and fingers are the most commonly injured due to fireworks.

Along with staying safe with fireworks, one should be careful on the roads. AAA estimates that nearly 39 million people will be on the roads this Fourth of July weekend, USA Today reports. That leaves open the possibility of car accidents in Boca Raton and throughout South Florida. And these accidents are most likely to be caused by distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding. Driving at night or in bad weather conditions also increase the risk, so be a defensive driver and look out for others who aren't.

Other Fourth of July Safety Topics:

Boca Raton Boating Safety: Florida is the boating capital of the United States with more registered boats than anywhere else. So, please be safe on the water, don't drink and boat and watch out for aggressive boaters.

South Florida swimming pool safety: In 2008, 479 people drowned in Florida and many of them were children. These are preventable deaths as simple supervision can save a life. Looking away or being distracted at a pool for just a few moments can cause tragedy.

Bicycle safety: As the weather gets warmer outside, many Floridians will take to the roads on their bicycles during the holiday weekend. Florida is the deadliest state in the nation for bicycle accidents. These accidents are typically the work of careless drivers, so pay special attention when riding to try to avoid these life-altering incidents.

Continue reading "Boca Raton Injury Lawyers Wish You a Safe and Fun Fourth of July" »

Guardrails on Florida highways are meant to save lives in motor vehicle crashes. After all, it's what we pay our hard earned tax dollars for. Empty promises by Florida Department of Transportation have left one family mourning the loss of three according to a recent article in The Palm Beach Post.

Our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers understand that accidents are bound to happen. But some tragedies can be prevented by protecting motorists from defective road accidents in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

A mother of two was recently a victim of such a tragedy tragedy when her and her two daughters drowned after driving off the side of the road and into the canal along westbound State Road 80. Her Jeep swerved over into the eastbound lane, hit a berm and flipped over before plummeting into the canal. Since 2004, nine other lives have been taken near this same location in similar accidents.

This accident happens to follow a failed commitment from Florida DOT to begin constructing guardrails in this area; construction was supposed to start last July. The mother, able to call 9-1-1 from inside her vehicle, was not able to save her and her children's lives. By the time rescue responders arrived, the Jeep was completely immersed in water.

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, among others, began insisting guardrails be erected last year. The fact that it still hasn't been done makes him even more irate. There is an 18-mile long stretch that needs to be altered to preserve the safety of future motorists traveling on roadways running parallel to the canal.

Insufficient guardrail protection is just one example of how a road can be defective. The following are other examples that motorists should be alert for:

-Poor overhead security lights.

-Utility pools and trees placed in an improper location.

-Blinking traffic signals that aren't meant to blink.

-Water standing on the road due to poor drainage.

-Shoulders along the roadways that are frayed or muddy.

-Insufficient signage in areas where it is slippery or curved sharply.

-Unsafe roadway design.

Continue reading "Missing guardrail leads to tragedy; defective roads increase risk of serious and fatal car accidents in Palm Beach" »

Previously on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog we reported the government placed a ban on manufacturing and selling dropside cribs in the United States. It's estimated that these cribs kill more than a dozen infants per year when an infant's head gets caught between the mattress and the siderail.

Our Fort Lauderdale child injury lawyers agree this is a preventable death that the government and safety advocates need to play an active role in to keep our children safe. Cribs and bassinets get recalled by the dozens each year. In fact, since 2007, over 11 million play yards, cribs, and bassinets have been recalled.

A baby's nursery should be their safe haven. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Crib Information Center wants to keep your baby safe by offering the following safety tips:

- Babies are easily strangled by cords so never put a crib or bassinet near a window with blind or curtain cords dangling. Make sure the baby monitor cord is out of reach from the crib or bassinet.

-When setting up play yards, only follow the instructions sent by the manufacturer. Improvising with added padding or personal touches can be dangerous and life threatening to your young child.

-In this economy, hand-me-downs are helpful but make sure they are working properly. Broken, modified, or cribs older than 10 years should not be used. A baby's head can get trapped in broken slats or loose rungs leading to serious or fatal injury.

-Assembling cribs properly can be problematic without proper instructions from the manufacturer. Call the manufacturer for assistance if you lose the instructions or don't understand how to put something together. 'Guessing' could prevent you from assembling the crib correctly and increase the risk of injury while your infant is sleeping or playing in the crib.

-Suffocating is a preventable danger that can be managed with common sense. Don't use pillows or thick quilts in a baby's sleep area. In addition, a good rule to follow is to check the gaps along the sides of the crib and mattress to make sure there are no spaces wider than two fingers.

Keeping your infant out of harm's way is your number one priority. Defective children's products need to be detected and kept track of on a regular basis. The CPSC urges parents to check their website frequently for the most recent nursery product recalls. Knowing your nursery is safe will help you and your baby sleep more peacefully.

Continue reading "Defective cribs often a danger to infants in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach" »

A Parkland woman is dead after her necklace became entangled in a neck massager, which apparently strangled her to death, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Defective product injuries in Fort Lauderdale are much more common than most people realize. Whether or not this neck massager was defective, we cannot immediately say. Although it would seem self-evident that the design of such devices should take into account the virtual certainty that people will use them while wearing necklaces or other jewelry.

In this case, the 37-year-old woman, who was employed as a radiologist, was wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve while using a neck massager to relieve neck pain. It apparently caught her necklace, causing her to lose consciousness and stop breathing. She was found by her husband, who is a dentist.

The Broward County Medical Examiner has not yet released the cause of death. And, for whatever reason, the sheriff's office has refused to release the brand of neck massager or additional details.

While this is an extreme case of buyer beware, the fact is that hundreds of products are recalled each year for life-threatening defects and hundreds, or thousands, of others enter homes undetected.

Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 2.2 million space heaters sold by Wal-Mart because of the risk fire. The heaters include the Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essential Heaters. The heaters are grey with a metal handle on the top and vents and grey control knobs in the front. Wal-Mart sold the heaters for a decade.

The heaters were sold until October 2009 although it would be more than a year before the recall was finally issued in December 2010.

Continue reading "Lauderdale-area woman strangled by neck massager on Christmas Eve" »

After decades of screaming, begging and pleading by safety advocates, the federal government finally announced on Wednesday a permanent ban on the manufacture and sale of dropside cribs in the United States.

Fort Lauderdale Child Injury Attorney Gregg Hollander has handled numerous defective product cases involving unsafe products marketed for use by children.

As we reported this summer on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, the government estimates the cribs have killed more than a dozen infants a year. Typically, a child's head gets caught between the mattress and siderail. Of the more than 100 children's products recalled so far this year by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least five involved dropside cribs.

The government has also been far too slow to act in recalling dangerous and defective strollers. We reported last month about a Graco Stroller recall after the strangulation of four infants dating back to 2003. Attorney Hollander represented the family of one of those infants, who was tragically killed by the defective strollers.

The USA Today reports that the dropside cribs have cradled millions of infants for generations. But, starting in June, cribs must not have side rails that move up and down. More than 9 million of the cribs that been recalled in the past five years.

"I am proud to say the United States will now have one of the strongest crib standards in the United States," said Inez Tenenbaum, chairman of the Consumer Products Safety Commission. "I believe these new standards will markedly reduce crib-related hazards and help to ensure that children sleep more safely in their cribs."

Hotels and childcare centers will have two years to comply with the year rules.

Continue reading "West Palm Beach child injury lawyer hails government ban of dropside cribs" »

Retailers are counting on Black Friday and the upcoming holiday shopping season for up to half of their profits for the year. As a child injury lawyer in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, Gregg Hollander and the staff at The Hollander Law Firm, urge you to pay particular attention to the products you are bringing into your home.

Defective children's products are a common danger, particularly around the holidays.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission recently touted progress when it comes to cracking down on dangerous or deadly toys, saying recalls have dropped from 172 in 2008 to 44 so far in 2010.

We are not sure a recall a week involving children's toys is cause for celebration. Those statistics are also misleading because the government separates other products, such as cribs and strollers, that are also meant for children. More than 120 non-toy children's products have been recalled thus far this year.

Toy-related fatalities resulted in the deaths of 12 children under the age of 15. And the government reports that toy-related injuries are increasing. Last year, 186,000 emergency room injuries were reported involving children under the age of 15, compared to 152,000 in 2005.

"By limiting metals and chemicals in toys and making the voluntary standard mandatory, CPSC has put safeguards in place for toys to better protect children," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "The increase in injuries is a concern, and we want parents to make safe purchases and for children to be safe at play. To help keep what has been called the most wonderful time of the year happy and incident-free, CPSC is encouraging consumers to adopt a three-pronged safety approach."

Safety tips for purchasing toys this holiday season include:

-Always buy age-appropriate toys.

-Purchase appropriate safety gear with bikes, scooters, skates and other toys.

-Be mindful of the environment in which a child is permitted to play -- which should be away from traffic, parking lots, ponds and other hazards.

-Use caution around toys with small parts, which can cause a choking hazard, particularly for children under 3.

-Balloons can present a choking hazard. Discard deflated or broken balloons.

-Magnets - can cause serious injury or death if swallowed by small children.

-Discard packaging and wrapping immediately after presents are opened.

-Keep toys for older children away from younger children.

Continue reading "Defective children's products a holiday danger in South Florida" »

In cooperation with Graco Children's Products Inc., the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling approximately 2 Million Quattro and MetroLite strollers that have been linked to the deaths of four infants.

Florida Defective Product Attorney Gregg Hollander represented the family of one of the infants at trial, where he argued the company needed to be held responsible for marketing dangerous and deadly products to young families.

Children's products are recalled more frequently than many other types of products, in part because people are very protective of their children. The federal government has recalled more than 100 children's products so far this year, and it is Graco's second stroller recall this year. In 2010, Graco also recalled cribs and high chairs.

This recall, Graco's fourth overall this year, is in response to reports that four infants have strangled in these strollers between 2003 and 2005. There are also reports of one infant experiencing trouble breathing and five infants that became entrapped, resulting in other injuries.

Infants younger than 12 months old are particularly at risk. Infants in the strollers may become entrapped or strangled when their bodies pass through an opening between the stroller tray and stroller seat bottom. If the infant's head does not pass through, the infant may become trapped, potentially leading to strangulation.

The Quattro stroller models being recalled were manufactured before November 2006, and the MetroLite models being recalled were manufactured before July 2007. All models were distributed between November 2000 and December 2007.

In January 2008, a voluntary industry standard was established that addressed the size of the opening between the stroller tray and stroller seat bottom, mandating larger openings that prevent entrapment and strangulation hazards.

Model numbers for the Florida stroller recall are here.

The strollers, manufactured in China, were sold at various retail outlets, including Burlington Coat Factory, Meijers, Sears, Walmart, AAFES, Fred Meyer, Babis R Us, Target, Navy Exchange for between $90 and $250.

Continue reading "South Florida child injury warning: Fourth Graco Defective Product This Year" »

Thanks to a many days of sunshine and consistent tropical weather, South Florida enjoys one of the longest landscaping growth season in the country. The hum of lawn service equipment is nearly constant between March and November. Because of this, our Naples, Boca Raton and Fort Myers defective product attorneys are closely monitoring the recall of about 160,000 Black & Decker and Craftsmen cordless electric lawnmowers.

For the third time in eight years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a voluntary recall for both brands after receiving 34 reports of a potential laceration hazard caused by the motor and blade unexpectedly turning on despite the removal of a safety key designed to prevent this from happening. Black & Decker is offering a free repairs or credit toward the purchase of another mower.

Model numbers include Black & Decker CMM1000 and CMM1000R and Craftsman 900.370520. Aside from model numbers, the Black & Decker model has a black motor cover and an orange or green deck. The Craftsman model has a black motor cover and green deck. Both brands of mower were sold for about $450 nationwide and in Mexico and Canada, with the Black & Decker model sold between September 1995-December 2006 and the Craftsman brand from January 1998-December 2000.

The previous recall - which began in September 2002 and was expanded in August 2006 - addressed fire hazard concerns caused by electrical components overheating.

Continue reading "South Florida defect product recall notice: Black & Decker, Craftsman cordless push lawn mowers " »

The American Academy of Pediatrics has joined with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission in banning infant sleep positioners. The agencies are also ask retailers to stop selling the devices and request manufacturers to stop making them. Our South Florida defective product attorneys and child injury lawyers believe products marketed to small children should meet the most rigid safety standards. Sadly, they are often among the most frequently recalled because of the risk of serious or fatal injury.

Both the CPSC and the FDA have released alerts indicating they have received 12 infant death notices and dozens of reports that children aged 1 to 4 months have become trapped or faced suffocation after becoming pinned between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinette.

"The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep."

FDA pediatric expert Susan Cummins, M.D., M.P.H, says parents and caregivers can create a safe sleep environment for babies if they leave the crib free of pillows, comforters, quilts, toys, and other items. "The safest crib is a bare crib," she said. "Always put your baby on his or her back to sleep. An easy way to remember this is to follow the ABC's of safe sleep--Alone on the Back in a bare Crib."

A pediatrician and the FDA principal deputy commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein told the Los Angeles Times his office has tagged many of these nursery sleep aides as "illegal devices" because the manufacturers claim they are FDA approved to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. To date, the FDA has never cleared any sleep device or product to reduce the risk of SIDS.

The Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association - the trade organization that represents the manufacturers of the sleep positioners - has refused to stop making them or selling them without a government recall.

Continue reading "Fatalities linked to infant sleep positioner raise concerns of South Florida defective product hazards" »

Every trip. Every time. Four simple words that can save a child's life. This week, Sept. 19-25, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will reinforce this message by again hosting its annual Child Passenger Safety Week. The goal of the campaign is to remind parents that securing a child in a properly installed and age- and size-appropriate car seat is the best thing they can do to protect their most precious cargo in the event of a Palm Beach car accident or accident elsewhere in South Florida.

The good news is that most parents, friends, family and caregivers know that the law requires children ride in car seats. Unfortunately, the NHTSA has found that 3-out-of-4 car seats are not properly installed. To address this, the week-long campaign will culminate with "National Seat Check Saturday" on Sept. 25, a day devoted to free child seat inspections.

Despite more than 30 years of increasing nationwide public awareness and legislation specifically devoted to child passenger safety, car accidents remain the leading cause of death among children aged 3-14. With that said, from 1975 to 2008, more than 8,950 children's lives were saved because they were using appropriate child restraints when a car accident occurred.

In fact, placing an infant (age 1 or younger) in a child safety seat reduces the likelihood of that child being killed in a vehicle crash by 71 percent. And the risk of a toddler (age 1 to 4) being killed in a car accident is diminished by 54 percent if they are buckled up. Children ages 4 to 7 who use booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in car crashes than children who are restrained only by seat belts.

For a clearinghouse of information regarding car seats to an overview of child passenger safety, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Here you will also find a recent review of more than 70 car seats, as well as safety ratings and other valuable information about how well the seats will fit your vehicle.

Click here to find a child seat check location in your area.

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