Product Recall

 Honda 2003-04 Odyssey models are being investigated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for potentially defective airbags. According to an NBC news report, the auto safety agency opened an investigation into 320,000 Honda minivans to determine if they should be recalled for airbags that deploy suddenly without warning. So far, officials have received six complaints from owners of 2003-04 Odyssey minivans, three of whom reported injuries due to airbags that suddenly deployed while the vehicles were in operation. NHTSA has received 41 consumer complaints alleging that the vehicle’s airbag warning light illuminated. Read the rest »

A mere two days after shutting the door on the government’s request to recall 2.7 million older-model Jeeps, Chrysler has decided to issue two other safety recalls for airbag and seatbelt defects. According to a news report in The Associated Press, the automaker will recall more than 409,000 Jeep Patriot and Compass small SUVs across the globe from the 2010 and 2012 model years to fix airbag and seatbelt defects. Chrysler is also recalling 221,000 Jeep Wranglers worldwide from the 2012 and 2013 models to fix transmission fuel leaks, according to documents posted Thursday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site, Associated Press reports. Read the rest »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has established a website, www.SaferProducts.gov, that allows you to check on products that were recalled earlier in the year so that you can check on your winter items before using them.  It is very important if you have any recalled winter items that you return them for repair or replacement and do not continue to use them.

Check Your Home for Winter Products Recalled Last Summer

Last summer, the CPSC recalled several products designed primarily for use in cold weather.  Because many consumers may not have been aware of these recalls at the time, the CPSC has set up a website where consumers can instantly find details about existing recalls and check their winter products for potential hazards.

What Winter Products Have Been Recalled? Read the rest »

Toyota settles car recalls – $1billion dollars

January 1, 2013—Los Angeles, California—According to a report from CBS News, Toyota Motor Corporation has agreed to a settlement of more than $1 billion in payment of damages related to acceleration and brake problems with the Prius hybrid and other models. Toyota has recalled more than 14 million vehicles worldwide as a result of the problems with parts such as accelerators and brakes.

The settlement is the largest single settlement in U. S. history for automobile defects. Toyota initially tried to blame drivers and floor mats for the safety issues posed by the faulty parts and attempted to dodge responsibility for the accidents and injuries that have resulted from its faulty products.

The History of Toyota’s Recall Issues

There have been thousands of reports of sudden unintended acceleration since 1999 by Toyota and Lexus customers. These incidents have resulted in at least 341 injuries and 19 deaths. In 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating sudden unintended acceleration in Lexus and Toyota Camry, Tacoma, and Sienna models. At first, the NHTSA seemed to give Toyota an excuse for the problem by blaming floor mats for the problem. Toyota immediately took advantage of this finding to blame customers for improper installation of the mats.

However, the problems continued and the NHTSA could not find the cause of the stick accelerators. Recalls in 2005 and 2007 attempted to correct the problems, but these were on a small scale. More recently, further investigation and testing has led to larger recalls as the cause of SUA remains a mystery.

Replacing the accelerator pedals and floor mats do not seem to solve or prevent the problem. It is possible that the issue is electrical in nature or related to the computer-driven systems running the car. Toyota has steadfastly denied that it could be the electronics systems causing the problems.

The Future of Toyota Auto Recall

One of the most troubling aspects of the Toyota recall situation is that many of the accelerator issues have been tied to vehicles that have not yet been recalled. This means that there could be drivers out there who will experience accidents and injuries from SUA who have no way of knowing that they are in danger. Until the problem is identified successfully, this will remain an issue.

However, with the large amount of the present settlement, it is possible that Toyota is anticipating future payouts for these issues. It is also possible that Toyota plans to cap it liability by engaging new professionals to investigate the cause of the accelerator problems and once and for all give a definitive answer as to the cause of these issues.

Victims who have suffered injuries from a defective car or part should talk to a car recall attorney about their cases. A personal injury lawyer who handles car recall injury cases can give advice about the victim’s rights in such a situation and how much he or she can expect to recover in damages for these types of accidents.

December 23, 2012—South Korea—Hyundai Motor Company is recalling about 13,500 vehicles due to sunroof defects that may lead to shattering and injury to drivers or passengers, according to an article in the New York Daily News.

The Veloster and Sunroof Issues

The company found that the 2012 Veloster model may have had its panoramic sunroof incorrectly installed.  This incorrect installation leads to possible weakening and eventual shattering of the sunroof while the car is in operation.  The company has filed a report with the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and issued a general recall for the 2012 Veloster models with the sunroof defects.

The Veloster is a three-door compact model manufactured by Hyundai.  The models in question were produced from November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012.  All vehicles were manufactured in South Korea.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Position

The NHTSA has so far received 11 complaints of shattering or exploding 2012 Veloster sunroofs.  All of the defects occurred when the car was in motion; some occurred when the car was traveling at normal highway speed.  Fortunately, no injuries or collisions have been reported so far as a result of this defect.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is cooperating with Hyundai to issue a general recall of the affected models.  While the NHTSA is not responsible for the recall notice, it will advertise the recall along with the company to try to reach the maximum number of affected customers.

What Will Hyundai Do To Fix the Problem?

The recall will begin in January.  Hyundai plans to notify customers who have purchased these vehicles and advise them to return their cars to the dealership for inspection and a free replacement of the sunroof if necessary.  There have been 32,886 Velosters sold in 2012 in the United States, according to information from Autodata Corp.  Of these cars, about one-third are affected by the current recall.

How Does A Recall Affect Liability for Injury?

Recalls do not affect an auto maker’s liability for injuries sustained in crash stemming from the problem addressed by the recall.  If a car owner does not hear about the recall or has not had an opportunity to have the problem fixed, the victim is still entitled to damages if he or she is injured in an accident.

For victims who have suffered injury in a crash caused by a manufacturer’s defect in a car, it is very important for the individual to seek help from a product liability attorney.  A lawyer who handles defective product cases can advise the victim about his or her rights under the law and how to hold the company accountable for the injuries caused by the defect in the product.

Victims may be entitled to payment of medical bills from injuries sustained due to the product, as well as compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.  The victim may also be able to recover money for lost wages from time missed at work due to injuries, increased living expenses, and permanent loss of abilities due to injuries.

Transvaginal mesh lawsuits are on the rise and could end up in the tens of thousands against six different manufacturers. Boston Scientific is one of the manufacturers with a possible 2500 lawsuits alone. Back in July of 2011 the FDA put out a warning to consumers about the potential defects and dangers of the synthetic mesh as stating that reports of serious complications from the mesh implant had increased.  Between then and now the numbers of lawsuits have increased as well and are still on the rise.

This is an unfortunate circumstance for the victims and the worst part is that there is a probability that defective surgical transvaginal mesh slings are still being implanted.  Many of the women who have filed law suits have suffered horrible side effects and severe injuries that have lasted for years, some of the injuries being life altering. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this unimaginable tragedy.

What is transvaginal mesh?

If you do not have a medical condition such as urinary incontinence then you probably do not know what transvaginal mesh is, but you might have read news reports about the defect and recall of this medical product. Transvaginal mesh is a sling that is surgically implanted in the vagina to treat bladder prolapse and other related medical conditions.  However, numerous complaints from women came about leading to the investigation of the product and its makers which prompted the FDA to put out a warning to the general public.

According to the FDA “The most frequent complications included erosion through vaginal epithelium, infection, pain, urinary problems, and recurrence of prolapse and/or incontinence. There were also reports of bowel, bladder, and blood vessel perforation during insertion. In some cases, vaginal scarring and mesh erosion led to a significant decrease in patient quality of life due to discomfort and pain, including dyspareunia.” Click to read more from the FDA transvaginal mesh complications.

If you want more information about transvaginal mesh and the potential side effects or if you need legal representation pertaining to a transvaginal mesh case, please do not hesitate to call a California transvaginal mesh lawyer. The defective product attorneys at Bisnar | Chase are passionate about and specialize in this area and we have 30 years of proven results recovering money for personal injury victims. Contact us today for free legal advice. Call 1-800-561-4887.

Photo source: publichealthwatchdog.com