Welcome to the January Edition of the Bisnar Chase Ezine
This month's topic is toy safety.
Every year, parents are cautious to select only the best Christmas presents for their children. Although our industry standards and regulations make it rare for something to go wrong . . . at times, it still happens.
This e-zine will help you recognize unsafe or defective toys while also providing important information on what to do in case there is ever a problem.
You'll also find a related news story, a lawyer joke, news on toy recalls, and more. I hope this New Year will be your best, ever.
Sincerely,
-John Bisnar
In this issue:
- Meet Legal Administrator Shannon Barker
- Personal Injury Tip
- Current Case
- News
- Recent Toy Recalls
- Lawyer Joke - The Faulty Ladder
Personal Injury Tip
With toy manufacturers facing a struggling economy, many are using cheaper materials and cutting corners in their production. That means there's increased risk of product defects.
If you're concerned about your child's Christmas toys - or any other toy in your home - here are four steps you can take to keep make sure they're safe:
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Check The Materials: The most dangerous materials in children's toys include magnets and lead. If magnets are ever swallowed, they can stick to each other inside the human body, making it very difficult to be removed and causing a serious health concern. Lead, on the other hand, is poisonous and is a serious concern when used in surface paint.
If you aren't sure what materials were used to make your child's toys, you can search online or contact the product manufacturer directly. If you're unsure, you should return or dispose of the toy quickly. As they say, "better safe than sorry."
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Avoid Toys With Small Or Loose Parts: Any toy with small or loose parts that are easily detached can cause a serious health risk to a young child if swallowed. If you only have young children, make sure to only purchase and accept toys that are age appropriate. If you have children of various ages, you need to make sure the toys with small or loose parts are kept separately and only used by the older child (ren).
However, children don't always put away their toys, so there's a chance that the toys with small parts that are unsafe for younger children will be left lying around. Your best action is to hold on to those toys for safekeeping until all your children are old enough to play with them.
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Track Product Recalls: Dangerous toys are being recalled on a regular basis. By tracking the website for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission , you can avoid dangerous toys and keep your family safe. Just realize that not every dangerous toy is recalled. If you're concerned about your child's toy but it's not listed on the website, you should still return it or dispose of it.
Check for Wear and Tear: There might not be a problem with the toy right away, but there might be after your child plays with it a few times. Make sure you inspect the toy for wear and tear on a regular basis.
Nobody expects their child's new toy to cause a serious injury, but it can happen. By inspecting your child's toys carefully and ensuring they are okay, you can keep your household safe. If you or one of your children is ever injured by a toy, you should give us a call for a free consultation - we will help you understand what went wrong and provide you the next steps you should take.
Bisnar Chase represents people who've been seriously injured because of an accident caused by a defective product or negligence. For more information, visit www.BestAttorney.com and www.ProductDefectNewsandAdviceBlog.com
Current Case
Bisnar Chase is currently representing minor Trevor Dennis who was seriously and permanently injured by a Coleman propane heater.
On December 30, 2005, seven year-old Trevor Dennis was camping with his parents when he was severely burned by the Coleman propane heater being used to heat the family's trailer.
At nightfall, Trevor went inside the camping equipment trailer where he was planning to sleep for the night. However, around 11PM, the propane heater malfunctioned, causing the trailer to burst into flames with the young boy inside. Most of the trailer was destroyed; Trevor was severely burned over much of his body and he now needs extensive medical care.
According to court documents, it appears that the young boy had used the heater according to Coleman's instructions. The court documents also show that Coleman's advertising depicts consumers warming themselves indoors with the propane heater - although Coleman later admitted that the heater in those photos was actually turned off.
"Not only is camping equipment manufacturer Coleman using a faulty design, sub-par critical parts from Chinese suppliers, sloppy assembly and inadequate quality control," said John Bisnar, founding partner of Bisnar Chase law firm, "but also this American manufacturer uses false and deceptive advertising. All of these elements led to the catastrophic injury of a then seven year old boy. This is totally unacceptable and Coleman will be held accountable."
Bisnar Chase represents people who have been seriously injured because of an accident caused by a defective product or negligence. For more information, visit www.BestAttorney.com.
News
MRI scans are as common as x-rays these days. But here is a news report that will make you think twice before you enter the belly of that scanner.
This past spring, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement asking manufacturers of certain contrast agents, used in patients who get MRI scans, to place a black-box warning on the agents so patients are aware of the risks involved. Apparently these agents can be lethal to patients who have severe kidney problems, according to a report on CNN.
According to this report, the warning would involve five gadolinium-based contrast agents, some of which are manufactured by General Electric Co.'s health care unit as well as BAY, an arm of Bayer and Tyco. FDA officials say these agents, when used on someone with severe kidney problems, "could cause a debilitating and potentially fatal disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis." Among others who are at risk are patients who are undergoing a liver transplant or those with chronic liver disease.
FDA officials say this condition, commonly referred to as NSF, can cause thickening of the skin and connective tissues and restriction of mobility resulting in broken bones. This fibrosis may also develop in the diaphragm, thigh and lower abdominal and lung vessels.
NSF is a debilitating condition that results in gradual deterioration and may eventually lead to death. The agents in question are used to enhance visibility of internal organs when patients undergo an MRI. According to FDA officials, the contrast agents are not required for an MRI to be done.
There are consequences and side effects for every drug or medical procedure we undergo. Some side effects result in nausea and dry mouth, while others are deadly. Drug makers and medical procedure performers have a duty to provide us adequate information regarding the consequences and side effects, so that we can make informed decisions regarding the risks and benefits of the drug or medical procedure.
The fact that you can develop a potentially fatal disease just by taking a contrast agent to enhance an MRI scan is enough to call for these warnings. Now what remains to be seen is if the information on the box is going to get to the patients. It's not clear how many patients have already been affected or have died as a result of these agents being used in the procedure.
At Bisnar|Chase, we've assisted thousands of people who have unknowingly fallen victim to the side effects of drugs. Often, the drug manufacturer can be held liable when they push a drug into the market despite knowing (or should have known) of serious effects that the drug has that might outweigh the benefits of taking the drug.
A case in point is Merck's Vioxx. The fast-selling arthritis drug was pulled off the shelf after hundreds of thousands of patients experienced side effects such as heart attack and stroke.
If you have experienced serious side effects of a defective drug, call me. If you have questions about whether you might have a case, ask me. I'm always here and available to answer your questions. 1-800- 259-6373.
Bisnar Chase represents people who've been seriously injured because of an accident caused by a defective product or negligence. For more information, visit www.BestAttorney.com.
Recent Toy Recalls
- 12,800 pieces of children's jewelry made by Aloha 808 Trading of Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 480 "Dinosaur Epoch" toy dinosaurs made by Xtreme Toy Zone.
- 100 Toddler Girl's Hat and Mitten Sets produced by Meijer Inc of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- 5,400 toy army figures by OKK Trading due to lead surface paint on the face of the toy.
You can track future toy recalls on the CPSC website or by signing up for email notifications at http://cpsc.gov/.
Lawyer Joke - The Faulty Ladder
How many personal injury attorneys does it take to change a light bulb?
Three: one to turn the bulb, one to shake him off the ladder, and a third to sue the ladder company.
Personal Injury
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