Personal Injury

Toyota Stops Selling Some Models Due to Issue with Heated Seats

Published on: February 4, 2014 | O'Connor Law

It’s not an official recall, but Toyota has announced that it’s stopped selling nearly 36,000 cars at Toyota dealerships after finding that some heated seats were not flame resistant.

According to an article on CNN.com, some of the material used on seats with seat warming devices didn’t meet regulatory standards for flammability. Toyota has stopped the same of certain models of Camrys and Corollas with seat warmers. Avalon, Sienna, Tacoma, and Tundra are models that are also affected.

Because this is not a motor vehicle safety issue, Toyota is hoping to avoid an official recall. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration is considering the issue.

$2.1 Million Awarded to Widow of Man Killed in Tractor-Trailer Accident in Lebanon County

Published on: January 27, 2014 | O'Connor Law

Earlier this month, a bench trial that took place in a federal court in Harrisburg awarded over $2.1 million to the widow of a man who was killed in a tractor-trailer accident in Lebanon County.

According to an article on PennRecord.com, the accident took place on Interstate 78 in November of 2009. The driver of a Freightliner semi-tractor had been idling on the side of the road and began to pull back onto the interstate at a slow rate of speed. Two men who were travelling in a pickup truck in the right lane collided with the slow moving commercial truck. The pickup truck caught fire and the driver and passenger died from fire and asphyxiation. The widow of the driver who was killed sued the driver of the commercial truck for negligence and wrongful death.

According to the article, the plaintiff argued that the driver of the commercial truck was not familiar with the route he was driving, was unfamiliar with the truck’s radio equipment, and had not received on-the-job training. In addition, it was argued that the commercial truck driver only had his commercial driving license for about a month before the accident, and that he had failed both the written test and on-the-road driving test twice.

FDA Issues Warning about Acetaminophen in Combination Drugs

Published on: January 26, 2014 | O'Connor Law

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning this month to health care professionals asking them to discontinue prescribing prescription combinations drugs that contain more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen as more than that amount can cause liver damage.

According to an article on CNN.com, acetaminophen is often used in prescription medications such as oxycodone (also known as Percocet), hydrocodone (also known as Vicodin), and codeine (such as Tylenol with Codeine). But consumers may not be aware that these prescription products, considered combination drugs, can contain acetaminophen. A patient who may need more relief from pain could take an additional dose of over-the-counter (OTC) acetaminophen. The FDA explained, “Many consumers are often unaware that many products (both prescription and OTC) contain acetaminophen, making it easy to accidentally take too much.”

The FDA asked manufacturers to limit the amount of acetaminophen in prescription combination drugs to 325 mg per capsule or tablet by January 2014. According to the article, more than half agreed, but some combination drugs with higher amounts remain on the market. As a result, the FDA will begin the process of withdrawing approval of prescription combination drugs from manufacturers that have not complied.

Truck Driver Admits to Sleeping at the Wheel before Accident

Published on: January 24, 2014 | O'Connor Law

Last week we blogged about a fatal accident at the toll plaza on Interstate 78 in Williams Township where a driver was killed, the toll both was damaged, and the highway was shut down for nearly 6 hours. An update on LehighValleyLive.com is now reporting that the driver of the tractor trailer that started the accident has admitted to nodding off while driving, according to court papers.

The accident happened on Jan. 13 when the truck slammed into the barrier at the toll plaza, and came down on a car and driver that was paying his toll. The truck and car caught fire and the driver of the car later died from his injuries.

According to the article, the truck driver was trying to fight fatigue while driving by rolling down his window and turning up the volume on the radio. There are reports from witnesses that saw the truck swerving before it hit the car.

Recall of Baby Monitor Due to 2 Infant Deaths

Published on: November 24, 2013 | O'Connor Law

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of 600,000 Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitors with Sensor Pads after 2 children died after being strangled by a cord extending from the sensor pad.

According to CNN.com, both infants pulled the cord from the sensor pad into the crib. One death took place in 2004 and the other death happened in 2011. When asked why so much time passed between the infant deaths and the recall, the CPSC is quoted in the article as saying, “There are times when we see information we can act upon, and there are times when we need to gather more information.”

The recall affects only the United States and the company is offering rigid cord covers to consumers. The sensor pad goes under the mattress to monitor the baby’s movements. Some models did not include cord covers, exposing an 11-foot long electrical cord which could be pulled into the crib by an infant.

Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease at South Whitehall Township Outpatient Facility

Published on: November 2, 2013 | O'Connor Law

This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issued an advisory asking doctors to be on the lookout for patients who may have developed Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the Integrated Health Campus in South Whitehall Township.

According to an article on McCall.com, 6 cases of the disease, also called legionellosis, have been linked to the facility on Cetronia Road. Doctors should be alert for pneumonia-like symptoms among patients who may have visited the facility within 2 weeks of their illness.

The investigation into the incident focused on a decorative fountain located in the facility’s lobby. Remediation has been performed on the heath campus water system, which involved shutting down and draining the fountain, as well as sanitizing the facility’s drinking water system. As a result, the health department has cleared the campus to continue business as usual.

Tires Detach from Truck and Hit Another Vehicle in South Whitehall Township

Published on: November 1, 2013 | O'Connor Law

Earlier this month, a Lehigh County woman was injured when a tractor trailer’s tires came loose and hit her car. Now, the driver of the truck is being charged with a vehicle code violation.

According to an article on SouthWhitehall.patch.com, the truck was travelling west on Route 22 by the Cedar Crest Boulevard exit in South Whitehall Township when its fifth axel tires detached and bounced into the eastbound lanes of traffic. The tires hit the woman’s SUV, causing her “moderate injuries” according to state troopers.

The driver of the truck was not injured, but was charged with a vehicle code violation.

Fair Goers Fall from Ride at North Carolina State Fairgrounds

Published on: October 27, 2013 | O'Connor Law

Three people are in the hospital after falling from a ride at the North Caroline Fairgrounds this week.

According to an article on Yahoo News, five people were taken to a nearby hospital. Two were released, two remain are in good condition and one is in critical condition. The accident occurred when the ride named the “Vortex” started up again as passengers were getting off the ride. Bystanders described the scene by saying “There were actually some people that were still, I think, strapped in and holding on, really hanging on for their lives.”

The accident is under investigation by fair officials and officials from the Department of Labor. Earlier in the week a problem a switch had been fixed on the ride, which is described as a pendulum ride that flips passengers upside down as it heads toward the sky.

Turkey Hill Recalls Ice Cream

Published on: October 9, 2013 | O'Connor Law

Turkey Hill has issued a voluntary recall of some ice cream flavors because they could have metal shavings.

According to an article on LancasterOnline.com, the ice cream packages have been sold at Turkey Hill Minit Markets in Pennsylvania, selected Wal-Marts in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and other small grocers and convenience stores in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Packages being recalled include 1.5-quart (48 oz./1.42L) “Fudge Ripple Premium” ice cream, 1-pint (16 oz./473 ml) packages of “Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Premium” ice cream and “Moose Tracks Stuff’d Frozen Dairy Dessert.” These packages would have been purchased after Oct. 1.

Tractor Trailer Crash Sends Car Off Bridge

Published on: August 29, 2013 | O'Connor Law

A tractor trailer crash in Baltimore in July that pushed a car off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

According to an article on the WashingtonPost.com, the driver of the truck was employed by a Canadian company and was on his first solo trip in the United States. Although there were no mechanical defects found on the tractor-trailer, the report said it was the driver’s first trip without being paired with a more experienced driver.

The article said that before the accident, the truck driver had looked at his driver-side mirror because of sounds and lights behind him. When he looked back on the road, traffic had stopped and he was unable to avoid hitting the car in front of him. His truck pushed the car forward, hitting another car. The second car was then pushed over a barrier wall, falling 27 feet into the bay. The driver of the second car was able to get out of the car and swim to safety with minor injuries.