Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

National Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 16-22

Published on: September 14, 2012 | O'Connor Law

Next week is National Child Passenger Safety Week. Both the state police and PennDOT are encouraging drivers to participate in free child passenger safety seat checkups throughout the state.

There will be 141 fitting stations across Pennsylvania where parents can learn proper installation and use of child safety seats.

In a press release from PennDOT, Secretary Barry J. Schoch said, “Only about one in every four child safety seats are installed correctly, so we’re urging those transporting our smallest passengers to get their seats checked.”

Paper Checks to End for Social Security Recipients

Published on: September 13, 2012 | O'Connor Law

In May of 2011, the U.S. Department of Treasury began to phase out paper Social Security checks in favor of direct-deposited funds. Anyone applying for Social Security or other federal benefits after that date were required to receive their payments electronically.

According to an article on MSN.com, this move to direct deposit is nearly complete, with only about 3.3 million people (6%) still being paid with paper checks. The article noted that disability recipients of Supplement Security Income payments are less likely to have made the switch.

But by March of 2013, the U.S. Treasury Department will require most people to receive direct deposit, although a limited number of hardship cases, such as people in their 90s, will be allowed.

We Remember 9/11

Published on: September 11, 2012 | O'Connor Law

The attorneys and staff of O’Connor Law ask you to join with us as we remember all those who lost their lives 11 years ago today at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and with our country, as we remember and we continue to stand together.

Parents Sue after California Girl Dies in Jet Ski Accident

Published on: August 18, 2012 | O'Connor Law

Earlier this month, a 16-year-old-girl died while in vacation in Hawaii when the jet ski she was riding was hit by another watercraft.

According to a report by ABC News, the 20-year-old man who hit the young girl with his rented jet ski, was charged with third-degree criminal homicide. Now the young girl’s parents are suing the man, who investigators say was driving recklessly, was standing up and not paying attention to where he was going, and showing off for his girlfriend.

The lawsuit alleges that the man was reckless and negligent while operating the watercraft. The rental company, Aloha Jet Ski Rentals, is also named in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that an employee of the rental company failed to properly instruct the man in the correct use of the jet ski and that the employee did nothing to prevent the man’s reckless behavior.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for the family’s emotional pain and suffering, medical costs, and attorney’s fees.

Baby Floor Seats Recalled after Reports of Skull Fractures

Published on: August 17, 2012 | O'Connor Law

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported that nearly 4 million Bumbo Baby Seats are being recalled because of close to two dozen reports of infant skull fractures if a baby wiggles out of the seat.

About one million of the seats were recalled in October 2007 to add warning labels against placing teh seats on raised surfaces, such as tables or counters.

Since the 2007 recall, the CPSC and Bumbo International of South Africa have received reports of at least 50 incidents in which babies fell from Bumbo seats while on raised surfaces. Another 34 babies fell from the seats when they were being used on the floor. There have been a total of 21 reports of infant skull fractures.

Dishwashers Recalled for Fire Hazard

Published on: August 12, 2012 | O'Connor Law

According to an article on CNN.com, more than 1 million GE and Hotpoint dishwashers are being recalled after a series of fires.

The dishwashers were sold from March 2006 to August 2009 for between $350 and $850. All models have front controls and a plastic tub.

A heating element failure led to fire and smoke damage beyond the unit in seven cases that were reported. Three of the fires caused extensive property damage, but no one was injured.

New Study Warns of Proper Car Seat Use

Published on: August 8, 2012 | O'Connor Law

A new study is warning parents and caregivers that they need to be more aware of current guidelines regarding proper car seat use.

The study was published this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and included a review of three years worth of data from the National Highway Traffice Safety Administration’s 2007-2009 National Survey on the Use of Booster Seats. Researchers found that as children got older, car seat safety and proper restraint techniques went down. More children were more likely to sit in the front seat of a car unrestrained, despite guidelines to the contrary.

It’s something that parents and caregivers need to pay more attention to, as research shows that car crashes are the leading cause of death for children older than 3 in the U.S. and cause 179,000 injuries to children each year.

Magentic Toy Maker Sued by Consumer Product Safety Commission for Continuing to Sell Product

Published on: August 6, 2012 | O'Connor Law

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has sued Maxfield & Oberton for continuing to sell their high-powered magentic “desk toys” called Buckyballs and Buckycubes, after reports that children have swallowed the magnets. Accidental ingestion of the magnets have caused multiple surgeries and lengthy hospitalizations for some children as the magnets can pierce holes in the intestines.

An article on CNN.com reports that although the CPSC is doing this to keep children safe, the makers of the magnet desk toys feel they have provided enough warning labels on their product, noting that the toys are marketed to “adults age 14 and above.”

Andrew Frank, a spokesman for Maxfield & Oberton, is quoted in the article as saying, “There are a half a billion magnets out there, and unfortunately there are some people who have misused the product.” Instruction that accompany the products include warnings to keep the magnets away from children, adn the company’s website has warnings posted next to the images of the products.

General Assistance Cash Program to End on Wednesday

Published on: July 31, 2012 | O'Connor Law

Pennsylvania’s General Assistance cash program will end on Wednesday, the last day of July. The cash grant program has been in existence since the Great Depression and provides a monthly stipend of about $200 to nearly 70,000 PA residents.

According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, the program helps those with permanent or temporary disabilities, asd well as other poor individuals and families. The program was cut from the state budget with the idea that those losing the grant could possibly be eligible for other programs. But that depends on an individual’s situation.

With programs like PA’s General Assistance being cut, it’s more important now that ever that you receive the help you need in applying for social security disability. Your best bet is to get the help of an attorney who is familiar with the in’s and out’s of the application process and procedure. Contact the social security disabililty attorneys of O’Connor Law for help with your disability needs.

Over 220,000 Hyundai Sante Fe SUVs and Sonata Sedans Recalled

Published on: July 29, 2012 | O'Connor Law

On the heels of the Ford Escape recall, Hyundai has announced a recall of nearly 220,000 Sante Fe SUVs and Sonata sedans due to a potential problem with their air bags.

According to an article on CNN.com, the car manufacturer has recalled almost 200,000 of their 2007-2009 model year Sante Fe SUVs. In the event of a crash, the front passenger airbags may not deploy because of a possible problem with the occupant classification system. This is the system that determines if the air bag should be deployed based on the size of the passenger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the system may need to be recalibrated to detect “small statured adults.”

The recall also includes more than 22,000 Sonata sedans from the model year 2012-2013. According to the administration, the curtain side airbags may inflate for no apparent reason because of a manufacturing error.