Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

Parents of infants and toddlers can breathe a little easier. The CPSC is working to ban drop-side cribs by next year. Not only did the federal agency vote last month to cease drop-side crib manufacture, sales, and resales, but also it approved proposed new mandatory crib standards and agreed that cribs with drop sides should removed from daycare centers and hotels. Proposed requirements for the construction of new crib include use of better wood, stronger hardware, and sturdier mattress support.

Drop-side cribs have been a danger to kids for some time. In just the last decade, at least 32 children have died while in drop-side cribs. 14 other crib deaths occurred during entrapment accidents that may have been caused by a drop side.

Although current federal safety rules considers any product that malfunctions or breaks repeatedly to be a defect, this hasn’t stopped 14 crib companies from being named in over 900 drop-side related incident reports, many involving child deaths and hundreds of injuries. In the last three years, alone, the CPSC has recalled over 10 million drop-side cribs because they pose fall, suffocation, and entrapment hazards to kids. According to USA Today Simplicity, Delta, and Stork Craft have been the three largest makers of drop-side cribs.

Our Washington DC products liability lawyers want to remind you that crib manufacturers can be held liable for any injuries to a minor sustained by your infant or toddler. We know how devastating it can be to discover that your child’s crib, one of the few places where you would leave your infant or toddler unattended, actually ended up becoming a cause of injury or death.

Ban on drop-side cribs coming soon from safety agency CPSC, USA Today, August 12, 2010

Government nears new standards for cribs, ban on drop-side cribs, CNN, July 15, 2010

CPSC Proposes New Rules for Full-Size and Non-Full-Size Cribs, CPSC, July 14, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Crib Recall 2010: Full List to Keep Your Kids Safe (Evenflo, Delta, Child Craft, Jardine, LaJobi, Million Dollar Baby, Simmons, CBS News, June 24, 2010

CPSC Recall List, Consumer Product Safety Commission

Continue reading "Washington DC Injuries to Children: Banning Drop-Side Cribs" »

11-year-old Zachary Hodges has died. The boy passed away on July 12 one day after sustaining a severe head injury during a Georgetown pedestrian accident in Washington DC.

The woman whose car struck Hodges did not sustain any injuries. Following the Washington DC pedestrian accident site, the driver and her passenger stayed at the crash site.

Hodges is not from the area. His family was in Washington DC for a visit when the tragic accident occurred.

Child Pedestrians
Young children are at high risk of becoming involved in a pedestrian accident. Not only are they smaller and harder for some motorists to see, but they lack the judgment to known when it is safe to cross the street, sometimes opting to run into the road to pick up a ball or get to their friends who are playing on the opposite sidewalk. Many young children have no real sense that crossing the street can be dangerous. They may have a hard time gauging how fast a car is moving or whether there is enough time to cross the road before they are hit by a motor vehicle.

Although parents are responsible for training their child to safely cross the street and making sure that younger kids do not cross the street without adult supervision, it is still a motorist’s responsibility to drive safely, obey the traffic laws, and refrain from negligent or careless driving so that they don't accidentally injure a pedestrian.

Name Of Texas Boy Killed In D.C. Auto-Pedestrian Accident Released, KWTX, July 13, 2010

Boy struck by car in Georgetown dies, The Washington Post, July 12, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Educating Child Pedestrians, WalkingInfo

District Department of Transportation

Maryland Accident Law Blog

Continue reading "Washington DC Pedestrian Accident Kills 11-Year-Old Boy in Georgetown" »

A Washington DC drowning accident has claimed the life of a young girl. The six-year-old girl who was pulled from a Turkey Thicket Recreation Center pool on June 23 was later pronounced dead at Children's National Medical Center.

Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim while waiting for fire and rescue officials to arrive. A lifeguard was on duty when the girl drowned.

Witnesses say the girl jumped into the deep end from the diving board and that at the time the pool was very crowded. According to reports, it was the next person to get on the diving board who notified the lifeguard that the young girl was at the pool bottom. The pool is about 12-feet deep.

Child Drowning Facts (CDC):

• There were 3,443 accidental drowning deaths in the US in 2007.
• More than one in every five drowning deaths are kids from the 14 and under age group.
• For every child drowning death, four other children will have received emergency medical care for their drowning injuries.
• Drowning injuries can result in permanent brain damage.

Reasons why a pool drowning victim or his/her family may have grounds for a Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death claim:

• Inadequate safety equipment
• Lack of supervision by a lifeguard or a qualified adult
• Failure to warn that there is no lifeguard on duty
• Improper maintenance
• Improperly attached ladders
• Maryland slip and fall hazards
• Improperly installed diving boards
• Failure to clean the pool properly, which can make it hard to see anyone who may be drowning
• Failure install the regulation pool drain that is now mandated by law
• Failure to secure/lock pool area during off hours

6-year-old drowns in NE D.C. public pool, Washington Post, June 23, 2010

Young Girl Drowns At DC Rec Center Pool, WUSA9, June 23, 2010

Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center

Pool and Spa Safety Publications, Consumer Product Safety Commission

Maryland Accident Law Blog

Continue reading "Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Washington DC Drowning Accident at Turkey Thicket Pool" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the most dangerous time for drivers in the 15 – 20 age group—not to mention that car crashes are the number one cause of all teen fatalities. Traffic safety experts say that one reason for the increase in teen traffic deaths during this time of the year is that with school out many teenagers have more free time on their hands without parental supervision and later curfews. All of these factors can lead to more hours spent on the road at night, a period of day where teens are at higher risk of crashing their motor vehicles.

Summer parties and more social outings can also turn underage drinking into a greater concern now than during the regular school year. According to the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which combats underage drinking and drunk driving in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia, there is a 50% increase in teen drunk driving fatalities during the summertime.

Steps that teens can take to prevent injury to themselves or others in a Washington DC traffic crash:

• Don’t drink and drive
• Don’t talk on the cell phone or text message while driving
• Avoid driving late at night or when you are tried
• Obey the speed limit
• Wear your seat belt

It is important that parents supervise their teens’ driving habits, while making sure that they are educated about the dangers of careless and reckless driving. Motorists can be held liable for Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death in the event that their negligence hurts or kills another person.

Teen driver risks in high gear over summer, USA Today, June 21, 2010

Summer Months Deadliest for Teen Drivers, Washington Regional Alcohol Program, May 25, 2010 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Teen Driving

Teen Drivers, CDC

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Continue reading "With Summer Here There Are Steps Teen Drivers Can Take to Avoid Causing Washington DC Car Accidents" »

Tracy Wolf has filed a dangerous drug lawsuit in the US Court of Federal Claims in Washington DC. She is suing the Secretary of Health and Human Services over injuries that she says her teenage daughter sustained from taking the HPV vaccine.

The vaccine is supposed to prevent women from getting cervical cancer. However, Wolf says that after taking a three-shot series of Gardasil in 2007 and 2008, her 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a number of health issues, including encephalitis, a seizure disorder, and physical and behavioral problems. Wolf says that one month after her daughter took the first injection, the teenager started to exhibit “significant negative” behavioral changes and physical problems, including heart palpitations.

Gardasil
Manufactured by Merck and Co, Gardasil is supposed to prevent four kinds of human papillomavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two of these HPV types are the cause of approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. The National Institutes of Health says that about 4,000 women a year die from this disease.

The Food and Drug Administration says the vaccine is effective, safe, and provides benefits that “outweigh the risks.” However, Wolf’s personal injury lawyer contends that this is not the case. This is the second injuries to a minor lawsuit that the attorney has filed this year over Gardasil’s alleged side effects.

FDA and CDC researchers say that some 12,400 adverse side effects linked to Gardasil injections were reported through December 2008. 772 of these were noted as serious. 32 resulted in fatalities. However, no common pattern was found to suggest the vaccine caused the deaths.

However, others have pointed to Gardasil as the cause of:
• Seizures
• Blood clots
• Bells palsy
• Paralysis
• Fetal abnormalities
• Spontaneous abortions
• Death

Last month, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed accusing Gardasil of causing a 16-year-old girl’s wrongful death. The teenager reportedly collapsed while having a seizure after receiving her third Gardasil shot. She died at the hospital.

NM woman sues, alleges HPV Vaccine Hurt Daughter, AP, May 3, 2010

Hpv Vaccine Kills 16-Year-Old Girl Lawsuit Alleges, Drugs.com, April 21, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

US Department of Health and Human Services

Gardasil

In an attempt to prevent infant and child injuries and deaths, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a Johnson & Johnson division, is recalling 43 over-the-counter child and infant medications after regulators discovered deficiencies at a manufacturing facility. Hundreds of thousands of medicine bottles will have to be pulled from store shelves in the US, its territories, and nine other nations.

Following a routine check of McNeil Consumer Healthcare’s Fort Washington plant, Food and Drug Administration inspectors discovered that the manufacturing process was “not in control,” which could alter the medicines’ composition. As a result, some of the medicines may have a higher concentration of an active ingredient than what is noted, may have inactive ingredients that don’t meet testing requirements, or may contain tiny particles.

Even though the chance of serious injury from the medicines is “remote,” the FDA is counseling caregivers and parents to stop using the recalled products right away. The FDA also says that if a child displays any unusual symptoms after taking one of the recalled medicines, then caregivers or parents should seek the advice of a physician. The federal agency is warning that giving children and infants the adult versions of these medications can result in serious illness or injury.

Many of the medicines recalled are among the ones most commonly used by parents and caregivers to treat their childrens’ colds and fevers. You can click on the link below to see the full list of recalled medications.

Washington DC Drug Litigation
If you or someone you love became sick from taking a dangerous or defective medication, you may have grounds for filing a Washington DC dangerous drug lawsuit. Prescription and OTC meds are supposed to improve one’s health and provide relief from symptoms, pain, and other health issues. They aren’t supposed to cause injury or make a person’s condition worse.

Liquid kids’ meds pulled in massive recall, OC Register, April 30, 2010

Read the Product Recall Information, McNeal, April 30, 2010

Related Web Resources:
US Food and Drug Administration

Johnson and Johnson

A Washington DC traffic crash involving a van and a Toyota Camry has resulted in six injuries and one death. The auto accident occurred at around 7pm on Monday in Southeast DC.

According to witnesses, a speeding van drove over the center median on Alabama Avenue and into the path of an oncoming Toyota. The van rolled over a number of times before catching fire. Some 50 fire workers arrived at the crash scene where utility wires had been knocked down and there was a fuel spill.

The Camry’s driver, 37-year-old Mary Elizabeth Wimbush, died at the crash site. Four children who were riding in the car sustained serious injuries. One of the child victims, a 2-year-old girl, was ejected from the vehicle. All of them were taken to Children’s National Medical Center and admitted in critical condition.

The driver of the van and an unidentified passenger also sustained injuries. The van’s driver, Ajene Jones, 34, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Washington DC Car Accidents
Washington DC car crashes can lead to serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, internal injuries, broken bones, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severed limbs, and disfigurement. In addition to costly medical and rehabilitation expenses and other losses, a DC traffic crash can take a huge physical, emotional, and/or financial toll on the victims and family members.

You may be able to file a Washington DC car accident case or wrongful death lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for your traffic crash. It is important that you explore your legal options with an DC injury lawyer before agreeing to settle with the negligent party.

Traffic Fatality on Alabama Avenue, SE, DC.gov, April 20, 2010

Washington D.C. automobile accident: 1 killed, 6 injured in car vs. van crash, Justice News Flash, April 20, 2010

Man Charged in Deadly Crash in Southeast DC, MyFoxDC.com, April 20, 2010

Related Web Resources:
District Department of Transportation

Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

US News & World Report has just put out its first Best States for Teen Drivers ranking and the District of Columbia tops the list. One reason for this is that Washington DC has some of the strictest laws governing teen drivers and their driving requirements. The state of Maryland placed 4th. This is good news for Washington DC and Maryland teen drivers, considering that car accidents are considered the number one cause of fatalities to teens in the 16-19 age group. Over 4,000 teenagers die every year.

That said, there is always more that can be done to prevent the number of Washington DC car accidents involving teen drivers.

Per a recent study about teen drivers by Allstate Foundation:

• 61% of teens are concerned they might get involved in a car accident
• 82% of teen drivers say that they use a cell phone when operating a motor vehicle
• 42% say that they text message and instant message when driving
• 65% of teenaged drivers think that they are good motorists that pay attention when driving
• Parents are the #1 influence when it comes to teenage drivers

It is so important that teens aren’t distracted when driving. Learning how to drive safely and correctly is challenging enough without the dangers posed by cell phone conversations, text messages, alcohol, or drugs.

Washington DC has a graduated licensing program (Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers) that imposes certain temporary restrictions on young drivers so that they can gradually gain experience. Also, DC drivers with a learner’s permit are banned from using any kind of cell phone while driving and all Washington DC drivers are prohibited from texting and talking on a handheld cell phone.

D.C. Tops New Ranking of Safest Places for Teen Drivers, US News & World Report, March 18, 2010

U.S. News Media Group and Allstate Insurance Company Release 2010 Best States for Teen Drivers, PR Newswire, March 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Teen Drivers, CDC

The Graduated Licensing Program, District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles

Allstate Foundation

Continue reading "US News & World Report Ranks Washington DC as Safest Place for Teen Drivers" »

The US Supreme Court has agreed to determine whether a federal law protects vaccine manufacturers from certain kinds of products liability lawsuits in the event of vaccine injuries. The case involves 17-year-old Hannah Bruesewitz who, during the first 6-months after she was born was vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis with 3 DPT vaccines. She would go on develop residual seizure disorder.

Because Hannah suffers from serious developmental impairments, her parents say that she will require a lifetime of care.

Russell and Robale Bruesewitz submitted their petition to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. When their claim was turned down, they filed a dangerous drug lawsuit against vaccine maker Wyeth. They claim that the pharmaceutical company could have marketed a vaccine that was safer and included better warnings about its possible risks. The drug maker has denied that its vaccine caused the girl’s injuries. It has, however, discontinued the DPT vaccine.

In 2009, an appeals court determined that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 preempted the Bruesewitz's injuries to a child complaint. The act, which provides compensation for vaccine injuries, protects vaccine manufacturers from products liability complaints. An injured party cannot sue the vaccine maker if the side effects that were sustained were unavoidable and even if the vaccine came with the correct directions and warnings and was manufactured properly.

Oral arguments in the Supreme Court case, Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 09-152, will likely take place in the fall. The nation’s highest court agreed to hear the case following decisions by lower courts that conflicted with one another. Some 5,000 claims are pending that link neurological damage to childhood vaccines.

High Court Wades Into Funeral Protests, Vaccines, Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2010

Court to decide if vaccine makers can be sued, Reuters, March 8, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Vaccines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), HRSA.gov

Continue reading "Injuries to Children: US Supreme Court to Rule On Whether Vaccine Injuries Allow for Products Liability Lawsuits" »

The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services is investigating whether Washington DC paramedic errors occurred during the handling of a 911 call about a 2-year-old girl. The toddler was having breathing problems early on the morning of February 10 when paramedics arrived to examine her.

The girl was not taken to the hospital and the paramedics left. About nine hours later, another 911 call was made about the same 2-year-old. This time, she was transported to Children’s National Medical Center. The girl died the next day.

Now, questions have surfaced as to why paramedics didn’t take her to the hospital sooner. A number of emergency workers who responded to the 911 call have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation takes place.

Washington DC Paramedic Malpractice
EMT’s and paramedics are often the first line of defense when it comes to saving the life of a person who is having a medical emergency. People don’t usually contact 911 for a minor medical symptom. Usually, there is a life or death situation occurring and someone needs medical help immediately.

Failure to provide that immediate medical care and evaluation can prove fatal—especially when a paramedic arrives at the scene and wrongly diagnoses a situation so that the patient doesn’t get the proper medical care that could save his/her life.

This is not the first time DC paramedics have come under scrutiny for their handling of emergency situations. In 2008, 38-year-old Edward L. Givens was examined by paramedics at his Northeast Washington residence. The paramedics left 12 minutes after arriving. He died from a heart attack hours later.

In 2006, paramedics failed to rush New York Times Reporter David E. Rosenbaum to the hospital after he was beaten and mugged. The medical workers thought that he was drunk. He died from his injuries. Rosenbaum’s family has settled their Washington DC wrongful death lawsuit with the District.

D.C. EMS faces review in death of girl, 2, The Washington Post, March 4, 2010

DC Medic Did Not Fill Out Paper Work In Child Death Case, 9 News Now, March 4, 2010

Continue reading "Washington DC Paramedics Under Investigation in Death of 2-Year-Old Girl" »

According to police, school officials reported 220 incidents of teachers allegedly physically or verbally abusing students in an attempt to discipline them. Acts of corporal punishment allegedly included slapping, choking, shoving, and kicking. The Washington Post obtained information about these abuse allegations using the Freedom of Information Act.

There is no clear information as to whether teachers were disciplined or charged criminally for assaulting the students or if follow-up investigations ensued. However, according to Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, some of the teachers laid off last October had physically assaulted or had sexual relationships with students or missed 78 school days.

Under District law, teachers are allowed to use force against a student in order to defend others, as an act of self-defense, or to keep order. Principals are required to report any allegations of sexual misconduct or corporal punishment by teachers to a private security system, whose officers must then report the incidents to police.

Injuries to Minors
If you believe that your child was the victim of unnecessary use of force by a teacher or anyone else, you may be able to file a Washington DC injuries to minors claim on their behalf. Teachers are in a position of power when it comes to supervising their students. This does not mean that they can abuse that power by verbally abusing, molesting, or physically assaulting a student. Physical, mental, and emotional injuries may result that can damage the child.

School officials have a duty of care to ensure that students are not harmed while on the premise. Failure to remove any hazardous conditions or dangerous persons from the school grounds may be grounds for a Washington DC injury lawsuit if injuries result.

D.C. school officials reported 220 abuse allegations against teachers, The Washington Post, February 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Freedom of Information Act, USDOJ.gov

Washington DC Schools

DC Teachers Allegedly Abused Kids Hundreds of Times: Post, NBC Washington, February 9, 2010

Continue reading "220 Washington DC Abuse Allegations Against Teachers Reported during ’08 – ’09 Academic Year" »

Our Washington DC products liability attorneys are concerned about the dangers that poorly designed cribs post to young children. On Tuesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that it is recalling all “ChildESIGNS” and Generation 2 Worldwide drops side cribs following three infant deaths. The CPSC says these cribs are very dangerous and pose suffocation and strangulation risks to children. The CPSC wants caregivers and parents to stop using these cribs right away.

The three babies died after the drop side on their cribs detached and they got stuck between the mattress and the drop side. The first crib entrapment death happened in September 2002 when the six-month old infant suffocated. The drop side became detached because it was missing two screws.

The entrapment death, involving an 8-month-old victim, happened in October 2003 after the drop side’s plastic hardware broke. In July 2007, an 8-month-old child suffocated during an entrapment accident.

There have been 20 other reported drop side incidents involving the recalled cribs. Two children survived their entrapment accidents, although one child sustained bruises. Five kids fell from their cribs when the drop sides detached. One child broke an arm.

Eight other incidents involved the mattress support detaching. In three of these crib accidents, three kids became entrapped between the mattress and the crib frame while four kids were able to crawl out of the crib. One child suffered bruises and cuts.

Generation 2 is no longer in operation.

Drop-Side Crib Dangers
As more drop-side cribs are recalled because of the possible entrapment, strangulation, and fall hazards they pose to infants and toddlers, it is no longer possible to ignore the dangers that this type of crib can pose because of the way they are designed. Millions of drop-side cribs have been recalled over the past couple of years. Some crib manufacturers are even proposing a ban on drop-side cribs.

Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported, CPSC, February 9, 2010

Major manufacturers propose ban on drop-side cribs, Chicago Tribune, March 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
What are the safety issues with drop-side cribs, About.com

Crib Bands from Consumer Reports

Continue reading "CPSC Recalls “ChildESIGNS” and Generation 2 Worldwide Drop-Side Cribs Following Three Child Deaths" »

This week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a number of product recalls. Among them were two significantly large recalls involving the risk of serious injuries to infants and toddlers.

On Wednesday, along with Graco Children’s Products Inc., the CPSC recalled approximately 1.5 million Graco Strollers following two fngertip laceration accidents and five incidents involving fingertip amputations to children. The kids’ fingers were injured in the stroller canopy’s hinge mechanism.

Kid’s fingertips are highly sensitive and can damage easily during amputation, tearing, or crushing. Young children are especially at risk of sustaining fingertip injuries because they are always touching and/or placing their hands in objects. Ensuring that a fingertip injury receives immediate medical attention decreases the chances of permanent disability or deformity.

You can view the model numbers for the Graco Alano™, Passage™, and Spree™ strollers and travel systems that are part of the recall on the CPSC Web site. If you have one of the strollers, you should call Graco to ask for your free repair kit and stop using the product until you can fix the defect. If your infant or toddler sustained a fingertip injury, a Washington DC injuries to children law firm can help you determine whether you have grounds for filing a DC products liability claim.

The day before this latest Graco recall, the CPSC and Dorel Asia SLR announced the voluntary recall of 635,000 Dorel Asia cribs. These cribs are drop-side cribs, and there is concern that the drop-side might detach, causing strangulation, suffocation, or entrapment if the child falls into any gap created between the mattress and the drop-side. One 6-month-old baby died during an entrapment accident. Six kids who became entrapped when the drop-sides of their cribs detached survived. There are more than 30 reports involving drop-sides detaching. Seven children sustained scratches and bruises because of slat breakage.

Serious injuries to children can prove fatal. Crib manufacturers can be sued for Washington DC products liability if a product defect was the cause of your child’s injuries or death.

Graco Recalls Strollers Due to Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazards, CPSC, January 20, 2010

Dorel Asia Recalls To Replace Cribs; Pose Strangulation and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC, January 19, 2010

Fingertip Injuries/Amputationsg

Related Web Resources:
Graco

Dorel

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Safety Council are recalling 50 million roll-up blinds and Roman shades because they are a potential strangulation hazard to young kids. A child can get seriously hurt if his/her neck gets tangled in the cord used to work the blinds and shades.

Since 2001, there have been three deaths involving the roll-up blinds and 16 near-strangulations and five deaths involving the Roman shades in the past three years. These shades can be fixed with a free repair kit. In the meantime, parents, guardians, and adults should take precautionary measures to childproof the blinds and shades by making sure that the cords are not easily accessible to kids—especially infants and toddlers. This includes making sure that there isn’t furniture close to the windows that children can climb on top of to reach the cords. If a cord reaches all the way to the ground, then it is important to make sure the cord is properly secured and taut. Another option is to stop using these blinds and shades.

Strangulation Injuries
According to Safe Kids USA, nearly 900 kids younger than age 15 die every year from airway obstruction. Most of the fatalities are children younger than age 4. About 17,200 strangulation injuries involving child victims occur annually. Most strangulation incidents take place in the home.

Products Liability
Window shades and blinds manufacturers have long been aware of the strangulation hazard these products have posed for young children. Yet they continue to sell their defectively designed products to consumers. How many child injuries and deaths must occur before manufacturers will stop producing these faulty furniture items?

Furniture makers can be held liable for Washington DC products liability or wrongful death involving injuries to minors.

Window Covering Safety Council Recalls to Repair All Roman and Roll-Up Blinds Due to Risk of Strangulation, CPSC, December 15, 2009

Blind recall: How to check if your Roman shades are safe, The Christian Science Monitor, December 15, 2009

Airway Obstruction, Safe Kids

Related Web Resources:
Window Covering Safety Council

Parent's Guide to Child Safety

Continue reading "50 Million Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades Recalled Because of Strangulation Hazard to Children" »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the largest recall for cribs US history this week. Along with crib maker Stork Craft Manufacturing, the CPSC is recalling over 2.1 million drop-side cribs. 147,000 cribs come with the Fisher-Price logo. 1,213,000 of the crib units were distributed in the United States. The rest of the units were distributed in Canada.

Some 110 drop-side detachment incidents have been reported in connection with the Stork Craft cribs. 15 of the incidents involved entrapment accidents; 4 of them resulted in suffocation accidents. 20 drop-side detachment incidents resulted in fall accidents. 4 incidents resulted in crib-related deaths.

The CPSC and Stork Craft want adults and guardians to stop letting their children use the Stork Craft cribs until they receive and use their free repair kit.

Drop-Side Cribs
While drop side cribs provide the convenience of allowing adults to lift and lower one side of the crib so that a child can easily be lifted and lowered onto the mattress, there have been numerous reports of injuries involving these infant beds. Assembly errors, design defects, and parts malfunctions have been known to cause multiple injuries and deaths. In the last two years alone, the CPSC has recalled over 5 million drop-side cribs.

According to InjuryBoard.com, crib accidents cause 50 infant deaths and 12,000 baby injuries a year. Parents may be able to hold a crib manufacturer liable for Washington DC products liability involving injuries to minors and children if their child is seriously injured or killed because a crib was defectively designed or manufactured.

The CPSC is looking at whether to implement mandatory crib design standards, which could result in a ban of drop-side cribs. Already, Suffolk County in New York has announced a ban that will go into effect in February 2010.

Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs, CPSC, November 23, 2009

2.1 million drop-side cribs recalled, USA Today, November 23, 2009

CPSC to Consider Rulemaking Addressing Crib Defects, Occupational Health and Safety

Related Web Resources:
Major manufacturers propose ban on drop-side cribs, Chicago Tribune, March 18, 2009

What Are The Safety Issues With Drop-Side Cribs?, About.com

Continue reading "Preventing Washington DC Injuries to Children: CPSC Recalls 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs " »

According to the 2009 Sleep in America poll by the National Sleep Foundation, about 1.9 Million Drivers are involved in drowsy driving car crashes or near miss accidents each year. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the power sleepiness can have in causing Washington DC car accidents.

Per the poll, 105 million US drivers have driven while sleepy in the last year. 54 million drivers drive while drowsy at least once a month.

National Sleep Foundation chairman Thomas Balkin says that while motorists are good at recognizing when they are tired, this doesn’t stop them from getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and driving. Balkin says that people mistakenly think that they can will themselves to stay awake but they often don’t even realize that they are falling asleep. Balkin notes that just one moment of “reduced awareness” can cause a motor vehicle crash.

Drowsy driving slows reflexes, reduces alertness, and impairs one’s ability to think clearly and rapidly respond to an emergency situation. A person who is sleepy or very tired while driving might inadvertently lane change, let go of the steering wheel, fail to notice traffic signs, not see other vehicles or pedestrians, drive off the road, or drive into oncoming traffic.

Drowsy driving can be grounds for a Washington DC injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit if another person is injured as a result.

In an attempt to decrease the number of drowsy driving accidents, the National Sleep Foundation has declared November 2 – 8 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

Ways to Avoid Drowsy Driving:

• Get a good night’s driving.
• Take periodic brakes (every 2 hours or every 100 miles).
• Don’t drink alcohol or take medications that cause drowsiness before driving.
• If necessary, stop and take a nap.
• Take caffeine if necessary.

.9 Million Drivers Have Fatigue-Related Car Crashes or Near Misses Each Year, Reuters, October 29, 2009

Drowsy Driving: Reduce Your Risk of Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel, Associated Content, June 27, 2006

Related Web Resources:
National Sleep Foundation

NHTSA

Continue reading "Stay Alert and Awake: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Reminds Motorists to Prevent Washington DC Car Accidents Caused by Sleepiness and Fatigue " »

President Barack Obama has signed an executive order banning federal employees from texting while driving a vehicle when on official business even if the vehicle being driven is not owned by the government. The order, issued last week, is an attempt to lead the charge encouraging people to stop texting while driving.

Lawmakers, ordinary citizens, safety advocates, and police attended a two-day Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC that the US Department of Transportation organized. Already, the District of Columbia has a ban on texting or talking on a hand-held device while driving. Unfortunately, there are District of Columbia motorists who still engage in this dangerous habit that can lead to catastrophic Washington DC car accidents. Not only is texting while driving against the law but, like drunk driving, this popular form of distracted driving can kill people and lead to DC injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits.

The Obama administration has given each of the federal agencies 90 days to figure out how to enforce his order. He also wants the agencies to ban subcontractors and contractors from texting while driving. Federal employees working in national security or law enforcement are exempt from the ban.

For purposes of his order, President Obama defines “driving” as operating a motor vehicle. Drivers that are stopped at a traffic stop or traffic light or for any other reason that requires them to engage with the flow of traffic even if they are in "pause" mode with the engine running are still "driving." However, Mr. Obama says it is acceptable for a federal worker to text message if he or she has pulled over to the side of the road.

Distracted Driving Facts from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

• Driver distraction is the cause of 1 million North American traffic accidents each year.
• Although, per the 2009 Index, 95% of drivers think that texting while driving is unacceptable behavior, 18% of them still do it.
• More than 50% of the time a motorist is driving, he or she is engaged in at least one other task.

Obama enacts texting ban on federal employees, The Washington Times, October 2, 2009

The Facts about Distracted Driving – Know the Dangers/Avoid the Risks, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Related Web Resources:
The White House

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "President Obama Bans Federal Employees from Texting While Driving" »

At the opening of the Distracted Driving Summit, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that texting while driving has become an “an endemic” and a “menace to society.” Over 300 people are taking part in the conference, including law enforcement officials, lawmakers, and safety experts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,780 people died (16% of all deadly traffic collisions) and 515,000 people sustained injuries in distracted driving accidents last year. Many of these auto crashes are a result of people using cell phones and PDAs.

Distracted driving is reportedly a big problem among young drivers, especially those under age 21. Distracted driving was a factor in 16% of deadly crashes involving drivers in this age group.

Young motorists, however, aren’t the only ones who text and drive. CTIA-The Wireless Association reports that while 10 billion text messages a month were sent in December 2005, more than 110 billion texts were transmitted in December 2008.

Texting while driving is now illegal in Washington DC and 18 US states. Seven states have made it illegal to talk on a handheld cell phone while driving. Safety groups are calling on a nationwide ban making it illegal for drivers to text and have cell phone conversations. Meantime, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety wants the government to restrict the texting and cell phone talk of the operators of tractor-trailers, large vans, and motor coaches, while the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers (members include Ford, General Motors, and Toyota) support a ban on handheld phones and texting while driving.

Too many catastrophic car accidents are happening because drivers were distracted. Texting usually requires the use of both hands and eyes. This means that the texting driver will spend at least a few seconds not holding the steering wheel, not watching the road, and not paying attention. These few seconds can end someone’s life.

Bus accidents, train accidents, truck accidents, and car accidents have happened because motorists were distracted. Our Washington DC injury lawyers are cognizant of how distracted driving can destroy lives and we are here to help.

Distracted Driving Summit Emphasizing Danger of Texting Opens Today in Washington DC, ABC News, September 29, 2009

Govt: Nearly 6,000 deaths from driver distraction, AP, September 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving Summit, US Department of Transportation

Distracted Driving, National Safety Council

CTIA-The Wireless Association

A powerful video excerpt (see below) showing the worst consequences that can arise when someone is texting while driving has become a viral hit on the Internet. The four-minute footage, shot in Wales, is intended to show teens why they shouldn’t text and drive at the same.

The footage has caught the attention of more than Welsh school kids and has been viewed online more than six million times. The video shows a teen driver texting while riding in a vehicle with two friends. Because she is engaging in distracted driving, her car moves into oncoming traffic.

What happens next is extremely disturbing to see. The footage shows harsh, close-up details, including one girl’s head crashing into a car window and a lifeless baby with eyes wide open sitting in one of the vehicles involved in the deadly multi-vehicle car accident.

Just how effective will this video prove at discouraging teenagers and adults from texting while driving? This remains to be seen. Some experts, however, believe that scary footage is not enough to promote real change.

Teens Who Text While Driving
By this time, most people are aware of the dangers that texting while driving can create—yet many people still engage in this type of distracted driving and most states have yet to enact laws banning texting while operating a motor vehicle. Fortunately, Washington DC does have a law banning texting while driving. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone abides by it. This can lead to deadly DC auto collisions.

Teenagers, easily distracted to begin with and lacking the experience of older drivers, do not need the additional distraction of texting while driving. Yet according to an AAA study published in 2007, 46% of teens say they text message while driving.

When you consider that commercial truckers, who are professional drivers, increase their crash risk by 23 times, why wouldn’t the crash risk increase significantly for inexperienced teen drivers?

Texting while driving, updating Facebook, Twittering, and surfing the Internet while driving are distracted forms of driving that can be grounds for a Washington DC injury lawsuit if people are injured or killed because a driver was distracted.

Doubts About Scare Tactics on Drivers Who Text, The New York Times, August 31, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Watch the Video Excerpt

Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging, Suite 101, October 22, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Teens Admit Text Messaging Most Distracting While Driving

In Washington DC, the father of eight-year-old twin boys is suing the DC Water and Sewer Authority for $200 million. John Parkhurst says that his children have learning and behavioral problems because they were affected by the high levels of lead present in the city’s waters from 2001 through 2004. Parkhurst, who filed his personal injury case in DC Superior Court, hopes that the case will become a class-action lawsuit.

According to the DC injuries to minors lawsuit, when his sons were babies they were fed formula and food that were mixed with tap water. At age 2, the boys had a medical checkup that revealed signs of lead poisoning. Parkhurst's complaint accuses WASA officials of concealing the fact that the elevated levels of lead in DC waters would eventually prove to be a serious health concern.

Just this year, a new study found that about 42,000 District children were exposed to high levels of lead in the city’s tap water from 2000 to 2003. Many of these children would have been under 3 years of age or in their mothers’ wombs at the time.

Lead Exposure
Lead exposure can cause different degrees of developmental and behavioral problems in kids. Some of the effects can range from irritability, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity to growth delays, learning and reading problems, permanent brain damage, and death.

Common causes of lead poisoning include lead in paint chips from buildings and the dust in the surrounding soil. Also, in the last couple of years, toy manufacturers have announced massive recalls of some popular products after discovering that a number of toys, many of them made in China, had been manufactured using excessive levels of lead.

If your son or daughter became ill or was injured because of exposure to a hazardous or toxic product, you may have grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit or products liability claim on their behalf.

Lead in Water Harmed Sons, D.C. Man Claims, The Washington Post, February 18, 2009

Lead Exposure In Children Affects Brain And Behavior, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Related Web Resources:
Childhood Lead Exposure, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

High Lead Levels Found in D.C. Kids, Washington Post, January 27, 2009