CPSC Warns of Dangers Associated with Water-Walking Balls

“Water walking” is a new summer activity that is becoming popular at beaches, amusement parks, and other summer fun spots all over the U.S. During water walking, a person climbs inside a large flexible plastic ball, which is floating on a pool or other body of water, and can walk or ride on the water’s surface without getting wet.

While water walking looks like fun, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that it can also cause serious injuries. The CPSC has received several reports of injuries from water walking-related hazards.

First, the large plastic balls used in water walking are airtight. If a person is inside a ball too long, he or she may use up the oxygen inside it while breathing, creating an increased risk for suffocation.

Next, most balls used in water walking cannot be opened by the person inside the ball if there is an emergency and can only be opened from the outside. Constant close supervision is necessary in order to prevent an accident.

Finally, water walking balls are not padded. If the person inside the ball collides with another person, a pier, a boat, or another obstacle, he or she could be seriously injured in a San Diego watercraft accident. Since the balls are not easy to control, the risk of a collision is high.

Nobody wants a child they care about to be injured during summer fun. When a defective product causes injury, however, an experienced defective product injury lawyer in San Diego can help. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation.…

Recognizing the Signs of San Diego CO Poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is produced by many gas-operated products found in homes throughout San Diego. It is also incredibly deadly when a person has been exposed to enough of it. While most products that create carbon monoxide gas are meant for outside use only, there are many defective household items, such as heaters and stoves, that may cause a major CO leak that endangers the lives and health of anyone exposed.

If exposed, carbon monoxide prevents a person’s red blood cells from taking in oxygen, thus keeping a person’s vital organs from receiving the oxygen they require to function. When exposed to enough, a person may die from poisoning. In order to protect oneself and family, install several CO detectors throughout the home and be on the lookout for symptoms of exposure. If suspicious, get everyone out of the home and outside and call 9-1-1 for help and aid to those who have been exposed.

Be on the lookout for these symptoms of CO poisoning:

• Dizziness;
• Drowsiness;
• Headache;
• Shortness of Breath;
• Vomiting;
• Chest/abdomen pain;
• Nausea;
• Weakness;
• Hallucinations;
• Seizure; and
• Loss of consciousness.

Any of these symptoms may be a sign that a carbon monoxide leak is present. To prevent serious illness and permanent damage, get everyone out of the air immediately.

Often, CO poisoning accidents occur through no fault of the victim, but rather through defective products or the negligence of another party. If you or a loved one has suffered from CO poisoning, the San Diego carbon monoxide poisoning attorneys can help you find proper compensation from those responsible. To find out more, contact us today.…

Goodyear Recalls 40,000 Tires for Dangerous Defect

Akron, Ohio-based tire manufacturer Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has issued a recall through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 40,915 tires due to a serious defect. The tires, all under the model Wrangler Silent Armor, contain a defect that could cause tread separation, which can easily lead to a serious auto accident.

Although the recall was only recently announced, problems with the tire have been traced back to May 2010, when warranty and property damage claims involving the Wrangler Silent Armor tires began to increase.

However, serious investigation into the tires did not begin until August of 2011, when tread separation in one of the Goodyear tires caused a fatal rollover accident in Texas that took the lives of two people. It has been found that if the tire were to separate, a crash could result or the separated tire tread could strike and damage the vehicle. While there have been no more serious accidents reported since then, problems with the tires have warranted a recall.

Goodyear will be notifying owners of the tires shortly and will replace them for free beginning March 22. The specific models of Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor that have been recalled were manufactured from March 31, 2009 through May 31, 2009, and the tire sizes are:

• LT235/80R17 LRE
• LT245/75R17 LRE
• LT265/70R17 LRE
• LT275/70R18 LRE
• LT285/70R17 LRD
• LT325/60R18 LRE

Tire defects are very serious problems as anything that is wrong with the tire can result in a serious accident due to a vehicle’s reliance on the performance of its tires. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a defective vehicle part, the auto product defect lawyers in San Diego can find proper compensation for your losses from the companies responsible. For more information, call us today.…

4moms Play Yard Sheets Recalled Due to Entrapment Risks

4moms has recalled about 1,440 units of its “breeze” play yard sheets because the sheets pose an entrapment and suffocation hazard for small children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The sheets are made of cream-colored cotton jersey, and were sold as an accessory to accompany the brand’s “play yard,” a modular playpen. The sheets were intended to cover the bottom of the play yard, but the recalled sheets are too small to cover the entire bottom snugly. As a result, it is possible for a child to crawl between the sheet and the bottom of the play yard and become trapped, a situation which could lead to suffocation or other injuries.

Recalled Product Details
The recalled sheets bear the serial number 4M-009-10-000101 on their packaging and the number UPC 817980011137 on the white warning tag sewn onto the sheet. They were sold at buybuy Baby and other children’s product retailers nationwide between December 2012 and January 2013.

Remedy
So far, 4moms says it hasn’t received any reports of injuries. However, the too-small recalled sheets should not be used in the play yards. Instead, parents should return them for a refund. Consumers can contact 4moms at (888) 977-3944 for more information.

Nobody who buys a toy or other item for a child ever wants to see that child hurt by the item. When a hidden defect is lurking in a child’s toy or other item, however, serious injuries may result. If a child you love has been injured by a defective product, please don’t hesitate to contact our skilled child product defect attorneys to discuss your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation is free and confidential.…

Hard-Boiled Eggs Recalled in 34 States

Hard-cooked eggs from a Michael Foods’ Nebraska plant have been subjected to a massive recall due to listeria contamination caused by a repair project that occurred in the processing room of the facility. Initially, the recall was issued on January 26, but has since been expanded and now includes more than one million eggs spread across 34 states produced by Michael Foods, according to CBSNews.com.

Michael Foods does not sell directly to consumers but instead sells their products to other food distributors and manufacturers, who then sell them under their names. Recalled eggs have been sold under brand names Glenview Farms, Papetti’s, Columbia Valley Farms, Wholesome Farms, GFS, and Silverbrook. The foods were sold in 34 states, including California, and were originally distributed in 10- and 25-pound pails of cooked and peeled eggs.

Because the eggs were used in various ways by the distributors, not only eggs, but prepared sandwiches, salads, and other products using the eggs have been included in this food recall, as well.

So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled food, as the contamination was originally discovered via lab tests conducted by a third party. Listeria exposure can result in a serious illness that is especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems.

If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered health problems due to a defective product, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses, whether or not the item has been recalled. For more information on how we can help you, contact the Carlsbad product liability attorneys.…

Pfizer Recalls 1 Million Birth Control Packs after Manufacturing Mix-Up

Drug Manufacturer Pfizer, Inc. issued a recall on February 1 of approximately 1 million birth control pills due to a manufacturing problem that led to pills in some of the packets being placed out of order. According to CBS News, the affected packets are Lo/Ovral-28 and the product’s generic equivalents, called norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol.

The company’s birth control packet contains 28 pills, with seven of the pills being placebos. The pills are ordered in a specific arrangement so as to mix in placebos with pills containing the active birth control ingredient. If three placebos are taken in a row, the protection of the pills will be negated. As the error in manufacturing the packets affected the order of the pills, consumers may be subjected to multiple placebos in a row, wearing off the birth control’s effects without their knowledge.

While approximately 1 million are included in the drug recall, Pfizer believes that only around 30 packets contain the flaw.

Affected packets are pink with either the drug’s brand name or generic name printed on them, as well as the name Akrimax; however, Pfizer’s logo does not appear on them. The recalled line has expiration dates ranging from July 31, 2013 through March 31, 2014.

We understand how even a small defect in a product that requires precise use, such as birth control, can cause major complications for consumers. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or losses due to a dangerous or defective product, one of our San Diego defective product attorneys can aid you in seeking compensation from the at-fault company. Call us today for a complimentary consultation on your case by our experienced law team.…

CPSC Recall Highlights Dangerous Winter Weather Products

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently released a report detailing winter-weather related products that have been recalled by the organization that people may still have in their homes. These products help to heat houses during cold weather and as such are much more likely to cause an accidental injury or property damage now that winter has arrived.

All of the five products listed by the CPSC have the potential to overheat and cause a fire or a form of burn injury due to their unsafe nature. The recalled products are:

• Meijer Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters – Possibility of oscillating mechanism shorting out can pose a risk of fire.
• Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze, and Comfort Essentials Heaters – Risk of malfunctioning that leads to overheating, smoking, burning, melting, and possible fire.
• Lasko Portable Electric Heaters – Overheating of electrical connection can lead to melting and possible fire hazard.
• Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats – Can overheat, causing them to smoke and melt, posing a risk of burn injury.
• GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters – Possible failure of electrical component may cause fire.

While consumers are warned to not leave space heaters unattended and to make sure that there are no surrounding objects which may pose a fire risk due to a nearby heater, the malfunctions in the dangerous household products listed put consumers at serious risk. Even when a consumer takes all due precautions with the products they use, malfunctioning equipment may cause accidents and injuries which even the most cautious consumer cannot prevent.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a hazardous product, contact a defective product lawyer in San Diego County. Our experienced law team can apply their years of work in the personal injury field to your case to win the best results possible.…