Oysters harvested from this particular area in Terrebone Parish have been recalled. This recall comes after the shellfish were consumed at a single restaurant in New Orleans on April 28 or 29, and 14 individuals fell ill. The recall is for all shellfish harvested within that area since April 26, including breaded, frozen and shucked shellfish.
]]> The stomach virus that these 14 individuals caught was not characterized as life threatening and no one appeared to require hospitalization. However, that doesn't mean that this situation should be taken any less seriously. The stomach virus is known as norovirus and generally causes vomiting and diarrhea that can last anywhere from 24 to 48 hours after initial exposure. Fever is common with this type of virus.As a general rule, when there is a products liability issue, individuals may be able to claim reimbursement for medical expenses paid to be treated for the injury or illness caused by a defective product or product that hasn't been properly handled. . While the injuries associated with these Louisiana oysters do not appear to been serious, that doesn't mean that they couldn't have been.
This incident and the manner in which it is being handled bear watching. And those who suspect they have become victims would do well to seek medical attention at the first opportunity.
Source: The News Star, "Louisiana oysters recalled after 14 get sick," May 10, 2012
]]>On the morning of Sunday, May 6, a woman was reportedly driving five individuals - four under the age of 13 and one who was 21 years of age - home from a party just after midnight. The 21-year-old, seated in the Jeep's front passenger seat, had reportedly been drinking a lot and was apparently intoxicated. Accusing the driver of texting another man, the passenger began trying to take control of the wheel. He tried several times, but the driver was able to regain control of the Jeep.
]]> Unfortunately, as the Jeep approached the 4900 block of North Foster Road, the young man forcefully grabbed the wheel and steered the Jeep directly into the path of an oncoming Mercury causing a head-on collision. Two individuals were taken to a local hospital. It is unclear in which car they were riding. There was also no immediate word on the extent of their injuries.The suspect passenger was arrested and accused of purposely causing the Sunday morning wreck.
While the accused man must now face the criminal allegations against him police are left with the responsibility of investigating the accident and issuing an official report. One can only hope that the victims injured by the apparently intentional act of the man will recover from their injuries quickly. They and their families will likely want to understand how the seemingly senseless incident could have happened in the first place and to understand their rights and responsibilities under Louisiana law.
Source: The Advocate, "Man arrested in head-on accident," May 7, 2012
]]>Negligent drivers probably account for a majority of the car accidents in this country. Many people are consumed with texting and playing with their GPS devices, and not paying attention to the road. Others are drinking and driving or trying to multi-task, including surfing the Internet while driving. Since cars that have enough technology to drive themselves have not been mass produced, drivers still need to be focused on the road.
]]> The administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said last week that technology that would allow cars to communicate with each other on the road could help eliminate 80 percent of car accidents sometime in the future. A combination of current technologies could make roads a lot safer, it is still necessary for drivers to pay attention to what they are doing.People who don't pay attention to the road put other drivers at risk. These negligent drivers likely cause thousands of injuries or deaths and unfathomable amounts of medical costs and property damage. These injuries can leave people struggling to pay their bills each month, so it is important that victims of car accidents get the compensation they deserve and many times need to pay for expenses.
Source: Detroit Free Press, "NHTSA: If cars communicate, 80% of crashes can be avoided," Nathan Borney, April 27, 2012
]]>A man in another state suffered a spinal cord injury while hanging out on the beach with his friends. He was instantly paralyzed from the neck down. Now, he has started his own progressive care facility for spinal cord injury victims. Those with spinal cord injuries need to work to retrain their nervous system by conducting long-term intensive therapy, and not many facilities, if any in the United States provide that in a community setting.
]]> When a fun day with friends turns into a tragedy, it is important for those who are injured to understand what rights they might have to compensation. Seeking compensation for injuries might be a way to provide for the progressive care many Louisiana spinal cord injury victims need. While seeking a proper and full recovery is usually the top priority for those suffering from severe injuries, it is important to remember that hospital bills will come due.Seeking out help as soon as possible after an accident can help preserve evidence and obtain witnesses to the accident which might be crucial in seeking compensation. Speaking with a personal injury attorney might be a wise idea.
Source: The Huffington Post, "Janne Kouri, NextStep Fitness: Life-Altering Moment Leads To Life Calling," Janean Chun, March 27, 2012
]]>While making changes to the structure of a road to make it safer is always a good thing, the responsibility still lies with the drivers to make sure they are being extra cautious in potentially hazardous areas.
]]> A news report about the study says that the road has twice the accidents as other roads in the state. While this road might be one of the more dangerous roads in Baton Rouge, drivers can help prevent an increase in car accidents by paying more attention to the road, especially when they are driving on or near a known hazardous area.Distracted driving accidents can cause catastrophic injury to a person, which can have long lasting physical and financial impacts. Medical bills can quickly add up to pay for physical rehab and future surgeries. This can have a significant impact on a family's short and long-term financial goals.
A car accident caused by a distracted driver shouldn't bring a family to the financial brink. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help make sure your rights as an accident victim are preserved and you get the compensation your family needs to pay for expenses related to your injuries.
Source: KATC, "Experts study Government St. traffic," April 16, 2012
]]>Small cars often stand no chance if they collide with one of these large vehicles. The drivers of these large trucks are subject to the same laws that other drivers must obey, but many times truck drivers speed to get their goods delivered as quickly as possible. Speeding on Louisiana interstates increases the chances of a truck accident. A new study suggests speed limiters in trucks could prevent accidents.
]]> The study was released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which studied 20 commercial truck carriers over three years. Those truck drivers who had speed limiters were significantly less likely to be involved in a truck accident than those who didn't have the devices on their vehicles.Speed limiting devices could help protect drivers in Louisiana from truck accidents, but many times legislation to mandate the use of these devices can take years to pass and implement. Although these devices might help reduce accidents, it is ultimately up to the truck driver to make sure they are following all the laws of the road and driving responsibly to prevent accidents.
Victims of truck accidents can accumulate thousands of dollars in doctors' bills and face long recoveries. A long recovery time can mean loss of income because the person is unable to work. An accident victim shouldn't suffer from financial hardship because of another driver's negligence.
Source: Truckinginfo, "New Study Finds Safety Benefits of Limiting Truck Speeds," March 29, 2012
]]>A homeless woman was arrested after doctors treated her ankle sprain and asked her to leave. She refused because she felt something more was wrong with her. The woman later suffered a wrongful death in a jail cell after a blood clot in her leg spread to her lungs. She was seen on video surveillance moaning and crying shortly before her death in the cell.
]]> This negligence by the doctors and healthcare staff, as well as the police may have led to this woman's death. Had someone listened to her, and believed that she was in pain, the woman's death may have been prevented. Now, her family will have to help raise the two children she leaves behind.A wrongful death lawsuit might be considered by the family. A suit could help the family seek compensation for the loss of their family member. Compensation could be used to pay for funeral costs for the woman or help provide for her children's wellbeing.
Unfortunately, a lawsuit will never bring back a loved one. Although, it can help some families seek justice for their loved one's death and help them find closure. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can help families understand their rights after losing a loved one because of another person's negligence.
Source: MSNBC, "Hospital: Mom booted from ER who died in jail was treated appropriately," March 29, 2012
]]>Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of almost 1 million child safety locks. The defective locks are meant to keep Louisiana children out of cabinets that could contain dangerous chemicals. Children were able to successfully unlock the device in some cases and in others the locks weren't secure enough.
]]> Reports indicate that three children gained access to chemicals after the locks failed and drank potentially poisonous substances. Two hundred other reports indicated that the locks were defective or they didn't secure the cabinet properly.When parents use these locks, they are making an effort to protect their children. They rely on the dependability of these products to keep their children safe. If Louisiana children get into unsafe cabinets that are not fully protected because of a defective product, they may end up with a lifetime of health complications because of the consumption of dangerous substances.
Companies that manufacture defective products have the responsibility of communicating safety concerns with their customers to ensure their safety. They need to warn consumers of potential dangers as soon as they are discovered in order to prevent injuries. When they fail to provide safe products, they should be held accountable for injuries incurred as a result of these products.
Source: CNN Money, "900,000 child safety locks recalled," Aaron Smith, March 22, 2012
]]>The study's author said that protective equipment may have helped the workers who were killed, but it is unlikely in a confined space that the chemical could have been used safely. They are recommending that alternative chemicals be used for bathtub refinishing.
]]> The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is also putting out a warning to manufacturers and public health officials about the dangers of the chemical that killed these workers, called methylene chloride. All of the deaths occurred in a residential bathroom with ventilation that was insufficient for the strength of the fumes.The wrongful death of a family member not only causes grieving, but also uncertainty about the future. Many families who lose the primary income earner will wonder whether their children can go to college, can they afford to pay the mortgage, and will they have to get a second job to make ends meet.
Seeking out the help of a personal injury attorney can help ensure your rights as a family are preserved. They can help seek compensation to ensure a family's financial situation isn't hurt by the loss of a loved one. Financial problems shouldn't add to the stress of an already tough situation.
Source: CBC News, "Bathtub refinishing chemical linked to U.S. deaths," Marlene Habib, Feb. 24, 2012
]]>She claims that both the chiropractor and the cosmetics company that manufactures the product failed to adequately warn her about the dangers of the product. The lawsuit says that the gel is an inherently dangerous product, regardless of the manner in which it is used.
]]> Many people are injured each year from dangerous products that they use without knowing the risks. Especially in the case of products used in the course of medical or other professional treatments, the practitioner has a duty to warn people of known serious side effects or risks. The suit will likely include an investigation in to the actual safety of this product and to any other known injuries that have resulted from use. There is no information available at this time as to whether or not other people have been burned by Sombra gel.The woman in this case says that she suffered from severe burns and has required ongoing treatment for the burns. She is attempting to recover for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, disfigurement, and lost wages. People who have been injured from dangerous or faulty products are entitled to recovery for all of these types of injury if they can prove that the product was the cause of each type of harm.
Source: Louisiana Record, "Woman sues over injuries she claims occurred during back procedure," Kyle Barnett, March 9, 2012.
]]>Many people assume that elderly people simply aren't good at driving and that is why they are involved in more accidents. It actually could be a combination of seniors having more fragile bodies that can't handle hard impacts, as well as other drivers on the road driving aggressively around elderly people who have slower reaction times.
]]> Whatever the cause of the increased car accident fatalities for this group, the person who causes the accident should be held accountable. To help decrease the potential for accidents involving elderly people, TRIP wants to see various improvements to vehicles, roadways and a screening process that assesses a senior's ability to safely operate a vehicle.Since 90 percent of seniors prefer to drive their own vehicles over taking public transportation, it is important to make sure those vehicles are safe. New safety technology will hopefully prevent some accidents. New technology along with improved, brighter and bolder road signs, among other roadway improvements, will hopefully assist elderly drivers and prevent accidents.
It is important for drivers to be aware of their abilities, and seniors and their families should discuss when someone should stop driving for their safety. Younger drivers should also practice patients around slower more cautious drivers on the road. Drivers must remain accountable if their actions hurt another person.
Source: Reuters, "Are American roads ready for aging Baby Boomers?," Jim Forsyth, Feb. 24, 2012
]]>Going for a run with one of those new jogging baby strollers might seem harmless. Unfortunately, unsuspecting Baton Rouge parents might be in for a surprise if they are using one of these defective products. One company is recalling some of these strollers for fear the front wheel could fall off causing injury.
Three cases of injuries have been reported so far, and many more could follow if parents aren't careful. The injuries so far have ranged from scrapes and cuts to broken bones. Luckily no children suffered broken bones so far.
]]>Although none of the injuries so far have been life threatening, there is the potential for more serious injuries, which could be devastating to young children's development. Even a fall from a short distance can have a major impact if a person hits there head or lands awkwardly.
The Kelty company is recalling various models of their Speedster Swivel Deluxe and Swivel Deuce jogging strollers. Although they appear durable, a design defect might cause them to fall apart. Companies should be held accountable when their products cause injury to people.
Sometimes companies don't announce recalls in a way that reaches all consumers that use their products. This could have potentially dangerous effects. Those who are injured by dangerous products should understand their rights. Just because a product hasn't been recalled doesn't mean that the product isn't faulty. Some companies are negligent in testing the designs of their products and don't warn consumers properly of the dangers associated with their use.
Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission, News Release, "Kelty Recalls Jogging Strollers Due to Fall and Injury Hazards," Feb. 23, 2012
]]>Unfortunately, most car companies aren't properly maintaining or fixing recalled vehicles and sometimes companies forgo common safety options, putting Louisiana customers at risk of serious bodily injury or death. Now, two senators are furthering the call for regulation of an industry that has sometimes put profits before safety.
]]> Numerous reports of safety issues have prompted the senators to take up a proposal that would restrict companies from renting or selling cars that haven't had recall repairs made. Not only have companies failed to repair recalled cars, which lead to the death of people in another state, but limiting safety features that one would expect with a modern car, has also contributed to serious bodily injury. One woman rolled her rented SUV multiple times and later found out the car wasn't equipped with traction control technology, which would have only cost the company a few hundred dollars more, and is standard in many vehicles today.Although an industry trade group says there are already new policies in place regarding recalled vehicles, after the massive wave of recalls over the past few years, those who have had family members injured or killed by recalled rental cars want strict government action.
Right now, it appears no federal agency is responsible for regulating the car rental industry. Preventing unsuspecting drivers from using recalled cars in Louisiana and around the country would be a positive step in reducing serious bodily injuries. These regulations will ensure more people remain safe on the roads.
Source: USA Today, "Safety advocates: Rental car recalls should be regulated," Gary Stoller, Feb. 21, 2012
]]>Late last week, two Baton Rouge residents were killed in a car accident that also took the life of three other people. A driver was driving the wrong way down Interstate 10 when they struck another vehicle head on, carrying the four people including the two from Baton Rouge. Now the families of those killed have to deal with funeral arrangements and costs, as well as loss of future income, in addition to the emotional hardship.
]]> It's not clear what caused the person to drive the wrong way on the interstate. The families of accident victims should understand that they have rights. The loss of income from a wrongful death of a family member should mean that the family has to give up important parts of their life because they can no longer afford it.Speaking with a Baton Rouge personal injury attorney might help families dealing with a wrongful death seek compensation for the loss of income sustained by the loss of their family member. The loss of a spouse, parent or child shouldn't cause a family financial hardship on top of their emotional grieving.
Source: CBS News, "5 killed in wrong-way crash on I-10 in Louisiana," Feb. 11, 2012
]]>This technology can be extremely beneficial, but some experts warn that the advancement of technology might give drivers a false sense of security, possibly causing a car accident when a driver becomes overly dependent on technology that sometimes fails.
]]> New cars are including technology that will automatically stop the car, preventing a rear-end collision, when a driver can't stop in time. Manufacturers are also including technology that senses symptoms of a drowsy driver. If symptoms are detected, the car shakes the steering column and chimes with a message telling them to pull over and get rest. If the driver doesn't correct the cars motion, drifting out of the lane, the car will take over and steer the vehicle back in the guides of the lane.Although these technologies show promise to prevent car accidents, drivers should still be aware that technology can fail. With this technology, sunlight at a certain angle can disrupt sensors and cameras responsible for detecting lanes, causing the car to still drift off the road. Certain weather conditions can also cause the sensors to fail. Drivers should still be held accountable for car accidents that result from negligent driving. Technology should be used as a back-up system, not a primary way of driving.
Source: New York Times, "Trying to Nudge Drowsy Drivers," Randall Stross, Jan. 21, 2012
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