Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

The Humane Society of the United States reports that there are about 77.5 million dogs in the U.S. With that in mind, it isn’t surprising to learn that there are a relatively high number of dog bite injuries that occur in the nation every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.7 million people suffer dog bite-related injuries annually, with about 386,000 requiring medical treatment. Unfortunately, on average there are 16 deaths due to dog bite injuries in the U.S. every year.

Often, dog bite victims suffer serious injuries to their face, neck, and hands; including lacerations, punctures, tissue loss, fracture bones, crush injuries, nerve damage, and infections. Scarring often results from dog bite attack injuries, and sometimes a dog bite victim suffers emotional trauma following an attack that is similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

To avoid a dog bite attack in Philadelphia, there are several precautions you can observe, including:

• If you are knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and be still.


• Never allow children to play with a dog without supervision.


• Never approach a dog that is unfamiliar to you.


• Never disturb a dog that is taking care of puppies, sleeping, or eating.


• Never make direct eye contact with an unfamiliar dog.


• Never pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.


• Never run away from a dog.


• When an unfamiliar dog approaches, remain motionless.


• If you see a stray dog, report it to the police or animal control agency immediately.

However, if you are attacked by a dog, the animal’s owner may be held legally responsible for their dog’s behavior. In most dog bite injury cases, the owner will be required to pay all damages associated with the attack, including medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

If you have been injured by a dog bite attack, contact the Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys at Anapol Schwartz. We can help you determine whether you have a valid case against the dog’s owner in order for you to receive compensation for your injuries. To learn how we can help you pursue your legal rights, call 866-735-2792.

Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) re-announced a previous recall from 2008 regarding close to a million drop-side cribs manufactured by Delta Enterprise that have “Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg” hardware. The re-announcement was issued after a 7-month-old infant’s death in 2009 was reported to the CPSC when the infant became entrapped and suffocated between the crib’s mattress and the detached drop-side. The crib had been purchased used and was lacking safety pegs in the bottom tracks of the crib.

When the recall was initially announced in 2008, the CPSC alerted consumers of an 8-month-old infant’s death who had gotten trapped and suffocated when the drop-side of the crib detached. The crib was missing safety pegs. There were also reports of two other entrapment incidents and nine detachments in cribs that were missing safety pegs.

When a drop-side crib is missing safety pegs, an environment is created in which the crib’s drop-side rail is able to disengage from the track, creating a dangerous space in which an infant is able to be trapped and could suffocate. Parents are warned by the CPSC not to purchase cribs used, as the cribs may not come with the parts necessary to ensure a child’s safety.

The cribs involved in the re-announcement were manufactured in Indonesia and Taiwan and sold at large retailers in the U.S. from January of 1995 to December of 2005 for about $100 (through September of 2007 for model 4624). To view a full list of the crib models involved in the re-announcement, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11179.html.

The CPSC advises parents to stop using the recalled cribs immediately if the crib is missing a safety peg on either of the crib’s legs. To receive a free repair kit, consumers can contact Delta at 800-816-5304 or visit http://www.cribrecallcenter.com. While waiting for a repair kit or for safety pegs to be installed on the crib, an alternative sleeping arrangement for a child should be found.

A child should never suffer an injury or death due to a defective crib or other child’s product. If your child has been harmed as a result of a crib manufacturer’s negligence, contact the Pennsylvania defective crib lawyers at Anapol Schwartz. We can help your family receive the compensation you need. Call 866-735-2792 to learn how we can help.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new data which suggests that Topamax increases the chance a baby will be born with oral cleft birth defects, cleft lip and/or cleft palate, if their mother took the antiepileptic drug during her pregnancy. These risks are much less for babies whose mothers were taking other antiepileptic medication or were not taking medication at all while pregnant.

Oral clefts have many serious side effects, and infants born with these oral birth defects often have difficulty eating and gaining weight, which results in poor growth. Children can also suffer recurring ear infections and may have speech problems as a result of the defects.

Surgery is required to repair an oral cleft defect. When an infant is between six and 12-weeks-old, cleft lip repair is done. During the procedure, the baby will be given general anesthesia while a surgeon cuts and shapes the tissues and also sews together the lip. For cleft palate repair, the operation is usually done when a child is older, between nine and 12 months in order for the palate to be allowed to change as they grow. During this process, a surgeon will remove tissue from the roof of the child’s mouth to cover the soft palate while they are under general anesthesia. Often, an additional surgery will be needed to completely close the palate, and depending on their severity of their cleft and their surgery wound, another operation may be required to fix the scarring. In both operations, a surgeon may need to also repair the tip of the baby’s nose, which is called rhinoplasty.

As with any surgery that uses anesthesia, there are risks, which can include an adverse reaction to medication, difficulty breathing, bleeding, and infections. Cleft palate repair operations may also cause the bones in the middle of a baby’s face to grow incorrectly, as well as change the connection between their mouth and nose. Typically, most children heal with few complications.

After the oral cleft surgery, a baby will need to remain in the hospital for five to seven days. A complete recovery can take up to four weeks. The surgery wound will need to be very clean while it heals, and must not have any pressure put on it. In addition, any stretching of the healing area is prohibited for three to four weeks. Until the oral cleft wound is healed, the child will need to be on a liquid diet, and may need to wear an arm splint or cuff to control their arm movement. During this time it is crucial they do not put their hands in their mouth. Following an oral cleft operation, a child may need to see a dentist as their teeth may need to be corrected as they grow in, and may also need to see a speech therapist if there are muscle problems in their palate.

Surgically repairing oral cleft defects can be an expensive and traumatic process for your child and your family. If your child has suffered due to Topamax, call the Topamax cleft palate attorneys at Anapol Schwartz. We can help you determine whether you have a valid claim against the drug manufacturer. Call 866-735-2792 today.

Cleft lip is an oral birth defect that is caused by the failure of the maxillary and medial nasal processes to properly fuse together during fetal development. Cleft lip can range in severity; from a small notch on a baby’s lip or to a complete split in a baby’s lip that goes all the way to the base of their nose. It can be one-sided or two-sided. In most cases of cleft lip, cleft palate is also present. Cleft palate is a birth defect that occurs when the two plates of the skull, which form the hard palate (the roof of a person’s mouth), are not completely joined together. Typically the soft palate is also affected. Cleft palate may also cause a gap in a baby’s jaw or a hole in the roof of their mouth. Often, the uvula is split. Cleft palate can affect one or both sides of a baby’s mouth and sometimes goes the full length of the palate. Together, these oral birth defects are referred to as oral clefts.

There are many serious side effects of cleft lips and cleft palates. Often these defects can cause a baby’s teeth to grow in misaligned, and it can also affect the shape of their nose. Other problems an infant may experience due to their oral cleft include difficulty eating, an inability to properly gain weight, poor growth, speech difficulties, recurrent ear infections, and more.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced an oral birth defect warning after new data was released regarding a link between cleft lip and cleft palate and Topamax usage. According to the data, babies who are born to women who took Topamax during their pregnancy had a 1.4 percent occurrence rate of oral clefts. This rate is much more than the occurrence rate in babies who were exposed to other antiepileptic drugs, which was found to be between 0.38 and 0.55 percent. Babies who were born to women who did not take any antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy only had an occurrence rate of 0.07 percent. Typically, about 1 out of every 2,500 babies is affected by one or both of these oral birth defects.

According to the FDA, at least 4.3 million patients in the U.S. filled prescriptions for Topamax and its generic versions from January 2007 through December 2010. Many Topamax lawsuits are expected to be filed because of the antiepileptic drug’s extensive use.

Wondering whether you have a valid Topamax lawsuit against the drug manufacturer or negligent healthcare professional who failed to warn you regarding the drug’s dangers? Contact the Topamax lawyers at Anapol Schwartz. We can help you decide whether your claim is meritorious. Call 866-735-2792 to learn more.

On March 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new data that suggests that Topamax (topiramate), a medication used to treat certain types of seizures in individuals who have epilepsy, increases the risk that an infant will be born with the birth defects cleft palate and cleft lip when a mother takes the drug during their pregnancy.

Topamax is an antiepileptic medication the FDA approved to be used either alone or in addition to other medication to treat epilepsy. It has also been approved by the FDA to prevent migraine headaches, but not to ease migraine headache pain when they occur. Additionally, Topamax has been used by some for “off-label” or unapproved uses for other medical conditions, which the FDA says may not be regarded as serious.

According to the new data, a link between Topamax and oral clefts has been found. Babies who were born to mothers who took Topamax during their pregnancy had a significantly higher occurrence rate of oral clefts than babies born to mothers who took other antiepileptic medication or no medication whatsoever during their pregnancy.

Cleft palate and cleft lip, commonly referred to collectively as oral clefts, occur when parts of a fetus’ palate or lip do not fuse together properly during the early part of the first trimester of their mother’s pregnancy. This time is particularly dangerous as most women do not know they are pregnant during their first trimester, which makes the potential fetal risk of Topamax oral clefts all the more hazardous if a woman of childbearing age does not know they should consult a healthcare professional regarding the drug. Oral clefts are serious birth defects that have severe side effects, including difficulty eating, poor growth, speech problems, recurrent ear infections, and more.

How prevalent is Topamax usage? The FDA reports that about 32.3 million prescriptions for the drug and its generic forms were dispensed between January 2007 and December 2010, and roughly 4.3 million patients filled prescriptions for the drug from pharmacies in the United States. Due to its widespread use, many Topamax lawsuits are expected to be filed.

Do you need a Topamax lawyer? If your baby was born with an oral cleft and you were taking Topamax or another drug during the pregnancy, you may have a viable Topamax lawsuit. If a healthcare professional failed to adequately warn you of the risks of Topamax and did not inform you of alternative medications, the healthcare professional may be held legally responsible for your baby’s birth defect. To learn how the Topamax lawyers at Anapol Schwartz can help you, call 866-735-2792 today.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new data suggesting that Topamax (topiramate) and its generic versions increase the risk for an infant to be born with the birth defects cleft palate and cleft lip if their mother used the medication during pregnancy. However, it is important to note that women who are currently taking Topamax or any of its generic forms should not stop doing so unless directed by a healthcare professional, even if they are pregnant. Ceasing a 25 mg, 100 mg, or 200 mg dosage of Topamax can cause severe health problems.

Topamax is used in treatment for certain kinds of seizures in people who have epilepsy. The drug is also approved to be used to prevent migraine headaches. The FDA reports the drug has been used for unapproved uses for other conditions which may not be considered to be serious.

Collectively referred to as oral clefts, cleft palate and cleft lip are birth defects that occur when parts of a fetus’ lip or palate do not fuse together completely in the early part of the first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. Most women are not aware that they are pregnant during the first trimester, thus making the potential risk of Topamax cleft palate all the more hazardous.

As more news and information about Topamax birth defects becomes available, the Topamax oral cleft defect lawyers at Anapol Schwartz will keep our readers updated. Be sure to check back with our blog this month as we discuss this dangerous drug and Topamax birth defects. If you have any questions regarding whether you have a Topamax lawsuit, call our injury attorneys today at 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced it will petition the U.S. Department of Transportation for stronger regulations regarding the underride guards on semi-truck trailers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The metal frames that hang below a large truck’s rear-end are referred to as underride guards, often called underriders. They are designed to protect motor vehicle occupants by prohibiting vehicles to slide beneath trucks in the event of a rear-end collision. These guards are required to be on the backs of most large trucks in the U.S. However, the IIHS reports that the guards are not strong enough to withstand force impacts that are typical of an average collision. The IIHS also believes the federal rules that dictate the use of underride guards are not strict enough.

The current underride guard standards went into effect in 1998, with the intent to prevent motor vehicles from going under trucks in the event of a rear-impact collision. However, testing showed that the guards can fail at accident speeds as low as 35 mph, putting passenger vehicle occupants at great risk. In these accidents, the vehicle’s windshield is at the main point of impact, and even vehicles with high safety ratings offer occupants little protection when underride guards fail. According to the IIHS, the upper part of the vehicle’s occupant compartment may crush due to the body of the truck intruding into the vehicle’s safety cage in these instances.

There has been debate regarding the underride standards for trucks since the early 1970s. As early as 1976, IIHS crash testing showed there were issues with the strength deficiency of the guards. However, even today, many large trucks aren’t covered by the standards for underride guards and some trucks are not required to have the guards at all.

The personal injury attorneys at Anapol Schwartz have a long, successful history of helping injured victims obtain the compensation they need after they are injured by a poorly designed or defective product. To learn how we can help you with your auto product liability case, call 1-866-735-2792 today.

Recently, Joel Feldman of the personal injury law firm Anapol Schwartz sat down with NBC Philadelphia to talk about the video “Casey Feldman, A Face of Distracted Driving.” The video tells the story of Casey Feldman, who was killed on July 17, 2009 after she was struck in a pedestrian crosswalk by a delivery van in Ocean City, New Jersey. The van driver was driving distracted.

In the year and a half since Casey’s death, her family and friends created the video, which is featured on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) website. The video is dedicated to raising awareness about distracted driving to keep Casey’s memory alive, and to get people to think about what they’re doing when they’re behind the wheel.

In the interview, Mr. Feldman states, “We’re making a difference. We have learned there are no guarantees. You could be here today, but who knows about tomorrow. So if you’re going to make a difference, you better do it today.” He continues, “When people learn about Casey, they will know she certainly was someone who made a difference, so we want to continue to do that in her name.”

The video about Casey is the first video on the DOT’s website to feature driving distractions other than the use of cell phones. While cell phone use is certainly a problem for motorists, Mr. Feldman notes that distractions come in all sizes and shapes, and hopes that when others see Casey’s video, “they will think about it [distracted driving] more seriously and maybe change their behaviors. That’s our hope.”

Mr. Feldman believes that motorists no longer view driving as their primary focus when behind the wheel. All too often, motorists are multi-tasking and doing other things besides focusing on the road, and most motorists have become too comfortable with doing so while in the car. He says, “Think about all the distracted drivers who killed other peoples’ children. They probably thought the same way: I could text, use my cell phone, I could drink my coffee or change the CD; they all felt the same way.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,474 people were killed and an estimated 448,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2009 that were reported to have involved distracted driving.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com.