Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

Put it on your calendars, Anapol Schwartz attorney James Ronca will be speaking on “Topamax: What You Need to Know, The Science and the Litigation” from 10:45 am to 11:15 am at the semi-annual Mass Torts Made Perfect Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2011. The acclaimed national event for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Mass Torts will celebrate its 10th anniversary at The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Mr. Ronca is a vital part of Anapol Schwartz Dangerous Drug and Medical Device team and is intimately involved with Topamax litigation along with partner Sol Weiss, who is co-liaison counsel to the coordinated litigation. You can register for the event online here or by calling (800) 320-2227. The cost of registration is $1,395 for lawyers and $995 for paralegals or administrators for firms; a $300 discount is obtainable for all affiliates of The National Trial Lawyers.

Mass torts can be separated from other kinds of personal injury cases by numerous key attributes. For one, they employ large amounts of claims that correspond to one product. Secondly, regardless of the large number of individuals involved, there is a similar nature to the facts and legal implications of the cases. Thirdly, there is interconnectedness between all the separate cases. Such is the case with Topamax, a drug used to treat epileptic seizures and other disorders that has also been linked to causing birth defects. If you’ve been injured by Topamax or another dangerous drug, call 1-866-735-2792 to contact the Pennsylvania dangerous drug attorneys at Anapol Schwartz today.

Two big bicycle recalls took back more than 100,000 total bikes on September 22 in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The first was for Morgan Hill, California’s Specialized Bicycle Components while the second was for Bridgeway International, Inc. from Naples, Florida.

For Specialized, the company recalled approximately 14,200 bikes with an Advance Group carbon fork part (manufactured by Advance Group in Taiwan). The danger exists due to a brake part found in the bike’s carbon fork that is prone to disconnect from the fork. This defect permits the brake apparatus to touch the spokes of the wheels while they rotate, which can in turn cause the rider to fall. According to the CPSC, Specialized has received two accounts of the brake apparatus separating from the carbon fork, while no injuries had been accounted for at the time of the report.

Bridgeway took back approximately 91,000 Chinese-manufactured bikes due to a faulty chain that can snap and cause the rider to lose steering and fall. The CPSC reports 11 accidents thus far, which include nine accounts of injury in the form of cuts and bruises.

In both cases, consumers should stop using the unsafe recalled bicycles immediately and contact the companies for recall and refund information. Defects in bicycle manufacturing can lead to serious injuries at the fault of the manufacturer. Have you been injured in a Pennsylvania bicycle accident that you believe was the result of manufacturer error? Contact the Philadelphia product liability attorneys with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 for a free case review today.

School’s back in session, and while family’s are loading up backpacks and picking out fall wardrobes, it’s important to keep safety as a first priority. As part of a post on their blog, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a few of the following tips to remember as your child goes back to school.

If your child rides a bike or a scooter to school, make sure that he or she wears a correctly fitting helmet. The helmet must fit tight, without being obstructive or painful, and it should sit flat on the center of the skull. Head protection with adjustable padding or back straps usually works best and should also have a buckled chin strap. The helmet should not shift upward, downward or from one side to the other, or else it’s likely to come off in the event of a crash.

Be sure to immediately buy another if one becomes damaged because, as the CPSC notes, helmets only do their job once! Just as important as it is for your child to wear a helmet on the road, it’s equally important for them to remove it once entering the schoolyard, as they can become lodged in the holes in playground gear that could cause strangulation.

The CPSC reported 26 instances of fatalities when the string on a child’s clothes was caught in bus doors, playground slides and other objects. Waist and bottom drawstrings have also been lodged in doors and other vehicle parts, resulting in dragging incidents. So make sure your child’s jackets, sweatshirts and “hoodies” do not contain drawstrings in the upper or bottom parts. New rules mandate that there should be no more than three inches of the string hanging when clothing is stretched out.

Is your child gearing up for a sports season? If so, CPSC asks that school officials, coaches and maintenance staff take all necessary precautions and instructions to provide safe playing grounds. If your child has been injured during school activities in Pennsylvania, call the Scranton personal injury attorneys with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 for a complimentary consultation.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), retail supergiant Target is recalling 447,000 units of their Embark Resistance Cords and Cord Kits due to a malfunction that may lead to injuries.

According to the CPSC, there have been three reported accounts of accidents involving customers that were hit in the face and eye by part of the resistance training equipment when it defectively sling shot out of place. Two of the accidents allegedly led to irreversible loss of sight.

The recalled Embark Resistance Cords feature black foam handles and are constructed of black, green or blue rubber. A piece of nylon web is hooked to the rubber with a plastic orb that’s fixed to the bottom, serving as a door connection; this is the piece that’s been the subject of the reported injuries. To confirm the product, check that the word “embark” is on the strap that’s connected to the foam handle or on the band itself.

Specifically, the recalled products are: Embark Resistance Cord kit (set of three cords in green/blue/black stored in a mesh bag); Embark Heavy Resistance Cord, Embark Medium Resistance Cord and Embark Light Resistance Cord. The item was imported by the Target Corporation, who’s based in Minneapolis, MN, and was made in China. It was sold solely at Target shops across the nation as well as Target.com from July 2009 through August 2011.

Faulty exercise equipment can be extremely hazardous to users. If you’ve been injured by a dangerous product, contact the Pennsylvania dangerous product lawyers with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 for a complimentary consultation.

During a recent meeting between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and two of its advisory panels, the safety of several common drugs used to treat female bone density problems was called into question. As a result, the FDA is anticipated to revise the labeling in November for medicines classified as bisphosphonates. Specific drug products include Actonel, Boniva, and Fosamax.

Women travelled from all over the country to share experiences involving injury with the FDA panels as part of the hearings on bisphosphonate dangers. Most of the stories showed similar factors, with the majority of cases involving a critical, abnormal fracture of the femur bone that occurred unexpectedly after using one of the listed bone density drugs for several years, in many instances five or more. According to statistics, over five million women and approximately 11 percent of females 55 years of age or older use these medicines to reduce bone density loss associated with pre-osteoporosis, which can also result in breaks and fractures. The current product labeling alerts users and their doctors to monitor for symptoms of pain which may be a sign of an impending fracture.

While it was concluded that heightened and clarified product warnings were necessary, it was not yet revealed what exactly that would entail. In a 45-page statement given by the FDA, the agency cited examples from data that suggest there are no documented benefits for using the drugs more than three to five years. The report also connected the problems testified by users to long term usage, which may or may not be part of the label revision.

If you or a family member has suffered an injury in Pennsylvania from using bisphosphonates (Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax) contact the Pennsylvania dangerous drug attorneys with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 to discuss your case.

Large trucks are inherently dangerous on the road due to their crushing size and weight in comparison to smaller vehicles, as well their limited maneuverability when fast action is necessary. Add to this equation a larger load than the truck is meant to carry and it becomes increasingly treacherous.

The rules for how much a large commercial truck can weigh and all other Pennsylvania tractor trailer regulations are determined by the Freight Management and Operations arm of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Not only do the laws mandate the total weight of a truck, but they stipulate how that weight must be allotted within the vehicle.

FHWA Rules for Total Maximum Permissible Commercial Truck Weight

• Maximum weight: less than 80,000 pounds
• For single axle commercial vehicles: 20,000 pounds
• For a tandem axle: 34,000 pounds
• Total maximum weight for each wheel load’s distribution is decided based on 620 pounds for every lateral inch of tire girth in combination with the specs issued by the manufacturer of the tire

When a large truck, semi tractor trailer, or 18-wheeler is overloaded with more weight than it can safely and legally accommodate, routine maneuvers like applying the brakes or making a turn can become severely compromised — with severe repercussions. Unfortunately, this practice is often seen as a poor tactic by reckless companies to make botched deadlines or raise profit margins. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Pennsylvania highway accident that you believe was the fault of an overloaded commercial tractor trailer contact the Philadelphia overloaded truck accident lawyers with Anapol Schwartz. Call 1-866-735-2792 for a complimentary case review today.

After a boy in Newtown was struck by a passing car upon exiting his school bus, as reported by Newtown Patch, residents are pleading with motorists to remember that school is back in session and to be very careful around schools and school buses.

Motorists are required by Pennsylvania state law to stop a minimum of 10 feet away from school buses that have their stop arm extended and red lights flashing. On roads with multiple lanes, vehicles that are driving alongside a bus that’s making a stop must stop as well.

For students and parents, Pennsylvania’s Traffic Safety Center offers the following tips to promote school bus safety:

• Arrive at the bus stop early and never run across the street to catch a bus.
• Stay away from traffic. Leave at least five huge steps between the curb and yourself while waiting for the bus.
• Never chase after the school bus once it has already left.
• Never push anyone when boarding or exiting the bus.
• Leave plenty of space, at least 10 feet, when walking across the front of the bus so the driver can see you.
• Don’t step onto the road until the school bus has stopped all traffic.
• Always stay in your seat when the bus is moving.
• Always obey the bus driver’s instructions regarding safety.
• Never play with or block the emergency exits with backpacks, bags, etc.
• When exiting the bus, be certain that all loose objects, including drawstrings are tucked away or fastened so they don’t become caught in the door or the handrail.
• Always cross the street in front of the school bus.

If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, contact the school bus accident attorneys in Pennsylvania with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 for a complimentary consultation.

To combat drunk driving nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a concentrated initiative titled “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” The plan involves a mix of “high-visibility enforcement and public awareness messaging,” according to the NHTSA, which will involve State Highway Safety Offices and law enforcement officials working together in tandem.

While the crackdown is national, during the period August 19-September 5, specific approaches to the issue vary by state and are profiled on the NHTSA website. For Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is advocating an extension to the federal program called “Border to Border,” which stands for increased, comprehensive enforcement from state border to state border as well as county line to county line to fight impaired driving.

Over 600 municipal police departments, all state troopers, and numerous university/ campus police departments will engage in the program by conducting a multitude of sobriety checkpoints and roaming patrols. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” motto will be advertised on highway video message boards throughout the state, while publicity events in each one of Pennsylvania’s six highway safety regions are also planned.

PennDOT is also collaborating with the Pennsylvania DUI Association to convey a drug impaired driving message concerning bath salts and other synthetic drugs commonly abused by impaired drivers. The state recently approved a law making it illegal to hold such substances, however, the issue continues to be a significant problem. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a Pennsylvania car accident due to an impaired driver, call the Pennsylvania drunk driving accident victim attorneys with Anapol Schwartz at 1-866-735-2792 for a complimentary consultation.