hfstaff March 24th, 2010
It seems that baby products are having a hard time these days. Just days after Graco recalled over a million high chairs, there has been an announcement of another recall.
Today, the company Infantino recalled more than 1 million of its baby slings–specifically, the “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” models. These slings are like cushy, little baby hammocks that are worn by the mother, wrapping around her chest. The baby is nestled close to the mother, but frees up the mother’s hands. Tragically, it is possible for some babies to suffocate if the fabric sling covers their airway.
This recall follows a more general announcement earlier this month by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which warned about the general safety of sling-type carriers. The CPSC is investigating sling-related 14 infant deaths that happened over the last 20 years…and CPSC also says that 3 infant deaths have been attributed to Infantino slings.
For more information about the recall, go here: Â CPSC information page.
And read the full WRAL source story here: Â WRAL baby sling recall story.
If your child was injured by this or any other product and you’re not sure what to do, call lawyers at HensonFuerst, who are always available to talk with you about product safety issues. Â At HensonFuerst, if you have questions…we have answers!
Popularity: 23% [?]
hfstaff March 19th, 2010
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that taking the popular cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin may–in some cases and in some people–cause muscle damage. While this sounds relatively harmless, the damage sometimes progresses to a severe form called rhabdomyolysis. With this disease (often called “Rhabdo” for short), the damaged muscles release proteins into the blood, which has the potential to cause kidney damage, kidney failure, and death.
You heard right: Â Taking a drug to lower your cholesterol has the potential to cause death from kidney damage.
Simvastatin is sold under the brand name Zocor, and is paired with other drugs in Vytorin and Simcor.
Rhabdo is a rare but real threat. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the risk of muscle damage is higher for people who take 80 milligram doses of Zocor… people of Chinese descent…and when simvastatin is combined with other drugs, including niacin and amiodarone (brand names Pacerone and Cordarone). For a full list of potentially dangerous drug combinations, see the LA Times article here.
If you currently take Zocor, do not stop taking the medication without first talking with your doctor. If you have muscle pain or concerns about your medication, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
And if you have been injured from Zocor or other medications, and want to talk with a lawyer, call us for a free consultation. At HensonFuerst, if you have questions, we have answers.
Popularity: 29% [?]
hfstaff March 18th, 2010
Today, the Consumer Safety Commission announced the recall of 1.2 million Graco high chairs. According to the notification posted on the Graco Baby website, the recall is for all Harmony™ Highchairs made between November 2003 and December 2009.
The problem is:
The screws holding the front legs of the high chair can loosen and fall out and/or the plastic bracket on the rear legs can crack causing the high chair to become unstable and tip over unexpectedly. This poses a fall hazard to children.
At least two dozen children have already been injured. The advice is that consumers should immediately stop using the Harmonyâ„¢ high chair and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.
The repair kit can be ordered here: Graco Repair Kit. The exact models being recalled and additional information can be found here: Graco Recall site.
If you have questions about what to do if your child has been injured by Graco high chairs or any other baby product, contact one of the compassionate lawyers at HensonFuerst. If you have questions, we have answers.
Example of one of the recalled high chairs. (Other models look different)
Popularity: 26% [?]
admin March 18th, 2010
March 18, 2010
Two people were injured during a recent Greenville motorcycle accident, according to WHKP.
A police officer attempted to pull over a motorcycle for expired tags, but the driver sped away. He hit a curve, overcorrected, and hit a nearby guardrail.
The impact of the North Carolina motorcycle accident caused the driver and his passenger to be thrown to the ground. They were both taken to a local hospital to be treated.
Authorities charged the driver with felony flee to elude arrest, failure to yield to blue light and siren, and more.
Read more
The Greenville motorcycle accident lawyers at HensonFuerst can help if you were injured in an accident.
Popularity: 16% [?]
hfstaff March 16th, 2010
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a short, 2-minute video today about tips for how to shop for food in a way that reduces your risk of foodborne illness. It probably won’t be a hit on YouTube, but it does give some good advice! Click here: FDA shopping video.
Popularity: 21% [?]
hfstaff March 11th, 2010
It was only a matter of time before Toyota’s troubles spilled over. Problems that big always do. The next to feel the pain is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the nation’s auto safety agency.
In light of Toyota’s recall of more than 8 million vehicles for a variety of problems related to the accelerator and brake pedals, today Congress will examine whether the NHTSA could have done more to protect the public, and whether it is capable of testing for a car’s electronic problems…in addition to mechanical ones.
Read the full story in today’s News & Observer online.
Whatever the outcome–which could include increased funding for the NHTSA, higher penalties for auto makers who don’t initiate timely recalls, and full disclosure of mechanical system operations from car makers to the NHTSA–we all will reap the benefits. HensonFuerst is in favor of anything that will reduce the risk of auto accidents and injury.
(For the most recent information about which cars are involved in the Toyota recall, click here to go to the Toyota recall page.)
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hfstaff March 3rd, 2010
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today that owners of recalled Toyota vehicles will be offered several services to reduce the “inconvenience” of having to get their cars fixed. Among the benefits:
- Pickup and return of recalled vehicle
- Providing rental car while the car is being fixed
- Quick scheduling of repairs for accelerator and brake problems
To read more, see the website for local news station WRAL.
Popularity: 31% [?]
hfstaff March 3rd, 2010
in 2004, Toyota launched a new advertising campaign: Toyota–Moving Forward. Since Toyota has implemented recall after recall to address problems with sudden and uncontrollable acceleration from sticking gas pedals, people have begun joking that the motto should should be changed to: Â Toyota–Moving Forward, and We Just Can’t Stop.
It has been frightening to watch Toyota’s freefall from paragon of safety to…well, no one really knows how deep the pit they’ve dug really is. For consumers, the single bright point is that these events and the Congressional hearings that have taken place over the last two weeks may lead to new safety rules.
According to an Associated Press article:
“We need to look at current law and ask if it is strong enough to prevent something like this from happening again,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which held a hearing Tuesday on Toyota.
In addition:
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told the committee Tuesday that his agency may recommend that every new vehicle sold in the United States be equipped with the brakes, something that would require a relatively inexpensive software upgrade.
Check out the full story on WRAL.com.
If you have had problems with a Toyota vehicle and wonder what your rights might be, feel free to contact us anytime. And visit our website for the latest news.
Popularity: 33% [?]
hfstaff March 2nd, 2010
HensonFuerst welcomes back Jeff Jones from service in Iraq!
This was Jeff’s second tour of duty in Iraq. We thank him for his service to our country, and are honored to call him one of our HensonFuerst team. He will resume his role as our lead private investigator, a position he has held for 15 years.
Popularity: 24% [?]
hfstaff March 2nd, 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina personal injury lawyer Carma Henson, of HensonFuerst Law offices, spoke at the 14th Annual Elder Law Symposium on Friday, February 26, 2010. This prestigious symposium was hosted by the North Carolina Bar Association.
The title of the speech was “Nursing Home Patient Rights,” an issue that Carma pursues with passion every day. Her speech included information about the legal issues surrounding and supporting the Nursing Home Patient Bill of Rights, as well as nursing home transfer and discharge rules.
For more information about the groundbreaking work on nursing home reform done by HensonFuerst, visit our Nursing Home Abuse page.
Popularity: 21% [?]