Defective Firestone Tire Recall. Minnesota Product Liability Attorneys

On October 29, 2008, Bridgestone/Firestone announced another recall of dangerous and defective Firestone Tires. The company is recalling 135,310 Firestone FR380 tires, size P235/75R15, manufactured between June 4, 2006 and September 8, 2007, and 26,941 Lemans Champion SE tires, size P235/75R15, manufactured between June 4, 2006 and September 2, 2006. These tires were produced with insufficient tread base gauge. The defect in these tires may lead to increased vibration and groove cracking that can lead to tire distortion or even tread separation. Tread separation and distortion are widely known problems with defective tires that can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

For more information on the recall, click here. To speak to one of the tire defect attorneys at Champion Law concerning a claim in Minnesota, Wisconsin or anywhere else in the country, either call our office at 651.766.5886 (St. Paul, Minnesota) or 612.743.4918 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) or visit our web-site.

Defective Bassinets Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazard – Minnesota and Wisconsin Product Liability Attorneys

At the behest of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), several huge retailers across the country have just recalled nearly 900,000 dangerous and defective baby bassinets. The bassinets called “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” were manufactured by Simplicity. The present a serious choking safety risk. Some retailers, however, still have not agreed to pull the defective products from their shelves.

CPSC learned that on August 21, 2008, a 6 ½-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to death when she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of involving the co-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet and died.

There are many questions to be answered, including whey the defects existed and whether the retailers and Simplicity timely responded to warnings that the bassinets were injuring and killing children.

The product liability attorneys at Champion Law will fight to answer these questions and win compensation for any children injured by these dangerous bassinets. If you or someone you know has a child who has been injured by one of these defective products, contact the product liability attorneys at Champion Law for a free consultation. Minneapolis: 612.743.4918; St. Paul: 651.766.5886.

To learn more about the recall and the CPSC’s investigation, visit www.cpsc.gov for information on this and other child safety recalls. 

Automobile Defect Personal Injury Attorneys, MN and WI

Car, Truck, and SUV Product Liability Lawyers, Minnesota and Wisconsin

When people are injured by a car, truck or SUV that fails to protect them, many think there is nothing they can do. That assumption, although mistaken, is understandable. The National Highway Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) is tasked with promulgating standards to help keep American motorists safe. NHTSA has thus adopted the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). These are standards with which every automobile in the United States – with very few exceptions – must comply.

NHTSA, however, generally does not test vehicles to assure they comply with FMVSS. Instead, the auto manufacturers self-certify their vehicles. They either run their own tests and deem the vehicle compliant, or hire testing services that do the same. The manufacturers then submit compliance documents to NHTSA. Engineering data, testing and some reports can be accessed here. The database is searchable by vehicle, test and other parameters.

In almost all situations, however, a manufacturer’s representation that it complies with the federal standards does not mean that a consumer is precluded from pursuing a product liability claim against the automobile manufacturer.

If you suspect an automobile defect caused your injury, contact the automobile product liability attorneys at Champion Law for a free consultation. Either visit our web-site, or call us at 651.766.5886 in St. Paul or 612.743.4918 in Minneapolis.

Minnesota and Wisconsin Defective Seatbelt Attorneys

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, seat belts save more than 10,000 lives in the United States every year. Wearing a seatbelt is the most effective way to prevent injury or death in accidents. During the accident, a properly designed seat belt will prevent passengers from being thrown about or ejected from the vehicle and will distribute the forces of impact to the strongest areas of the body – the hips, shoulders and chest. But if a vehicle’s seat belts are poorly designed or manufactured, serious injury or death can result. To pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer, consumers need a tough experienced attorney.

While evidence of seat belt use is typically barred by Minnesota’s seat belt “gag rule”, the rule does not apply to cases involving allegations of defects in the seatbelt system. Minn. Stat. §169.685, subd. 4 provides in part:

[The gag rule] does not affect the right of a person to bring an action for damages arising out of an incident that involves a defectively designed, manufactured, installed, or operating seat belt or passenger restraint system.”

Of course, seat belt performance issues vary widely from case to case. But the following scenarios may indicate a seat belt defect that in turn may constitute a viable automobile product liability crashworthiness case:

• Both serious and non-serious injuries to belted occupants.  For example, one belted occupant walks away while another belted occupant is paralyzed or suffers a serious head injury
• An injured occupant is found wearing a loose-fitting seat belt. This could indicate excess slack caused by improper retractor performance;
• An occupant is found unbelted but witnesses swear the occupant was belted before the crash. Better yet, the occupant has seat belt marks on her body, but was unbelted after the crash. All of these could indicate unlatching or false-latching of the seatbelt buckle;
• Serious injuries in only moderately severe crashes. When restraint systems work properly, occupants typically are not seriously injured in moderate speed crashes; or
• The seat belt webbing is torn or ripped or the seat belt is pulled loose from one or more of its anchors.

If you suspect a seat belt defect caused your injury, contact the automobile product liability attorneys at Champion Law for a free consultation. Either visit our web-site, or call us at 651.766.5886 in St. Paul or 612.743.4918 in Minneapolis.

Minnesota and Wisconsin Defective Product Liability Attorneys

Recreational Soccer Goal

 

Defective Soccer Goal Net Recall

On September 16, 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 190,000 MacGregor and Mitre folding soccer goals. The recall comes after two reports of head entanglement including the strangulation death of a 20-month-old child. The five inch openings in the soccer goal net are too big and cause a choking or strangulation hazard to young children.

These nets were sold across the United States at stores like Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and sports and toy stores. The CPSC warns consumers to stop using these nets immediately and return them for a free replacement net. For more information, visit the CPSC web-site.

If your child or a child you know has been injured by one of these defective nets, the product liability attorneys at Champion Law LLC are standing by to help.  Either visit their web-site or call 612.743.4918 or 651.766.5886 for a free consultation.

Minnesota and Wisconsin Defective Tire Attorney; Product Liability Cases

Bridgestone Firestone Recall Tires!

Bridgestone Firestone just announced another recall of dangerous and defective tires. This time, Bridgestone Firestone is recalling 184 Firestone brand FS400 tires, size 315/80R22.5 Load Range L. These are commercial truck tires that were manufactured in June 2008. These tires were not properly branded to indicate, consistent with federal law, that they should not be operated at speeds greater than 55mph. If they are operated at speed greater than 55 mph, the belts and treads may separate from the tires. When tire belts and treads separate, it often leads to a loss of control and risk of serious crashes. Firestone dealers are replacing these tires for free. Owners can contact Bridgestone Firestone at 1-800-847-3272. For information visit safercar.gov

If you have been involved in a commercial truck accident involving this or any other defective tire, contact Champion Law to discuss your case for free. Minneapolis: 612-743-4918; St. Paul: 651-766-5886.