Archive for November, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, the largest recall ever of cribs.

Four infants have died from being trapped in the side gates which slide up and down. The manufacturer recommends that parents “immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit.”

The danger could result from improper installation of the drop side, or from the plastic hardware of the drop side breaking, potentially causing one of the corners to detach. Babies can then get stuck in the space between the side and the mattress.

All Stork Craft cribs manufactured and distributed between May 2000 and November 2008 – about 535,000 – were subject to a voluntary recall in January.

More than 1.2 million of the cribs were sold in the U.S. and about 968,000 in Canada. Approximately 147,000 of the cribs were sold under a Fisher-Price brand.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling faulty product cases through out the state.  Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last week rewarded several car manufacturers with it’s “top safety pick” award. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles presented with the award was the Volvo XC60. The announcement came a day after Volvo announced a recall of 9,667 2010 XC60s because a crash test revealed the driver’s seat belt became undone.

What’s worse is that the defect was discovered during IIHS testing. According to Volvo engineers, the problem was caused by the ribs inside the housing that cover the anchoring point. The impact caused the ribs to put pressure against the permanent mount and the seat belt popped loose. The side-impact test was performed at 31 m.p.h.

What does this say about IIHS’s award now?

Volvo is conducting a voluntary recall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its “top safety picks” earlier this week to 19 passenger cars and eight SUVs for the 2010 model year.

Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen lead the annual list of the safest new vehicles. The number of awards this year (27) was dramatically reduced from last year (94) because of tougher requirements for roof strength.

Here’s a list of the winning manufacturers and the models:

Ford Motor Co. – Taurus, Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80, Volvo C30, Volvo XC60 and Volvo XC90

Subaru – Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Tribeca and Forester

Volkswagen – Jetta, Passat, Golf, Audi A3 and Tiguan

Chrysler – Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Journey and Jeep Patriot

General Motors – Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Mailbu

Honda – Civic and Element

Nissan – Cube

Kia – Soul

Mercedes – C class

The criteria used to test these vehicles includes: protection in front, side and rear crash tests; all vehicles must have electronic stability control, or ESC; and, roof strength evaluation.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

The number of fatalities on Wisconsin highways in October tied the record lowest number for the month since monthly traffic fatality statistics started being recorded approximately 70 years ago.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were 38 crashes last month in which 40 people were killed. The number of fatalities ties the lowest number of October fatalities set in 1944.

Nine fewer people were killed than in October last year and 25 fewer than the five-year average.

Since the beginning of 2009, 447 people have died on Wisconsin highways, including 74 motorcycle drivers, seven motorcycle passengers, 30 pedestrians and six bicyclists.

When comparing October 2009 to October 2008, Wisconsin has seen an 11 percent decrease in the number of fatalities. The five-year average through October is 609 traffic fatalities, so the 2009 10-month total of 447 is 27% below the average.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

A nationwide recall has been issued by Maclaren USA Inc for approximately one million strollers sold over the past decade after receiving reports of children’s fingers being amputated when caught in the stroller’s hinges.

The voluntary recall, announced with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said consumers should immediately stop using the strollers, unless otherwise instructed. The recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers sold in the United States starting in 1999.

The amputations occurred while the strollers where being open or closed, not while the children were seated in the strollers, according to a spokeswoman. There have been 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, which led to 12 reported fingertip amputations in the U.S.

Affected models include: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveler. Consumers are being asked to contact Maclaren at (877) 688-2326 or through the web site for more information.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling faulty product cases through out the state.  Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

The YAZ birth control pill, manufactured and marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals has been linked to a number of serious, life-threatening side effects. YAZ, also known as Yasmin or its generic name Ocella, is a birth control pill that contains both drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. The birth control pill was developed by Berlex Laboratories, which has since been acquired by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Since 2004, there have been over 50 deaths reported to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of women who were taking YAZ.  Some of the deaths associated with women taking YAZ included cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, intracardiac thrombus (blood clots in the heart), pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs), and stroke.

If you have suffered an injury after taking this dangerous drug, contact us immediately.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling dangerous drug cases through out the state.  Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

Cipro is an antibiotic drug that used to treat infections. Cipro is manufactured by Bayer. Problems began to arise regarding Cipro. Reports began to surface regarding the tendency for those who have used Cipro to develop painful conditions like tendonitis and even more serious cases of tendon ruptures. Clearly, a ruptured tendon is not only extremely painful, but also requires serious and invasive surgery.

According to the FDA, 23% of tendon ruptures were caused by Cipro.

The tendon most frequently associated to the Cipro induced ruptures is the Achilles tendon, however Cipro has also been linked to tendon ruptures in the rotator cuff (shoulder), the biceps, the hand, and the thumb.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling dangerous drug cases through out the state.  Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is an oral anti-diabetic agent which acts primarily by increasing insulin sensitivity. Avandia was approved by the FDA in 1999 and has been used by millions of Americans with diabetes.

Researchers have found that Avandia can increase the risk of heart attack. The New England Journal of Medicine used 42 different studies to show that Avandia patients are at a 43% greater risk of heart attack than those not taking the drug. There is also a 64% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular causes while taking the drug.

After a review of postmarketing adverse event reports, the FDA determined that an updated label with a boxed warning on the risks of heart failure was needed for the entire thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic drugs.

The strengthened warning, also called a “Black Box Warning,” advises healthcare professionals to observe patients carefully for the signs and symptoms of heart failure, including excessive, rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and edema after starting drug therapy. Patients with these symptoms who then develop heart failure should receive appropriate management of the heart failure and use of the drug should be reconsidered. People who have questions should contact their healthcare providers to discuss alternative treatments.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling dangerous drug cases through out the state.  Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

A 24-year-old male pedestrian was killed Thursday night when he was struck by a car on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

According to police, witnesses saw the car approach the intersection of 95th Street and Brown Deer Road at a high rate of speed when it struck the victim.

The owner of the vehicle contacted police when she noticed the damage to her car. Police say they know who they’re looking for.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling pedestrian accidents through out the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.