Takata Recall Fallout Continues to Grow
Takata Corp., the Japanese firm responsible for more than 31 million motor vehicle recalls, was back in the news recently as the number of affected vehicles continues to increase. On March 2, 2017, Ford recalled 3,200 vehicles due to a faulty airbag module on the front driver side. This latest recall came only days after…
Read MoreDangerous Dump Trucks Cause Harm on Georgia Roadways
Have you ever been stuck behind a dump truck and felt a bit of anxiety? If so, there is good reason for your concern. The Georgia roadways are filled with dump trucks carrying dangerous cargo. These vehicles are staples of construction sites, and their large size is substantial enough to cause anyone a moment of…
Read MoreInvestigation Exposes the Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
A recent investigation by CNN highlights the prevalence of sexual abuse within our country’s nursing homes and the failure of responsible officials to adequately address this shocking issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were approximately 15,600 nursing homes nationwide in 2014. Collectively, these homes provided about 1.7 million beds to elderly residents.…
Read MoreCosmetic Laser Procedures Can Lead to Permanent Disfigurement
More than 14 million minimally invasive cosmetic procedures take place each year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. These procedures range from hair removal and facial peels to Botox injections and microdermabrasion. Experts credit affordability and availability for this increased popularity, but consumers also appreciate that these procedures are less invasive, generally only…
Read MoreBrain Damaging Delivery Leads to $42 Million Verdict
Every injury caused by another’s negligence is disturbing, but these incidents are even more alarming when they result in injury to an innocent newborn. The award in a lawsuit brought by the family of an injured infant is costing the federal government tens of millions of dollars for physician negligence that left a baby permanently…
Read MoreAvoiding Ferry Boat Accidents in Georgia
The summer is fast approaching, and everyone is ready to get out and enjoy the numerous waterways Georgia has to offer. Whether you’re enjoying a Savannah boat cruise or a dolphin tour around Tybee Island, the rivers will be filled with tourists and residents enjoying all that our state has to offer. While fun is…
Read MoreLasting Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Mental and Physical Health
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when there is a sudden blow or jolt to the head, which causes trauma and disrupts brain functioning. Motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports and recreational activities, and assaults are common causes of TBIs; falls are the most common, and almost half of all TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths are caused by…
Read MoreImportant Steps in a Georgia Product Liability Claim
A person who is harmed—or the family of someone who is killed—by a defective device or product has the right to bring a product liability claim against the responsible parties. Products may include automobiles, toys, medical devices, electronics, and more. In a product defect case, anyone in the supply chain, from the manufacturer through the…
Read MoreHoverboard to Blame in Death of Three-Year-Old in Pennsylvania
Self-balancing scooters, known as hoverboards, are the type of toy we adults dreamed of growing up. However, these devices have been responsible for a number of injuries and property damage in recent years and, most recently, the tragic death of a three-year-old girl in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that over…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know about Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often occur from a sudden traumatic blow to the spine that fractures, dislocates, or compresses vertebrae, ligaments, or bone disks. These injuries disrupt the signals that are carried back and forth between the body and the brain, which comprises the central nervous system (CNS). With complete SCIs, the spinal cord cannot…
Read MoreWho is Liable in a Georgia School Bus Accident?
Millions of children travel on school buses each day throughout the school year. Children and their caregivers trust that their children will safely arrive to and from school, but thousands of schoolchildren are injured every year in school bus accidents. Determining liability can be complicated in these cases. Liability is assigned based on evidence (photographs,…
Read MoreNursing Home Mistreatment: Know the Signs of Elder Abuse
Millions of elderly individuals reside in nursing homes across the country. Oftentimes, family members do not have the resources to adequately care for the older family members and must place them in the care of a nursing home. It should be expected that these individuals would be treated with the utmost respect and care in…
Read MoreFatigued Truck Drivers: Lack of Sleep Can Have Deadly Consequences
Commercial truck drivers operate tractor-trailers and other large vehicles that transport cargo over vast distances for extensive periods of time. Though there are some truck drivers that locally transport cargo to businesses and residences, many drivers take long hauls carrying goods (sometimes hazardous) across state lines. Truck drivers suffer from chronic fatigue for a variety…
Read MoreUnderstanding Class Action and Multi-District Product Liability Litigation
Product liability cases arise when defective products injure consumers. These incidents often involve companies that operate across multiple states to make products for a wide range of consumers. The far-reaching nature of product liability cases often makes them appropriate for class action or multidistrict litigation. Not only are these options effective at saving litigation costs,…
Read MoreThe Lasting Damage of a Severe Burn Injury
The effects of a severe burn injury are painful and lasting. Not only are victims subjected to excruciating pain and prolonged recovery times, but they are also forced to deal with the mental scars of permanent disfigurement. Medical professionals classify burns as first, second, or third degree injuries. Third degree burns are the most severe,…
Read MoreFiling Suit for a Common Carrier Related Injury
Common carriers transport products or people from one location to another. Trucks, boats, trains, planes, and various methods of public transportation may classify as common carriers. When these vehicles are involved in serious crashes, the resulting injuries can be extremely severe and widespread. In addition, several individuals or companies may share responsibility, which can make…
Read MoreFDA Warns of Infection Risks with Sorin 3T Heater-Coolers
Healthcare professionals commonly use the Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler System when providing cardiothoracic and cardiopulmonary patients with heat exchangers and warming/cooling blankets. However, recent warnings by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlight the significant risk of infection in using this device, which could lead to substantial injuries for these vulnerable patients. Uses of Sorin 3T…
Read MoreFiling a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in the Georgia Courts
The painful death of a loved one is even more tragic when caused by the negligent actions of another. Legal professionals refer to these fatalities as wrongful deaths, and surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for the loss of their loved one. However, the various rules and regulations of the Georgia legal system…
Read MoreHLM Partner Jeff Harris Argues in Front of Georgia Court of Appeals
Harris Lowry Manton LLP partner Jeff Harris, along with former governor Roy E. Barnes, recently argued in front of the Georgia Court of Appeals in the case of BellSouth Telecommunications LLC v. Cobb County, Georgia, et al. HLM filed claims on behalf of Cobb and Gwinnett County against BellSouth for violating the Georgia Emergency Telephone…
Read MoreYou’ve Been Summoned: What to Expect from Jury Duty
Historians date the concept of settling disputes using juries to the mid-400s B.C. in Athens, Greece. From then on, it became an accepted idea that citizens had the right to settle their neighbors’ grievances and the jury system spread across the western world. Being a juror is a privilege and a valuable way to serve…
Read MoreUPDATE: J&J Questions Bias of Cancer Victim’s Expert in Talc Trial
Johnson & Johnson Co.’s lawyer questioned the bias of a plaintiff’s expert at trial on allegations by a cancer victim that the company knew scientific research linked its talcum powder to ovarian cancer. David C. Steinberg, a consultant and founder of the Cosmetic Preservatives Council, testified that most companies track studies and medical literature relevant…
Read MoreHoverboard Update: Product Defects Causing Fires and Injuries Prompt Recall
In 2016, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced recalls of more than 500,000 hoverboards due to fires and explosions. The announcement came after six months of investigation across 20 states into fires caused by hoverboards that destroyed homes and apartments. The most recent fire occurred at a Gwinnett County apartment complex; AJC.com reports that nine families…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Seat Belt Adjustment & Vehicle Preservation
The seat belt defect series by HLM Partner Steve Lowry wraps up with a description of “geometry” cases and preserving your vehicle, as is, after a collision. In older cars that don’t allow seat belt adjustments for an individual’s size, the seat belt can catch on someone’s neck in a wreck, causing spinal cord and…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Buckle Unlatching
Because of a latch design defect in some seat belts, the latches can unlock with little force, rendering the harness useless in a wreck. In this segment, HLM’s Steve Lowry explains the failure, called unintended unlatching. It is prone to occur in a side impact collision when an occupant’s hand, arm or hip hits the…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Torsion Bar
The previous post in this series covered the dangerous effects of a seat belt spool out. In this segment, Steve Lowry explains another type of spool out, in which the seat belt loosens and can cause severe injuries. In the event of a collision, there is loosening of a taut seat belt intended to reduce…
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