New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Archive – 2011 – October
CPSC Re-announces LG Electronics Dehumidifier Recall due to Home Fires
After Hurricane Irene and consistent rainy weather on the East Coast, many consumers may be using dehumidifiers as they address any damage to their homes or belongings. East Coast residents should take special notice of this recall announcement regarding various makes of dehumidifiers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and LG Electronics re-announced the recall of approximately 98,000 Goldstar and Comfort-Aire Dehumidifiers due to fire and burn hazards. The original recall was announced in December 2009 after 11 reported incidents, including four significant fires caused by the dehumidifiers. Since then, another 16 incidents have been reported, including nine significant fires. More than $1 million in property damage has been reported, including $129,000 in damage to a home in Brielle, NJ.
The recalled products were sold for between $140 and $150 at Walmart, Do It Best, The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Orgill Inc. and other retailers across the nation from January 2007 through June 2008. They include Goldstar and Comfort-Aire 30 pint portable dehumidifiers. The models are white and include a red shut-off button, humidity control, fan speed controls and a front-loading water bucket. The brand name is printed on the front and the model and serial numbers can be found on the interior of the dehumidifier and may be seen when the water bucket is removed.
For a list of the recalled model and serial numbers, please visit the CPSC recall page. Consumers may contact LG Electronics at (877) 220-0479 to verify if their dehumidifier is included in the recall and then return it to an authorized LG service center for repair at no cost.
At Blume Goldfaden, our experienced New Jersey defective consumer product attorneys have recovered significant compensation for clients with meritorious product liability claims when the use of a product resulted in an injury. To learn more about your legal rights and to determine whether you may have a valid claim, contact us at (973) 635-5400 for a consultation at no-cost.
New Jersey Personal Injury Law Firm of Blume Goldfaden Empowers Community through “My Lawyer” Smart Phone App
At Blume Goldfaden, providing our clients with the strong legal guidance and action they need is only a fraction of the support we feel our community deserves, which is why we have made “My Lawyer” available to our clients and friends. Knowing what steps should be taken after a motor vehicle accident to protect personal rights and to secure appropriate evidence is invaluable, and the “My Lawyer – travels with me” smart phone application provides that preliminary information.
The “My Lawyer” smartphone app is free and available for both iPhone and Android users. If you, your family, or your friends have been involved in a New Jersey automobile accident, it can provide you with
- An overview of your legal rights;
- An accident checklist;
- A place to collect and save insurance and witness information; as well as
- A place to document photographic evidence of accident details and injuries.
The app also offers free phone consultations and free initial case inquiries. To download the FREE “My Lawyer” smartphone application, you may visit the My Lawyer download page or search for “My Lawyer” in the Android Marketplace or iPhone App Store.
The experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Blume Goldfaden understand the importance of being able to protect one’s legal rights following an accident. In the potential confusion following an injury accident, consumers may not know what to do or who to call. But now, with “My Lawyer,” you will never be left to wonder about the next step. Our attorneys are committed to protecting your legal rights, wherever you may be. To learn more about our firm or to find out whether you may have a meritorious claim, contact us for a no-cost consultation at 973-635-5400.
NHTSA Recalls Over 300,000 Honda Pilot Vehicles for Seat Belt Defects
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the American Honda Motor Company, has announced the impending recall of approximately 310,773 Honda Pilot vehicles due to a defect in the lap portion of the seat belt on both the driver and front passenger side of the vehicle. The stitching that secures the end of the seat belts may be missing or incomplete, causing the seat belts to detach from the anchor webbing; increasing the chance of personal injury in the event of an accident.
The affected Honda vehicles include model year 2009 to 2011 Honda Pilot SUVs that were manufactured from March 13, 2008 through August 30, 2011. The recall is expected to begin October 3, 2011. Honda owners will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Honda dealer for a no-cost inspection and, if needed, replacement of the driver and front passenger seat belts. Honda owners may direct any questions or concerns to Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009.
Automobiles need to be designed and manufactured under standards which take into consideration the safety of its intended occupants. A seat belt is a fundamental piece of protective equipment in a vehicle and must function properly.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident as the result of a defective seat belt, or any other defective automotive product, the experienced New Jersey seat belt defect lawyers at Blume Goldfaden can help you understand your legal rights and options. To find out whether you may have a meritorious claim, contact us for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.
Yu Wei Company Recalls 8,000 Drop-Side Cribs due to Entrapment, Suffocation Hazards
Yu Wei, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling approximately 8,000 drop-side cribs that were sold exclusively through JC Penny due to a defect that creates potential entrapment and suffocation hazards. There have been nine reported incidents where the drop side rails have detached or malfunctioned, one of which resulted in child injury.
The drop-side rails of the crib can detach, unexpectedly fall down, or otherwise malfunction, causing part of the crib’s drop side to be out of its correct position, resulting in a space where a toddler or infant can become trapped or wedged. This entrapment can lead to suffocation or strangulation. The out-of-position drop-side can also pose a falling hazard.
The affected drop-side cribs include Yu Wei full-size cribs sold under the model names of Lauren and Scroll. They were sold at jcpenny.com and through the JC Penny catalog for between $300 and $450 from January 2006 through December 2010. The cribs were sold in dark cherry, pecan, and antique colors, and have the following date and model number combinations, which can be found on the inside of the end panels:
- Scroll Crib, Model 343-8225, Date Code 01/2006 to 12-2010; and
- Lauren Crib, Model 343-9117, Date Code 01/2007 to 12/2010.
Owners of a recalled cribs should stop using it immediately and contact Yu Wei for an immobilizer kit that will immobilize the drop-side, free of charge. It is also recommended that parents find an alternate sleep environment for their child until the defective crib is repaired. Additional information is available through the manufacturer at (877) 806-8190 or on their website: www.yuweicribrecalls.com.
If your child has been injured by a defective product, then you may be entitled to recover monetarily for his or her injuries and the costs associated with their medical and other care. At Blume Goldfaden, our defective product lawyers in New Jersey can help you determine if a manufacturer may be responsible for the injuries associated with the use of their product. Call us at (973) 635-5400 to determine whether you have a meritorious claim.
NHTSA Recalls Over 200,000 Hyundai Vehicles Due to Frontal Airbag Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Hyundai Motor Company is recalling approximately 205,233 vehicles due to a driver side airbag defect that may cause the airbag to fail to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of serious injury to the driver.
The defect involves the clock spring contact assembly for the supplemental restraint system, or SRS, which may become damaged as it is used over time and may cause a driver’s airbag deployment failure. In the case of an auto accident, this greatly increases the risk of driver injury or death.
Hyundai is recalling the following vehicles:
- Model year 2007-2008 Veracruz Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUV), manufactured from December 26, 2006 through March 21, 2008; and
- Model year 2007-2008 Santa Fe CUVs, manufactured from April 19, 2006 through March 20, 2008.
Hyundai dealers will replace the driver side airbag clock spring contact assembly as needed at no cost. For additional information, Hyundai owners may call the company’s customer service center at 1-800-633-5151. The recall campaign number is 103.
At Blume Goldfaden, our experienced NJ defective airbag attorneys have obtained significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of New Jersey clients with meritorious auto product liability claims. If you have been injured as the result of an airbag defect, or any automotive product defect, contact us for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.