New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Laceration and Amputation Hazards Lead to Kolcraft Stroller Recall
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Chicago-based Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. is recalling approximately 36,000 Contours Options three and four-wheeled strollers as the result of laceration and amputation hazards. The company and the CPSC have received five injury reports involving the stroller’s hinge mechanism, including reports of three children who suffered fingertip amputations and two adults who suffered lacerated or smashed fingers.
The hazard involves the opening formed when unlocking or locking the hinge mechanism used to adjust the stroller’s handlebars. A child or adult can get their finger caught in that opening, increasing their risk of injury. This recall includes the following Kolcraft Contours Options three and four-wheeled strollers’ model numbers (starting with):
- ZL002
- ZL005
- ZL008
- ZL015
- ZL018
The ZL002 model includes the manufacture date and model number on a sticker above the left wheel. The remaining models include the manufacture date and model number on a label sewn into the stroller seat pad. The affected strollers were sold in a variety of colors and were produced from January 2006 through November 2009. They were sold online at Amazon.com, ToysRUs.com, Target.com, and in juvenile product specialty stores across the nation for between $150 and $160 from January 2006 through June 2012.
Consumers should contact Kolcraft for a repair kit, free of charge. To receive additional information, consumers may call Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673.
If you have sustained injury as the result of a defective product, the experienced NJ defective product lawyers at Blume Goldfaden can help you determine whether you may have a valid claim. To learn more about your rights and potential options, call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Inaccurate Information in Owner Manuals Leads to Recalls for Toyota and Subaru
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recalls of two different vehicles for the same reason. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and Subaru of America, Inc., are each recalling over 1,000 Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ vehicles, respectively, as a result of unclear information in the owner’s manual regarding the operation of the front passenger occupant supplemental restraint system (e.g., airbag).; and other shortcomings in the manual. As the result of these issues, according to the NHTSA, the Scion and Subaru vehicles are in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
If a user follows the misinformation in the owner’s manual, there may be an increased risk of injury to the front passenger seat occupant in the event of certain crash conditions. The recalled vehicles include:
- Scion FR-S manufactured from March 22, 2012 through May 14, 2012; and
- Subaru BRZ manufactured from November 25, 2011 through May 25, 2012.
Subaru will notify owners and mail a corrected owner’s manual at no-cost, while Toyota will notify owners and mail corrected inserts for the owner’s manual, also at no-cost. This safety recall is expected to start in June 2012. For additional information, owners may call Subaru at (800) 782-2783, or Toyota at (866) 707-2466.
At Blume Goldfaden, our NJ auto product liability lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of our clients with meritorious injury claims. To find out whether you may potentially be able to bring a civil action against an auto manufacturer, contact us for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.
Increasing Frequency of Product Recalls May Be Numbing Consumers
According to an article posted on USAToday.com, there has been growing concern among U.S. regulators, manufacturers, and retailers that the recent surge in the number of product recalls is causing the public to ignore or unintentionally disregard them; potentially endangering health and safety.
In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated a total of 2,363 recalls for consumer products, food, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. This amounted to approximately 6.5 recalls every day and represented a 14 percent jump from the 2,081 recalls conducted in 2010. This increase, according to experts, is due to a combination of factors, including improved testing procedures, increased regulator oversight, and the use of social media.
Various government agencies may have established standards and different methods for announcing recalls. With so many recall notices coming from different sources, it may be difficult for consumers to be kept aware of all. Although government agencies and retailers are exploring additional and alternative methods of communicating with the public, such as Twitter and Facebook, the national and private company recall systems do not function as well as they could. According to the vice president of quality assurance and food safety at Costco, retailers and consumers would benefit from one uniform recall system.
Product manufacturers and retailers are responsible for the safety of their products and the timeliness of their recalls. Oftentimes, recalls are disorganized and information is disseminated in an untimely manner, increasing the risk of injury or illness.
If you have been injured by a defective product in New Jersey, the experienced NJ product liability lawyers at Blume Goldfaden may be able to help investigate your potential claim and its merit. To learn more about your options, call us at (973) 635-5400.
Honda Recalls Almost 53,000 Acura Vehicles due to Steering System Defect
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recall of 52,615 Acura TL vehicles by American Honda Company due to a defect in the steering system. The defect may cause premature deterioration of the power steering hose, resulting in power steering fluid leakage. If this occurs, the power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, resulting in smoke and the potential for an under-hood fire, which could increase the risk of an injury causing accident.
The recall includes model year 2007 – 2008 Acura TL vehicles prone to prolonged increased power steering fluid and under-hood temperatures; which may cause the premature deterioration of the power steering hose, and the referenced leaks.
The American Honda Co. will notify owners of the affected cars, and dealers will install a new heat-resistant power steering hose at no cost. This recall is expected to start on or around June 15, 2012. To contact Honda customer service, owners may call (800) 999-1009. Additional information is also available through the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. The campaign number for this Honda recall is S39.
Auto manufacturers are responsible for the safety of their vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a vehicle malfunction or defect, you may be able to pursue civil litigation to recover damages surrounding injuries and other losses.
To find out whether you may have a meritorious claim, call the experienced NJ auto product liability lawyers at Blume Goldfaden for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.
Report Reveals that Some Recalled Products Tend to Stay in Homes
Multiple recalls are announced on a monthly basis for one dangerous product or another, but, oftentimes, recalls are also re-announced. According to an article posted on Time.com, when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) makes an initial recall announcement, most of the products are never actually returned for repair, exchange, or refund. This may be due to a lack of awareness (due to shortcomings in recall parameters). As a result, dangerous products may end up remaining in the home and continue to be utilized jeopardizing the health and safety of consumers.
Less than 10 percent of all unsafe products are ever repaired or returned. In February 2012, the CPSC had to reissue the extensive recall of York International furnaces, which had been originally recalled eight years prior due to their propensity to cause fires. Ninety-three percent of the almost 400 incidents reported occurred after the initial recall.
It is imperative for consumers to be aware of recalled products, but it is also the responsibility of manufacturers, retailers, and the government to properly alert consumers of dangerous products.
If you still have any of the following unsafe products, it is important that you remove them from use and from your homes:
- LG Dehumidifiers
- Roman Shades and Roll-up Blinds (made in 2009 and prior)
- Drop-side Cribs
- Family Dollar Store Toy Dart Guns
- Magnetix Building Sets
- Gel Fuel
- Maytag Dishwashers
- Maclaren Strollers (prior to 2010)
- Bumbo Baby Seats
- Lasko Box Fans
If you have been injured by an unsafe product in New Jersey, the skilled NJ defective household product lawyers at Blume Goldfaden can help you determine whether you may have cause for legal action. To learn more, contact us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Fall Hazard Prompts Kolcraft to Recall over 40,000 Bassinets
Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. is recalling approximately 46,000 Tender Vibes and Light Vibes Bassinets as the result of a fall hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The hazard-causing defect involves the latches that attach the bassinet base to the metal frame. These latches may look like they are locked in place but can still be unlocked, which allows the bassinet to detach from its metal frame and fall, potentially injuring the infant inside.
Kolcraft and the CPSC have received seven reports of latches detaching from the bassinet frame; one incident involved infant injury including a bruised cheek when the bassinet detached, fell, and landed sideways on the floor while the child was inside.
The recalled bassinets include Kolcraft Tender Vibes Bassinets with model numbers KB039-CMR1, KB022-VER, and KB021-ARC, and Kolcraft Light Vibes Bassinets with model number KB043-BNT1. The model number can be found on a label on one of the legs of the bassinet’s metal frame, and the brand name may be found on the removable music box attached to the bassinet’s side. They were manufactured from July 2008 through May 2010.
Consumers should stop using the defective bassinets and contact Kolcraft online or by phone to receive a repair kit and instructions on how to secure the latches to the metal frame. Kolcraft may be contacted at (888) 624-1908 or at www.kolcraft.com.
If your child has suffered an injury as the result of a defective product in New Jersey, the experienced NJ product liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden can help you understand your legal rights and potential options. To find out whether you may have a valid claim, call us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.