2010 January Archive

With Christmas gone and the New Year in full swing, people may continue to flood toy stores in search of the perfect gift for their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. According to the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), 65 percent of all toys in the U.S. are bought during the holiday season. Nevertheless, parents and family continue buying new toys for the children they love throughout the year. While in pursuit of these toys, we must remember that there are a number of unsafe toys on the market.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a small government agency that is responsible for protecting Americans from unsafe products, has a large job to do this year despite new legislation. In CALPIRG’s 24th Annual Trouble in Toyland Report, the focus was on three categories of toy hazards: toys that may cause choking, toys that are excessively loud, and toys that contain toxic chemicals (lead and phthalates).

Despite the ban on small parts on toys for children under three, there are still a number of toys on the market that pose choking risk. At least 196 children died from choking on toy parts between 1990 and 2008. A good rule of thumb when purchasing toys is that if a toy fits inside a toilet paper roll, it is probably too small and may pose a risk to young children.

Companies and manufacturers that are negligent in toy testing can be held liable for any injuries or deaths that occur as a result of their unsafe or defective toys. If an unsafe toy has injured your child, you may want to speak to a skilled San Fernando Valley personal injury lawyer who can answer any questions you may have about your claim. The experienced product liability attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm provide hands-on care and commitment to victims of dangerous toy injuries, unsafe toy accidents and many other product liability related injuries. Contact our offices today by calling (818) 886-6600 for a free consultation.

Construction projects allow California cities to grow and expand, building houses, office buildings and roads for people to live, work and travel. These projects require laborers who are willing to work hard for long hours to get the job done. Nevertheless, many Californians do not realize how vast the danger involved in working at building sites is. Construction workers are often put at higher and higher risks of injury every year by fast-paced projects, unsafe working environments, negligent foremen or inadequately maintained equipment.

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 155,420 construction-related accidents occurred in 2003. Most of the workers injured were between the ages of 25 and 34. The majority of injuries caused the affected construction employee to miss more than 31 days of work.

Some of the major site hazards that cause serious injury or death include scaffolding accidents, motor-vehicle crashes, machinery accidents, forklift injuries, falling from high locations or getting hit by falling items. In 2003, construction parts and materials caused 33,840 accidents while falls caused 34,330 and contact with equipment, 54,230. Unfortunately, one out of every ten construction workers will suffer an injury this year.

Architects, manufacturers, contractors and property owners may be held liable for any injuries or wrongful death that occur onsite. If you or someone you love has suffered a work-related or construction accident injury in the San Fernando Valley, you may have a claim against the negligent person responsible for workers’ safety. The Mandell Law Firm has been serving personal injury victims throughout the San Fernando Valley for many years, offering clients experience and commitment to their cases. Contact the experienced Northridge construction site accident attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm today at (818) 886-6600 for a free consultation of your construction site accident case.

A 19-year-old man driving a Mini Cooper ran a red light, clipped one car and violently struck the side of a minivan at the intersection of Highway 37 and Lakeville Highway near Novato, California. Sadly, all four members of the family in the minivan were killed instantly. Police believe the man was driving between 70 and 90 miles per hour. According to the article from the San Jose Mercury, there is no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

The three occupants of the first car hit were taken to a hospital in Novato for their injuries. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene to aid the 19-year-old and the victims. The perpetrator suffered life-threatening and severe brain injuries before ultimately dying at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital the following day. The four deceased were identified as a 45-year-old man, a woman, 42, and their two children ages eight and five.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 42,643 people are killed in auto accidents each year. In California, there are 4,215 (almost 10% of the national average) fatalities from traffic accidents. Furthermore, speeding caused over one third of these fatal accidents. Traumatic brain injuries also affect one million Americans each year.

Head trauma and brain injury affects victims and their families beyond the reaches of the accident. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligent and reckless driving, contact a skilled San Fernando Valley brain injury lawyer who can answer questions about your claim. At the Mandell Law Firm, we may be able to help you and your family recover compensation for your injuries and any related damages. Our knowledgeable attorneys have dedicated many years to helping our clients obtain the maximum monetary compensation for damages and injuries. Call our offices today at (818) 886-6600 for a free consultation.

Source:http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13889126?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

The Mandell Law Firm, serving Southern California in personal injury and tort litigation, is proud to announce the launching of its new San Fernando Valley traffic accident website, www.trafficaccidentlawfirm.com. As experienced Northridge car accident attorneys, we at the Mandell Law Firm understand how important it is for auto accident victims to be completely familiar with their legal rights and options after being in a crash caused by a negligent driver.

Residents and visitors to the San Fernando Valley area are unfortunately no stranger to traffic accidents. However, this does not make their occurrence any less devastating to injury victims and their families. Our traffic accident website provides helpful information regarding various types of traffic accidents including bus accidents, intersection accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, cell phone related accidents, motorcycle accidents, and many other types of auto collisions.

Whether a traffic accident is caused by a negligent driver, a defective auto part, or a dangerous roadway, those involved in such incidents may sustain minor to catastrophic injuries. As a consequence, many injury victims may experience the inability to keep a job, thus creating tremendous financial hardship amidst hefty medical bills caused by their injuries. It is for these reasons, and many others, that injury victims and their families should fully utilize their legal resources.

At the Mandell Law Firm, we handle several personal injury and wrongful death cases, large or small, with hands-on care for our clients. If you have been injured in a traffic accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, please refer to our traffic accident website at www.trafficaccidentlawfirm.com for more information. Our skilled San Fernando Valley traffic accident lawyers can be reached at 818-886-6600 for a free consultation.

In August 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which expanded the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) budget as well as allotting the commission more tools to prosecute corporations, speed recalls and progress the banning of lead and phthalates in products. Despite these new laws, there are still plenty of toys on the market that are unsafe and may pose a threat to young children.

In the California Public Interest Research Group’s (CALPIRG) 24th Annual Trouble in Toyland Report, several toy cell phones were reported to emit sounds loud enough to cause hearing loss or impairment in young children. Even though toys containing the toxic chemicals lead and phthalate were restricted this year, a few toys slipped through the cracks. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can lower children’s IQs as well as set the stage for a variety of other health problems. The negative health effects of phthalates are also severe.

A pre-school book available in stores had 20 times the legal level of lead. Another hazard is jewelry that also contains high levels of lead. This year alone, the CPSC has recalled 1.3 million toys due to violations of the lead paint standard.

These product defects can cause serious harm to children and even death. If an unsafe toy has injured your child, you may be able to recover medical expenses and other financial losses caused by the unsafe toy incident. Call the Mandell Law Firm at (818) 886-6600 for a free and comprehensive consultation with one of our experienced San Fernando Valley product liability attorneys.

Source:http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/nov/24/consumer-group-says-many-unsafe-toys-are-being-sol/