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A 94-year-old woman was found inside a freezer at a posh retirement home in Calabasas, according to The Los Angeles Times. She was hospitalized for unknown injuries and is reported to be back at the facility.

Although few details are known about the incident, some have emerged. On October 28, employees could not locate one of the residents of the retirement home. Nearly all of the 60 residents of the Silverado Senior Living facility suffer from dementia. Eventually, the woman was found in a walk-in freezer on the facility’s premises.

Silverado Senior Living officials will not reveal what injuries the woman suffered, how she wound up in the freezer, or how long she was there. A senior vice president for the retirement home said that the freezer is required to remain locked, but the lock was not fastened. He also said that “corrective action” has been taken against two of the facility’s employees, but has not revealed if they still work there or the extent of their involvement in the incident.

The retirement home reported the incident to the Department of Social Services, as required by law, and is still investigating the incident. The punishment for the incident may range from a hefty fine to a closure of the facility. Less than a year ago, a former caregiver at the home was convicted of torture and elder abuse for mistreating patients. The facility costs $70,000 per year.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Nursing homes and retirement facilities have a duty to their residents as well as to their families to protect them and to help them enjoy a good quality of life. If a loved one has suffered mistreatment by a Southern California nursing home, contact the Mandell Law Firm. Our Calabasas elder abuse and neglect attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of elder abuse and neglect recover for their injuries. Call us today at 818-886-6600 for a free consultation.

With Thanksgiving soon approaching, the 2010 holiday travel season is officially upon us. To make sure Californians stay safe this winter, KESQ.com has provided some helpful safe driving tips for all motorists to follow when travelling on the road to prevent car accidents from occurring.

First and foremost, get plenty of sleep before driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving can cause the same levels of impairment as intoxication. If you have a very long drive, plan rest stops along the way or plan for a change in drivers.

Make sure to prepare for winter weather if you may encounter it during your trip. Stock your car with supplies such as blankets, tools, flashlights, food and water, a bag of sand, antifreeze, and windshield wiper fluid. Check your tires, brakes, windshield wipers, defrost and heater before leaving.

Make sure you are confident of the route to take before leaving. Look up road conditions in each state in which you will be traveling before leaving, including any construction zones. Bring printed maps or a GPS in case you need to alter your route.

Plan ahead for both children and pets. Use the proper child seat that is required for your child, and bring activities to keep them occupied in the car. Make sure your pets are secured in either a pet carrier or harness to keep them from distracting the driver or getting injured in the event of a Northridge car accident.

We hope you and your family have a safe holiday season, but if you have the misfortune of being involved in an automobile accident, call the Canoga Park car crash attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm. If you would like a free consultation on your case, call us at 818-886-6600 today.

Tragically, a 70-year-old man was crushed to death by his car on November 5, according to The Los Angeles Times. The man lived in North Hills and was working on his car alone at his home. The car was mounted on jacks and slipped off, killing him. At the scene, police noted that the car was parked on a slight slope.

People are killed or injured every day in the United States while working on cars. There are some basic safety rules that, if followed, could greatly decrease the chance of an accident while repairing a car.

First, if you are jacking a car up, be certain you have proper-sized jacks. Make sure that each corner of the car is secure before you slide underneath a vehicle. It is also a good idea to have someone else with you in case anything goes wrong, and always wear protective glasses, gloves, shoes, and special clothing (in some circumstances) when repairing a car. Cars can spew hot liquids during certain repairs, and wearing the right protection can prevent a burn.

If you have been injured while performing a car repair, it may be possible to recover some compensation for your injuries under some circumstances. First, if you were working on the car as an employee of an automobile repair business, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation or your family could file a wrongful death lawsuit, depending on the situation. If you were working on your own vehicle, it will most likely be harder to recover monetary damages. However, if the accident occurred as a result of a defective car jack, a manufacturing defect in the automobile, or another defective product, the manufacturer could be held liable for your injuries in a court of law.

If you have been injured in a San Fernando Valley accident due to the negligence of another, contact the dedicated North Hills personal injury attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm. Our team will work hard to obtain compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at 818-886-6600.

Near the end of October, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released new research about cadmium, in order to assist with setting limits for cadmium in children’s toys and other products, according to The Chicago Tribune. Cadmium is a soft metal that can damage kidneys, lungs and bones, although small amounts can be ingested through food.

ASTM International is the organization that set standards for manufacturing, although any standards it sets for children’s jewelry are voluntary. The CPSC has for months promised that it was working on research on the use of cadmium in children’s products. Concerns about cadmium in toys have been raised in recent months after high levels were found in various kids’ jewelry products, and McDonald’s recalled 12 million Shrek cups that contained cadmium.

According to the CPSC, the acceptable daily intake levels of cadmium range from 0.1 micrograms to 11 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. The toy committee at ASTM is planning to discuss a new standard for cadmium sometime in November, but it could take six to twelve months for a new standard to be issued. Under the new recommendations, McDonald’s would not have been required to recall the Shrek cups.

Toy manufacturers have a duty to parents to protect their children from dangerous products. If you believe you or a loved one have been injured by a defective product or toy, contact the San Fernando Valley unsafe toy attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm at 818-886-6600. We will analyze your injury claim during your free consultation, and help you to decide the best course of action in your case.