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Toyota Recall: Simple "Off" Switch Would Prevent Sudden Acceleration Problem

Brett Emison — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:50:46 GMT

An op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal suggests that a simple "off" switch could have mitigated -- or even prevented -- many of Toyota's accelerator problems.

The millisecond-scale operation of an analog on-off switch is an eternity to a computer. Does that tremulous signal mean a finger meant to push the button once or twice? Is the computer being misled by microvoltages created by electronic interference? Did a user really push the button at all?

As one authority puts it, "Switches can do some really odd things. . . . Switches don't make and break cleanly on the time scales of digital systems."

Thus software "debouncers," or bits of code written to analyze the many states of a seemingly simple on-off switch, are one of the Faustian prices we pay for our digital plenty—though sometimes the burden is also partly borne by the user. A particularly unsuccessful mix of the two approaches is the ignition button in certain Toyota models that must be held down for three continuous seconds to turn off a runaway car.

The Los Angeles Times has reported that Toyota sudden acceleration events increased by more than 500% after Toyota introduced electronic throttle control -- sometimes called drive-by-wire -- systems. Toyota also failed to install a critical safety device that allows the brake to override the throttle the input. In addition to fail-safe braking systems, a simple kill switch could have prevented catastrophe in many cases.

Racecars and motorcycles increasingly have drive-by-wire systems too—but the trusty kill switch remains part of every design. Such systems need to work for people who are panicked and not able to think through their options.

***

[G]iven the impossibility (as Microsoft has repeatedly demonstrated) of debugging any software product fully before putting it on the market, Toyota's delayed "off" switch is inexcusable.

Until Toyota finally creates a solution that actually fixes the problem, all Toyota drivers must be prepared. You can learn how to stop your vehicle if it experiences the sudden acceleration problem at this post.

You can learn more about the Toyota sudden acceleration defect by reading these previous reports of Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Vows To "Make Better Cars"

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Safety Experts Want Toyota Recall Expanded

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Focuses On Wrong Problem

Toyota Recall Won't Fix Accelerator Problem

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Side Effects: Thousands Sue Bayer For Birth Control Problems

Brett Emison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:12:44 GMT

The Washington Times reported that thousands of women are suing Bayer because of serious side effects from its popular contraceptives (birth control pills) Yaz and Yasmin.

After 13 hours of intensifying pain, two trips to the emergency room and two CT scans, doctors finally found what was ailing Lottie Green.

In her left lung, the pulmonologist told her, was the largest blood clot they had ever seen and there were others in her right lung as well, she said.

Soon after the 41-year-old Bethesda, Md., resident was released from a hospital last month, Ms. Green joined hundreds of other women in lawsuits against Germany's Bayer AG, the maker of the popular oral contraceptive Yaz.

Her attorneys say thousands more lawsuits are forthcoming after the British Medical Journal in August published a study that found higher risks of clots, heart attacks and strokes with Yaz and its predecessor, Yasmin, compared with other contraceptives.

Why Are Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella So Dangerous?

Popular birth control pills, Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, have been linked to serious and potentially deadly side effects. This deadly side effects affect women of all ages, including teens and young women.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been linked to serious side effects, such as heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), gallbladder disease and sudden cardiac death.

Despite these serious side effects, Bayer marketed these drugs to young women not only as a contraceptive, but to relieve symptoms of severe PMS and as an acne fighter.

The FDA reprimanded Bayer late last year for overstating the benefits and downplaying the risks of Yaz in television advertisements. The slogan for Yaz was "beyond birth control."

Bayer marketed Yaz to women in their 20s. Commercials cultivated a hip, youthful image set to rock music, and advertised Yaz as a treatment for acne and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

The FDA called Bayer's advertisements "misleading" and reprimanded Bayer in a number of official FDA letters. Bayer's conduct was so egregious that the FDA ordered Bayer to run a $20 million "corrective" ad campaign.

"I can't think of anything even remotely as large scale as this corrective advertising," said Michael A. Santoro, an associate professor of business ethics at Rutgers University.

In August, the FDA again warned Bayer about poor quality control at a German plant that makes Yaz's key ingredient -- drospirenone.

How Does Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Cause Such Serious Side Effects?

Yaz and Yasmin contain the chemical, Drosperinone, which acts as a diuretic and causes fluid loss. This fluid loss decreases sodium in the blood and increases potassium. This imbalance causes irregular heartbeats and blood pooling, resulting in heart attacks, blood clots and stroke.

What Can I Do If I Have Experienced A Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Side Effect?

Our firm has teamed up with the very best trial lawyers in the country to litigate Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits in the Multi-District Litigation (MDL) pending in the Southern District of Illinois, near St. Louis.

In fact, one of our team, Mark Niemeyer of Onder Shelton O'Leary & Peterson, LLC, is one of only three in the country to be selected by the Court to act as co-lead counsel for these Yaz and Yasmin cases.

"My role in this MDL is simply a reflection of the commitment of all us . . . to the women or families of women who suffered grave heath consequences after taking Yaz or Yasmin and just how seriously we take all our cases," said Mr. Niemeyer.

You can contact our team for a free case evaluation.

What Is An MDL? How Does An MDL Effect My Case?

You can find out more about MDLs and how they work at this recent post.

An MDL is like a class action, but with important differences. Instead of only one "case" (like in a class action), each plaintiff in the MDL maintains his or her own claim. However, because of many areas of common interest, the thousands of cases are consolidated for much of the pre-trial work up. For example, all of the cases filed in federal courts across the country will be transferred and consolidated in front of a single trial judge. The trial judge will appoint certain attorneys to represent all of the plaintiffs for various issues during pre-trial work up, such as discovery (fact-finding), motions, and scientific testing.

Lead counsel for the MDL is appointed by the trial judge. This small group of attorneys (for the Yaz MDL, there are only three attorneys appointed as co-lead counsel) will manage all of the pre-trial work up of all cases (potentially thousands) within the MDL.

If you file your Yaz or Yasmin claim in federal court, the three co-lead counsels -- including Mark Niemeyer of our team of attorneys -- will manage the work up of your case until trial.

Who Are Members Of This Team Of Attorneys?

The Onder Law Firm, based in St. Louis, Missouri has a track record of success and results for their clients in pharmaceutical litigation, personal injury claims, class actions and multi-district litigation (MDLs). Other lawyers across the country seek the firm's experience and expertise on complex litigation in specialty areas like dangerous drug cases.

Langdon & Emison, with locations in Chicago, St. Louis and near Kansas City, is one the country's premier trial firms, successfully taking on the largest corporations in the country. Langdon & Emison fought General Motors to the United States Supreme Court. . . and won. Baker v. General Motors held that corporations could not buy the silence of their employees and is taught in law schools across the country. The lawyers at Langdon & Emison actually try cases and have built a reputation for getting results for their clients with total recoveries of more than half a billion dollars. You can learn more by visiting Langdon & Emison's safety blog or profile.

Standly Hamilton, based in Dallas, Texas, litigates cases involving important social issues, dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death.

Learn More

You can learn more about the serious side effects of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella and find out what to do if you or a loved one have suffered any of these dangerous side effects at this Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella informational and safety web site.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds $55 Million Punitive Damages Award Against Ford On Explorer Rollover Case

Brett Emison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:52:32 GMT

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that the United States Supreme Court rejected Ford Motor Co.'s appeal of a $55 million punitive damages award to a California woman paralyzed when where Ford Explorer rolled over and the roof caved in on her.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court rejeected Ford Motor Co.'s appeal Monday of a $55 million punitive-damages award toa San Diego woman who was paralyzed when her Ford Explorer rolled over and the roof caved in on her.

Lawyers for Benetta Buell-Wilson said her punitive damages were less than one-fourth of what the jury had awarded, but were still the largest ever upheld in a published California ruling.

Wilson, then 46, was injured in January 2002 when she swerved to avoid an obstacle on the freeway near Alpine (San Diego County) and her 1997 Explorer overturned.

The pillars holding up the sport utility vehicle's roof crumpled, crushing Wilson as she hung upside down from her seat belt. She was left a paraplegic and in constant pain that will increase over her lifetime, said a state appeals court that ruled on her case in 2006.

The court said there was evidence that Ford had known the Explorer was prone to rollovers and had a weak roof but had decided against spending about $20 per vehicle to strengthen the roof.

When an auto maker, like Ford, is in a hurry to bring a new sport utility vehicle (SUV) to market, design mistakes can cause devastating injuries. The Ford Explorer, for example, was put on a platform originally designed for the Ford Bronco II. The result was a suspension system that did not work properly. The Ford Explorer's inherent instability created a vehicle that unreasonably prone to rollover.

To make matters worse, Ford failed to provide adequate roof strength to prevent to roof from caving in during rollover accidents. Ford put a weak roof on a vehicle that suffered from rollover problems.

In 2000, Bob Langdon was one of only eight lawyers in the United States to spearhead cases against Ford and Firestone for Ford Explorer rollover cases in the Ford/Firestone federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). Since then, Bob has been actively pursuing Ford in cases across the country for causing serious injuries and death to hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent drivers and passengers in the United States.

You can find out more about Bob Langdon and his firm, Langdon & Emison by visiting their auto and product safety blog or by visiting their web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Side Effects: How Does Yaz Cause Gallbladder Disease?

Brett Emison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:06:29 GMT

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are popular contraceptives (birth control pills). These drugs are marketed under different names, but are chemically the same. Unfortunately, these pills have been linked with serious and deadly side effects.

The side effects from Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella include:

Heart Attack

Stroke

Pulmonary Embolism

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Gallbladder Disease

Women are twice as likely to as men to develop gallstones and gallbladder disease is a dangerous side effects of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control pills.

The hormones in these birth control pills may increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement. This process can create gallstones, which can cause serious problems if they become trapped in the bile ducts.

Laproscopic gallbladder surgery is the most common treatment if women are experiencing frequent gallstones or other recurring problems, including inflammation. Gallbladder removal is another surgical option with its own serious side effects.

Why Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella Are So Dangerous

Yaz also cause many other serious -- even deadly -- side effects. These side effects include heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are particularly dangerous because they have been marketed to young women with misleading advertising and false claims. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent several letters to Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for what the FDA called "misleading" advertising claims it found "particularly troubling" because they served to "undermine the communication of important risk information, minimizing these risks and misleadingly suggesting that Yaz is safer than has been demonstrated by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience."

In addition, Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been targeted to young women as a means to reduce acne or reduce premenstrual symptoms. In fact, some doctors have prescribed these drugs for non-sexually active girls as an acne fighter alone.

Learn More

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Toyota's Record Accelerator Recall Surprises Unprepared Dealers

Brett Emison — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:27:10 GMT

Chris Weiss of MotorCrave.com has reported that the largest recall in Toyota history -- an attempt to solve the sudden acceleration problem that has plagued Toyota for more than five years -- caught Toyota dealers off guard.

According to industry journal Wards Automotive, Toyota failed to fully inform its dealer network of the pedal and floor modifications needed to repair the accelerator issue before making the recall announcement. Subsequently, confused drivers began contacting their nearest dealer to get a little more info and were met with an unprepared, dumbfounded response.

Toyota originally linked the accelerator problem to certain floor mats installed in Toyota vehicles. However, Toyota's position was quickly rebuked by the safety experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which called Toyota's statements "inaccurate and misleading".

After years of hand wringing, Toyota just last week expanded the scope of its massive recall of nearly four million vehicles in an attempt to finally find the cause of the Toyota sudden acceleration problem. As part of the recall, Toyota announced it would shorted the length of gas pedals and then, finally, replace the gas pedals on 3.8 million Toyota vehicles. Toyota also announced it would install brake override systems on just some of its vehicles as part of the recall.

However, many independent safety experts have warned that the Toyota recall does not go far enough. Toyota is only making these critical safety changes on the seven recalled Toyota models. Many safety experts have said (for example, here, here and here) that Toyota's recall is not enough and will not fix the underlying accelerator problem.

Toyota continues to focus on the floor mat connection even though independent safety experts and crash data suggest the problem runs much deeper and stems from Toyota's electronic throttle controls.

"With the electronic throttle, the driver is not really in control of the engine," said Antony Anderson, a Britain-based electrical engineering consultant who investigates electrical failures and has testified in sudden-acceleration lawsuits. "You are telling the computer, will you please move the throttle to a certain level, and the computer decides if it will obey you."

Reports have shown that sudden acceleration events increased by more than 500% after Toyota introduced its electronic drive-by-wire system in 2002.

Toyota failed to include a critical safety device -- sometimes referred to as a SmartBrake or SmartPedal -- that will override the electronic throttle and allow the vehicle to slow down during a sudden acceleration event. Many other car makers incorporated this critical safety device when transitioning from mechanical to electronic throttle control. Toyota did not.

Even now, Toyota will incorporate the SmartBrake into only some of its vehicles.

You can learn more about the Toyota sudden acceleration defect by reading these previous reports of Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

Toyota Recall: Experts Point To Electronic Throttles; Not Floor Mats In Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Vows To "Make Better Cars"

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Safety Experts Want Toyota Recall Expanded

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Focuses On Wrong Problem

Toyota Recall Won't Fix Accelerator Problem

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements On Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Safety Group Responds To Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Missouri Trial Lawyers Care (MoTLC) Needs Your Help To Provide Blankets To The Homeless

Brett Emison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:15:42 GMT

Missouri Trial Lawyers Care (Mo-TLC) will assist in distributing coats, blankets, hats, gloves and food to the needy in Kansas City this winter. We need your help!

"Many men slept warmer Saturday night because of your generosity," said Lorraine Minor, Associate Executive Director of City Union Mission. "We found ourselves very short on blankets this year so your efforts made a huge difference."

Mo-TLC is the charitable arm of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys committed to making monetary donations and providing volunteer services to charitable causes across the state of Missouri. Mo-TLC is the only organization of its kind to partner with the American Red Cross to provide free legal services to victims of natural disasters.

You can learn more about Mo-TLC and find contact information to help at the Mo-TLC Facebook Page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Toyota Recall: Experts Point To Electronic Throttles; Not Floor Mats In Sudden Acceleration Problem

Brett Emison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:09:26 GMT

The Los Angeles Times has reported that safety data points to Toyota electronic throttles -- not floor mats -- as the primary cause of sudden acceleration problems.

____________________________________________________________

Amid widening concern over acceleration events, Toyota has cited 'floor mat entrapment.' But reports point to another potential cause: the electronic throttles that have replaced mechanical systems.

Complaints of sudden acceleration increased after Toyota and Lexus switched their accelerator pedal controls from mechanical to electronic in 2002.

What's The Difference Between Mechanical and Electronic Throttle Control?

Mechanical Throttle Control:

The accelerator pedal pulls a cable that physically opens the throttle valve, allowing the intake of gasoline into the engine.

Electronic Throttle Control:

The accelerator pedal triggers a sensor that signals the vehicle's computer to send gasoline into the engine.

Toyota Continues To Ignore Throttle Problem And Focus On Floor Mats

Eric Weiss was stopped at a busy Long Beach intersection last month when he said his 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup unexpectedly started accelerating, forcing him to stand on the brakes to keep the bucking truck from plowing into oncoming cars.

Toyota Motor Corp. says the gas pedal design in Weiss' truck and more than 4 million other Toyota and Lexus vehicles makes them vulnerable to being trapped open by floor mats, and on Wednesday, it announced a costly recall to fix the problem.

***

Amid widening concern over unintended acceleration events, including an Aug. 28 crash near San Diego that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and his family, Toyota has repeatedly pointed to "floor mat entrapment" as the problem.

But accounts from motorists such as Weiss, interviews with auto safety experts and a Times review of thousands of federal traffic safety incident reports all point to another potential cause: the electronic throttles that have replaced mechanical systems in recent years.

The Times found that complaints of sudden acceleration in many Toyota and Lexus vehicles shot up almost immediately after the automaker adopted the so-called drive-by-wire system over the last decade. That system uses sensors, microprocessors and electric motors -- rather than a traditional link such as a steel cable -- to connect the driver's foot to the engine.

For some Toyota models, reports of unintended acceleration increased more than fivefold after drive-by-wire systems were adopted, according to the review of thousands of consumer complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Safety experts say all Toyota vehicles should include a Smart Brake system that will override the electronic throttle when the brake is engaged. Many other manufacturers include this critical safety feature, but Toyota has not yet implemented the safety device. Only after several injuries and deaths from sudden acceleration has Toyota even considered the Smart Brake and, even now, for only some of its vehicles.

"With the electronic throttle, the driver is not really in control of the engine," said Antony Anderson, a Britain-based electrical engineering consultant who investigates electrical failures and has testified in sudden-acceleration lawsuits. "You are telling the computer, will you please move the throttle to a certain level, and the computer decides if it will obey you."

After more than five years of ignoring the unintended acceleration defect, Toyota's proposed solutions will not fix all of the accelerator problems.

Independent auto safety experts said that though all of Toyota's fixes would help reduce the problem, it has not gotten to the root cause.

"These incidents are coming in left and right where you can't blame the floor mats," said Sean Kane, president of the consulting firm Safety Research and Strategies. "So they are chipping away at a problem that is widespread and complicated without having to unravel a root cause that could be very expensive."

You can learn more about the Toyota sudden acceleration defect by reading these previous reports of Toyota's sudden acceleration problem:

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Vows To "Make Better Cars"

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Safety Experts Want Toyota Recall Expanded

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Recall: Company Focuses On Wrong Problem

Toyota Recall Won't Fix Accelerator Problem

Toyota Denied Sudden Acceleration Problem For More Than 5 Years

"Inaccurate and Misleading" Statements On Toyota Sudden Acceleration Problem

Toyota Sudden Acceleration: Case Is Not Closed

Safety Group Responds To Toyota On Sudden Acceleration Defect

Toyota Has More Troubles Than Just Sudden Acceleration

You can learn more about Toyota's dangerous sudden acceleration defect at our auto safety blog or by visiting our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Update: Toyota's Record Accelerator Recall Surprises Unprepared Dealers

____________________________________________________________

Update: Toyota Recall: Experts Point To Electronic Throttles; Not Floor Mats In Sudden Acceleration Problem

____________________________________________________________

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Six Killed; Several Injured In Chicago-Area Holiday Crashes

Brett Emison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:18:36 GMT

The Chicago Sun-Times has reported on multiple fatalities and injuries in holiday weekend crashes:

Six people were killed and several others injured in traffic accidents over the holiday weekend in the city and suburbs.

About 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, a vehicle traveling north on South Cicero Avenue swerved into the southbound lanes and struck a vehicle at 6931 S. Cicero Ave., police said. The vehicle continued southbound and struck a pedestrian at 6659 S. Cicero Ave.

The pedestrian, Elias Nunez, 21, of 4246 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead at 9:28 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Fire Media Affairs Cmdr. Will Knight said four others were also hurt in the crash, prompting a five-ambulance response to the scene. The driver of the vehicle was allegedly intoxicated and taken into police custody following the crash.

Anthony Morales, 31, of the 5500 block of South Homan Avenue, was charged with felony aggravated DUI and cited with following too closely and failure to reduce speed, according to police News Affairs. He was also cited for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil set Morales' bond at $300,000 during a Saturday hearing, according to a court spokeswoman.

The crashes continued all day Thursday, including a motorist striking a wall on I-290 and South Pulaski Road Thursday afternoon; a vehicle hitting a cyclist Thursday evening in the 5600 block of West Lawrence Avenue and a man in a pick-up truck crashing into a house in the 9300 block of South Chicago Avenue Thursday night. The man was pinned inside the vehicle and hospitalized in critical condition.

Early Friday morning, as Black Friday shoppers backed up traffic in west suburban Aurora, a woman was hit by a car near the suburb’s outlet mall.

On the South Side Friday night, eight people inside a Buick Regal were injured when the vehicle crashed into a tree in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard. Six of the injured were children.

About 7 a.m. Saturday, Spero Zappas, 63, of Joliet, was driving an orange 2006 Pontiac Solstice north on Interstate 55 near southwest suburban Plainfield when he attempted to pass a semi truck in the right lane at a high rate of speed, state police said. Zappas lost control of the Solstice and the car went airborne into a ditch, ejecting him from the vehicle. Zappas was dead on the scene, and may have been racing another vehicle at the time of the incident.

Around the same time, Giovanni Herrera, 18, of 1630 Whitcomb Ave. in Des Plaines, was pronounced dead at Resurrection Medical Center after a crash on Kennedy Expressway on the Northwest Side, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Herrera was driving a 2004 Chrysler Sebring west on the Kennedy Expressway, near Northeast River Road, when the car struck a westbound 2006 Chevrolet at 5:59 a.m. Saturday, Illinois State Police Sgt. D. Stokes said. He somehow lost control of the Sebring, leaving the road and striking a light pole, Stokes said.

In Aurora Saturday afternoon, a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle traveling west on Sullivan Road collided with a Chevrolet crossover SUV turning onto eastbound Sullivan Road from a religious temple around 1:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of West Sullivan Road, according to a statement from the Aurora Police Department.

Miguel Gomez-Ortiz, 29, of the 1000 block of Cascade Drive, Aurora, was killed in the accident, police said. He was wearing a helmet, but it was dislodged on impact with the SUV.

Saturday night, a 2004 Nissan was traveling south on Interstate 57 when the driver attempted to abruptly change lanes and crashed about 11:40 p.m. near 127th Street, an Illinois State Police District Chicago trooper said.

The Nissan spun out, hit a guardrail on the left side of the interstate then rolled in the right lane -- partially ejecting the driver.

The driver--Kevin Edwards, 19, of 6206 White Birch Lane in Matteson, was pronounced dead at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey at 12:07 a.m. Sunday.

Just after midnight on Sunday, Dustin Avenarius, of Brisbin Road in Yorkville, was traveling on Hopkins Road in rural Kendall County when his pickup truck went off the road, striking a tree and then catching fire, Toftoy said. Avenarius was pronounced dead on the scene.

Learn more about auto accidents and auto safety at our auto safety blog or at our web site.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Semi Truck Overturns; Spills Hydrochloric Acid In Kansas City, Missouri

Brett Emison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:10:43 GMT

Several news organizations, including the Kansas City Star have reported an overturned tractor trailer spilled hydrochloric acid in the northbound lanes of I-35 on the Paseo Bridge in Kansas City, Missouri.

A semi overturned this morning in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 on the Paseo Bridge, forcing the closure of the bridge.

The north and eastside of the downtown loop is also closed. Emergency crews freed the driver and he was taken to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Emergency crews were concerned about the leaking chemical and a cloud of fumes that were blowing to the east. The semi was carrying about 4,500 gallons of hydrochloric acid, according to Battalion Chief Joe Vitale.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, short-term exposure to hydrochloric acid may cause “eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation and pulmonary edema in humans.”

Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in water. Hydrochloric acid, which has several industrial uses, is highly corrosive. In spills -- like the eighteen wheeler spill in Kansas City -- concentrated hydrochloric acid forms acidic clouds or mists. Both the acid cloud and the solution itself have a corrosive effect on human tissue, with potential damage to respiratory organs (lungs and trachea), eyes, skin and intestines. If combined with oxidizing chemicals, such as bleach, a toxic chlorine gas is produced.

Residents and motorists in North Kansas City should avoid the area where the spill occurred. Emergency responders are currently working to clear the site of the collision and to mitigate the effects of the acid cloud.

The deadly and far-reaching effects of this trucking accident shows how careful truckers and truck drivers must be. Too many people have been injured or killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

Nationwide, large trucks (known as tractor trailers, semi trucks, eighteen wheelers, diesel trucks, big rigs, or commercial trucks) make up only about 3% of the vehicles on the road. However, they account for far more traffic fatalities. For example, in Missouri, semi truck crashes make up as much as 15% of traffic deaths. In Illinois, tractor trailer crashes cause more than 10% of traffic deaths.

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

Poor Driver Training

Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

Speeding

Overloaded Trucks

Oversized Trucks

Brake Failure

Poor Driving Conditions

Driver Inexperience

Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Visit our trucking accident web site to learn more about trucking accident safety or trucking accident investigation.

Learn more and become a fan of Langdon & Emison on Facebook.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Side Effects: Thousands of Lawsuits Filed Across The Country

Brett Emison — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:18:56 GMT

There are reports of thousands of lawsuits across the country stemming from the serious and deadly side effects Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.

In fact, there are so many lawsuits coming into New Jersey over Yaz and its sister contraceptive, Yasmin, that the New Jersey judiciary is considering forming a mass tort case against Bayer, located in Wayne, New Jersey.

Courthouse News Service reports that Bayer is facing more than 125 lawsuits over Yaz and up to six new cases a day are being filed around the country. Lawyers predict there could be 1,000 cases filed in the state.

The cases have been filed against Bayer, maker of Yaz and Yasmin, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, which makes the generic version, Ocella.

***

All three oral contraceptives are among the most widely used and involve a combination of ethinyl estradiol with drospirenone. It has been linked to health problems including strokes, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease, pulmonary embolisms and death.

Bayer says its studies, which it financed, find cardiovascular risks among women on the Bayer products were comparable to an older formula of birth control pills and that patient safety is its top priority.

Buy Bayer’s credibility was questioned when the company received an FDA letter that it had to retract misleading television commercials that the FDA said overstated the drug’s efficacy and promoted it to relieve premenstrual syndrome, for which it is not approved. Bayer says it spent $20 million on the retraction.

Then in August, the FDA said Bayer did not follow proper quality control procedures in its drug making plant.

***

Federal Yaz litigation has already been consolidated for pretrial proceedings in an MDL or multidistrict litigation in East St. Louis. Pennsylvania state court is consolidating the Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits in Philadelphia.

"My role in this MDL is simply a reflection of the commitment of all us . . . to the women or families of women who suffered grave heath consequences after taking Yaz or Yasmin and just how seriously we take all our cases," said Mr. Niemeyer.

What Is An MDL? How Does An MDL Effect My Case?

You can find out more about MDLs and how they work at this recent post.

If you file your Yaz or Yasmin claim in federal court, the three co-lead counsels -- including Mark Niemeyer of our team of attorneys -- will manage the work up of your case until trial.

Who Are Members Of This Team Of Attorneys?

Standly Hamilton, based in Dallas, Texas, litigates cases involving important social issues, dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death.

How Do Yaz / Yasmin / Ocella Cause Such Serious Problems?

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been linked to serious side effects, such as heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), gallbladder disease and sudden cardiac death.

Learn More

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison