Hundreds of consumer complaints sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claim one of America’s most popular SUVs has a major design flaw. According to complaints, the Ford Explorer leaks carbon monoxide while motorists are driving. One case publicized by a CBS News article shows the defect is capable of causing serious or fatal injuries. The article describes the case of a Newport Beach officer who blacked out and crashed his Ford Explorer [...]

OxyContin and other powerful pain medications have ensnared more than two million Americans in a cycle of addiction. One of the reasons why people become addicted to these drugs is because they may have been misled by deceptive advertising. Prescription opioid medications are tied to a rich history of deceptive claims such as, “OxyContin has a low risk of addiction” or “OxyContin provides pain relief for 12 hours.” Oxycontin advertising tactics have attracted the attention [...]

Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary company, DePuy Orthopaedics, have been ordered by a Texas jury to pay six plaintiffs more than $1 billion in damages. According to a jury, both companies did not warn consumers about risks involved with using Pinnacle hip implants. Jurors also concluded both companies marketed Pinnacle hip replacements as safer and more durable than other alternatives. Johnson & Johnson and DePuy face an additional 8,000 lawsuits over its Pinnacle hip [...]

Last year, hoverboards captured national media attention for causing injuries and housefires. Batteries used in some hoverboards overheated and exploded without warning. However, hoverboards were not the only defective or dangerous product to hit the markets in 2015. It is important for parents to perform research before buying gifts because dangerous products are most likely to harm children. According to a 2014 study published in Clinical Pediatrics, toy injuries sent more than 3 million children [...]

Drug lawsuits hold manufacturers accountable for releasing life-ruining or dangerous medications. One of the best recent examples is Risperdal, an antipsychotic drug made by Johnson & Johnson. Earlier this year, a Tennessee teenager received $70 million from a lawsuit against the multinational company. The teenager claims Risperdal caused him to grow breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia. This is not the first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson involving allegations of Risperdal causing men to grow [...]

Over the last several years, a debate has developed on whether nanotechnology will become the next asbestos, or mass tort phenomenon. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring, small fibers that can be inhaled and trapped in the lungs. where they cause inflammation. Over time, it causes inflammation and disease. Asbestosis and mesothelioma are caused by long-term exposure to asbestos. Can nanoparticle exposure lead to similar illnesses? Nanoparticles are extremely small. They are so small [...]

Certain weather conditions are extremely dangerous for driving. No matter how prepared motorists are, these conditions significantly increase the risk of being involved in an auto accident. Employers in New Jersey should consider these risks before they ask employees to drive to work. Winter car accidents can cause injuries or deaths for workers driving to their jobs. Sleet: Sleet is a combination of ice, snow or rain. Between 2005 and 2014, sleet caused more than [...]

Winter is coming. For residents of New Jersey, cold weather means ice, snowfall and a higher probability of being involved in a car accident. Fortunately, we still have several weeks before cold weather arrives, and there is time to make sure our vehicles are ready. These winter safety tips may help. Six Winter Safety Tips to Prepare Your Vehicle for Cold Weather Check your tires: Check your tire pressure regularly throughout the winter months. Also [...]

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that can significantly increase the risk of causing an auto accident. Among those millions are commercial drivers operating big rigs, buses and other large vehicles. Sleep apnea can be screened for and treated once a diagnosis is made. However, progress has been slow to develop rules for sleep apnea screening. Why is it dangerous for commercial drivers to suffer from untreated sleep apnea? A study from [...]

Many people who receive hip replacement implants suffer from painful conditions that limit mobility, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Hip implants are supposed to improve the quality of life for these people by granting improved mobility and independence. However, several manufacturers have faced lawsuits for defective hip implants that caused significant health problems for these people. Metal-on-metal devices may cause the most significant health problems. For example, people implanted with Stryker Corporation’s Rejuvenate Modular [...]