Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

As a Dallas-Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyer, I’ve noticed many biker-oriented websites declare that now is the perfect time to buy a second-hand motorcycle as the prices have never been lower – not even Harley Davidsons. However, while it might be tempting to splash some cash on a great used bike, it is important that you do your due diligence to make sure the bike you’re purchasing is top quality and free from any manufacturing defects.

Before you go shopping, do your research. Most motorcyclists are familiar with different types of bikes already, but it’s always worth researching other enthusiasts’ recommendations online before settling on any particular make or model. It also allows you to try and find the best possible price. When you do go to look at a used vehicle, take a mechanic friend if you yourself are not an expert. Look for any clues that there might be something wrong with the bike: does it appear clean and in generally good condition; are the wheels properly aligned; is there any evidence that it may have been involved in a wreck in the past? There are a number of resources online which will allow you to check a motorcycle’s history by searching its VIN number (DWV.org, CycleVIN.com, Cyclechex.com). Good luck!

Since you’re saving money on a new (to you) bike, now is the perfect time to invest in a new DOT-certified helmet. Never buy a used helmet, for the most part they are worthless. Remember that the NHTSA recommends you replace your helmet every 2 to 4 years, so if yours is getting old, now might be the perfect time to upgrade. Trust me, as a DFW personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I know for a fact that motorcycle helmets save lives. If you don’t have one, you need one.

The defective medical devices attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm in Dallas-Fort Worth are looking for clients who have been adversely affected by the DePuy hip implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. Normal hip replacement prosthetics should last up to 25 years without any problems, but many DePuy patients have reported numerous problems including chronic pain, swelling and dislocation as a result of problems caused by the defective device. As a result, the manufacturers recalled the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System in August 2011.

Due to the serious nature of the defects associated with this faulty implants, roughly one in eight patients will be required to have revision surgery. Many more are at risk of developing metallosis pseudo tumors caused by the metal-on-metal design of this hip replacement system’s ball and cup.

If you or someone you love has needlessly suffered due to receiving this defective hip system, you do have legal options and you may be entitled to significant financial compensation above and beyond any payment DePuy or Johnson and Johnson might offer you for your “inconvenience.”

The personal injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm have a combined experience of more than 40 years fighting for the rights of clients in a range of defective devices, medical malpractice and dangerous pharmaceutical claims. To speak to an attorney regarding your personal situation, please call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

According to numerous citizen complaints, your dishwasher might be a hazard in your own home. Residents throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and across the US have complained that their dishwashers started smoking and caught fire. Fortunately, those affected were at home at the time of the incidents and were able to prevent a house fire, but their complaints to the dishwashing machine manufacturers have been largely ignored. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is now investigating the charges, which have been leveled against KitchenAid, Kenmore and Whirlpool. It is alleged that the three manufactures all use a defective design in the control panel of their appliances.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer with experience in dangerous and defective devices cases, I am shocked at the serious nature of this problem. I know that many people choose to switch their dishwasher on either just before heading out or going to bed, so it is a wonder that no one has been killed yet. Fortunately, Whirlpool (which owns KichenAid and Kenmore) has initiated an internal investigation into the complaints although they are dragging their feet on issuing a caution to registered customers regarding a possible recall.

If you have a Whirlpool, KitchenAid or Kenmore dishwasher which has exhibited any signs of malfunction which might be liked to this fire risk, you are encouraged to call Whirlpool’s consumer hotline at 800-422-1230.

If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt by a hazardous dishwasher or any other defective device or household appliance, you should speak to an attorney in order to determine your legal rights and responsibilities. You may be entitled to compensation. To speak with a board certified personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, call the Anderson Law Firm, toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

I don’t condone violence under any circumstances, but as a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I still wanted to share this video of a man “sedating” his friend in order to prevent him getting behind the wheel when he was clearly intoxicated. (Beware, the video does contain some bad language). Kudos to the potential drunk driver’s friends who prevented him from becoming another statistic. There is little doubt in my mind he would either have been arrested for a DWI or worse caused a car crash killing either himself or countless other innocent motorists.

If you look through the comments on the video, you’ll see that (like me) there are other people who think that the extreme measures portrayed in the video weren’t wholly necessary and offered alternatives methods of preventing someone who has had too much to drink from getting behind the wheel such as simply take their car keys.

Regardless, this video further highlight just how big a problem drunk driving is in our society. People need to get in the habit of planning ahead if they know they’re going to be drinking, so that the thought of driving home while obviously incapable doesn’t even cross their mind. The simplest solutions are to either designate a sober driver from your group of friends or make sure that you have cash set aside for a taxi. Remember: even though people seem to do it in Dallas-Fort Worth every day, driving while intoxicated is illegal.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, it is important that you consult with a personal injury and wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation. To learn about your legal rights, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900. We offer completely free, no obligation consultations to drunk driver’s victims.

The Anderson Law Firm is currently accepting clients who have been affected by the recall of DePuy hip replacement implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics (Johnson & Johnson). With one in eight patients experiencing extreme pain and other problems associated with the DePuy hip implants, 25,000 patients in the US alone have already been required to have corrective surgery as a result of these defective medical devices and the personal injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm are ready to make sure you get the full and fair compensation you deserve from the product’s manufacturer.

The affected prosthetics are the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. If you’re not sure if these are the devices you received, you should consult with your doctor’s office who will be able to confirm the exact product you received.

For more information on the dangerous side effects associated with the DePuy hip implants or to learn about your legal rights as an innocent victim, please call an attorney today toll free at 800-354-6275. Alternatively, you may call us locally in Fort Worth, Texas at 817-294-1900.

The antiepileptic medicine Dilantin (Phenytonin) has been connected to the life-threatening skin reactions Steven Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (also known as Leyll’s Syndrome). Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) causes rashes, blisters and bleeding to appear across the patient’s body, face and genital areas but becomes increasingly serious as it evolves into skin lesions and inflammation of the mouth, throat, nasal passages, genital tract and intestinal tract. Dilantin patients who develop Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) have a fatality rate of approximately 25 percent.

The dangerous drug lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm are outraged at the suffering of patients who have been prescribed Dilantin and its generic forms and are currently accepting cases against the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture this potentially deadly drug.

If you have been affected by Dilantin (Phenytonin) you deserve justice for the pain and bodily injuries you have suffered. If someone you love has died as a result of taking Dilantin, you are entitled to bring a wrongful death case against the medication’s manufacturer.

For more information on your legal right to compensation, please call the Anderson Law Firm today to speak to a medical attorney. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

There was a time when most people in the DFW area would laugh if they saw someone out and about riding a Segway. It’s still a relatively unusual site today, although the two-wheeled personal transportation vehicles are increasingly growing in popularity – especially with mall security companies, guided tour groups and some wealthier local citizens.

Although Segways are generally still quite rare in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, there still exists the potential for serious injuries to occur in a range of potential accidents involving Segways.

Pedestrians are at risk of suffering serious injuries if they are hit by a Segway rider, just the same as if they were hit by a car or a motorcycle. Of course, the potential for a transporter-pedestrian collision is drastically higher since Segways typically ride along the sidewalk rather than in the roadway which even bicycles rider must do.

Of course, Segway riders themselves are just as much at risk from suffering life-threatening injuries if they were involved in a wreck with another vehicle such as a car or truck. They don’t have any protection which means they are extremely vulnerable in the event of a serious collision.

Given the nature of upright two-wheeler transporters, there is a steep learning curve to learn how to safely operate them. Added to this, there have been numerous reports of defective problems with certain Segway products which have prompted almost 30,000 Segways to be recalled since the devices were first released to the public in 2003.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a Segway – regardless of whether or not you were the operator/passenger – it is important that you seek legal advice on your personal situation. If you were not at fault for the accident occurring, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Fort Worth area personal injury attorney, I know that cyclists need to take every precaution to stay safe on the roads. This means learning your rights and responsibilities as a road user, but also making sure you use all available safety devices such as a helmet or lights. You should also make sure that your bike is regularly maintained and sign up for recall notices from the manufacturer just in case a problem is identified with your make and model in the future.

Trek Bicycle Corporation has announced a recall of 27,000 units of their Trek 2012 FX and District bicycle models due to a problem with the bike’s seat saddle. A bolt holding the saddle clamp in place has been identified as inferior and several cyclists have already reported incidents of the bold breaking, causing a fall hazard which could result in a serious crash if cycling in traffic. The most serious accident so far reported resulted in the rider suffering a broken tooth and lip injuries, but there is a potential for far more serious injuries to occur.

Owners of the Trek 7.2 FX, 7.3 FX, 7.4 FX, AND 7.5 FX; District, and 9th District bicycle models: WSD, Livestrong and Disc models are asked to stop using these recalled bicycles immediately and to contact an authorized Trek bicycle dealer to arrange for a free replacement bolt to be installed.

If you or a loved one has suffered a preventable injury due to a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation in the state of Texas. For more information on your personal case, please contact the Dallas-Fort Worth bicycle accident and injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

We see them every time we walk into a shop; they are so commonplace that we don’t think of them as unusual. But we should. Retail hooks used to display merchandise in all kinds of stores across Dallas-Fort Worth are dangerous.

As a personal injury lawyer, I know that accidents can happen anywhere, which is why I constantly advocate for safety precautions to try and prevent as many accidental injuries from occurring in the first place. Display hooks are one hazard which is completely unnecessary.

A close examination of any such hook will demonstrate to you just how dangerous these devices could potentially be. Most are thin metal wires with an unprotected, blunt-cut end. If someone was to fall against them they would likely suffer a cut, scratch or piercing of the skin. Even those hooks which do have some kind of protection (usually a small plastic cap or the hook has been rounded rather than having a sharp end) still pose a danger.

Children are the group most at risk from suffering display hook injuries since many of these hooks are place within their eye level range. If they were to hit a hook with their eye they would suffer serious eye damage which could possibly result in permanent vision loss. Even those hooks which have “protection” can cause serious eye damage because the surface area is still insufficient to distribute the pressure which can result in a penetration injury.

Retail stores need to be held accountable in the case of such injuries occurring. They have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all of their customers – which includes children in addition to adults.

If you or a loved one have been injured in any kind of accident which was not your fault, call me today at 8517-294-1900 to get a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

The recent spate of hit and run accidents in Dallas over the past decade have taken a particular toll on one DFW family. Andrew Green Sr. lost his father due to a hit-and-run accident in 2003 and his son, Andrew Green Jr., 14, was also killed by a negligent driver who failed to stop to render aid this week.

Green Jr. was run over by an SUV while crossing Skillman Street and Church Road in Northeast Dallas on Saturday morning. The car allegedly dragged the boy 20 feet before the driver disappeared from the scene. The teenager’s cousin, Jordan Green, was a witness to the collision and he has told police that the dangerous driver didn’t even stop to check Green Jr. was okay. Instead, he sped away from the scene, leaving the boy dead in the road.

As a North Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I have handled many hit-and-run accident cases for clients and their families over the past 20 years. There are generally two courses of action:

The first course of action is to find the guilty driver who committed the crime. In addition to taking criminal action against them, you are also entitled to make a civil claim for compensation against their insurance company. Obviously, no amount of money can relieve the grief of losing a loved one, but it can at least repay the financial costs you may have endured because of their death and offer some sense of justice. Finding a hit-and-run driver isn’t always easy, but by hiring an experienced attorney their in-house investigator will continue to pursue the at-fault driver in addition to the police department’s investigation.

The second course of action is to make a claim against your uninsured motorists insurance coverage if you have it. This is optional coverage you might have in addition to your basic auto insurance and it even covers you as a pedestrian if you are hurt by a hit-and-run driver. For more information on making this kind of claim, feel free to give me a call at 214-327-8000.

My thoughts are with Andrew’s family and loves ones at this most difficult time. I am incredibly sorry for your loss. I sincerely hope that the driver who hit your son is found and brought to justice.

If you believe you may have any information which might be helpful identifying this driver, please call the Dallas Police Department at 214-671-3661.

If you have taken the popular diabetes drug Actos and have since been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries. This summer, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about Actos and its link to bladder cancer in long-time users.

At the Anderson Law Firm, our Texas Actos lawyers are currently reviewing Actos claims. If you have developed bladder cancer because of Actos, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. As with all of our legal services, we work on what is called a contingency fee scale. That means our lawyers are only paid out of the amount of money recovered through your claim. Basically, we don’t get paid unless we win.
To find out more about Actos and bladder cancer, or to learn more about what you can recover from your Actos claim, contact the pharmaceutical lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm today.

Less than a week after a Plano student died after falling from an apartment balcony in Austin, three men were injured in a balcony collapse accident which happened in Denton on Saturday night. Tony Garcia, Grant Draper and Garrett Draper went out on a balcony at The Grove Apartments to smoke their cigarettes only for the balcony to collapse beneath them, resulting in the men falling three floors to the ground. The three men were flown to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth by air ambulance to be treated for their injuries. Garrett Draper is currently listed in serious condition, while Tony Garcia and Grant Draper are believed to be in fair condition.

As a Denton County personal injury lawyer, I have been intrigued by this case due to the way the management of The Grove Apartments seem to be avoiding giving any solid answers to the media following this tragedy. The general manager of the student-targeted complex, Christine Vogiatzis, told reporters that “the balcony involved in this incident was a non-weight bearing structure,” yet she declined to confirm whether residents were notified of that. One reason that her comments are being questioned is the fact the apartment these men fell from had double doors leading out to the balcony.

The Grove Apartments only opened to residents this August, and they have already come under fire from multiple residents for the generally poor construction of the units. Since the balcony collapse accident on the weekend, more residents have voiced their concern about the perceived disregard for safety shown by The Grove’s management team. Many residents have taken to Facebook to air their concerns and complaints about the complex. The Grove has responded by removing their Facebook page.

I would urge the injury victims and their families to consult with a Texas personal injury and wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights to compensation to cover medical expenses and other costs as a result of this accident.

The FDA’s investigation into the complications caused by transvaginal mesh have concluded that women who have received the treatment may suffer far greater complications that those who receive alternative treatments for their pelvic organ prolapse. Common symptoms associated with vaginal mesh implants include chronic discomfort, pain during sex, infection, bleeding and vaginal scarring among others. The non-profit organization Public Citizen has strongly urged the FDA to recall all transvaginal mesh devices.

Have you been effected by this defective medical device?

Pelvic organ prolapse typically occurs in women soon after childbirth or a hysterectomy. It can also occur following the onset of menopause. Experts estimated that thousands of women throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and across America have received the transvaginal mesh implant. Due to lack of sufficient testing, the very real danger that the device poses to women’s health was not known until recently.

If you believe your doctor treated your pelvic organ prolapse with vaginal mesh surgery, it’s important that you do have legal rights. Contact the personal injury attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm for a no fee, no obligation consultation. Our lawyers are experienced in medical malpractice cases and defective products cases.

Call us toll free from anywhere in Texas at 800-354-6275, or call locally at 817-294-1900.

Now days, it seems like all prescription medications have a huge list of side effects, just listen to the drug commercials on TV. But when do the possible side effects or consequences of taking a drug outweigh the medicine’s benefits? This summer, the FDA made a warning about the nation’s most popular diabetes pill, Actos and its ability to increase the risk of bladder cancer in long-time users.

This warning was based on research found in a five year study conducted by the drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Actos has already been banned in France and Germany and in America; lawsuits are piling up against the manufacturer of the drug for failure to warn its takers of the risk of cancer.

In my 20+ year’s experience practicing personal injury law in Fort Worth, I’ve learned that it can take years before people realize that their physical ailments, like cancer or heart disease, have been caused by dangerous drugs. I urge you, if you are taking Actos talk to your doctor, especially if you have been taking it for a number of years or have a history of cancer. If you have bladder cancer and think it could be related to the drug Actos, call myself and the other pharmaceutical attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth. We are currently reviewing Actos bladder cancer cases and may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have handled a number of defective product cases, where a product or device was released for sale to the public before it was properly ready. However, it is usual that an accident occurs on live television, as is the case in this funny video I found of a man in a jetpack – yes, a jetpack – crashing in spectacular fashion in San Diego. Fortunately, he was unhurt, but it just goes to show how accidents can happen anywhere and new products are being invented all the time which have the potential to injure people.

If you have been hurt in a Texas car wreck, motorcycle crash, truck collision or other accident you might be interested in Mark Anderson’s book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. For a free copy of the book, or to request a complimentary no obligation consultation on your personal injury case, call a Dallas-Fort Worth Accident and Injury Attorney toll free at 800-354-6275.

After two years of uncertainty, due to a legal challenge and a subsequent appeal, Texas House Bill 148 has finally become law. The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2009, makes it illegal for lawyers or medical professionals (such as chiropractors) to solicit car wreck victims within the first 30 days following their accident. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney with 20 years’ experience, I wholeheartedly support this law. The so-called “ambulance chasers” that this law targets are fortunately few and far between, but they give my industry as a whole a bad name. I do not sue negligent drivers for the sake of winning a windfall payout for my clients; I help people that have been injured through no fault of their own make a successful claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. The victim of a drunk driver should not have to ruin their credit or put themselves at risk of bankruptcy due to the medical expenses incurred simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time – the negligent motorist’s insurance company should.

While I welcome this legislation into law, however, I feel there is still work to be done. Traffic collision victims and their family members need time to comprehend the often life-changing event which has unexpectedly taken place. The injured person needs time to both mentally and physically recuperate. So why are insurance adjustors allowed to visit them in their hospital room? It’s true and it happens every day. Why do they do this? They can exploit the patient’s vulnerable state and get them to sign a release accepting an offensively low settlement figure, which will not even come close to covering the debt they will incur as a result of being in an accident. This is all about the insurance company minimizing their losses. I think it is a most unethical practice. Texas law gives accident victims the right to a fair settlement which compensated them for all medical costs and any loss of income caused by being involved in a crash.

It is a great thing that Texas accident victims are now protected from unscrupulous lawyers and medical professionals, but they also need protection from the equally bad insurance adjustors.

Mark Anderson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is the author of the books 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case and Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, we try to update the public about dangerous products and product recalls as much as we can by using our blogs, like this one. Our accident and injury attorneys know that these unsafe products are a hazard to our families and we want the public to be informed as much as possible. However, with so many product recalls and dangerous toys and the like out there, it’s impossible for us to keep up with all of them!

Did you know products like toys, cookware and lawn equipment can be considered defective even if there is no product recall? No matter how big or small, defective products can cause serious injuries to people, especially children. Texas law provides that people injured by unreasonably dangerous products are entitled to be compensated for their injuries—but what do you need to prove that the item was indeed defective and dangerous?

At the Anderson Law Firm, we recommend the following steps if you’ve been injured by an unsafe product:
• Save the product in its current condition
• Save all the manuals, instructions and paperwork that goes with the product
• Get the information of any witnesses that saw the accident happen
• Take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries
• If you are hurt, seek medical attention immediately
• Write down your injury symptoms days after the accident
• Do not give a recorded statement, sign a medical records authorization, or accept a settlement before talking to a products liability attorney

Following this advice will help you to get most value from your products liability accident claim. If you’ve been injured by a defective product, call the Fort Worth product liability attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm for a free case consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at 817-294-1900.

Have you seen those electronic billboards across Texas, cautioning you to look twice for motorcyclists? Well, the reason for the emphasis on motorcycle safety is that in addition to May being National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, TxDOT is also running their own "Share The Road" campaign to encourage motorists to pay greater attention to two-wheeled fellow road users.

There are over 960,000 motorcyclists in Texas, which makes up about one percent of all the traffic in Texas, yet motorcyclists are involved in 14 percent of all wrecks. As a Tarrant County personal injury attorney who has been helping injured bikers for 20 years, I know that it's extremely rare that the motorcyclist is at fault. With the number of Texan bikers expected to double by 2015, encouraging all motorists to pay greater attention to their surroundings and to other vehicles is particularly timely.

The slogan for TxDOT's campaign is "Seeing Them Is Saving Them." Given the current distracted driving epidemic, this is extraordinarily appropriate. Any time a driver fails to give their complete attention to the road, their surroundings and the safe operation of their vehicle, they are causing a hazard both to themselves and others. Since motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable and not as noticeable as cars and trucks, we all need to make sure we are extra alert to avoid a collision.

Here are a few important points to remember which could potentially save a motorcyclist's life:

• Always look twice to be sure
• Be respectful of all road users
• Give them space
• Anticipate potential hazards before they occur.

That's great advice for safe driving anyway!

Mark Anderson is a board certified bike wreck lawyer and author of the book Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a traffic collision which was not your fault, call now for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

I find it incredibly frustrating as a Crowley personal injury lawyer anytime a big company announces a mass recall of one their products. Particularly when the product in question is something which the public purchases with safety in mind, and is mistakenly led to believe that by purchasing this brand and model over another they are actually making the safer choice – only to find out months or years later that their purchase is defective and potentially dangerous. Why wasn’t this problem discovered before it was released to the market? Such bad conduct by major corporations puts our families – our children – at risk, and in my opinion is entirely unacceptable.

Two such recalls were announced this afternoon.

Toyota (yes, them again) have recalled years 2007-2008 models of their RAV4 line along with Highlander and Highland HV models which were produced in 2008 due to problems with the sensors which cause driver and passenger airbags to deploy in the event of a traffic accident. This latest recall will affect more than 3000,000 vehicles sold in the US. If you are affected by this latest recall you should contact your nearest Toyota dealership.

Kiddieland Toys Limited have also announced a recall today of their Lights and Sounds line of Children’s Scooters due to a laceration hazard. As a parent, those are words you really don’t want to see together in a sentence. The recall was announced following reports of children getting their fingers caught in the hinge mechanism, necessitating stitches. 16,700 scooters are affected. Parents are being advised to contact Kiddieland directly to request a free repair kit.

Mark Anderson is a board-certified Tarrant County PI and wrongful death attorney. If you or a loved one have been hurt in an accident which was not your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 817-294-1900.

The defective medical devices and medical malpractice lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm are currently accepting clients for a potential claim against DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc. Between 2005 and 2010, approximately 93,000 patients received defective hip replacements which were later recalled by DePuy. Close to 49% of the people who received the artificial hips reported chronic pain and other symptoms to their doctors. In most cases, further surgical revision was required, and in some cases a second hip replacement operation was necessary.

The affected prostheses are the DePuy Orthapaedics ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement System or ASR Hip Resurfacing System.

If you believe you received either of these devices, you should contact the hospital where you received your surgery to find out. Testing is available to patients to help determine wither you may also experience problems with the devices. Please also contact the Anderson Law Firm as soon as possible for a free, no obligation consultation on your case. Companies that manufacture medical prosthetics make a lot of money from their products, and the fact that these hips have caused so many people so many problems is simply inexcusable. Call us now, toll free at 800-354-6275. There is no obligation, and unless we win a settlement for you, you won’t owe us a penny.

For more information on the DePuy artificial hip recall, click here.

Yesterday Toyota announced another recall on 2011 Model Year Sienna minivans that could affect many Tarrant County residents. The 94,126 vehicles that are in question were built between December 22, 2009 and November 4, 2010. The condition could cause brake lights to remain on or they could become partially engaged due to contact from the bracket, ultimately reducing braking effectiveness.
No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall, and Toyota said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition. The stop lamp switch bracket is welded on to the left side of the brake pedal support assembly. The stop lamp switch provides a signal that indicates the brake pedal has been depressed and illuminates the brake lights.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive an interim notification advising them of this recall by first class mail in the near future, along with instructions for what to do if they experience this condition and how to minimize the possibility of inadvertently contacting the stop lamp switch bracket while operating the parking brake. The automaker will also post this information on its website. Owners will receive a second notice by first class mail in early 2011, once replacement parts become available, and asked to make an appointment with a Toyota dealer to have the remedy performed at no charge.

I am glad that Toyota dealers will replace the brake pedal support assembly, which includes the stop lamp switch bracket, with a new one that has been redesigned to take into account the proximity of the component to the parking brake pedal. I drive a Toyota sports utility vehicle and am disappointed with Toyota and all of their problems. Toyota has had many problems this year with previous recalls. I am seriously concerned about the products Toyota puts on the road.

Information and commentary provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached at 817-294-1900. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of someone else, please call or fill out our contact card for a free consultation.

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and Christmas is right around the corner. This time of year always involves previews for late-year blockbuster films, the latest toys and gadgets and promotions for new automobiles. However, consumers in Fort Worth should be very cautious of what vehicles are being recalled.

Nearly everyone has heard of the Toyota recalls and problems with Ford vehicles and rollovers. Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating more late-model vehicles for potentially unsafe defects. Some 150,000 Honda CR-Vs made for model year 2006 are being scrutinized to determine whether or not a wiring defect in the power windows may lead to fires within the door panel. Another 41,000 cars -these units of the 2007 Kia Optima – are being inspected with regard to a transmission problem. The concern is that the shift cable in the Optima’s automatic transmission might become detached, allowing the car to slip out of gear. In one instance, a vehicle exhibiting this failure rolled away while parked.

Recalls are very serious and are often the cause of wrecks. The consequences of a fire from a faulty wiring cold not have a good outcome for the car and if the car is parked in the garage could cause a house fire. A slow growing fire could cause a driver to panic and cause an automobile accident. A bad transmission is an even more direct danger, an unreliable transmission could lead to sudden changes of speed and a runaway vehicle could cause multiple vehicle collisions. In 2007, there were 37,248 fatal deaths in the United States and over 1.7 million people were injured from a car accident. Car accidents will always occur, but they should not be from recalls. If you are buying a car this season, do your research and make your best decision.

Information and commentary provided by Dallas and Fort Worth Car Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be contacted in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have questions about a car accident, please fill out our contact card for a free consultation.

Two people died in an accident around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night in the southeast Dallas. Police say that Lashon Hudson, the motorcycle, struck a pedestrian, Paul Pellard, while driving in south in the 6200 block of Bonnie View Rd., near I-20 and I-45.

Police say the biker was speeding and doing a wheelie when he hit a man walking across the road. Pellard flew across the medium into oncoming traffic. Hudson then lost control of the bike and ran into a speed limit sign where he was knocked off and fell under a DART bus.

Bellard did not use the crosswalk. Bellard failed to yield right of way to the motorcycle being ridden by Hudson and was hit.

Our hearts go out to the families of the two victims. It’s hard to hear of a tragedy like this that could have been avoided had the motorcyclist not been speeding and if Bellard had used a cross walk and yielded the right of way.

In 2007 there were 4,654 pedestrians killed in vehicle collisions in the U.S. 67% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. For your safety, always follow pedestrian crossing laws. Cross with the right of way, and cross in crosswalks—where people expect to see you.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident or pedestrian accident and have questions please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

The City of Fort Worth, Texas has offered $2 million to resolve a pending lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr. Mr. Jacobs died on April 18, 2009 after he had been shot for a total of 54 seconds by a Fort Worth police officer. The officer who had used the Taser had “inadvertently” held the trigger down for 49 seconds the first time she shot Jacobs. This incident occurred in front of Mr. Jacobs’ family home and was watched by his entire family. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office has ruled Mr. Jacobs’ death a homicide, but the Fort Worth police officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing by a Tarrant County Grand Jury.

The lawsuit was apparently brought on civil rights grounds in Federal Court, which makes the state’s statutory immunity limits of $750,000.00 inapplicable. As such, there was no limit on the amount of money that the family of Mr. Jacobs could pursue.

The $2 million settlement is the largest settlement of any injury or death paid out by the City of Fort Worth. The plaintiffs were represented by Brian Eberstein of Dallas, who clearly did a great job on this case for the family. To achieve such a large settlement, and so quickly, is commendable.

Information provided by Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson who can be reached at (817) 294-1900 or by visiting the Anderson Law Firm’s accident and injury website at www.maafirm.com.

Graco Children’s Products, a popular brand of children and baby products, has recalled 1.2 million Harmony highchairs.

These highchairs pose a danger due to two defects that can cause the chair to tip over unexpectedly. The screws holding the front legs in place can loosen and fall out, and the plastic brackets on the legs can crack and cause the chair to tip over without warning. So far these defects have resulted in 464 reports of chairs falling over, with 24 reported cases of injuries to children, including everything from minor bumps and bruises to cuts and even a fractured arm.

The Harmony highchairs are no longer in production, and were manufactured from November 2003 to December 2009. If you have one of these chairs, you should stop using it an once and contact Graco for a repair kit, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For more information, contact Graco at (877) 842-3206, or visit their website, www.gracobaby.com.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, and toll free at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

Four people died in a car wreck the day after Christmas in Southlake due to alleged acceleration problems with a Toyota Avalon. A lawsuit was filed on Thursday against the Japanese automaker for the death of one of the four passengers of the car. I blogged about this accident here.

This is at least the third law suit filed against Toyota in Texas. All suits involve the vehicle speeding or accelerating out of control. For more information about the recalls specifically please click here or here.

According to the Southlake Police Department’s report, Monty Hardy was driving the car on Lonesome Dove Road and failed to stop at a T intersection with Burney Lane. The vehicle crossed the road, went over an embankment, went through a mental fence, and ended up being up-side-down in a six foot deep pond.

My deepest sympathy goes out to all four lives lost in this tragic accident. I sincerely hope that these recalls are resolved and taken more seriously before there is even more of a problem with fatal accidents around the country. It seems like every day there is a new problem involving Toyota. I hope justice is served in their case, and can help bring the families some closure.

This information is provided by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or online by clicking here.

I recently blogged about Toyota’s 4.2 million vehicle recall after concerns that the floor mats were getting caught up beneath the accelerator pedal; this defect causes uncontrollable acceleration which caused several wrecks and killed four people in San Diego. Now, they are recalling 2.3 million vehicles due to a similar problem; however, this time, the defect is in the pedal itself, not the floor mat.

The cars affected in the recall:

2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

The cars affected by this recall AND the floor mat recall:

2005-2010 Avalon
2007-2010 Camry
2007-2010 Tundra

According to Toyota, these vehicles are at risk for the accelerator pedal to become stuck even without a floor mat present. The problem is that the pedal mechanism can wear down and in some cases causing the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return, or even stuck. Toyota thinks the problem is caused by build-up of condensation on sliding surfaces in the accelerator system.

Unfortunately, the company does not yet have an actual fix for the problem, although they say they are working on one. The company will be contacting drivers affected by the recall immediately.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, problem is "a serious safety issue and we are pleased Toyota is taking immediate action to address it."

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, or toll fee anywhere in the state at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

A bizarre and fatal car accident occurred in Southlake, Texas at the intersection of Lonesome Dove and Burney Lane yesterday morning. It is not known what caused the Toyota Avalon to leave the road, smash through a metal fence, run into a tree and flip over into a private pond. The two people pronounced dead at Baylor Regional Medical Center in Grapevine were Monty Hardy, 56, of Southlake and Hadassah Vance, 35, of Euless. Then, today the two other occupants of the car, Wendy Akion, 38, of Irving, and Sharon Ransom, 56, of Grapevine, also died at Baylor Grapevine.

The cause of the horrible accident is still being investigated. According to the Southlake Police Department; there were no skid marks on the road. Was it a defect or malfunction of the Toyota? Those cars have been subject to a massive recall for floor mats which cause the accelerator to stick. (see my prior blog here for info on the recall). With there being no skid marks, you have to first think that the accelerator must have been stuck. If so, the families of these four innocent victims might very well have a major products liability case to pursue.

I feel very sorry for the families of these four victims. For them, I hope answers come fast.

Information and legal commentary provided by Texas Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, phone 817-294-1900, contact online.

Parents in the Fort Worth Dallas area beware. In its second big recall of the year, Stork Craft Manufacturing of Canada has recalled 1.2 million cribs in the United States and nearly 1 million in Canada, where the company is based. The cribs involved in the recall have drop-down sides and have been sold since 1993. According to the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, this type of crib will probably be completely eliminated due to its danger to children. Stork Craft has received 4 reports of infant suffocation due to this type of crib.

The problem with the drop-down side crib is that the drop-side can detach and create a space between the drop-side and the crib mattress where children can become trapped and suffocate. The hardware holding these sides in place can break or become damaged over the years creating the suffocation danger. In January, Stork Craft recalled about 500,000 cribs because of problems with the metal brackets that support the mattress.

For years advocates have complained about drop-side cribs, and more than 5 million have been recalled over the past two years for contributing to the deaths of a dozen young children. ASTM, an organization that sets voluntary safety standards for all sorts of consumer products, approved a new standard recently for fixed sides for full-size cribs. Toys “R” Us started phasing out drop-side cribs earlier this year and after next month will no longer carry them.

So why has it taken the CPSC so long to recall these dangerous cribs? According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, “We have just not been acting as quickly as we should have…on these types of incidents.” CPSC is now considering adopting ASTM’s voluntary standard, banning drop-side cribs completely.

If you have a drop-side Stork Craft crib, the CPSC recommends getting rid of it completely, or at least ordering the repair kit to immobilize the drop-side. You can obtain a free repair kit at www.storkcraft.com, or call the company at 877-274-0277. Some of the Stork Craft cribs have the Fisher Price logo, and some have “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” on the drop-side. For the full report at CPSC, click here.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Easton Sports recalled all of their EA30 bicycle stems last week because the stem can crack and cause the rider to lose control of the bike and fall. Already one cyclist has been injured as a result of these faulty stems.

Bikes with this stem were sold from August 2007 through August 2009. Aftermarket stems were sold through September 2009. The EA30 is black with white and gray graphics and a four-bolt stem face cap. “EA30” is printed on the stem.

Easton Sports is providing a free replacement stem for the EA30’s involved in the recall. For more details, call Easton Sports toll free at 1-866-892-6059, or click here to read their recall notice. Click here to read the entire notice on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Popular British baby stroller and accessory company Maclaren, which promotes itself as being stylish, innovative, and safe, issued a huge voluntary recall yesterday of close to one million folding strollers.

The stroller involved in the recall is the single and double umbrella style stroller, which includes models Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller. The stroller poses a danger to children because the folding hinge can cut or even amputate children’s fingers. The recall comes after 12 reports of fingertip amputation in the U.S.

According to Maclaren’s website, owners of these strollers can obtain a free repair kit to cover the stroller’s hinge mechanism. To find out more from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Here in the Dallas Fort Worth area, you hear about it in the news every now and then: a drug is recalled because of potentially dangerous or fatal side effects. What they typically don’t tell you about is how the FDA comes to the conclusion that a drug is dangerous enough to call for it to be “pulled off of the shelves.” It usually isn’t because of theoretical case studies. Drug recalls are usually a result of a pattern of injuries, sometimes fatalities, which are reported to the federal database. Unfortunately, those people who suffered the consequences wrongly, but justifiably, believed they were taking a safe drug.

Legal remedies for drug-related injuries
If you follow my blog, you’ll notice that I’ve posted a couple of articles about the Vermont woman who sued Wyeth over a drug injected for anti-nausea that ultimately led to losing her arm. Wyeth appealed her lawsuit all the way to the United States Supreme Court, citing a federal preemption that could potentially ban patients from suing pharmaceutical companies at all. Fortunately, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the patient’s right to sue, overturning the ban and making it possible for patients to seek legal remedies in the event of a drug injury.

Thanks in part to that federal ruling, patients have the right to pursue legal remedies in the event of a botched or dangerous drug case. As information about dangerous drugs becomes more publicly available, patients may find that even though they didn’t think they had a case, they can pursue legal action against a drug company for their injuries.

Don’t let a drug company get away with putting potentially dangerous drugs on the market. If you’ve suffered a drug-related injury, contact a personal injury attorney to find out whether you’re eligible to pursue a legal case against the drug company. You’re not only advocating for yourself; you’re potentially protecting anyone else who might ever use the drug and find themselves injured or killed.

Currently, the Anderson Law Firm is reviewing cases involving the dangerous drugs Reglan (or Metoclopramide), Avandia and Chantix. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of taking these drugs, contact us online or at 877-294-1115.

About 300,000 robes have been recalled, including full length robes, jackets, lounge jackets and tops. The chenille items were sold in Blair stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware and nationally in Blair catalogs from 2000-2007.

Most of the deaths linked to the robes occurred when the victims were cooking; the chenille proved highly flammable when it came into contact with the cooking flame. Most of the victims were in their 70s and 80s.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Blair LLC initiated the recall of the items that were made by A-One Textile & Towel, of Karachi, and were manufactured in Pakistan.

For more information, visit the Blair recall website.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted toll free at 877-294-1115, or by clicking here.

The Consumer Product Safety Committee recalled millions of window blinds and shades Wednesday because of their danger to children. The recall includes blinds and shades sold at Pottery Barn Kids and IKEA as well as many brands sold at retailers like Target.

Three children have died as a result of becoming caught and strangled in the exposed cords that move the blinds up and down. Two of the blinds that caused deaths were the Lewis Hyman roll-up blind, sold at retail stores from 1999-2003, and the Woolrich roman shade, sold at Target from 2006-2008. Customers should contact the company for a free repair kit. A Vertical Land blind, sold in Florida from 1992-2006, caused the third death. Customers of this product should contact the company for a free retrofit kit.

Roman shades were recalled from Pottery Barn Kids and William Sonoma after six children were found with cords wrapped around their necks. Fortunately, none of these children died. Roman Melina blinds were also recalled from IKEA after a child was found hanging from the cord nearly strangled to death. Customers of these blinds should return them to Pottery Barn Kids, Williams Sonoma, and IKEA for a refund.

The problem with these types of shades is the exposed cord that moves the blinds up and down. A child playing with or near the blinds can easily become entangled in this cord and die of strangulation if not found and disentangled immediately.

For a complete list of the recalls and more details about the types of blinds involved, click here.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900, or by clicking here.

Litigation is about to begin surrounding the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility which happened back on May 2. The collapse injured 11 people and permanently paralyzed Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm.

Behm has hired Dallas-based injury lawyer Frank Branson who has already deposed the president of the company who built the structure—Summit Structures. Branson has also asked for company records; apparently, the Cowboys were aware of a previous structure failure constructed by Summit Structures, but chose to go with them anyway when building the practice dome.

Behm will not be suing the Cowboys, however, since Behm was covered by worker’s compensation, which bars him from filing suit against the organization.

Instead, Behm will go after Summit Structures for the poor building quality which left Behm with permanent life-changing injuries. According to Irving building code, the practice facility was supposed to have been able to stand wind gusts up to 90 mph. The day of the storm, winds were between 70 and 85 mph according to the National Weather Service.

Apparently, Summit Structures President, Nathan Stobbe is basing his defense on the severe weather and “downdraft” of wind that fateful day. A civil proceeding to allow for pre-lawsuit discovery has been filed. A lawsuit will no doubt follow soon.

Information provided by Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson 817-294-1900.

June and July are officially designated National Fireworks Safety Months. Each state has differerent laws regarding the use of fireworks based on factors determined by the state fire marshalls. Texas, like most Midwestern states, allows the use of all consumer fireworks and requires those who operate special effects to have a permit and be at least 21 years of age. You must be at least 12 years old to purchase consumer fireworks.

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as the 4th of July holiday weekend approaches. Information provided by the National Council on Fireworks Safety:

* Use ALL fireworks and sparklers outside
* All users should be at least 12 years old
* Obey all local laws and bans
* Do not alter fireworks--use them only as intended
* Designate a "shooter" as you would a designated driver--alcohol and fireworks do not mix
* Use common sense and always use extreme caution when lighting fireworks

The Anderson Law Firm wishes everyone a fun and safe Independence Day!

General Motors and Chrysler have thrown in the towel and after taking billions of our tax dollars, they have filed for bankruptcy. This means that the company stockholders and a whole lot of other people are left with nothing. The focus in the news has been on the dealers who have lost their dealerships and on all of the job losses. But there has been little mentioned about the affect the two bankruptcies will have on the victims of defective vehicles that were produced by the two manufacturers.

People are injured all the time by defects in these cars and trucks and I sincerely believe that the past lawsuits against the manufacturers have forced the companies produce safer cars. Sometimes, fear of litigation is not such a bad thing. But those poor folks who have suffered the loss of a loved one or who were seriously hurt because of a defective Chrysler or GM vehicle, have just seen their lawsuit go away. There is virtually zero chance that these victims will ever recover a dime in either of these two very complicated bankruptcies.

It also appears that the bankruptcies will forever extinguish the rights of people who are injured in the future as a result of defective cars which were manufactured before these bankruptcies were filed. Sound crazy? Absolutely! Unfortunately, if you become injured in 2010 as a result of a known defect in your 2008-model GM or Chrysler car that exploded upon impact and paralyzed you, it means you will have no right to sue the maker of the car for the known defect.

It doesn't seem fair at all, but that's exactly what all the smart bankruptcy lawyers are saying. They are aware of this fact and it might have even been one of the multiple reasons for the comanys' decision to file in the first place.

Arguably, there should be a way to set aside some money for the potential future lawsuits, or make Fiat or the New GM somehow responsible when these suits arise. But that's just not going to happen, which is too bad for us consumers.

Mark A. Anderson is an injury attorney based in Fort Worth, Texas and can be reached at 817-294-1900 or contact him online.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, or any other type of accident for that matter, you have a ton of options when it comes down to hiring a lawyer for your Texas accident claim. Hiring an attorney is a very important decision and it's sometimes very difficult to try and weed through all of the attorneys out there who hold themselves out as being “injury attorneys.” So how do you know you're making the right decision? The best thing to do is to limit your search to only attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This is a designation held by only 2% of the roughly 80,000 lawyers who practice law in Texas.

What does it mean to be Board Certified? It means that the attorney has passed a rigorous test on injury topics, has tried a certain number of cases to a jury, has been recommended by local attorneys and judges and has been practicing a certain number of years. There are plenty of qualified attorneys in Texas who are Board Certified, so there's no reason that an injury victim should settle for a lawyer who is not Board Certified.

The importance of hiring a Board Certified Injury Attorney is discussed in Mark A. Anderson’s new book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck your Texas Accident Case. This book is full of information which is helpful to accident victims. The Anderson Law Firm is offering a copy of the book FREE to Texas residents. To order your free copy, please call the firm at 817-294-1900. The book can also be ordered online at www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

Utah-based company, Skywalker has recalled 60,000 tramplines due to 250 reports of straps breaking. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported and Skywalker is voluntarily recalling the trampolines, which were made in China. The reportedly broken straps help hold up the top portion of the trampoline enclosure, and broken straps could make it easier for users to fall off the equipment.

The products were sold as Trampoline and Enclosure Combos between January 2007 and February 2009 in stores nationwide for $400-600. They are 13 square feet. Skywalker is advising consumers to stop using the trampolines and to call 866-603-5867 for a repair kit.

If you've been injured by a product which has been recalled, please contact Texas Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson for a free consultation at 817-294-1900.

It seems that I am always reporting about bad news. But today, I have incredibly good news to report about a decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court. Back in September, I wrote about the Levine vs. Wyeth lawsuit. In that case, a Vermont lady had sued Wyeth and won a $6.7 million jury award based upon her losing her arm because of a botched injection of an anti-nausea medication. The manufacturer of the drug, Wyeth, appealed the jury’s award all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and relied on a federal governmental ruling which essentially barred any lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company as long as the drug was approved by the Food & Drug Administration. This was just one of the many anti-consumer rulings set forth during the Bush administration.

The U.S. Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling rejected Wyeth’s interpretation of the Bush administration’s ruling and said that the federal law did not prevent Ms. Levine from suing Wyeth. This is great news for Ms. Levine who has to live with one arm for the rest of her life due to the defective drug manufactured by Wyeth. I am very happy for her. I am also happy for all of America as the threat of litigation keeps these pharmaceutical companies somewhat honest. When they do not have the fear of lawsuits, they are truly able to disregard patient safety and focus only on profit.

See a full copy of the opinion here.

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer, Mark Anderson.

Contact number: 817-294-1900

Yesterday, Senator Grassley issues a letter to Wyeth, the large pharmaceutical company, requesting information on its role in ghostwriting articles later published in medical journals supporting the safety of one of its drugs. One of the articles in issue was published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and supported the safety of the best selling drug Prempro. Through litigation, Plaintiffs’ lawyers had discovered the trail of the long suspected ghostwriting theory. What they had found were documents which showed that Wyeth came up with the ideas for the medical articles, drafted outlines (even came up with the titles), recruited authors, picked the eventual publications to use---all without ever disclosing to the public that they had a role in the articles.

Sure does make you wonder about the accuracy of the articles. Clearly the drug companies want favorable articles published so they can sell their drugs. The worst part is the articles are relied on by the prescribing doctors in making their decisions.

I wrote a few months ago about the “seeding” or marketing studies done by Merck with regards to Vioxx. Yesterday’s news is just another example of what can happen when companies put profits first above safety. Stay tuned as for the result of this Congressional inquiry.

If you have a question regarding a dangerous prescription drug, please call Fort Worth, Texas Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. His firm is currently accepting cases regarding Heparin, Avandia and Chantix and reviewing the safety of other prescription drugs. Please call the Firm at 817-294-1900 or Contact Mark A. Anderson Online.

Remember when I wrote about the helicopter that crashed into the roof of a residential home in Wisconsin while a family slept inside? Well a similar thing happened yesterday in San Diego, California and unfortunately, some residents were just as unlucky.

Several people were injured and three people were killed when a military jet crashed into a home in a residential area of San Diego and at least two homes burnt to the ground. Twenty more homes were evacuated Monday due to the dangerous fumes the explosion emitted. The aircraft was a F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet and it crashed into the University City neighborhood which sits just about two miles from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Early accident investigations have not revealed the cause of the crash but apparently, jets like this one have been recently grounded by the military for repair. The pilot ejected safely before the crash and did not appear to be injured. He was found hanging by his parachute in a tree nearby.

The three people who were killed included a baby, its mother and a grandmother—all of which were in the house the jet crashed into.

Yesterday, when I wrote about a girl killed in a Beaumont, Texas parade over the weekend, I mentioned that the viability of a wrongful death claim in that case will depend on the accident investigation. In this case, however, the people in the home who were innocently killed by the jet crash were most definitely wronged. By no fault of their own, an accident took their lives. Their families will most likely make wrongful death claims against the military or the jet manufacturer for the deaths of their loved ones.

If a loved one has been killed wrongfully or personally injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, please call me to discuss your rights at 817-294-1900 or Contact Me Online.

I received news of an important recall that I’d like to share because I think it applies to many people. Some 140,000 Bridgestone/Firestone tires are being recalled today. The tires were manufactured between June 4 and September 8, 2007. Another 27,000 larger Lemans Champion tires which were manufactured between June 4 and September 2, 2006 are also being recalled. The reason is the same for both types of tires—they were all produced with insufficient tread base guage.

The cause may sound complicated, but the potential negative effect from these faulty tires is simple: car accidents. Driving with the recalled tires can lead to vibration and groove cracking, which eventually may lead to distortion of the tire tread, resulting in loss of vehicle control. If your tire tread falls apart, you will undoubtedly lose control of your car and wreck. It would be similar to the feeling of popping a tire, but imagine doing that at high speeds on an interstate or in any other dangerous situation.

Bridgestone/Firestone is supposed to be contacting owners of such tires and replacing them free of charge. If you think this may apply to you, call 1-800-465-1904 or visit the Bridgestone/Firestone Web site for more information.

To see the official recall and any other car-related recalls, visit safercar.org. And remember, if you’ve been personally injured in a car accident, feel free to contact me at 817-294-1900 for a free consultation.