Currently, about 140 class-action lawsuits have been filed against General Motors for damages resulting from the company’s sales of vehicles with faulty ignition switches. Although the defect has caused over 200 deaths, dozens of serious injuries, and the recall of 2.6 million vehicles, a U.S. bankruptcy court ruled in mid-April that the company will not have to face any lawsuits …
Five Things to Know About Distracted Driving
Distracted driving causes thousands of car wrecks in Texas and nationwide each year, which is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and experienced Texas car accident lawyers are determined to inform the public and reduce risks. The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” Cell …
Understanding the Special Risks Involved in Texas 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Cases
Trucking is one of the biggest industries in the United States today. Every day, thousands of 18-wheel tractor-trailers share Texas’s roads with passenger cars, smaller work trucks, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. These large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and stand over 14 feet high. When an 18-wheeler collides with a 3,000-pound passenger vehicle, the results can be devastating …
Feds Say Recalls Aren’t Getting Defective Tires Off Roads
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently planned a meeting to discuss what agency experts say is a growing problem: an increasing number of old and defective tires are still on the road. What’s more, the agency is concerned that recent tire recalls haven’t done their job in ensuring that tires with dangerous defects are repaired or replaced, according to …
Johnson & Johnson Faces Lawsuits Linking Talcum Powder Use to Ovarian Cancer
Johnson & Johnson, manufacturers of a wide range of personal care products including baby powder, is facing a lawsuit in at least one U.S. court claiming that the talc in their baby powder caused ovarian cancer. A patient with ovarian cancer filed suit in a Wisconsin court recently, claiming that she used the company’s baby powder for nearly fifty years …
Smartphone App Places Truck and Bus Safety Data at Your Fingertips
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently released a Smartphone app that will let the public see updated safety information on interstate trucking and bus companies. The app is called “QCMobile.” “QC” stands for “Query Central.” The purpose of the app is to make it easy for drivers, passengers, law enforcement officials, insurers, brokers, and other interested individuals to …
As Many As 67 Deaths Caused by Faulty GM Ignition Switches
The number of people killed by defective ignition switches in General Motors vehicles has risen to 67, according to a recent report from CBS News. The families of the 67 individuals will likely receive compensation from the company, which recently updated the list to include three more people. Another 113 injured people will also receive compensation from the GM fund. …
April Is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Distracted driving kills. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), cell phone use was involved in 350 fatal crashes nationwide in 2011, and contributed to thousands of crashes in which individuals were injured, some of them seriously. Texas reported the second-highest number of cell-phone-related deaths in 2011, with 38 deaths in the state. And cell phones are only part of …