Chrysler recalls Ram pick-up trucks due to faulty rear axle nut

Automaker giant Chrysler said it is globally recalling 288,000 older Ram 1500 pick-up trucks, about 257,000 of which are in the U.S., after learning about a faulty rear axle pinion nut that may cause the axle to lock up or the driving shaft to detach, an online report by the Associated Press stated on December 19.

In an investigation initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in June, the agency found 15 complaints about the issue, seven of which involved wheel lock-ups at speeds of 50 mph or greater. One driver reported that he was driving on an interstate when the rear axle locked up, causing his vehicle to spin out of control at high speed.

The recalled pick-up trucks were manufactured from January 28 to August 23, 2005. Chrysler said repairs will start this February.

A defective car on the road is a public threat. If an ill-designed car has harmed you or your loved one in Detroit, a lawyer at Ravid & Associates, P.C., might be able to help you seek the compensation you believe you deserve. Call us at (248) 948-9696 to discuss a wide range of legal options available to you at this trying time.


Honda initiates nationwide recall of vehicles with Takata airbags

Automaker giant Honda agreed to expand the recall of cars equipped with defective Takata airbags to include the entire U.S., rather than just a regional portion, Fox Business reported on December 3.

Japanese airbag maker Takata has recently been under fierce criticism over defective airbags that may burst shrapnel-like material when inflated. Despite the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) request to expand the recall, Takata insisted that only areas with high humidity must be the focus of the recall, not the entire nation.

Some car manufacturers have limited their recall efforts to regions with high humidity, citing research that suggests a humid climate may trigger the airbag to deploy.

A manufacturer’s failure to recall a product that poses imminent danger among consumers can be held liable for all the damages the defective product might cause. If you have been injured because of a defective product in Detroit, seek the help of our team of product liability lawyers at Ravid & Associates, P.C., to learn whether you are eligible to seek compensation. Call us at (248) 948-9696 today.


McDonald’s toy recalled for child safety issues

The world’s largest restaurant chain McDonald’s recalled Hello Kitty lollipop whistles it distributed as a freebie with Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meal after learning about associated risks of choking and asphyxiation, according to a Bloomberg article on November 11.

The company advised consumers to immediately return the defective whistles at any McDonald’s restaurant, as its components might detach and place children’s safety at risk. Two children have already experienced potentially dangerous incidents, one of whom needed medical attention after coughing up pieces of the toy.

McDonald’s branches will be substituting the defective toys with another one, and will give customers either a bag of sliced apples or a yogurt tube.

Of the approximately 2.3 million defective whistles, 1.6 million have already been recovered, the company said in an online statement.

If your child has been hurt by a defective toy in Detroit, a child injuries attorney at Ravid & Associates, P.C., might be able to help you seek the compensation you believe your child and your family deserve. Call us at (248) 948-9696 and have your case assessed for free today.


Trinity Industries suspends ET-Plus guardrail sales

Trinity Industries said it will not sell its ET-Plus guardrail system until all the crash safety tests requested by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are completed, ABC News reported on October 25.

The FHWA threatened to suspend the eligibility of ET-Plus for sale unless the company complied with the agency’s demand to further test the product. The ET-Plus guardrail system has been at the center of attention over allegations that the changes made to the device have caused the product to spear through cars during a frontal guardrail collision, instead of crimping and absorbing the impact.

The company was recently fined $175 million after a jury found that the company failed to inform authorities about the modifications it made to the product in 2005.

Design defects are considered a major threat to one’s personal safety. If you believe a defectively designed product in Detroit has caused you harm, seek the help of our team of product liability attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C., to learn more about your options for taking legal action. Consult us for free by calling (248) 948-9696 today.


Toyota recalls 423,000 Lexus units due to fire risk

Some older Lexus models sold in the U.S. are being recalled by Toyota after they discovered a defective gasket sealing that may leak fuel and cause fire, an online report stated on Wednesday, October 15.

423,000 2007 to 2010 LS sedan, 2006 to 2011 GS sedan, 2006 to 2011 IS compact, 2010 IS C, and 2008 to 2010 IS-F are covered by Toyota’s consumer level recall. The car maker stated that fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment are coated with anti-corrosive plating. However, plating particles could also make their way into the gasket where a fuel pressure sensor is installed. This condition may compromise the seal between the sensor and the fuel pipe, which might result in fire-causing leaks.

Unfortunately, some car accidents in Detroit have been a result of a malfunction caused by a defective car component. If you have been involved in a car accident due to an ill-designed vehicle, an attorney at Ravid & Associates, P.C. might be able to help you recover your losses by filing a legal claim. Call us at (866) 644-6587 and tell us more about your situation.


Hands-free texting still a distraction, researchers say

Driving while voice texting still dangerously distracts drivers, researchers from the University of Central Florida (UCF) found.

According to a Reuters article, UCF conducted a study that involved 40 texting drivers in a traffic incident that would measure their reaction time to road stimuli. While driving a car simulator, each of them was asked to text using either a smartphone or Google Glass. The drivers were then forced to react to a car ahead of them by suddenly applying brakes. The results revealed that although drivers using Google Glass were quicker to return attention back on the road, there was statistically no difference between how quickly the two drivers hit their brakes.

Ben Sawyer, psychological researcher of UCF, stated that although wearable technology such as Google Glass may help texters fix their eyes on the road while texting, looking at the road does not necessarily mean they see it.

Distracted driving accounts for many serious accidents on our roads and highways, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and, tragically, thousands of lives lost. If you believe a damaging car accident in Detroit was the result of distracted driving, our team of qualified personal injury attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C., may help you file a lawsuit. Call us at (248) 948-9696 to discuss your situation.


OSHA to implement new reporting policy next year

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adapted a new rule that would require all employers to report every incident of death, hospitalization, amputation, and loss of an eye sooner than previously mandated.

Starting January next year, employers will have to report work-related deaths within 8 hours of the incident. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. Previously, employers only had to report hospitalizations of three or more employees, and were not required to report loss of an eye or amputation.

OSHA’s new requirements also apply to a wider range of employers, even some who were not required to keep records of work-related incidents in the past.

Suffering from a work-related injury can be devastating for both you and your family. In this trying time, you may need the help of a dedicated and experienced workers’ compensation attorney who knows well how to make the process of filing for or appealing a claim much easier. If you need help in securing workers’ comp in Detroit, talk to our team at Ravid & Associates, P.C., by calling (248) 948-9696 today.


GHSA releases report on distracted teen driving

A report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released on August 26 discusses teen drivers’ attitudes towards mobile phone use behind the wheel.

The report, entitled Distracted & Dangerous: Helping States Keep Teens Focused on the Road, stated that 88.4% of individuals aged 16 to 18 believe talking on phone while driving poses safety hazard. More than 80% of the same age group also believe it is dangerous to text and update social media while driving.

However, the report also showed a clear gap between what they know and what they are actually doing behind the wheel. The report stated that as teens and new drivers become more confident in their driving, their disapproval of these dangerous driving practices becomes weaker.

In the state of Michigan, different localities are implementing specific laws regarding cell phone use while driving. The city of Detroit, for instance, forbids all hand held electronic usage while driving. If you believe a distracted driver has been the cause of a damaging car accident, contact our Detroit-based personal injury lawyers at Ravid & Associates, P.C. for help. They might be able to assist you in filing a claim when you call (866) 644-6587 today.


Free online search tool identifying recalled vehicles now up and running

Due to a soaring number of recalled vehicles on the American road that are still in need of repairs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has created an online search tool that would help car buyers and owners identify whether their unit has been flagged.

A report by CBS DFW on Wednesday, August 20 states that vehicle owners, and potential owners, will be able to view the car’s recall status free of charge. The online search tool would only require the vehicle identification number (VIN) to be entered, which can be located at the driver’s door post, or on the driver’s side dashboard just below the windshield.

Car manufactures are also required to display this data, and are further instructed to update the database every seven days.

The physical, emotional, and financial trauma brought about by an accident involving a defective vehicle can be overwhelming. Although the financial compensation from the car maker involved might not be enough to compensate for all the damages, it might be able to provide you some relief. The product liability attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C. may be able to help. Call our Detroit office at (866) 644-6587 today.


Cubicin recalled due to foreign particulate matter contamination

Certain lots of Cubicin 500 mg in 10 mL single-use vials have been voluntarily recalled by manufacturer Cubist Pharmaceuticals. The recall comes after numerous reports that the drug may contain life-threatening foreign particulate matter, Market Watch reported on Sunday, August 10.

Reconstituted vials of the antibacterial injection with lot numbers CDC 203, CDC 207, CDC 213, CDC 217, CDC 226, CDC 234, CDC 235, CDC 243, and CDC 246 are all affected by the nationwide recall. Consumers are instructed to return the product for replacement.

Recall promoters argue that administering injectable drugs with traces of foreign matter poses great health risk among its users, including pulmonary embolism and phlebitis.

The medical and financial consequences of an injury caused by a defective pharmaceutical product can be overwhelmingly distressing. To learn more about seeking compensation when hurt by a defective medical product in Detroit, consult with our team of dedicated product liability attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C., by calling (248) 948-9696 today.