News

Wrongful Death

• How to stop uncontrolled acceleration
  Mar 09, 2010

  
  Consumer Reports has released a number of articles describing the recalls of Toyota vehicles due to a sticking accelerator. A number of reports have been in the news lately of accidents caused by uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota and Lexus models.
  
  It is important for every driver to know how to stop a vehicle if it begins accelerating uncontrollably and you are unable to depress the accelerator. This video outlines the process step by step:

  
  
  If your vehicle begins to accelerate uncontrollably, you should immediately shift your car into neutral. Do not pump the brakes. Steer your car to the side of the road, or another safe location and then use the brakes to bring your car to a complete stop. With the transmission still in neutral, turn the engine off. Then, place the car in park.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• Families file suit over salmonella outbreak
  Mar 03, 2010

  
  29 local families in Alamosa, Colorado are suing the city over a salmonella outbreak that occurred in 2008 in the city's water supply where up to 1,300 individuals may have become ill, including 40% of the city's infants.
  
  The outbreak was most likely caused by animal feces that entered the water reservoir which is said to have noticeable cracks and holes. The structure has not been properly inspected since 1997.
  
  The Alamosa incident is the worst waterborne-disease outbreak in the United States since 2004.
  
  Fourteen of the plaintiffs are parents suing on behalf of children who were sickened by the infected water. Another plaintiff is the widow of Larry Velasquez, 54, who died after salmonella entered his blood stream. They are suing for an unspecified amount. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• Nursing home settles wrongful death suit
  Mar 03, 2010

  
  Two nursing homes in Missoula, Montana have settled a wrongful death suit for an undisclosed amount with the family of a man who died under nursing home care in 2005. The lawsuit claims that Riverside Health Care Center and Village Health Care Center were negligent to provide adequate care for Ralph Seewald, 87.
  
  Mr. Seewald died in November 2005 of a blood infection. He fell and fractured his neck during a transfer from a wheelchair. The fracture left him bedridden where he developed pressure ulcers leading to a fatal case of gangrene in his leg.
  
  The lawyers for the plaintiffs claim that both the wheelchair transfer and the treatment of the bedsores were inadequate. The family is satisfied with the results. All matters against the nursing homes have been dismissed and the settlement remains confidential. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• 50k die a year from hospital infections
  Feb 24, 2010

  Nearly 50,000 people die a year from infections they contract while visiting a hospital. A recent study from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy at Resources for the Future, a Washington, DC based think tank reveals that 48,000 patient deaths result from pneumonia or blood poisoning picked up during hospital visits.
  
  The research was conducted using hospital discharge records from 69 million patients who visited United States hospitals between 1998 and 2006. The cost of the infections translated into 2.3 million extra patient days in 2006, a cost of more than 8 billion.
  
  The study suggests that the costs of these preventable infections adds to the escalating cost of health insurance in the United States.
  
  The deaths could be avoided by implementing better infection control. This includes more frequent hand washing, improved overall hygiene and better screening of patients when they first arrive at a hospital. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• Cell Phone Case Settle for $5 Million
  Feb 22, 2010

  On Friday, A U.S. Federal Court judge approved a settlement of almost $5 million in the case of a distracted driver who struck and killed 2 bicyclists in 2007 in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
  
  Sharon King was driving her Chrysler Pacifica and allegedly using a cell phone when she struck Thomas Hoskins, 49 and Lee Ann Barry, 43. 
  
  Sherri Hoskins, the widow of Thomas Hoskins, will receive $3.6 million, and her lawyers will receive $1.3 million. The family of Lee Ann Barry settled their case last December in state civil court for $2.5 million.
  
  Hoskins' lawyers claim that the use of a cell phone was the main distraction that caused the crash. Kings' lawyers argue otherwise and claim that King had put down the cell phone and was preparing to operate her car radio. King also had more than one dog in the vehicle with her and has admitted to unfortunate distraction at the time of the accident. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• NHTSA says Toyota acceleration defect linked to 34 fatalities
  Feb 17, 2010

  The Toyota acceleration complaints reported by consumers has increased the number of fatalities to 34. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association  (NHTSA) says that this effect is normal as people become more aware of recall and possible safety defects that may have caused past traffic accidents.

  Toyota has also received an increase in brake-related complaints for the 2010 Prius. When investigation on the model first began earlier this month, consumer reports were counted at 104. The number has now increased to almost 1,000.

  The increase in number of consumer reports reflects heightened awareness in the media and the increase of lawsuits against the car manufacturer on behalf of drivers claiming injury and death.

  Toyota has also announced a voluntary safety recall to inspect front drive shaft on 2010 Tacoma 4-wheel trucks. 

  Many criticize both Toyota and NHTSA for their slow response to the mounting claims of accelerator and brake problems in Toyota vehicles, claiming that the trend has been evident for years. 

  
  
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• $10.5 Million Accord Reached in Teen's Death
  Feb 15, 2010

  Law.com reports that a  $10.5 million dollar settlement was reached on Friday in a wrongful death suit brought by the mother of Manny Leach, a Philadelphia teenager who died by asphyxiation in 2007. Leach’s death occurred while he was at Chad Youth Enhancement Center in Ashland, Tennessee after receiving placement for rehabilitation after a court ordered psychiatric evaluation following theft of a vehicle and violation of probation. 

  Leach’s death was the result of an improper chokehold placed upon him by two security guards – Randall Rae and Milton Francis -- at the detention center. The plaintiff’s attorney described the attack as “brutal” and claimed that Rae and Francis were never properly trained nor reprimanded for prior similar incidents. 

  Leach’s death was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner, but the Tennessee grand jury did not bring charges against Rae or Francis.
  
  Chad Youth Enhancement Center has agreed to pay the entire $10.5 million in damages to Leach’s mother, but the settlement includes no admission of liability by the organization

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• Labor Day wreck claims life of Hopkins woman
  Sep 08, 2009

  Kelly Davis with The State Paper,  reports that a Hopkins lady was killed on Labor day when her car lefft the road, hit a ditch and overturned.  The wreck occurred in Richland County on US 76.  The name of the lady has not yet been released.
  
  

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• Woman found 19 hours after wreck
  Sep 08, 2009

  Tuesday, Sep. 08, 2009

  
  The Sun News, reports that Children on bicycles found 38-year-old, Sandra E. Fuller, 19 hours after her sports utility vehicle ran off the road into an embankment.  Fuller's sports utility vehicle was covered in trees and bushes that made it impossibe to spot from the roadside.  Authorities say their were no life threaten injuries, but she was dehydrated. 

   

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• A car accident in Conway kills a 44-year-old woman on Friday morning
  Aug 14, 2009

  A car accident in Conway kills a 44-year-old Latta woman Friday morning.  The accident backed up traffic on U.S. 501 for hours.  The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not been released pending family notification.  The Sun News in Myrtle Beach has the full story  The crash occurred on Highway 501  and sent three other people to area hospitals. 

   

   

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