Begam & Marks Recovers $2.247 Million for Injured Child
By Richard Traulsen on February 10, 2010
Begam & Marks members Steve Friedman and Richard Traulsen have successfully settled a claim on behalf of a young Native American girl who was severely burned when she came into contact with an electical transmission line that had been negligently installed near her home on the Gila River Indian Community. The governmental agency who had installed the line denied any liability, and the case was hard fought in Federal Court right up to the eve of trial. Ultimately, the Federal government increased its offer to sufficient level to compensate the young girl and her parents. Richard and Steve are both extremely proud to have had the opportunity to help this wonderful family.
The attorneys at Begam & Marks have a long history of representing members of Arizona’s Native American communities from all over the state in seeking justice from those who have wrongfully injured them. Please call for a free consultation to discuss any potential injury claims that you or a loved one may have.
Honda Recalls Additional 430,000 Vehcles Over Airbag Defect
By Richard Traulsen on February 10, 2010
Honda Motors has issued another recall of more than 430,000 vehicles to replace a faulty airbag deflator that could rupture and significantly harm the driver. The airbag defect has been linked to one fatality and 11 injuries in the United States. This is the 3rd time Honda has issued a recall for this problem. Honda issued a recall in November 2008 and then again in June 2009. This new recall applies to 2001 and 2002 model-year Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, Pilot and 2002 Acura TL and CL vehicles in the United States.
If you or a family member has been injured due to this defect or another defective product, call us at Begam & Marks for a free consultation.
U.S. bans truckers, bus drivers from texting while driving
By Richard Traulsen on January 26, 2010
The government Tuesday formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the wheel, putting the federal imprimatur on a prohibition embraced by many large trucking and transportation companies. “We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of “distracted driving.”
LaHood has made the effort to curtail driver distractions a centerpiece of his tenure as the nation’s top transportation official. Some saw his announcement as a step that might ultimately fuel a push to ban cellphone use by all drivers. LaHood’s announcement followed a study released in July by Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute that found that when truckers text, they are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near miss. Although both houses of Congress are considering bills restricting texting and 19 states have banned the practice, LaHood said existing rules on truckers and bus drivers give him authority to issue the prohibition. LaHood said drivers of commercial vehicle caught texting could be fined up to $2,750.
“It’s an important first step,” said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, a coalition of state highway safety directors. “It’s will start a cultural shift away from texting and cellphone use. We’d like to see a ban on all cellphone use by drivers of commercial vehicles.” Texting and cellphone use have been banned in many major commercial fleets, including FedEx’s 43,000 vehicles and the 100,000 used by United Parcel Service.
In announcing the ban Tuesday, LaHood pointed to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last year, which show that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting. At 55 mph, he said, that means that during that time, the driver travels the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.
Begam & Marks has been a leader for years in handling interstate trucking collision cases and holding trucking companies to vital safety standards. In many instances, we are able to enhance the value of a claim against an interstate trucking company through agressive discovery and an in depth knowledge of trucking regulations. If you or a loved one has been involved in a collision with a commercial vehicle, please call for a free consultation.
Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers
By Richard Traulsen on January 21, 2010
The AP reported, “About 1.5 million Graco strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children’s fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.” Five children “had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.” In an announcement Wednesday, the CPSC “said the strollers pose an amputation and laceration hazard to children when opening or closing the canopy.”
This is not the first recall of strollers Graco has made within the last year. This is yet another in a serries of recalls by several manfacturers of products for babies, including cribs and play pens that have caused injuries and deaths.
Bloomberg News (1/20, Richter) reported, “The recall covers those Graco Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems with a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism that has indented canopy positioning notches, the agency said.”
Begam & Marks handles all types of injury cases related to defective products. If your child has been injured by one of these strollers, or you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, call for a free consultation.
Medical Sales Representatives Working in Operating Rooms May Pose Risk
By Richard Traulsen on December 28, 2009
The Washington Post (12/27, Hilzenrath) reported that medical “sales representatives have become fixtures in operating rooms across America,” ensuring that “scrub techs know precisely which instruments and components the surgeon will reach for next.” Although the sales reps “may know more about their products than the doctors who use them,” their presence in the operating room also serves “as simple reminders that medicine is business, with all the potential that entails to promote efficiency, boost sales, and extract profit.” In fact, some physicians contend that sales reps “can put the interests of manufacturers before those of patients.”
At Begam & Marks, we dig to the bottom of the facts to find out what happened. We have a handled medical malpractice cases in the past in which we discovered that a manufacturer’s representative was involved in the treatment decisions without the knowledge of the patient. If you believe that you or a loved one was injured as a result of medical negligence or a defective medical device, please contact us for a free consultation.
More Evidence Surfaces that Toyota Concealing Potential Vehicle Problems.
By Richard Traulsen on December 23, 2009
The Los Angeles Times (12/23, Bensinger, Vartabedian) reported, “A peerless reputation for quality and safety has helped Toyota become the world’s largest automaker. But even as its sales have soared, the company has delayed recalls, kept a tight lid on disclosure of potential problems and attempted to blame human error in cases where owners claimed vehicle defects.” The story details several crashes illustrating that point, commenting that “[t]he automaker’s handling of safety issues has come under scrutiny in recent months because of incidents of sudden acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles, which The Times has reported were involved in accidents causing 19 fatalities since 2001, more deaths from that problem than all other automakers combined.”
If you or a loved one was seriously injured or a loved one killed as a result of a recalled or otherwise defective product, call Begam & Marks for a free consultation. We have what it takes to hold those at fault responsible.
FAMILY CLIAMS PHARAMACY NEGLIGENT IN DEATH
By Richard Traulsen on December 22, 2009
A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Troy, Mich., man against a Rite Aid pharmacy that allegedly filled an incorrectly written prescription that resulted in his death. According to the lawsuit, John Sheridan was prescribed 10 times the recommended dosage of Temodar in September 2007, and the pharmacist should have recognized the error before giving Sheridan the medication. The Detroit Free Press reports that the family privately settled with Sheridan’s oncologist. They are seeking unspecified damages from the pharmacy.
With reduced staffing and increasing work loads, errors are growing in the distribution of medicine. At Begam & Marks, we work to hold companies and professional responsible when a lack of safety and proper staffing cause others harm.
If a family member of your was killed or you or a family member injured as a result of an improperly filled prescription, please contact Begam & Marks.
Jury Awards Damages to Woman Struck by Bus
By Richard Traulsen on November 20, 2009
A Virginia jury on Wednesday awarded $8 million in damages to woman who suffered severe injuries when she was struck by a transit bus two years ago. After deliberating for about an hour, jurors found that the GRTC Transit System was liable for the full amount sought by the plaintiff, Meikiu Lo, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Lo now suffers from chronic pain resulting from spinal and shoulder damage and multiple hip and pelvis fractures sustained in the accident. Bill McKelway, Richmond Times-Dispatch 11/19/2009
Arizona, like many other states, has waived governmental immunity, meaning that the State, cities, schools, and other governmental agencies are subject to suits for the negligence of government employees. Begam & Marks has represented many clients, and is currently representing a number of clients, in claims against governmental entities to recover for severe injuries they have suffered. Be aware though that there is a 180 day notice of claim requirement, so act quickly to seek experienced representation.
Toyota under pressure to reduce unintended acceleration risk.
By Richard Traulsen on November 20, 2009
The Detroit News (11/20, Tierney) reports, “After a highly publicized crash in August that killed four people when the driver lost control of a Lexus sedan, Toyota has come under intense pressure to reduce the risk of unintended acceleration. The Japanese automaker and U.S. safety regulators are discussing changes to the gas pedal, as well as adjustments that would make it easier to stop a car that’s accelerating, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 15 fatalities, including the four in August, are linked to hundreds of reports of unintended acceleration of Toyotas it has received since 2002.” George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, CA, said that “the issue could be costly…if the company is found to be at fault — and if juries are convinced Toyota knew about the problem.”
Begam & Marks represents the victims of defective products in seeking compensation for injuries and deaths caused by defectively designed or manufactured products. If you believe you have a potential claim, contact us for a free consulation.
Families File Wrongful Death Action Over Plane Crash
By Richard Traulsen on October 22, 2009
| The families of two men killed in the 2006 crash of a private two-seat plane have filed a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured, sold or promoted the plane, according to the Modesto Bee. The lawsuit argues that the Zodiac CH-601XL and its parts were dangerous and defective. Since the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that the plane be grounded because of design flaws in the wings of the plane. Merrill Balassone, Modesto Bee 10/21/2009
At Begam & Lewis, we have successfully handled numerous air crash cases and are currently processing several at this time. If you believe you have a possible claim for you or a loved one resulting from the crash of a plane, helicopter, or hot air balloon, please contact us for a free consultation. |
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