Drivers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and across the U.S. are being urged by automakers to check their vehicles for airbag recalls as another death was confirmed this month related to a Takata airbag inflator. The vehicle involved in the fatality, a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck, was part of a…
Articles Posted in Defective Product
Do Headlights Seem Brighter Lately?
Driving the roads of Rhode Island at night and another car is coming toward you in the opposite direction, do you ever feel like you’re being blinded by the other vehicle’s headlights? Typically, we blame it on the other driver forgetting to turn off their high beams, but lately it…
$46 Million Awarded in Child Wrongful Death Settlement
In what may be the largest child wrongful death settlement in U.S. history, Swedish furniture chain Ikea reached a $46 million settlement with a California couple whose 2-year-old son was killed in a tragic accident. The fatal accident occurred when an Ikea dresser tipped over and crushed the toddler in…
$289 Million Awarded in Roundup Lawsuit
In a milestone case expected to be the first of many, a jury unanimously awarded a 46-year-old man $289 million in a lawsuit filed against Monsanto Company. Monsanto is the maker of farming products and perhaps best known for developing Roundup, a popular weed killer used for decades on crops,…
Polaris to Pay $27.25 Million for Failure to Report Recreational Off-Road Vehicle Defects
Polaris Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of recreational off-road vehicles, has agreed to pay a $27.25 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) defects in its off-road vehicles, also known as off-highway vehicles (OHVs). CPSC determined that the defects could…
RIDOT To Remove X-LITE Guardrails After Deadly Crashes
Rhode Island recently joined the ranks of six other states to ban a particular style of highway guardrail, the Lindsay X-LITE, due to concerns over the barriers crash safety. The X-LITE guardrails are believed by some to cause potential death or personal injury in car accidents by piercing, or impaling,…
Nerf Guns Can Cause Eye Injuries, Warn Doctors
Nerf guns, or blasters, are tremendously popular among both adults and children alike. Using a soft foam “dart” or “bullet”, they create seemingly harmless fun. However, some emergency room doctors are warning of potential harm after treating serious eye injuries caused by the toy guns. If you or your child…
What to Do If Your Car Has Been Damaged in a Flood
Hurricane Harvey hit Texas hard and as New Englanders, we were fortunate to be spared the harsh effects of the severe storm. However, as Rhode Islanders, especially Warwick residents, we are no stranger to floods and the damage they can cause. Witness the floods experienced in Warwick in March 2010,…
Mowing the Lawn Can Be a Hazardous Chore
As summer in Rhode Island nears, so does lawn mowing season. It’s a good choice to have kids and teens helping with the household chores, but think twice before assigning them to the task of mowing the lawn. Lawnmower accidents and injuries are more common than you may think, and…
More Dangers for E-Cigarette Users- “Dripping” & “Smoke Tricks” Increase Among Teens
With the risks and dangers of cigarette smoking so well known by now, some adults and teens alike, have moved to e-cigarettes as a “safer” alternative. Commonly referred to as “e-cigs”, or vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, or e-pipes, these are all classified as types of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). Are…