Injuries

Cuisinart Food Processors Involved in One of the Largest Appliance Recalls in History

January 2, 2017 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Conair Corp. last month recalled about eight million Cuisinart brand food processors just as home cooks were putting the machines to work chopping, grating and mixing food in preparation for the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. The recall, which involves the stainless steel riveted blades in Cuisinart food processors sold nationwide between July 1996 and December 2015, came after the company received more than 65 complaints from consumers who found pieces of broken blades in food that had been processed with these machines. About 30 of those complaints included reports of cuts to the mouth and tooth injuries.

The sheer number of machines affected makes this one of the three largest appliance recalls ever in America. Consumers were urged to stop using their food processors and contact Cuisinart for a replacement blade. However the timing of the recall, coupled with the fact that homemakers could have had the food processors in their kitchens for more than 20 years, caused some consumers to decide to keep a careful eye on their holiday food preparation rather than participate in the recall. If you own a Cuisinart food processor and want to see if it is affected by this recall, read “8M Cuisinart Food Processors Recalled Over Laceration Hazard.”

Raising the Bar to Make Seat Belts Safer

December 5, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

There’s truth behind the slogan, ‘Seat Belts Save Lives.’ In fact, last year alone seat belts were credited with saving some 14,000 lives. At the same time, however, these safety harnesses can contribute to the injuries drivers and passengers suffer as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

Part of the problem, according to researchers, is that seat belts essentially are designed to restrain middle-aged males, and the force they use could be too strong for smaller passengers, particularly women and older people. While these researchers encourage all drivers and passengers to continue using seat belts, there is one professor at Ohio State University’s School of Medicine, on a crusade to see improvements that would allow seat belts to adjust to the individual person. To learn more, read “When seat belts pose a safety hazard.”

Cleansers Stored in Unmarked Containers Endanger Children

November 21, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Injury is the leading cause of death of children and teenagers in this country and accidental poisonings rank among the top five leading causes of injury. Most of these poisonings occur when children accidentally ingest medications or common household cleaners.

Young children are particularly susceptible to this type of injury because they often experiment by putting things in their mouths. But even older children are at risk if they ingest a dangerous substance that isn’t clearly marked. This was the case recently in New Jersey when two children, in totally separate incidents, ingested industrial-strength cleansers that had been stored in an unmarked container. See, “Poison alert: cleaning product landed 2 …”

To learn how to prevent incidents like this from happening in your home, read the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Tips to Prevent Poisonings.”

What to Know Before Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

November 14, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Personal Injury attorney, Victor Rotolo, and the attorneys of the Victor Rotolo Law Firm offer legal counsel to clients seeking to recover damages for injuries suffered as the result of accidents, including those related to defective products, accidental falls, and workplace mishaps.

Collecting damages for injuries you suffered as a result of another person’s negligence encompasses more than simply pointing the finger of blame. Laws governing personal injury cases vary by state. In New Jersey, those laws determine when you can file your claim, which injuries qualify for a personal injury lawsuit, and the type and amount of damages you can expect to collect.

When to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Anything You Say – Or Post – Can Be Used Against You

October 10, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

It has been estimated that more than three-quarters of adults who use the Internet are actively engaged on social media. It can be an efficient way to keep in touch with a number of people, near and far but, if you’re involved in a personal injury claim, you may want to be careful about what you post. Even the most innocuous comments could come back to haunt you.

The idea behind a personal injury lawsuit is to attempt to recover damages resulting from medical expenses, lost wages and even pain and suffering, which can manifest itself in depression, anxiety and, in some cases, isolation. While it might be a natural instinct for someone laid up with an injury to reach out to friends and family through social media in an effort to pass the time, the content of their posts could actually be used against them in court. To learn more, read “Could Social Media Impact Your Personal Injury Claim?“

Can Electronic Reminders Help Prevent Hot Car Deaths?

August 29, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Despite repeated warnings reminding us how quickly the temperatures inside a motor vehicle can rise, we continue to see reports of children left forgotten in hot vehicles. Each year an average of 37 children die as a result of being left in a hot vehicle and many others suffer heat-related injuries. So far this year, 27 heat-related child deaths have been recorded.

Some reports link the increase in these heat-related deaths and injuries to passenger-side airbags. When passenger-side airbags were first installed, laws were changed requiring parents and caregivers to place child safety seats in the rear to protect young children from injuries resulting from a deploying airbag. Unfortunately, putting children in the rear seat puts them out of the driver’s sight.

Placing a purse, briefcase, or cell phone in the back next to the child’s safety seat forces drivers to look in the rear. Keeping the child’s diaper bag or school bag on the front passenger seat reminds the driver that a child is in the car. While these tricks may be enough for some drivers, child safety advocates want the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration to require auto manufacturers to install electronic reminders in their vehicles and one major car maker has taken steps to do just that. For more details, see “Hot Car Deaths and What the Auto Industry Is Doing About Them.”

What’s Being Done to Improve the Safety of Water Parks?

August 15, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Water parks, those adventure parks that feature waterslides and wave pools, are gaining in popularity as summertime attractions. According to the World Waterpark Association, about 85 million people attended water parks in 2015, up from about 73 million a decade earlier. While these parks offer fun and exciting ways for children and adults alike to beat the heat, they also present a risk for injury.

A recent tragedy that resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy at a Kansas City, KS, water park serves as a reminder that accidents can and do happen. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 4,200 people are treated at emergency rooms each year for injuries sustained on waterslides; that doesn’t take into consideration other water park-related injuries or near drownings. To find out more about the potential dangers of water parks and the steps being taken to improve their safety, read “Safety issues, statistics about water parks in the US.”

Despite Signed Waiver, Appellate Court Says Lawsuit against Trampoline Park May Proceed

August 1, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

A New Jersey appellate court recently ruled that a lawsuit brought against Sky Zone Trampoline Park by a family whose son was injured while engaged in an activity at the park can proceed despite the fact that the family had signed a waiver prior to the start of the activity.

Waivers of this type are common with commercially-run activities that are subject to potential injury. These waivers seek to preclude participants from holding the operating company responsible for any injuries incurred in the normal course of the activity in question.

When this particular case first went to trial, the trial court ruled that the dispute had to be brought to arbitration as stated in the waiver. The appellate court, however, ruled that the arbitration clause was unclear, thus paving the way for the case to be brought to trial. To learn more, read “Family can sue trampoline park for son’s injury, court says.”

Leave the Fireworks to the Professionals and Enjoy a Safe July 4th

July 4, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

When you think of Americana, some things readily come to mind – patriotism, baseball, apple pie and fireworks on the Fourth of July to name a few. While these pyrotechnics have become almost synonymous with our Independence Day celebration, they can result in serious injury, especially when handled by the inexperienced.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks-related injuries bring an average of 230 people to the emergency room each day during the month surrounding the July 4^th holiday. On top of that, possession and use of fireworks without the proper permits are illegal in New Jersey. Violating these laws carry maximum penalties of up to 18 months in jail and $10,000 in fines (see “NJ cops on the lookout for illegal fireworks”).

Macy’s Settles Lawsuit over Escalator Mishap

June 6, 2016 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

A trip to the department store ended tragically for one New Jersey youngster who was injured when her foot became caught in the store’s escalator. Now, three years and multiple surgeries later, a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit brought against the store by the young girl’s family.

According to reports, Macy’s Inc. settled a $15 million lawsuit brought against it by a Bergenfield, NJ family for injuries suffered by their then 10-year-old daughter whose foot became stuck as she was riding the store’s escalator. The girl endured 22 surgeries and years of rehabilitative physical therapy as a result of the injuries. Thyssen Krupp Elevator Corporation, the company responsible for maintaining the departments store’s escalators, was also named in the lawsuit. For more details, see “N.J. girl whose foot was caught in Macy’s escalator gets $15M settlement.”