Tennessee Injury Law Center

January 21, 2014

More Cold Weather in Tennessee; More Heater Recalls

Chapter Two of the cold snap in Middle Tennessee is here. Many folks will use space heaters to ward off the cold. If you do, check your make and model because the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced Sears and Kmart have recalled 42,500 Kenmore oscillating fan heaters bearing model number 127.90914310. The model number can be found on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater. The fans are being recalled due to reports of them smoking and catching fire. If you own one of these heaters, you should immediately discontinue use and return it to Kmart or Sears for a full refund.

Defective products are all too common. And when they harm innocent consumers, manufacturers should take all responsible steps including recalling the product and fairly compensating any injured customers for the harm caused by the defective product. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. So if you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a defective product and would like to discuss your product liability case, contact our award-winning attorneys online or call us at 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866-812-8787 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

January 19, 2014

Tennessee Injury and Wrongful Death Verdicts in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee November 2013

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

There were five jury trials in personal injury and wrongful death cases in Davidson County (Nashville) Tennessee during the month of November 2013.

Two of those cases were slip and fall calls, also known as "premises liability" cases. In one of those cases, the jury returned a verdict for the injured party for $450,000. In another case, the Davidson County jury returned a verdict for the person or company that was sued, finding that the injured party was 75% at fault in causing the accident. Under Tennessee law a finding of 50% or more fault on the part of the injured party means that the injured party can recover no monetary award whatsoever.

Two car accident cases were also tried by the jury and both resulted in a jury award for the injured party. In one case the jury awarded $45,000 and in the other case the jury awarded $198,849. No information is readily available about the injuries in these cases.

January 18, 2014

Train Safety: What is Taking so Long?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

We have already written a couple of posts about Positive Train Control, which the CEO of Metrolink described as “perhaps the most important safety innovation in our lifetime”. (The first article explained how Positive Train Control can prevent several types of deadly train accidents and the delays in implementing it. The second article discussed whether Positive Train Control could have prevented the recent New York commuter train derailment which killed 4 people and injured dozens more.) If you did not read those articles, here is the deal in a nutshell: Following a 2008 Metrolink train crash in California, legislation was passed to require Positive Train Control and the implementation deadline was 2015. But with that date looming, most railroad companies are claiming they can’t meet the deadline.

Now, here is the latest. Following that same 2008 train crash, the National Transportation Safety Board began pushing the Railroad Administration to install cameras in train cabs to record drivers. The thought being this would deter dangerous behavior like texting while operating the train, sleeping, etc. Additional cameras would face outward to record the tracks for hazards. And, in the event of a crash, both sets of cameras would help investigators determine the cause of the accident. But to date, the Railroad Administration has not even proposed a rule (the first step in the process) to make the installation of these cameras mandatory.

Following the New York commuter train accident in December, two United States senators have publicly called out the Railroad Administration for its delay in implementing the rule. And now, finally, the Railroad Administration says they will move on the rule sometime later this year.

January 15, 2014

Apparently, Crime Does Pay. And, It Takes Cruises.

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Under a 2010 law, cruise lines are required to report to the FBI allegations of only eight serious crimes including homicide, suspicious death, missing U.S. national, theft of money or property in excess of $10,000, kidnapping, certain sexual offenses, assault with serious bodily injury, firing or tampering with the vessel. There are two problems with the law: (1) lots of other crimes that might deter prospective passengers from traveling with a particular cruise ship are not included in the reporting requirements; (2) the statistics on the reportable crimes are only published by the Coast Guard after the investigation is closed, which is often months and years after the crime occurred. In fact, according to the Government Accountability Office, the release of data is so slow that only 81 cases of 287 reported crimes were actually made public from 2010-2013.

So if you are going to take a cruise, here are a few steps you should take:

1. Six cruise lines post online statistics about the serious crimes on their vessels. Of course, self-reporting is often skewed and the statistics are only for serious crimes, but it is a least another source of information to be used in conjunction with those provided by the Coast Guard;

January 13, 2014

Two Reasons Why There Were Fewer Crash-Related Deaths on Tennessee Roadways in 2013

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

While the numbers are only preliminary, the Tennessee Department of Safety has released the statistics on crash fatalities for Tennessee in 2013. The news is wonderful: traffic fatalities dropped from 1015 in 2012 to 988 in 2013. That is 27 families who did not suffer the pain and turmoil of losing a family member in a car accident.

The Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Safety believes the improvement is related to stronger enforcement of seatbelt violations and DUI laws. State troopers issued 74,277 seat belt and child restraint citations in 2013, which is a 135.1 percent increase since 2010. Seatbelt enforcement is critical as unbelted occupants were 48.9 percent of the fatalities in 2013.

Similarly, Tennessee state troopers arrested 6,428 motorists for DUI in 2013, which is 90.4 per cent increase since 2010. In 2013, preliminary numbers reveal 211 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Tennessee.

January 1, 2014

Space Heater Safety

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

After seventy-degree days and tornado warnings, we have finally hit a patch of chilly temperatures. And so, many folks will use space heaters to ward off the cold. If you use a space heater, here are some facts you should know (as published by the National Fire Protection Association):

Half of all home heating fires take place in December, January and February
One-third of home heating fire are caused by space heaters (stationary or portable)
Eighty-one percent of all home-heating deaths are caused by space heaters.

If you use a space heater, here are some steps use should take to ensure the safety of you and your family:

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations about proper use.
Keep the heater at least three feet away from fabrics such as drapes and bedding. The same rule applies to furniture and other combustible items
Do not allow pets or children to be near space heaters.
Do not leave a space heater on while you sleep or if you are not in the immediate area.
Only use a space heater on a hard, non-flammable, level floor.
Only use kerosene (not gasoline) in a kerosene space heater.
Use a space heater that has been tested to the most current standards.
Ensure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have good batteries and are functioning properly.

If defective, space heaters can cause serious burn injuries, wrongful death and significant property damage. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective space heater, our award-winning lawyers are experienced with product liability claims and would be happy to sit down with you, review your case and explain your rights. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us online or call us at 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866-812-8787

December 29, 2013

Top 10 New Year Resolutions from Your Tennessee Injury Lawyer

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

It is that time again. Time to assess our lives and look for ways to improve in the new year. While losing weight is usually the most popular resolution, we wanted to give you some things to consider from a legal perspective.

1. Evaluate your uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage. I know. Yawn. But, in the event you are injured in an accident, the type of insurance you have and the amount of your coverage can make a critical difference to you and your family.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you in the event the person or company who causes your injuries either does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to compensate you. For example, let’s assume you are involved in a car accident with a person who only has mandatory minimum liability coverage of $25,000, but your medical bills are $75,000 and your injuries prevent you from returning to work for 3 months. Clearly, the value of your claim greatly exceeds the at-fault party’s $25,000 in coverage. In this situation, your own underinsured coverage could help make up the difference in your compensation. Without your underinsured coverage, unless the at-fault party has assets (which is unlikely — otherwise, they would almost certainly have more insurance coverage), you would not receive adequate compensation for your injuries.

December 27, 2013

Recall of Playtex Hip Hammock Infant Carrier

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

On December 19, 2013, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of the Playtex Hip Hammock because in some carriers the buckles on the straps are prone to breaking which poses a fall hazard to the infant in the carrier. To date, there have been 87 reports of the buckles cracking or breaking with some injuries reported. This popular baby carrier was sold at a number of national retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon and Burlington Coat Factory.

If you own a Playtex Hip Hammock, stop using it immediately and contact Playtex for instructions on how to return the defective product for a full refund. If your baby has been injured due to a defective Playtex Hip Hammock, contact one of our award-winning attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation on your product liability claim. We will sit down with you, review your case, answer your questions and explain your rights and options in clear terms. Call us at 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866-812-8787 or online. We handle all injury claims on a contingency basis which means we only get paid if we win.

December 18, 2013

Ikea Recalls Wall-Mounted Lamps Due to Strangulation Hazard

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

On December 11, 2013, Ikea recalled its wall-mounted lamps because the cords can be pulled into cribs creating a strangulation hazard. Tragically, a 16-month old child has died as result of strangulation from the cord and a 15-month old child was nearly strangled by the cord.

The lamps are designed for children and feature eight designs including a yellow moon, white flower, blue star, red heart, pink flower, green bug, orange seahorse and blue seashell. Nearly 3 million of the lamps were sold in the United States.

If you own one of these lamps, stop using it immediately and contact IKEA for a free repair kit. Contact information for IKEA can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s site. And if your child has been injured by one of these IKEA lamps, contact one of our experienced product liability lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case and your rights. Call 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866-812-8787 or contact us online.

December 15, 2013

Federal Government Shuts Down Bus Companies That Put Passenger Safety At Risk

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

The federal government has prohibited 52 bus companies found to be unsafe from continuing to do business.

Operation Quickstrike, launched by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a part of the United States Department of Transportation, targeted bus companies in 22 states that were found to have engaged in unsafe practices. Some 250 bus companies with past safety issues were targeted in the investigation.

The investigation yielded the following results: