Articles Posted in Products Liability

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tractorFarmers routinely use machines that make their day-to-day jobs easier. This machinery is typically very heavy and requires some basic skills to operate. The unfortunate reality is that, each year, a number of people in Florida are injured and even killed due to defects in farm equipment. If you have been hurt in a farm equipment accident, we can help. Our skilled Miami product liability attorneys can assess the specifics of your situation and determine all of your legal options.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida had 47,300 commercial farms and ranches in 2015. This totaled 9.45 million acres of the state. The average farm size was approximately 200 acres. That same year, Florida ranked seventh in the United States for agricultural exports, with over $4 billion worth of agricultural commodities shipped in 2015.

The high level of farm activity in Florida also means that many accidents take place. In some cases, these accidents are caused by farm equipment defects or malfunctions. Due to the size and power of farm equipment, any mishap can have devastating consequences for the individual operating the machinery.

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batWhen you buy food, you don’t expect to find harmful foreign objects inside. Individuals injured by foreign objects in food may be entitled to seek damages for their harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our seasoned Miami food injury lawyers can examine the merits of your case and determine the viability of your claim.

The Walmart brand ‘Fresh Express’ issued a recall for its Spring Mix salad this month after two Florida customers found a dead bat in the package. The recall affects salads sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that two people reported eating some of the salad before discovering the animal. The bat was sent to the CDC rabies lab for testing, but the deteriorated condition of the animal did not allow the CDC to definitively rule out whether the bat had rabies. While the two individuals who ate the salad appear to be in good health, they will undergo post-exposure rabies treatment as a precaution.

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washing machineWashing machines and dryers are a routine part of life in Florida and the United States. However, fires originating from these appliances are more common than you may think. If you or someone close to you was injured in a dryer or washing machine fire, it is important to reach out to a skilled Miami personal injury attorney. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have successfully represented countless South Florida victims of fires, and can help you as well. We will examine the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.

The United States Fire Administration estimates that there are 2900 home clothes dryer fires every year that results in 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 16,800 reported U.S. home structure fires involving clothes dryers and washing machines in 2010. In the vast majority of cases, the clothes dryer is responsible for the fire. The NFPA found that the leading cause of dryer fires between 2006 and 2010 was the failure to clean the dust, fiber or lint in the machine.

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chairMost of us use chairs on a daily basis without incident. The reality, however, is that a number of people in Florida and throughout the United States are injured each year in chair accidents. If you or someone close to you was injured due to a chair accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our skilled Miami injury attorneys can scrutinize the circumstances of your accident and determine whether or not you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Common ways that people are injured include falling when a chair collapses, fingers being severed by chairs with jagged edges, chair wheels getting jammed and causing a tip-over, or leaning to the side to reach something while seated in a chair, which causes a tip-over. Injuries that could result from chair accidents include lacerations, fractures, broken bones, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and back injuries. In the most severe cases, chair accidents can cause permanent disabilities and render individuals unable to work.

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shopping cartEvery day, parents in Florida and across the United States put their children in shopping carts when they visit a store. If your child has been injured in a shopping cart accident, it is important to reach out to a seasoned Miami injury attorney who can analyze the facts of your case and determine whether or not you may be able to seek compensation for your harm. Having an experienced attorney on your side can make a difference in your case.

Shopping cart accidents involving children are more common than you may think. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 24,000 children under the age of 15 are injured each year in shopping cart accidents. Of those injuries, almost 20,000 occur to children younger than five. A report from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital revealed that about 66 children are victims of shopping cart injuries each day.

Falls from shopping carts accounted for over two-thirds of shopping cart accidents. Other common causes of shopping cart injuries include broken or insufficient restraints allowing a child to slip out or unbuckle the safety belt, side or rear tip-overs due to faulty construction, falling over the cart, entrapment of limbs in the cart, and scratching or cutting due to sharp or rusty edges. The most common types of injuries that are reportedly sustained in shopping cart accidents are head injuries such as concussions or traumatic brain injuries. Other injuries may include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and contusions or lacerations.

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propanePropane is an extremely flammable gas that is used for various things (such as outdoor grills) by millions of Americans every day. Propane is colorless and odorless. If it is not handled properly, propane can cause dangerous, even deadly explosions. If you have been injured or your loved one has died due to a propane tank explosion, it is important to contact a seasoned Miami injury attorney as soon as possible. These types of accidents can leave victims with severe and long-term burn injuries.

Every year, a number of people in Florida and throughout the United States suffer from burn injuries. The most common type of burn injury occurs from contact with fire or flames, or contact with hot objects. The American Burn Association states that approximately 450,000 patients receive hospital and emergency room treatment for burns every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, burns and fires are the third leading cause of death in the home. The National Fire Protection Association found that between 2006 and 2010, there were an average of 8,600 home fires involving grills that required a fire department response.

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tanTanning beds are quite a common way of getting a tan in Florida and throughout the United States. While most people get a tan without incident, the reality is that tanning devices can pose serious hazards. If you or someone close to you has suffered tanning bed injuries, it is important to reach out to a seasoned Miami injury lawyer who can assess the facts of your case and determine whether or not you have a viable legal claim.

Indoor tanning takes place when an individual uses a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan. According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, many teenagers tan indoors, including seven percent of all high school students, 11 percent of high school girls, and 16 percent of girls in 12th grade. In Florida, there are currently more than 900 tanning facilities with over 4,000 tanning devices that are licensed by Florida country health departments.

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hot tubHot tubs can be a great source of enjoyment, but the reality is that they can also be dangerous. If you or someone close to you was hurt in a hot tub drowning accident, we can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we proudly represent South Florida clients in seeking the compensation they deserve for their harm.

The Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital did a study that found that the number of unintentional hot tub-related injuries increased 160 percent between 1990 and 2007. In 1990, there were 2,500 injuries, whereas in 2007, there were more than 6,600. Part of this can probably be explained by the fact that more people own hot tubs now. Still, it also highlights how dangerous hot tubs can be and how important it is to take the necessary safety measures to prevent injuries.

The main risk posed by hot tubs is the same one that is posed by pools:  drowning. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that since 1980, more than 700 deaths have occurred in hot tubs. Another potential hazard is people’s hair being sucked into the suction fitting of the hot tub, causing the person to be held under water and potentially drown.

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fireplaceFireplaces can be a beautiful focal point for any room, but the reality is they can also be dangerous. The unfortunate reality is that severe fireplace burns cause serious pain to a number of people each year. If you or your child has been burned in a fireplace accident, you may be able to file a claim and seek compensation for your injuries.

Most homes nowadays have fireplaces with glass fronts. These glass fronts can be extremely hot. In fact, temperatures can reach between 446°F and 1,328°F within industry standards, depending on the type of glass that is used. These glass doors can remain hot for hours after the fireplace has been switched off. Touching the glass can cause serious burns, such as third-degree burns, even if contact with the glass only lasted a second or two. Children, who are curious by nature, are often the most susceptible to burns.

Legal liability for fireplace burn injuries may be rooted in one of two legal theories:  product liability or negligence.

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powderThe Honest Co., co-founded by celebrity Jessica Alba, issued a recall of its organic baby powder across the United States due to concerns of skin and eye infections. The decision to recall came after tests showed possible microorganism contamination. Put another way, the baby powder is being recalled because it may cause skin or eye infections due to bacterial contamination. If you or someone close to you has been injured by this baby powder, contact one of our Miami injury attorneys as soon as possible.

The Honest Co. has been sued several times before. Last year, the company faced a class action lawsuit for “deceptively and misleadingly” labeling products as “100%” natural when they contained synthetic ingredients. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages as well as costs and attorneys’ fees.

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