Articles Posted in Products Liability

Published on:

By

tesla
Over the years, cars have become more and more sophisticated. Nowadays, drivers can buy vehicles that have self-driving features. In fact, Tesla has a partial self-driving system that individuals can enjoy. While these features can offer great convenience, they can also cause injuries and death if any technical malfunction occurs. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a car defect, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Florida auto defect lawyers understand how stressful the aftermath of an accident can be, which is why we are committed to helping our clients navigate the legal process.

Last year, a man was killed in Florida when his partially self-driving Tesla changed lanes without properly detecting the truck next to it. Now, after a yearlong investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the Tesla system capable of automatically steering and controlling the car “played a major role” in the fatal accident. The agency noted that the Autopilot functioned as intended but lacked safety mechanisms to prohibit drivers from using it improperly. In other words, the driver over-relied on the vehicle automation feature when he used the automated feature on a road for which it was not designed. As a result, human error coupled with a lack of sufficient system controls caused the deadly crash.

Liability issues in cases involving automated cars can be tricky. One party that could potentially be liable is the manufacturer of the car if the car’s automated features (i.e., the Tesla’s autopilot function) failed to work properly and was a direct cause of the accident. For instance, if the man’s death was caused because the autopilot feature failed to detect a truck in the neighboring lane, and that is exactly the type of activity it was designed to detect on that type of road, a product liability claim may be appropriate.

Continue reading →
Published on:

By

crashCar accidents can cause serious injuries and even death, resulting in high medical costs and other significant expenses. If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a mechanical defect or malfunction, we can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car accident attorneys will aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve for your harm. With years of experience, we have helped many South Florida clients resolve their injury claims and can help you as well.

While many car crashes are caused by driver negligence, some accidents occur because of mechanical issues. Mechanical problems can cause a driver to lose control of the car and get into an accident. Many types of mechanical defects or malfunctions can cause car accidents, including:

  • Seat belt injuries;
Continue reading →
Published on:

By

black carIf you or someone close to you was injured due to an auto defect in a vehicle, you should reach out to a seasoned Miami auto defect attorney who can help you understand your rights. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we are committed to holding automakers accountable for the harm that they cause. We understand the complexities of this area of the law and will aggressively advocate for your rights at every step of the way.

According to documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, automakers recently recalled about 135,000 Porsche and Volkswagen sport utility vehicles over the danger of a fuel leak. This recall indicates that Volkswagen and its corporate affiliates, Audi and Porsche, have recalled about 278,000 vehicles in the last year for the same issue. The problem is that fine hairline cracks can appear on the filter flange of the fuel pump, allowing a small amount of fuel to leak. The danger of a fuel leak signifies a potential fire hazard, although the automaker’s reports did not mention whether any actual fires took place.

While most automobile accidents in Florida can be addressed through a negligence lawsuit, auto defects can typically be resolved through a product liability claim. Product liability lawsuits can be classified in one of three ways:  manufacturing defects, design defects, and failures to warn. A manufacturing defect occurs when a mistake is made in the assembly of a product, resulting in an item that is not created as it was intended. A design defect takes place when there is a fundamental flaw in the design of the product, making it inherently dangerous to users. In some cases, a plaintiff may have a claim based on a manufacturer’s failure to warn about inherent but non-obvious risks to the user.

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

playgroundEach day, children across Florida spend time at public and private playgrounds. Playgrounds are places where children go to make new friends and enjoy themselves, but they can also be dangerous places. If you or a loved one suffered an injury from defective playground equipment, our seasoned Miami product liability attorneys can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we can examine the circumstances of your injury and determine what happened. You can trust that we will work efficiently on your behalf to help you pursue the compensation you deserve in your case.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 are taken to emergency rooms for injuries that take place on playgrounds. In fact, approximately 75 percent of all non-fatal playground-related injuries occur on public playgrounds, mainly daycare centers and schools. Almost half of all playground-related injuries are serious injuries, such as concussions, fractures, internal injuries, dislocations, and even injuries that necessitate amputations.

If you have been injured by faulty playground equipment, you and your family deserve to be compensated for the harm. Of course, not every playground accident is actionable, since physical activity can inherently put a child at some risk of an accident. However, if your injury was caused by defective playground equipment, you may be able to sue the manufacturer through a product liability claim. Some examples of playground equipment defects include but are not limited to:

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

segwaySegways can often be seen in malls, beaches, and other outdoor spaces. While these transportation devices can be fun, they can also be dangerous. If you or your loved one has been injured on a Segway, you should reach out to a skilled Miami personal injury attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand the nuances of personal injury law and can apply our understanding to your case.

A Segway is a two-wheeled personal transport system that uses the weight of the rider to determine speed and direction. Segway riders lean forward to increase the speed and stand upright to slow down. A Segway’s top speed typically caps at 12.5 miles per hour, which may not seem very fast, but to put it into perspective, the average bicycle speed is around 9.6 miles per hour. As a result, Segway accidents can result in serious harm to a victim, including spinal cord injuries, broken bones, head injuries, facial injuries, and more.

According to a George Washington University study, Segways are extremely dangerous. The study examined the medical records of 41 people in Washington, D.C. who were admitted to emergency rooms at the university hospital from 2006 to 2008. The survey found that there was a steady increase in Segway injuries each year, and the overall percentage of serious injuries was even higher than for pedestrian accident injuries. Of the 41 documented injuries, 24 percent were for serious injuries that involved admission to the hospital.

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

car seatCar seats save the lives of children in Florida and elsewhere in the United States each year. When a child’s car seat is defective, however, the child can sustain serious injuries or even die as a result. If your child has been hurt by a defective car seat, it is vital to reach out to a skilled Miami product liability attorney who can help evaluate your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and getting our clients the compensation they deserve.

Just this summer, Britax Child Safety recalled over 207,000 rear-facing infant car seats because part of a clip can break and create a choking hazard. According to documents, parts of the car seat were found in the mouths of three children, although no choking injuries were reported. Unfortunately, recalls like this are commonplace for child safety seats, especially for car seats that have been on the market for a long time. Some examples of car seat defects are as follows:

  • Flaws in the harness;
  • Low chest clips;
  • Sudden release of the car seat;
  • Flammable material;
  • Choking hazards;
  • Weak construction;
  • Base separation; and
  • Faulty locks.

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

playgroundEach day, children across Florida spend time at public and private playgrounds. Playgrounds are places where children go to make new friends and enjoy themselves, but they can also be dangerous. If you or a loved one suffered an injury from defective playground equipment, our seasoned Miami injury attorneys can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we can examine the circumstances of your injury and determine what likely happened. You can trust that we will work efficiently on your behalf to help you seek the compensation you deserve in your case.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 are taken to emergency rooms for injuries that take place on playgrounds. In fact, approximately 75 percent of all non-fatal playground-related injuries occur on public playgrounds, mainly daycare centers and schools. Almost half of all playground-related injuries are serious injuries, such as concussions, fractures, internal injuries, dislocations, and even injuries that necessitate amputations.

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

medical deviceWhen a doctor recommends that you use a medical device, you trust that it will be safe to do so. Medical devices are supposed to protect patients and not injure them. Unfortunately, each year, a number of people in Florida and across the United States are injured and even killed as a result of using defective medical devices. If you or someone close to you has been harmed by a medical device, it is imperative to reach out to a seasoned Miami product liability attorney who can assess the merits of your case.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the responsibility of protecting the public from any health hazards that may be caused by a defective medical device. Despite the FDA’s thorough approval process, the unfortunate reality is that dangerous medical products are sometimes introduced into the marketplace. A wide range of medical devices may cause injuries to an individual. The following are a few examples:  defibrillators, pacemakers, stents, breast implants, contraceptive devices, insulin pumps, hip implants, and any other retail or prescribed devices.

If a defective medical device has injured you, you can file a product liability claim against the at-fault party. Such a claim can be filed for one of the following reasons:

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

airbagThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 51 million cars were recalled in 2015, and over 25 percent of those recalled cars were never repaired. Defective car parts, such as airbags, can lead to serious and long-term injuries. If you or someone close to you has been injured by a faulty airbag, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami attorneys can scrutinize the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.

Airbag maker Takata Corp. filed for bankruptcy in Delaware and Japan recently after paying over $1 billion in fines as part of a settlement with the United States Justice Department over its handling of airbag ruptures linked to 16 deaths and more than 180 injuries worldwide. Regulators have said that the recall would ultimately affect about 42 million U.S. vehicles with almost 70 million Takata airbag inflators, making it the largest recall in U.S. history. Furthermore, the NHTSA is investigating Honda for failing to promptly report incidents involving the Takata airbags installed in its vehicles.

Defective Takata airbags are prone to exploding when they are deployed, flinging burning shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Specifically, the problem is with the airbag inflators, which fill up airbags in the event of a crash. These can explode with too much force and spew metal shrapnel, which is what has been happening.

Continue reading →

Published on:

By

cribParents’ main concern is their child’s well-being. When you put your baby into a crib, you expect the baby to be safe. Unfortunately, defective cribs cause serious injuries or death to thousands of infants each year. If your child was injured due to a defective crib, it is important to reach out to a Miami product liability attorney. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have the experience and dedication to handle your case. You can rest assured that we will work carefully to make sure that your family’s rights are protected at every step of the way.

In 2011, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that over 11 million cribs, bassinets, and play yards had been recalled since 2007. In that year alone, CPSC recalled 1,040,000 cribs and bassinets from just one manufacturer. Cribs pose dangers of which you may not even be aware. The following are several types of crib hazards that may cause injuries to your child:

  • Strangulation:  Blankets, sheets, or clothing may become wrapped around the baby’s face, neck, or head and lead to cutting off their air supply. Crib bumpers also pose the risk of strangulation.
  • Suffocation: Blankets, sheets, or clothing can also pose a risk if they are not fitted, and the baby can get underneath them and accidentally suffocate. The same applies to crib bumper pads.
  • Falling out: A baby may be at risk of falling out of the crib if the mattress is too high. In addition, defective drop sides that fall and allow the child to fall out of the crib may be a cause of an unexpected injury to your child.
  • Poorly spaced slats: Crib slats that are too far apart may enable your child to slip through and fall. While suffocation is most commonly associated with poor spacing, it can also result in a child’s limb becoming stuck between the slats, resulting in the entrapment of arms, legs, or other body parts.

Continue reading →