2011

According to news sources, elder abuse in the U.S. is on the rise, leading to more Americans 65 years of age and older being abused mentally and physically, financially exploited, and neglected. Approximately five million elderly people may suffer abuse in some form of abuse annually, estimates the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder… read more

In a news release Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that Porsche is recalling several models of 911, Boxter and Cayman vehicles from model year 2012 and two 911 model vehicles from model year 2011 due to a faulty seatbelt system, posing a risk of injury in the event of a crash. Subject… read more

In a news release Thursday, C.O. Lynch Enterprises Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced a voluntary recall of hiking boots due to a foot injury hazard. Subject to recall are approximately 52,000 Itasca Fusion Hiker boots because the boots may not protect against compression and impact, posing a risk of… read more

In a news release Thursday, Macy’s, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced a voluntary recall of Martha Stewart Collection casserole dishes due to an enamel defect that can pose laceration and burn hazards. Subject to recall are approximately 960,000 Martha Stewart Collection Enamel Cast Iron Casseroles. The enamel coating on the… read more

An idyllic beach vacation is a summer tradition for many people; however while enjoying a seaside holiday, there are safety concerns to be considered, specifically from umbrellas that may have become airborne, kicked up by strong ocean breezes, report news sources. It seems that flying umbrellas can cause injury. A search of the Consumer Product… read more

News sources report, an online safety video game is aimed at preventing collisions between trains and large trucks like the June 24 collision near Reno that involved a big rig and an Amtrak train and killed six. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, in 2010, 70 people died in 511 collisions between large trucks and… read more

According to news reports, four of the five biggest U.S. tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit alleging that new federally mandated warning labels meant to appear on cigarette packaging violate the companies’ free speech rights. The nine new labels at the center of the lawsuit were recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…. read more

The mother of a blind man killed after falling between cars of Los Angeles’s Metro Blue Line train—having mistaken the gap between cars for a door—was awarded $17 million in a the wrongful death lawsuit, report news sources. The Los Angeles jury unanimously decided that Metro was negligent in the death of 48-year-old Cameron Cuthbertson,… read more

Findings from a recent study indicate that distractions like talking on the phone, texting and listening to music put pedestrians at greater risk of being struck by a motor vehicle while crossing the street, report news outlets. The University of Alabama at Birmingham study, conducted in a virtual-environment lab, focused on quantifying the dangers of… read more

Johnson & Johnson announced Monday that it is recalling over two million packages of over-the-counter Tylenol brand cold medicine due to an excessive amount of a chemical compound found in the drug, report news sources Subject to recall are almost 2.5 million packages of Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps. The cold relief medicine… read more

The Office of Defects Investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into reports of decreased breaking ability requiring increased stopping distances in 2008 Mazda CX-9 vehicles, report news sources. The probe was opened following a submission by Mazda to the NHTSA of data that included reports of incidents ranging from 2008 into… read more

A recent study found that, at least among New Jersey motorists, drivers with longer commutes tend to engage in more unsafe behavior including talking on the phone, texting, and making rude gestures to other motorists, report news sources. The study conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, and co-sponsored by the New Jersey’s Division of Highway… read more