Product Safety News
Every day developments in the area of product safety occur. Whether it be recalls, the launch of defect investigations by NHTSA, or national or regional news about advancements in automotive safety technologies, news and information in this area is constantly changing.
To assist consumers and attorneys, some of the more notable developments are noted herein for easy reference. If you have any questions about any of these topics or desire more information do not hesitate to call us.
New Bill Focused on Child Safety Proposed
February 1, 2007 -
Congress has been urged by numerous safety advocates and a distinguished list of Senators, including Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Sununu, to immediately pass the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007. The bill is notable as it asks the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issues regulations to decrease the incident of child injuries and death. Since 2000, over 1,000 children have been killed in non-traffic accidents, and the bill seeks to address these hazards by seeking regulations to address safety issues such as children being backed over by vehicles, strangled by power windows, or injured when a vehicle inadvertently moves. The proposals include: ensuring power windows automatically reverse direction when they detect an obstruction to prevent children from being trapped and injured; providing drivers with a means of detecting the presence of a person or object behind their vehicle; providing for the vehicle service brake to be engaged to prevent vehicles from inadvertently moving or rolling; and establishing a child safety information program to collect non-traffic incident data and disseminate information to parents about the dangers that exist.
GM Recalls Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia
February 1, 2007 -
GM has recalled its new 2007 Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia full-size CUVs for potentially faulty airbag sensors. The problem is reportedly software related, meaning it can be fixed with a trip to the dealer, and effects every unit sold since they went on sale in December. Letters went out February 22nd to owners of the Saturn Outlook and will be sent on February 28th for GMC Acadia owners. The recall was not mandated by NHTSA, rather it was initiated by GM after the problem was discovered internally. The potentially faulty sensor in question controls the front airbags; deployment.
Dangerous Used and Old Tires Subject of Call for Stricter Standards
February 1, 2007 -
A leading auto safety group is calling for used tire dealers and wholesalers to adopt stricter standards to inspect the millions of tires they sell to motorists every year. The sale of used tires is largely unregulated, and each year worn, previously repaired or poorly maintained tires cause countless accidents, many of them ending in fatalities, safety advocates say. Used tires have been the subject of growing concern by automakers and safety advocates. In December, 2006, Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, submitted details about 108 accidents linked to tread separation of tires more than 6 years old to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those accidents resulted in 85 deaths. Unfortunately, nationwide statistics are not available, but NHTSA has been conducting tests on new tires to determine their durability and may pursue a test this year to simulate aging. The agency will begin requiring manufacturers to print the manufacture date on tires beginning in September 2009. To date, BMW AG, Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG have backed guidelines that tires should only be in service six years.
Toddler Taken To Hospital After Near-Drowning Incident In The City
July 27, 2006 -
Clark County Fire Department rescue unit responded to a home inside the city at 4:45PM Thursday afternoon after a toddler fell into a backyard swimming pool on the southwest side of the city.
Tot dies week after she crawled through pet door, fell into pool
July 15, 2005 -
An 11-month-old Katy girl has died, a week after crawling through a pet door and falling into a swimming pool at her family's home, authorities said.
4-year-old drowns in swimming pool
February 28, 2005 -
A 4-year-old boy drowned Sunday after crawling through a doggie door and making his way to a swimming pool, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies say.
Police call Putnam drowning accidental
May 1, 2003 -
State police are calling the drowning of a toddler in a Scott Depot backyard pool a "terrible accident."
Toddler Drowns in Relative’s Swimming Pool
January 19, 2003 -
Investigators believe the little boy in Fort Bragg, N.C. wandered away from family members at around 1:00 p.m. and was able to crawl through a pet door that leads into the pool area.
Girl survives fall into family's pool
February 13, 2001 -
A 14-month-old girl who was found floating face down in her family's pool Saturday evening apparently gained access to the water by crawling through a "doggie door" at the family's house.
Toddler drowns at local day care
July 16, 1999 -
An 18-month old boy drowned Thursday in a day care's backyard swimming pool.
Drowned tot used pet door
June 9, 1999 -
A Fort Bend County toddler who drowned in his family's pool apparently slipped out of the house through a pet door, authorities said Tuesday.
Dear Abby Column
March 7, 1999 -
I'm writing to relate our tragic story in the hope that other lives may be saved. Last May, our beautiful 2-year-old nephew drowned in the backyard pool.
18-Month-Old Survives Fall Into Swimming Pool
February 17, 1999 -
An 18-month-old girl fell into a swimming pool Tuesday after getting out of her home through a doggie door.
Pet door a potential danger for children
January 21, 1999 -
I am writing to call your attention to a little-known danger to some children. On May 18, 1998, my 2 1/2 -year-old nephew, he crawled through the family pet's door, jumped into the swimming pool and drowned.
Boy crept out of house, found in pool
October 17, 1997 -
While his family slept Thursday, an 18-month-old Ruskin boy crawled through the doggie door of his home and into a backyard swimming pool, Hillsborough County sheriff's officials said.
Baby Crawled Through Pet Door Before Drowning, Policy Say
October 22, 1996 -
He was just learning to walk, but police say the 11-month-old probably crawled through a doggy door in his grandparents' home Sunday before falling into their backyard swimming pool.
Arleta Toddler's Drowning Called Accidental
August 11, 1995 -
Autopsy results released Thursday have determined that a 16-month-old toddler drowned, apparently after crawling through a dog door of an Arleta home and falling into a spa, authorities said.
Toddler Listed As Critical After Being Found In Pool
April 16, 1995 -
An 18-month-old Orlando boy was in critical condition late Saturday at Florida Hospital South after falling into a swimming pool at his grandmother's house, authorities said.
1 Child Drowns, 1 Hurt
March 9, 1993 -
In the second incident, a 15-month-old boy was in critical condition after being pulled from the bottom of his swimming pool in Margate. A relative found little boy in the pool about 11:45 a.m., Margate Fire Department spokesman Capt. Garrison Westbrook said.
Girl drowns in family pool
April 9, 1991 -
A little girl was found floating face down in the pool by her grandparents about 6:40 p.m., only 10 or 15 minutes after she had been seen alive. An ambulance brought her to Tampa General Hospital, but attempts to revive her were not successful and she was pronounced dead, reports said.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 5
