Personal Injury Claim Lawyer & Attorneys for Personal Injury

Actors Speak Out Against Accutane

Legal Advocate — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:27:02 +0000

Accutane is known as a medication that’s meant to be used for the treatment of the symptoms of acne, and after some early success after it hit the market, it soon came under intense scrutiny as reports of serious Accutane side effects began to surface. As a result of these reports, Accutane side effects lawyers from across the United States began heeding calls for help from injured patients, and several lawsuits have been successful against Roche AG, the manufacturer of Accutane. Now comes word that some well-known figures are speaking out against Accutane as a result of the harm done to a renowned actor.

Actor Files Lawsuit for Accutane Side Effects

Actor James Marshall, perhaps known best for his role as Louden Downey in the 1992 hit movie “A Few Good Men,” has filed a lawsuit claiming $11 million in damages because he used Accutane to treat his acne. As a result, he suffered Accutane side effects that damaged his colon, which is one of the common problems associated with use of the drug. After struggling for some time with these issues, Marshall ultimately had his colon removed.

This last-resort step destroyed his acting career, and the case will draw testimony from several world famous celebrities. Figures who are expected to testify on behalf of Mr. Marshall include Martin Sheen, Rob Reiner and Brian Dennehy, all of whom will attest to the fact that Mr. Marshall was headed for stardom before the Accutane side effects from which he suffers took hold.

Examples of Accutane Side Effects

Mr. Marshall is one of many people around the world who have suffered from Accutane side effects, and other examples of these side effects include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and damage to the liver. After several juries had awarded millions of dollars in damages in lawsuits alleging Accutane side effects, Roche pulled the drug off the market in 2009. However, Accutane side effects lawsuits continue to be filed.

If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of using this acne medication, seek the help of experienced Accutane side effects lawyers who have been helping injured patients hold drug companies accountable for the harm they have caused. Contact the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Another Toyota Recall Is Announced by Company

Legal Advocate — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:48:28 +0000

Few companies in the world have had a tougher year than Toyota. The auto manufacturer that for decades was known around the world for its high-quality, safe, dependable and affordable vehicles has taken a beating in terms of its reputation, and for good reason. In the past year, more than 8 million defective Toyota vehicles have been recalled, and now comes word that Toyota recall lawyers will once again be needed as the company has announced yet another recall because of serious defects present in the models affected.

Specifics Regarding the Latest Toyota Recall

The latest Toyota recall concerns the following models and units:

373,000 Toyota Avalons manufactured between 2000 and 2004
39,000 Lexus LX 470 vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2007

These are the models that are currently in existence in the United States, and Toyota announced that it would send notices to owners of these vehicles that directs them to the nearest Toyota dealership so that they can obtain the necessary repairs. These notices are expected to be released in the next few weeks.

The Reason for the Latest Toyota Recall

The reason for the latest Toyota recall is because the company has discovered a defect with the steering mechanisms of the vehicles listed above. Specifically, the steering lock bar on these models could break under certain conditions, which would remove control of the vehicle from the driver and create immediate risk of a serious auto accident. Toyota has stated that to date, no accidents, injuries or fatalities have been recorded because of this newest Toyota defect.

However, this Toyota recall announcement comes just days after the company was served with a federal subpoena from a grand jury that is looking into defective Toyota steering columns and parts that are not related to this most recent issue. It has yet to be seen if this latest announcement will become part of the grand jury’s inquiry.

If you or someone you love owns one of these models affected by the Toyota recall, seek the repairs you need immediately. If you have been harmed as a result of driving a defective Toyota, seek the help of the Toyota recall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today by contacting the firm to schedule a free initial consultation.

FDA Puts Halt on Avandia Side Effects Study Enrollment

Legal Advocate — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:09:43 +0000

Avandia is a diabetes drug that has come under intense scrutiny from government officials, medical professionals and Avandia side effects lawyers who have been helping those who have been injured as a result of using this drug. For almost three years, GlaxoSmithKline, has found itself defending the safety of Avandia amid claims that it leads to serious harm. Recently, a federal panel of officials voted by a slim margin to allow Avandia to remain on the market until additional information can be collected. Unfortunately for GlaxoSmithKline, one of the main efforts to gather this information has been stopped in its tracks.

Avandia Side Effects Study

This main effort that was mentioned above concerned what has been known as the ‘TIDE’ study. This study was supposed to recruit up to 16,000 patients to take part in this study, and it would involve some subjects taking Avandia and others taking Actos, which is a competitor of Avandia. There would also be a control group that would take no medication at all.

The purpose of the TIDE study was to attempt to definitively measure the likelihood that someone who was taking Avandia would develop Avandia side effects. However, the FDA has announced that the TIDE study would not be allowed to enroll any additional subjects because of the risks involved with serious Avandia side effects that include heart attacks and strokes. To date, approximately 1,100 people have been enrolled in the TIDE study.

How the Avandia Side Effects Issue Could Progress

Based on the recent announcement, there is bound to be more controversy as federal officials move towards a decision regarding Avandia’s presence on the market. Those who helped put a stop to the recruitment to this study cited the unreasonable risks involved, but those who favor Avandia remaining on the market have stated that they need these studies to prove the drug’s overall safety and benefits to those who use it.

While this latest Avandia side effects issue is important, it does not matter to those who have already suffered from serious Avandia side effects. If this includes you or someone you love, you need to contact the Avandia side effects lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

FDA Blasts Avandia Study Prior to Decision Discussion

Legal Advocate — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:12:10 +0000

Avandia had been a leading diabetes medication in the United States for years, and its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, enjoyed an enormous market share within this niche because Avandia had been seen as highly effective in helping people fight the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately for many people, a high number of reports of serious Avandia side effects began to surface, prompting calls for help to Avandia side effects lawyers around the country. Now comes word that at the outset of a panel discussion designed to decide if Avandia should remain on the market, the FDA has blasted the results of a study recently published regarding Avandia side effects.

The RECORD Study Regarding Avandia Side Effects

As part of the discussion that began today and will continue tomorrow regarding Avandia’s potential for remaining on the market, studies were encouraged that provided evidence to those who will be helping to form a decision. The largest study published to date is known as RECORD has been supported repeatedly by GlaxoSmithKline as it tracked more than 4,400 patients. Some of the patients were given Avandia and others were given two older diabetes medications. The conclusion RECORD came to was that Avandia side effects that include heart attacks and strokes were no more likely to arise in those who took Avandia than those who took the other medications.

The FDA’s Reaction to the Avandia Side Effects Study

Unfortunately for backers of Avandia, the FDA responded to the results claimed by this study by excoriating the results, which is rare for this administrative body. The FDA’s position is that RECORD kept sloppy data records, failed to follow up on potential reports of Avandia side effects and that the study itself was biased from the beginning. Therefore, the FDA does not want RECORD to be given weight in the decision process.

How an Avandia Side Effects Lawyer Can Help

While the decision as to whether Avandia will remain on the market is clearly important, there are many people who have already suffered from serious Avandia side effects. If this includes you or someone you love, you need to take action by seeking the help of Avandia side effects lawyers who know what it takes to hold even corporate giants accountable for the harm they have caused. Contact the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Defective Baxter Colleague Infusion Pumps Recalled by FDA

Legal Advocate — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:35:12 +0000

People have needs for nutrients and medication when they are suffering from severe medical problems, and when these people are unable to handle the intake of these substances by themselves, they tend to make use of pumps that provide regular and controlled doses of these substances. One of the leading manufacturers of these pumps is Baxter International, but a slew of recalls and problems have led to a need for help from a Baxter Colleague Infusion pump recall lawyer. Below is an overview of this issue.

Reasons for the Baxter Colleague Infusion Pump Recall

The situation involving defective Baxter Colleague Infusion pumps has actually been festering for more than a decade. The FDA originally began to regulate and deal with the problems posed by these products in 1999, and since then there have been three Class I recalls, including the recall announced today. There have been many different reasons for the Baxter Colleague Infusion pump recall, including the following defects:

Electrical problems
Software malfunctions
Battery problems
The tendency to overheat and create smoke and fire

All of these problems can lead to the Baxter Colleague Infusion pump shutting down unexpectedly, which can be disastrous for an unsuspecting patient. In fact, there have been more than 56,000 adverse effect reports that are linked to the use of these products and more than 500 deaths.

The Failed Negotiations with the FDA

Ultimately, Baxter proposed a schedule of repairs and improvements with the FDA that was delivered to the agency in April of 2010. This schedule included a start date of 2012 and a completion date of 2013. This was deemed unacceptable by the FDA, as 200,000 units of these defective Baxter Colleague Infusion pumps remain on the market even though none have been introduced since 2005.

Contact a Baxter Colleague Infusion Pump Recall Lawyer

Ultimately, the tragic fact remains that thousands of patients who depended on these products have had them fail and have suffered as a result, including hundreds who have paid with their lives. If this includes you or someone you love, contact the Baxter Colleague Infusion Pump recall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

More Troubling Revelations Regarding Toyota Recalls Emerge

Legal Advocate — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:48:32 +0000

It has not been a good year for Toyota. The enormous automobile manufacturer has had its brand and its credibility all but destroyed on the heels of several massive recalls that have affected more than 8 million individual vehicles and several different models. The reason for most of these recalls involves the tendency for accelerator pedals to stick in a position that leads to uncontrolled acceleration. While Toyota executives have blamed the problem on ‘growing too quickly’ and other reasons, now comes word that the company may have been aware of these problems and covered them up in prior litigation. This will only increase the need for many to seek the help of Toyota recall lawyers.

Potential Knowledge of Defective Toyota Models

The latest news comes from a former employee of Toyota who served as an in-house defense lawyer for the company. Toyota has been sued in the past for defective vehicle damage that caused serious injuries, and when these cases are filed, both parties are required to produce relevant documents for each other in preparation for trial. Unfortunately for Toyota, this former in-house attorney saved several thousand documents that tend to show that the company had knowledge of the defective Toyota issue and even covered it up in order to limit its liability in prior cases.

How This Relates to Toyota Recall Cases

If these documents are ultimately produced and offered as evidence in future litigation for injuries and deaths caused by defective Toyota vehicles, they could serve to augment the amount of liability that Toyota could ultimately face both in individual cases and on an overall basis. When it’s proven that a defendant had knowledge that products it was releasing were defective and dangerous and released them anyway, it could open the door for judges and juries to award punitive damages as well as compensatory damages to those who bring claims against Toyota.

If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of driving a defective Toyota, you need to take action. Start by contacting a Toyota recall lawyer at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Senate Report Comes Down Hard on Avandia

Legal Advocate — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:36:54 +0000

Avandia is a diabetes drug that’s been on the market for over a decade. Its purpose is to help those with type 2 diabetes manage their condition in conjunction with a healthy diet and some form of an exercise program. Avandia is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and dominated the market after its release. Unfortunately, reports of serious Avandia side effects eventually began to surface, prompting inquiries to Avandia side effects lawyers around the country. Recently, another issue has been added to the overall Avandia controversy, and it involves a Senate report on the history of the drug and the issues it has faced. Overall, the conclusions of the report were not positive.

Reports of Avandia Side Effects Prompt Studies and Action by Government

After the initial reports of Avandia side effects began to surface, different entities began to get involved with the issue. One of the most dramatic developments in relation to this issue was a study’s conclusions that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007. This study concluded that those who had used Avandia faced a higher risk of developing serious Avandia side effects that included heart attacks and strokes.

In response to this report, the FDA issued an order that Avandia had to have a clear warning attached to its labels that described the potential dangers with Avandia side effects. The government also stated that it would analyze whether the benefits of keeping Avandia on the market outweighed the risks presented to those who used it. At this point, Avandia remains on the market.

Senate Report on Avandia Side Effects Criticizes GlaxoSmithKline and FDA

A Senate report was recently published concerning Avandia, and its conclusions were anything but positive. In the report, it was found that:

Avandia could be responsible for approximately 83,000 heart attacks in patients who used it.
GlaxoSmithKline made attempts to undermine the value of these reports of Avandia side effects.
The FDA overlooked serious problems with Avandia when it decided to allow the drug to remain on the market.

While this report is not necessarily legally binding, it is a bipartisan work that will be very influential in the future dealings with both Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using Avandia, you need to take action. Contact the Avandia side effects lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Toyota Initiates a Massive Recall

Legal Advocate — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:51:31 +0000

Toyota is a brand of automobile that is known all over the world for efficiency, safety and dependability. Any auto maker would agree that building such a reputation takes years if not decades of high achievement. Unfortunately for Toyota, the process of damaging that reputation does not take nearly as long. The Toyota branding is at risk presently because of yet another enormous Toyota recall initiated by the company because of a dangerous defect. This defect directly affects the safety of drivers and is prompting inquiries to Toyota recall lawyers all over the United States. Below is an overview of the issue.

The Scope and the Specifics of the Toyota Recall

The Toyota recall announced recently involves approximately 2.3 million models. These recalled Toyota models include:

2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
Certain 2007-2010 Camrys
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

The reason for this recall is that these models have shown a dangerous tendency to have the accelerator pedals stick in an engaged position. This problem can lead to unexpected and uncontrollable acceleration, which clearly presents a high degree of danger to the unsuspecting driver and anyone who’s sharing the road with this driver at the time.

The Proposed Remedy to the Toyota Recall and the Reaction

Toyota’s remedy to the situation is to basically do little, if anything if you’re an owner of one of these models. Their recommendations include applying steady pressure to the brake pad if your accelerator pedal sticks in order to bring the vehicle under control. Toyota further recommends that after you’ve successfully taken this step, you need to pull your vehicle to the side of the road and contact the nearest Toyota dealer for repairs. Toyota basically stated at the time the recall was announced that they did not have an immediate solution ready, but that the instances in which this defect arose were rare.

Since then, Toyota has taken the additional steps of halting sales and production of these models. While the halting of sales of defective vehicles is a common step, putting a stop to production is seen as quite rare in these situations. It should also alert anyone to the dangers involved and the seriousness of this issue.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by a defective Toyota, you need to take immediate action. Contact the Toyota recall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers

Legal Advocate — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:21:15 +0000

Baby strollers are a staple for any parents who want their child to be mobile. One of the leading manufacturers of baby strollers for years has been Graco, as the company has sold millions of different strollers all across the world. Unfortunately for many parents and children, Graco has recently announced that it is recalling approximately 1.5 million baby strollers due to a dangerous defect on these products. There have already been several reports of serious injuries, and baby stroller recall lawyers have been getting involved to help. Below is an overview of the issue.

The Graco Baby Stroller Recall Models Affected

The 1.5 million Graco baby strollers recalled are sold under the brand names of the Graco Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers. Consumers who own a Graco baby stroller are encouraged to look at the rear inside panel of their unit just above the rear wheels in order to find their model number. Those model numbers recalled include:

6303MYC, 6303MYC3, 6320IVY, 6320LAU, 6330CAP, 6330THR, 6330THR3, 6F00QIN3, 6F00RRY3, 6F03GLN3, 6G10CSE3, 7235GGA, 7235GGA2, 7236CDR2, 7237HOL2, 7237HOL3, 7240DNB, 7240DNB2, 7240MKL2, 7240MKL3, 7241DDH2, 7241DHO3, 7255CLP, 7255CLP2, 7255CRA2, 7255CRA3, 7255CSA3, 7255GPK3, 7255GRN, 7255GRN2, 7255JJB3, 7255ORC2, 7255WLO2, 7255WLO3, 7256CLO2, 7256SPM2, 7256SPM3, 7260BAN, 7260BAN2, 7260BAN3, 7260MRA2, 7260MRA3, 7260PKR, 7260PKR2, 7270BIA, 7270BIA2, 7E01JON2, 7E01JON3, 7F00LPE3, 7F00RSH3, 7F01FOR3, 7F02GLM3, 7F04TAY3, 7F07EMA3, 7F08DSW3, 7F08LAN3, 7G00DLS3, 7G00DLS4, 7G01CRL3, 7G04KRA3, 7G05GPR3, 7G06WSR3, 7G07ABB3, 7G07BAT3.

The Proposed Solution to the Graco Baby Stroller Recall

Graco has responded to this development by encouraging people who own a defective baby stroller to contact the company to obtain a repair kit for the defective part that’s been identified. The defective part concerns the moving hinge that allows the canopy on these units to be adjusted, and this hinge is exposed. As a result, two children have suffered deep finger lacerations when they touched the hinge while the canopy was being adjusted, and five children suffered severed fingers due to the same problem.

Why Graco’s Recall Solution Could be Problematic

Asking consumers to obtain their own repair kit to cover the exposed hinge could be problematic for consumers for two reasons:

1. It leaves it up to the parent or owner to properly attach the cover to this dangerous hinge; and

2. It could actually limit the liability of Graco if someone is injured after the defective hinge has been covered.

Therefore, if you or someone you love has been injured by a defective Graco baby stroller, you need to contact the baby stroller recall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Jet Ski Accidents and Lawsuits

Legal Advocate — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:04:35 +0000

Water-based recreation is a pastime that’s been popular in the United States for generations, and as new product innovations take hold with the consumer market, new ways to have fun on lakes, rivers and the like continue to evolve. One of those market innovations is the jet ski, which is also known as the personal watercraft. While these vehicles are exhilarating, they are also dangerous, leading to the need for help from jet ski accident lawyers in many situations around the United States.

The United States Coast Guard keeps statistics regarding reported accidents on the water, and one look at these statistics should give anyone pause before heading out onto the waves with their jet skis. Overall, the Coast Guard recorded 4,789 accidents on the water involving boats of all sizes and jet skis in 2008, and person watercraft accidents totaled 23% of that number. In addition, there were 45 deaths on jet skis in 2008, 17 of which were drownings. Almost 1,000 people were seriously injured in these same types of accidents during this time frame.

The statistics may be daunting, but the trends are also troubling, as the number of accidents that result in injuries and deaths on jet skis has continued to rise at a steady pace in recent years. The causes of these accidents are similar to other boating accident causes that include alcohol, speeding, reckless driving for the conditions and failures to yield the right-of-way on the water.

When situations arise like those described above, the injured parties can face a complicated process when pursuing the proper defendants in a lawsuit that seeks justifiable damages. The preliminary steps that must be taken include obtaining an official report from the authorities regarding what led to the accident, obtaining any and all medical records and other documentation that helps to quantify damages incurred and of course sifting through the evidence and discovery process that’s required for any legal claim to proceed.

Rather than attempt to handle all of this while concentrating on your recovery, you need to seek the help of a jet ski accident attorney who has the experience and knowledge to take care of these issues for you. Contact the attorneys at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.