Personal Injury Q and A

Elfego Lozano-Nicolas, 39, has died from critical injuries he suffered in a Santa Ana car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal bicycle accident occurred the night of January 20, 2012 in the 100 block of South Broadway. Lozano-Nicolas was hit by a pickup truck, possibly a Toyota Tundra, with a ladder rack and ladders on top. The truck also had blue lettering running the length of the truck. The pickup's hubcap fell at the scene of the crash. The driver did not stop. Lozano-Nicholas was taken to a local trauma center where he died the day after the incident. If you have any information about this fatal hit-and-run crash, please contact Santa Ana police at 714-245-8701.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Elfego Lozano-Nicolas for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Metal on metal knee replacements are taking a lot of heat lately as several patients using them are experiencing severe pain. According to the knee replacement lawyers at Bisnar and Chase, several victims have suffered injuries as a result of this defective device, and many of them have the right to pursue compensation for their injuries. If you have suffered as a result of this defective product, speaking with a Bisnar and Chase attorney may help you recover. Read the rest of this entry »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced this week that Hewlett-Packard (HP) has agreed to a settlement of $425,000 for their failure to report a product hazard in a timely manner. It is required by federal law that any and all dangers regarding a product are reported to the CPSC immediately. There was evidence that HP knowingly delayed reporting an issue with certain lithium-ion battery packs that were an unreasonable hazard to consumers.

It was reported that these battery packs, shipped with new HP computers and sold as spare parts, could overheat, which posed a burn and fire hazard. The CPSC claimed that in September of 2007 HP had already received reports from 22 consumers about the defect and that two were injured and at least one was hospitalized. HP also apparently conducted studies in March and April 2007 which revealed information about the hazard.

Neither the study nor the reports were passed on to the CPSC until July 2008--the release explains that by the time it was reported 31 incidents had been reported. The federal laws regarding product safety require that hazards are reported within 24 hours of knowledge of the risk. Read the rest of this entry »

At least two people were injured in a Los Angeles bus accident after a Metro bus collided with a FedEx truck, the morning of January 25, 2012. According to a KABC news report, the crash happened in the 9600 block of Van Nuys Boulevard. The impact from the crash knocked the delivery truck on its side and spilled an unknown amount of fuel on to the roadway. Two people were taken to an area hospital with injuries. Officials are still looking into what led to this crash.

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Eight people were hospitalized with injuries after a San Diego car accident, which involved two vehicles colliding at a street intersection, the night of January 24, 2012. According to a news report in U-T San Diego, the injury crash occurred at the intersection of Lake Badin Avenue and Jackson Drive. Officials say an 18-year-old man with four passengers was driving on Jackson in a Dodge Charger when the vehicle was struck by a Dodge SUV approaching the intersection on Lake Badin.

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One person was critically injured in a Riverside car accident that resulted in injuries to five other people as well. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the injury accident occurred at Allesandro Boulevard and Lesselle Street in Moreno Valley, the morning of January 22, 2012. Officials are looking into what may have led to the two-car crash. The extent of the victims' injuries is not known. It is also not yet clear if either driver will be cited for the collision. An investigation is ongoing.

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Countless people suffer from debilitating depression in the United States. Depressive disorders affect nearly 19 million American adults, about 9.5% of the population. There are plenty of options for those who suffer from depression, but medications are the most popular form of treatment and many of those who utilize anti-depressants experience positive results. Unfortunately, pregnant women who are utilizing medications like Lexapro are giving birth to an abnormally high number of children with birth defects.
According to the California Lexapro Attorneys at Bisnar and Chase, several women are coming forward with these truly disturbing claims and many of them have grounds for compensation.

Lexapro is a medication designed to combat depression in adults. Several studies have been released over the last few years linking the use of medications like Lexapro to birth defects. If you or a loved one have used Lexapro during pregnancy, it is in your best interest to contact a Bisnar and Chase Lexapro attorney as soon as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Effexor is a brand name for the drug venlaxafine, an anti-depressant often prescribed for those with clinical depression issues.  Despite the effectiveness of the drug in clinical trials, it has been linked to a higher incidence of birth defects and other side effects.

Effexor is manufactured and sold by Wyeth, an American pharmaceutical company which is a subsidiary of Pfizer.  Effexor has been shown to treat the symptoms of major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and panic disorder.  The drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for distribution in 1993.  When the patent expired in 2006, several companies raced to produce generic versions, and sales in 2007 were so high that it was the sixth most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the country.  Generic names include Efexor, Alventa, Argofan, and Trevilor.

Effexor is a form of the serotonin-norephinephrine reuptake inhibitor class of drugs, or SNRIs.  SNRIs work by preventing certain receptors in the brain from re-absorbing serotonin after it has already been released into the system.  This is thought to combat the effects of depressive disorders by keeping more serotonin available in the body.  SNRIs also regulate the level of norephinephrine in the body, which is thought to reduce stress levels.

Early reports of serious side effects caused the FDA in 2004 to issue a "black box" warning for Effexor.  This means that Effexor and all generics are required to include a black-outlined warning section in their package inserts which discusses possible harmful side effects.  However, no recall has been issued by either the FDA or by Wyeth or other companies.

The FDA also warned Wyeth against over-emphasizing the positive effects of the drug.  In 2007, the FDA warned Wyeth in writing to cease and desist advertising which gave a falsely positive view of what the drug could do. Read the rest of this entry »

A 21-year-old man was severely injured in a San Diego car accident after his motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck near the Civic Center in the downtown area. According to an NBC news report, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Broadway, the morning of January 20, 2012. Police say the motorcyclist was southbound on 4th Avenue when an eastbound Chevy pickup truck, driven by a 23-year-old man, hit him. The motorcyclist suffered a broken hip and other injuries. It is not clear if the driver of the pickup truck was cited. An investigation is ongoing.

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Three people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident involving four vehicles. According to CBS Los Angeles news report, the car crash occurred on Lindley Avenue in Reseda, the morning of January 19, 2012. Officials have not released information regarding how or why the multi-vehicle crash occurred. A male pedestrian was critically injured in the crash. Two other men -- another pedestrian and a passenger in one of the four vehicles -- suffered non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.

My thoughts and prayers are with the male pedestrian who has been severely injured in this pedestrian accident. I wish all three injured victims the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

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