Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Several different sizes of Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tires have been recalled recently, according to Goodyear and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall affects tires manufactured between March and May 2009, and about 40,000 of these tires were sold.

The recalled tires can separate from the tread, increasing the risk of a motor vehicle crash, damage to the vehicle, or both. The separation is most likely to occur when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed or under “adverse driving conditions,” such as bad roads or emergency situations, where the ability to swerve or otherwise move the vehicle quickly and easily is at a premium. These are also situations in which serious injuries can result if the vehicle’s tires fail.

Owners of these tires will be able to have them replaced for free once the recall begins, which is expected to be on or before March 22, 2012. More information is available by calling Goodyear at 1-800-592-3267 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

The tire sizes affected by the recall are:

• LT235/80R17 LRE;
• LT325/60R18 LRE;
• LT275/70R18 LRE;
• LT265/70R17 LRE;
• LT245/75R17 LRE; and
• LT285/70R17 LRD.

At Page Law, our experienced Missouri defective product injury attorneys help clients injured by defective products. Even careful drivers can’t always avoid these accidents, which is why manufacturers have a responsibility to make products that are reasonably safe and free of hidden, dangerous defects. To learn more about your legal rights after a crash and how Page Law can help, call us today at (314) 322-8515. Your initial telephone consultation is free and entirely confidential.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the manufacturers of several different types of gas furnaces have issued a product recall. These furnaces, designed for and installed in manufactured homes, pose an increased risk of starting household fires.

The recall covers Coleman, Coleman Evcon, and Red T gas furnaces installed in manufactured homes between 1995 and 2004. Certain models were recalled in November 2004 for similar fire risks, but the recent recall covers additional model numbers, which also pose increased fire risks. The furnaces can overheat, causing the casing for the heat exchanger to crack. When cracks occur, heating elements or flames can be exposed to items outside the furnace and set them on fire.

Owners of these furnaces are advised to stop using them until they can have the furnace inspected. Inspections and any needed repairs are covered by the manufacturer; owners can contact either the manufacturer or the CPSC for more information.

While waiting for an inspection, repair, or replacement, homeowners may need an alternate method of heating their homes, such as space heaters. Since space heaters also pose a risk of burns or fire-related injuries, read the instructions on your space heater carefully and follow them. If a space heater causes injury, an experienced Missouri burn injury lawyer may be able to help.

A defective furnace can easily cause serious harm, including severe burn injuries, damage from smoke inhalation, and property damage. At Page Law, our knowledgeable St. Louis product liability lawyers are dedicated to helping injured Missourians seek the compensation they deserve from any parties whose negligence may have caused harm. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

The condition of your tires matters whether you’re driving a large truck, a passenger vehicle, or a motorcycle. Tires matter more on a motorcycle than on other vehicles, however, especially when it comes to safety in an emergency situation. Choosing tires properly can improve your motorcycle safety, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

First, motorcycle tires should match. Always replace the front and back tires at the same time, and choose two tires that are the same make and model whenever possible. If you can’t match make and model, make sure that both tires have the same kind of treads - radial or bias ply.

Even though the front and rear motorcycle tires should match, they should not be the exact same tire. The front and rear tires of a motorcycle each have different jobs to perform, and they are manufactured specifically for either the front or the rear of the motorcycle. Make sure your front wheel has only front-wheel tires and your rear wheel uses only rear-wheel tires. Finally, check your tires regularly for flat or bald spots, wear, cracks, hard spots, or other damage, especially if you park your bike in the sun for part or all of the day.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Missouri motorcycle accident attorneys at Page Law. We’re dedicated to helping those injured in motorcycle crashes and their families seek the compensation they need to heal and move forward. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.

Chemical inhalation is a well-known cause of workplace injuries, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In order to reduce the number of serious injuries caused each year by chemical inhalation, OSHA requires the use of protective equipment when working with certain dangerous chemicals for increased workplace safety. However, skin exposure to many of these chemicals can be equally dangerous - and can come with hidden risks many workers and employers don’t think of until it’s too late.

First, many chemicals used in a wide range of workplaces can cause skin injury if they come in contact with the body. Chemical burns, irritation, or allergic reactions can all cause serious damage or even be life-threatening. OSHA requires protective gloves and other gear be worn when working with many of these chemicals to prevent them from coming into contact with skin.

Next, skin exposure to a chemical poses the hidden danger of increasing a person’s total exposure to a chemical, making poisoning more likely. In many cases, workers may judge themselves to be “fine” after just a bit of inhalation, not realizing that their skin has also soaked up a dangerous chemical. Medical treatment is necessary after any kind of dangerous chemical exposure.

At Page Law, our experienced workplace accident lawyers in St. Louis can guide you through every step of the process after a work accident, from filing your workers’ compensation claim to holding any negligent third parties accountable in court. To learn more about how we can help you protect your legal rights, call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential telephone consultation.

February is Prenatal Infection Prevention Month in the United States, dedicated to raising awareness of prenatal infections and the serious harm they can cause to a developing child. One of the most common types of prenatal infection is Group B Strep infection.

Group B strep is a type of bacteria carried by up to 25 percent of pregnant women in the U.S. Not all babies exposed to this bacterium suffer health problems, but the infection can cause serious problems if it does take hold. Group B strep infections may cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious and lifelong medical conditions or disabilities.

No expecting mother wants to give her child an infection, but there are many ways to treat Group B strep so that it does not hurt the developing baby. A urine culture performed on the mother can check for Group B strep, and it should be done if the mother experiences frequent urinary tract infections - a common symptom. If Group B strep is found, Mom can be treated with medications to help prevent the infection from spreading to the developing baby. However, none of these steps can be taken to promote the developing child’s health if a doctor fails to diagnose Group B strep correctly.

A doctor’s failure to diagnose or properly treat a prenatal infection may be medical malpractice, which might mean the family is entitled to compensation. At Page Law, our experienced St. Louis personal injury attorneys are dedicated to representing injury victims. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

Coronary heart disease is a major killer of Americans, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Consequently, the NHLBI and the American Heart Association (AHA) have teamed up to spread awareness of heart disease and other conditions during February’s Heart Health Month. Here are a few facts about heart disease:

• Heart disease causes damage to the heart and the blood vessels that lead to it, which can increase your risk of a heart attack.
• Heart disease can be treated, but it can’t be cured - once the damage occurs, you’ll always have it. Luckily, there are many lifestyle changes that can help prevent heart disease.
• Heart disease often doesn’t show any signs or symptoms. Preventing and treating heart disease depends on individuals who take steps to prevent heart disease, and doctors who pay attention to a patient’s risk factors, provide prevention and treatment options, and follow up to make sure the prevention and/or treatment is working - and intervene if it isn’t.
• Failing to diagnose heart disease can lead to a heart attack, which can result in serious injury or death. Heart attacks often have different symptoms in women than in men, but either sex can suffer serious consequences if heart disease or a heart attack is misdiagnosed.

Failure to diagnose a condition accurately could be medical malpractice that can lead to serious consequences. If you or someone you love was misdiagnosed or not diagnosed with heart disease or another condition, the experienced Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.