5 things to do when a tire blows out
Manufacturers design tires to withstand various road conditions and keep vehicles rolling. However, despite their structural strength, tires can still fail and blow out during transit.
Tire blowouts are likely to occur in California’s soaring temperatures. Tires rubbing against hot pavements can increase friction, rapidly building up heat beyond what they can take. When this happens, tires can expand and explode.
Thus, knowing what to do upon hearing a loud burst can help drivers regain control of their vehicles.
Keep calm and don’t panic
While it is understandable to feel uneasy when the car loses its balance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reiterates the significance of maintaining focus and not making abrupt speed changes.
Instead, drivers must take the following safety steps during a tire blowout to prevent a minor situation from escalating into a life-threatening accident:
- Firmly hold the steering wheel with both hands.
- Gently release the accelerator to slow down in a safe direction.
- Adjust steering to avoid swerving to another lane.
- Pull over at a secure location.
- Turn on emergency lights and assess the extent of damage.
Failure to follow safety procedures can have deadly consequences. Tire-related wrecks yielded 422 fatalities in 2021. However, drivers can avert potential catastrophic collisions through proper tire maintenance. Constantly checking on tire pressure, tread, rotation, size and alignment can mean the difference between life and death.
Determine if a manufacturer shares liability
Not all tire blowouts are a case of a negligent car owner. Sometimes, it is a design defect. The manufacturer may have improperly inflated the product, among several things that can go wrong in the supply chain. However, drivers must prove that the faulty tire directly caused their injuries. With big companies potentially involved, pursuing legal action with a representative proves paramount to protecting an injured party’s rights and helping them recover fair compensation.
Thousands of Black women have filed lawsuits claiming that the hair relaxer products they’ve been using gave them uterine cancer.
A new report has found that women have filed over 7,000 lawsuits since a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) report in October 2022 found an association between frequent use of hair straightening chemicals and uterine cancer. According to the NIH, women who used hair relaxers more than four times in the previous year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who didn’t.
NIH also noted that uterine cancer is the most common form of female reproductive system cancer in America, and its rates are rising significantly among Black women.
The lead author of the NIH report said that hair straighteners can have ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, cyclosiloxanes and metals, which could interfere with the body’s hormones and can raise cancer risk. The products can also release formaldehyde when heated; the substance is a known carcinogen.
Filing a lawsuit for potentially cancer-causing hair relaxers
If you’ve also contracted cancer and suspect that your use of hair relaxers may have caused it, you might also consider filing a lawsuit of your own. But for a court to find the product manufacturer liable, you’ll have to prove the following:
- That the product’s cancer-causing chemicals were the likely culprit for your cancer versus the genes you were born with.
- The product can cause cancer through regular use.
- The product is the main chemical that caused the cancer and not another carcinogen.
Because current research only hints at a connection – not a direct causal link – between hair relaxers and cancer, it may be challenging to build a strong case.
However, no matter how your cancer is caused, it’s essential to seek medical treatment immediately. Establishing that you had to receive medical treatment is a key part of any product liability lawsuit since a medical professional can potentially identify how your cancer may have developed.
No matter how small, a loose part left unchecked can lead to catastrophic failure for any mechanical device. This is the crux of the matter with Toyota’s latest recall, involving improperly secured batteries.
The automaker is recalling about 1.9 million of its RAV4 small SUVs to fix a battery problem. According to Toyota, the affected vehicles from the model years 2013 to 2018 have 12-volt batteries with smaller top dimensions compared to others. If the hold-down clamp securing these batteries isn’t tight enough, the battery could suddenly move during hard turns.
In the worst cases, a loosened battery would make its positive terminal touch the hold-down clamp, causing the battery to short-circuit due to the unintended connection.
Toyota announced that it is working on a fix for the issue and is expecting to notify affected RAV4 owners by late December. Once it’s ready, the company’s dealers will replace the faulty parts with new ones.
The dangers of a car battery short-circuit
Short-circuits are dangerous, especially when they happen to automobile batteries. If it happens during driving, the engine could stall, raising the risk of an accident. Short-circuits also pose an electrical shock and fire risk. Drivers and passengers could sustain injuries from the electric shock, and the excessive current can also cause overheating, leading to engine fires.
Injured drivers can seek damages
If you’ve suffered injuries from a short-circuiting battery caused by a manufacturing defect, you may be able to seek recompense from the manufacturer through a product liability lawsuit.
Each automobile sold in the U.S. is supposed to meet safety standards. Under the strict liability doctrine, consumers can hold automakers directly liable for injuries without the need to prove their negligence.
Consider legal consultation before filing a lawsuit to learn if you have a solid case.
When most people think of insurance claims and civil litigation over dog-related injuries, they typically think of dog bites and attacks. Certainly, these can cause serious harm – particularly when there’s a large dog and/or a small child involved. However, anyone who’s ever been bitten by a chihuahua who meant business can attest that small dogs can cause deep, painful and scarring bites that should get medical attention.
Dogs can cause other types of injuries – while acting only with the purest of intentions. Often, these occur in a home. Have you ever seen someone’s dog so happy to greet a guest that they jumped up on them and knocked them over? When this happens to someone who’s older and frail, it can cause broken bones or even a brain injury. People often trip over little dogs they don’t expect to be underfoot and are seriously injured.
The at-fault dog owner is often someone the victim knows
Often, it’s not stranger’s dogs or stray dogs that cause injuries. It’s a dog belonging to a relative, friend or neighbor. In many cases, some lack of supervision or control, like failing to leash the dog when they’re on a walk or letting an excitable dog loose around guests, is ultimately responsible for the injury. When off-leash dogs attack leashed ones, and it can be the owner of the leashed dog who suffers serious injuries as they try to break up the fight.
Homeowners’ insurance often covers these injuries
While you may be hesitant to hold someone you know liable for the injury, even if they were responsible, you have every right to get your medical bills and other expenses reimbursed. Most people’s homeowner’s insurance covers injuries caused by their pets.
Unless the policyholder failed to disclose a dog or lied about the dog’s breed, that policy should cover your losses. The insurer will likely just want to make sure that the victim wasn’t teasing, hurting or otherwise intentionally provoking the dog.
If the dog’s owner doesn’t have homeowner’s insurance or any kind of umbrella coverage, you may need to seek compensation directly from them. If you’re dealing with a serious injury and having difficulty collecting the compensation you need to deal with it, it can be wise to get a legal professional in your corner.
How to avoid the fatal risks of long commutes
No one wants to sit in traffic for a prolonged period. However, even though commuting has a dreadful reputation, the average American still spends at least an hour daily for long travels worth 16 miles each way. This transport reality is especially true for congested urban areas and heavily populated states, such as California.
Unfortunately, long-distance driving can impair drivers’ concentration, reaction time and coordination, resulting in deadly collisions. Knowing how to avoid risks is crucial in keeping the roads safe.
Commuting with heightened vigilance
While there is no one-size-fits-all manual to make lengthy travels more bearable and, in effect, safer, the following are recommendations to help commuters steer clear of potential injuries and fatalities:
- Create varieties: Choose a different route occasionally or go for scenic alternatives.
- Take necessary breaks: If signs of drowsiness or fatigue manifest, pull over to the nearest rest stop to recharge and regain focus.
- Consider entertaining options: See it as a personal time to enjoy one’s company by listening to good music or interesting podcasts. However, proceed carefully because these activities can quickly turn into distractions. Still, every person has distinct habits to boost their attentiveness on the road.
Ultimately, commuting is a shared experience. It is most likely the first thing colleagues talk about when they meet in the office. They might discuss how bad the traffic jams are or what they encounter along the way. When people remember that they do not endure this alone, it can also push them to drive cautiously, knowing their actions can significantly impact other road users.
Advocating for a safer future on the road
Staying alert amid lengthy commutes can save lives. Sadly, not everyone makes it to their destination unharmed or alive. For motor vehicle accident survivors, consulting a legal advocate can help them recover damages and make a difference the next time they hit the road.
Mattresses recalled over mold exposure risk
Manufacturers recall their products for a variety of reasons. It might be due to a design flaw that makes the item dangerous or the product used the wrong labels.
But sometimes, manufacturers recall a product for something that happened during manufacturing, making their normally safe goods unsafe.
Mattress company FXI has recalled about 48,000 Novaform beds because they can contain molds that are hazardous to those with damaged lungs, compromised immune systems or mold allergies. According to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 500 customers reported mold on their mattresses.
It’s believed the mattresses were exposed to water sometime during manufacturing, inviting moisture into the foam, which led to mold growth.
There have been no injuries reported that were related to the mold growth. Costco stores exclusively sold the mattresses between January 2023 and June 2023.
How dangerous is mold growth?
The health risks of mold growth can vary per person. For some, the spores released by molds can lead to stuffy noses, sore throats, coughing or even skin rashes.
In the worst cases, molds can trigger asthma attacks. Those who have mold allergies can experience severe reactions. People with lung disease could catch infections from inhaling mold spores.
Filing a product liability lawsuit
Consumers normally sue manufacturers for a defective design that causes harm. Still, you can also file a product liability lawsuit for a dangerous product flaw that occurred sometime during its manufacturing, such as the moisture-induced mold growth in Novaform mattresses.
In a lawsuit claiming a manufacturing defect, you’ll have to show that the product’s manufacturing defect differs from the manufacturer’s intended design or veers from the design found in similar items on the same production line.
You’ll need expert witnesses who can testify to the item’s dangers to prove all these things in court. Legal counsel may be able to help with building your case and securing these experts.
Photos can tell a story. In your case, they can be vivid images to help establish your compensation claim after a tragic truck collision.
However, photographing the crash scene may not be top of your mind. After all, you must prioritize seeking medical attention for enduring a sudden and severe impact.
Yet, depending on your condition, it is equally important to preserve as much evidence as possible for the complex legal fight against multiple individuals or companies. Knowing the significance of photos can advance the process of recovering damages from all liable parties.
Taking photographic proof
California is the second riskiest state for fatal truck accidents, recording almost 370 deaths in 2020. Thus, it is unsurprising that a truck’s massive size and weight, alongside other environmental factors, make for a chaotic situation. So, it may be extremely challenging to capture quality photos.
A recommended thing to do is to adjust your camera settings for clear or sharp results. Consider all possible perspectives as well. For example, wide shots can include significant details, such as weather or road hazards. Conversely, extremely close angles can show compelling nuances that can tap into emotions favorable to your circumstances.
Your photos can include:
- Your vehicle’s damages and other surrounding debris
- Positions of all involved vehicles, drivers and passengers
- Your injuries, such as abrasions, lacerations or broken bones
- Skid marks and reference points, such as traffic signals, crosswalks or intersections
No matter how compelling your photos are, they may still not be enough to substantiate your claim. Therefore, overreliance on them is a common mistake. Instead, you must also secure videos, dashcam footage and witness statements to present the events more accurately.
Preserving your truth
Photos are tangible documentation that can validate your claim amid other potential narratives from involved parties. Also, insurance companies tend to be ruthless despite what your photos reveal. It will be wise to have a legal representative in your corner who cares for your truth and is ready to pursue justice for your injuries and losses.
How to react to a dangerous dog
Many people get bitten by dangerous dogs simply because they’re not sure how to react in the moment. If a dog charges them and looks like it’s going to attack, they have to make a decision in a split second, and they may yell or run away. Either is an instinctive reaction, part of the flight or fight process that the body goes through when faced with true danger.
But both of these instincts aren’t safe responses. You likely can’t outrun a dangerous dog, and its prey drive just makes it more likely to chase you if you try. So, what should you do in this situation?
Keep a low energy level
First of all, a dog will react to the energy level that it senses in a human. It’s important to stay calm and keep your energy level as low as you can. Speak in soothing tones.
Back away slowly
Rather than turning and running, keep your eyes on the dog. You may want to turn to the side to create a smaller profile. You can then begin slowly backing away, which means the dog will be less likely to chase you. If possible, avoid making direct eye contact while you do this. Watch the dog out of your peripheral vision so that you can see what it is doing without presenting yourself as a threat.
Don’t try to intimidate the dog
People sometimes try to scare a dog by being aggressive or yelling. Similar to screaming in fear, however, this will almost certainly result in an opposite effect. It can rile the dog up more than it was before. It is best to speak in a calm and controlled voice. You can be stern, but you should also be non-threatening.
Put something between you and the dog
Finally, if it seems like you can’t escape quickly enough to avoid a bite, try to put something between the two of you. This could mean backing away until you’re on the other side of a car parked on the street, for example, or “feeding” the dog an item like a coat or a purse.
Taking these steps can help you avoid a dog bite, but there is no guarantee that you’ll escape harm if an aggressive dog is in your sights. If you have been injured by someone else’s dog, you may be able to seek financial compensation, so seeking legal guidance is a good idea.
Did my Hyundai just get recalled?
You probably heard the news recently: another vehicle recall. This time, millions of cars and SUVs manufactured by Hyundai were recalled.
Why? The vehicles can spontaneously catch fire, which affects various Hyundai car and SUV models from 2010 to 2017. If you have one, park them well away from your home and other structures until your vehicle has been fixed.
What is the defect?
The defective vehicles have an anti-lock brake system module that could develop a leak, which causes the system to short circuit. This short circuit can cause the ABS module to overheat and cause the engine to catch fire.
Have there been injuries or deaths?
Hyundai claims there have been none. However, there have been fires, with customers who experienced damages, even if it is just the loss of their vehicles and the contents in them.
Which vehicles are recalled?
The affected Hyundai vehicles include the Accent (manufactured between 2012-2015), Azera (manufactured between 2012-2015), Elantra (manufactured between 2011-2015) and the Elantra Coupe (manufactured between 2013-2015). In addition, the recall includes the Equus (manufactured between 2014-2015), Genesis Coupe (manufactured between 2011-2015), Santa Fe (manufactured between 2013-2015), Santa Fe Sport (manufactured in 2013) and the Sonata HEV (manufactured between 2011-2015).
Finally, the recall also includes the Tucson (manufactured between 2010-2013), Tucson Fuel Cell (manufactured between 2015), Veloster (manufactured between 2012-2015) and the Veracruz (manufactured between 2010-2012). Though, this could be expanded. Check your VIN number on the NHTSA’s website to be sure.
If my car is included, what should I do?
You should receive notification by mail directly from Hyundai, if your vehicle is recalled. You take your car to the nearest Hyundai dealership, and they will replace the defective products for free. You can call Hyundai directly too at 1-800-633-5151. Though, in the interim, check your car for visible smoke, warning lights and any signs of heat or fire. And, make sure you do not park your vehicle in your garage or near anything else that your vehicle could catch fire, should it spontaneously combust.
However, if your vehicle has already combusted, you likely have a product liability claim. Though, you will need to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.
Dehumidifiers are essential appliances in any home or space with high humidity. They extract water from the air, helping reduce humidity and making rooms feel much more comfortable.
But like any electric appliance, dehumidifiers can also have issues that can make them dangerous. Such was the case with a recent recall for over 1.5 million dehumidifiers sold in the U.S. because of their potential fire risk.
Chinese manufacturer Gree Electric Appliance is recalling 42 dehumidifier models. The company sold the devices under five brands – Kenmore, GE, Norpole, Seabreeze and SoleusAir. These devices were made available through major retailers like Home Depot and Walmart from January 2011 to February 2014.
Gree issued the recall after it had received reports that its dehumidifiers caused at least 23 fires and $168,000 in property damage. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that Gree had advised consumers to unplug and immediately stop using the devices and to contact the company for a free refund.
Product liability for dangerous devices
What can you do if you’re injured in a fire caused by a defective dehumidifier?
Per California law, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer to seek compensation for your injuries and any property damage caused by the fire.
However, if you file a product liability lawsuit, you must remember that California uses a pure comparative fault system, which could limit the damages you can seek.
Pure comparative fault
Under the state’s law on pure comparative fault, you’re only eligible for compensation based on the level of your fault compared to the manufacturer. For instance, if you suffered burn injuries that cost $780,000 but were determined to be 40% at fault for the fire, you can only recover the remaining 60% ($468,000) through the lawsuit.
Manufacturers facing a product liability lawsuit could use the pure comparative fault system to limit the damages they’re liable for. For instance, the manufacturer could claim in court that you used the dehumidifier for long periods without breaks. It could additionally claim that this goes against its warnings that prolonged use could lead to dangerous overheating. In a roundabout way, you could be more liable for the burn injuries you’ve suffered from a defective product.
Product liability lawsuits can be challenging, especially if the manufacturer you’re suing will try its hardest to reduce its liability. Consider having a legal professional on your side to understand your case better.
Connect with us
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022