The dollar amounts paid for dog bite claims by insurance companies has increased drastically recently, while the number of claims has remained relatively the same. Information released recently revealed that in 2012, $489.7 million was paid by insurance companies for dog bite claims. On average, insurance companies paid $29,752 per…
An 11 year old Houma boy tragically drowned in an apartment complex pool while swimming with other children. The boy was found unresponsive on the bottom of the pool and the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office has ruled the death an accidental drowning. Swimming pool safety should be an utmost concern…
Silos and grain bins continue to pose serious dangers to farm workers across the United States, according to a recent New York Times report. The report found that despite a sharp decline in farm-related accidents across America, the number of deadly silo and grain bin accidents remained consistent. In the…
ExxonMobil estimates that it accidentally released 28,700 pounds of naphtha at its Baton Rouge site June 14. Naptha contains the hazardous chemical benzene, a carcinogen recognized by the EPA. When ExxonMobil first reported the release to the state Department of Environmental Quality last week, it only reported a 10-pound spill.…
A steam explosion at a fertilizer factory in Pascagoula, Mississippi last week tragically killed one worker and left two other workers injured. Authorities continue to search for the cause of the accident. This accident marks the second fatal explosion at a plant in this area in a two-week-period. Factories, chemical…
Three bills addressing lead contamination in schools, day care centers and playgrounds passed in the Louisiana Legislature last week. Upon the governor’s signature, Senate Bills 200, 201 and 211 will require new schools, day care centers and playgrounds to be inspected for lead contamination. The inspection results will then be…
Four FEMA contractors agreed to pay $5 million to gulf coast victims in a class action settlement last week. The settlement stems from pooled claims alleging gulf coast residents’ exposure to increased levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Formaldehyde is a chemical that is a…
An elevator malfunction at the Chateau Bourbon Wyndham in New Orleans injured a Mississippi woman. When returning to her car in the hotel parking garage, the elevator stopped between the 3rd and 4th floors, trapping Jackson inside. In addition to enduring extreme heat while trapped inside, Ms. Jackson suffered fear,…
An eight year old Hammond girl was attacked by pit bulls while playing with a friend in late April. She suffered a torn artery in her leg and bites to her neck, legs, arms, and face. She underwent eight hours of surgery following the attack. The dog owners have been…
This month, a fire and explosion at the Westlake Chemical Corp. Complex in Geismar resulted in an estimated 15 compounds being released over the Mississippi River in Ascension Parish. Only a few of those compounds, including hydrochloric acid, chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer exceeded the one-hour permit level set by the…