A West Texas man riding his bicycle suffered puncture wounds to his arms and legs after he was attacked by five unrestrained pit bulls. The man’s injuries were treated at the hospital and local deputies were able to locate the owner of one of the pit bulls.
A Carencro man has been charged with first-degree negligent vehicular homicide after striking a vehicle containing a female passenger who was six months pregnant. The man admitted to police that he had been drinking beer and tequila since the early morning before driving his car without headlights and colliding with the vehicle containing the pregnant passenger. After the accident, the man fled on foot, failing to identify himself or offer aid to the injured parties. The pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital to perform an emergency Cesarean birth; unfortunately, the child did not survive.
While recalls for toys that contain hazards to children are down this year, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group insists that consumers should be aware of potential dangers that sit on toy shelves when shopping for Christmas this year. Hazards that could be harmful to children include toys with too much lead, excessive noise, and small parts that are could lead to choking. For example, the group tested the lead content in a Captain America toy and found it to contain twenty-nine times the legal amount of lead that is allowed in the product.
Christmas shoppers probably do not spend a whole lot of time analyzing the potential safety hazards that are contained in the toys that they buy for children. However, these dangers are very real and can potentially lead to grievous injury or even death. The manufacturers and distributors of these products have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe and are free of any hazards that can pose a danger to the public. For example, toy manufacturers should keep the lead content in their products below the legal limit because overexposure to lead can be extremely dangerous to young children because it can impair their neurological and physical development. If a manufacturer or distributor has not taken the necessary precautions to ensure that their products are safe for use, they may be liable for any damages that may result from the defective product. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of a defective product, you should immediately consult a skilled personal injury attorney who will fight to protect your rights.
An explosion at the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery claimed the life of a worker after a fire ignited an explosion in the furnace where the man was working. According to the director of the Jackson County Emergency Services, fire units extinguished the flames and prevented any harmful chemicals from being released to the public. An investigation of the explosion is currently underway.
The suit on behalf of a St. Bernard man who passed away as a result of a rare brain infection has been settled with two manufacturing companies who were blamed for the man’s death. The lawsuit alleged that the “neti pot” used to clear the man’s sinuses and the water heater in the man’s home were defective and ultimately responsible for the brain-eating amoeba that infected the man and took his life. The parents of the victim settled with the companies and the wrongful death lawsuit was subsequently dismissed.
Students swimming at an on-campus pool at a St. Martin Parish school were transported to the hospital after a large surge of chlorine was released in the water and air surrounding the pool. The school’s swim coach noticed poor circulation of chlorine in the water’s pool and turned on a system that was intended to fix the problem. Instead, a large burst of chlorine consumed the area, causing an evacuation of the area and sending many of the swimmers to the hospital. Roughly 25 students, aged 12 to 15, were swimming in the pool at the time and many complained of throat irritation and breathing problems.
18-wheelers on the Bonnet Carre Spillway, causing both trucks to overturn. The first accident occurred when the truck driver swerved out of the motorist’s way to avoid a head-on collision. The second accident occurred only a few miles later when the impaired driver’s SUV struck the other 18-wheeler head-on. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but all drivers involved in the accidents suffered minor injuries. The impaired SUV driver was charged with DWI and other offenses.
A worker at the Home Furniture Distribution Center in Lafayette was killed after he was struck by a piece of heavy equipment. The man was standing on a loading platform when the equipment fell on him, causing major injuries. He was transported to the Lafayette General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this is the twenty-first death resulting from a workplace accident this year and the third to occur in the Lafayette area. An investigation of the accident is underway.
Employers are obligated to maintain a safe working environment to prevent injuries or deaths from occurring in the workplace. This includes making sure that equipment is safe and secure, employees are properly trained, and hazard-free work conditions are maintained at every hour of the day. These safety standards are heightened when the work environment involves the constant use of heavy equipment or machinery. An employer’s negligence to preserve safe working conditions could lead to liability for damages resulting from a workplace accident. If you have suffered an injury in the workplace, you should immediately consult with a skilled personal injury attorney who can adequately assess your situation and protect your rights.
A multi-vehicle crash in Duson sent ten hospital patients back to the hospital when the van they were occupying was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the van to collide with a truck stopped in front of it. The ten passengers were treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries and the motorist that caused the multi-vehicle accident was cited for careless operation.
A five-car accident on the Westbank Expressway in Marrero has sent three people to the hospital with injuries, including an eight-year-old boy, who the police say is in serious condition. A pick-up truck struck two vehicles before careening down an exit ramp at a high rate of speed before colliding with two more vehicles as it came to a stop. A driver of one of the first vehicles to be hit estimated the truck’s speed to be “95 to 100 miles an hour.” The eight-year-old boy was wearing his seat belt in the front seat of a Hyundai Sonata when the pick-up truck t-boned the vehicle. The boy was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and was transported to the hospital in serious condition. It is speculated that the driver of the pick-up truck may have suffered a medical emergency that caused the accident, although the crash is currently under investigation pending toxicology tests.
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