Kirk Bernard

Most of us know by now that we are entitled to file a personal injury claim if we are seriously injured as a result of a prescription drug. In addition, qualifying family members of a wrongful death victim may file a wrongful death claim. Large pharmaceutical companies such as Merck have faced a number of lawsuits in recent years over defective drugs that were not properly tested before they were put in the market for serious side effects.

However, it is important to remember that the term “dangerous drug” does not just refer to prescription drugs. A dangerous drug can mean an over-the-counter medication or even a natural herbal supplement. Recently, several lawsuits have been filed over Zicam nasal gels, which are basically over-the-counter cold medications. Hundreds of people across the nation reported that they lost their sense of smell and/or taste after using these cold medications. In such cases, drug companies even fail to disclose the risks of the drugs or serious side effects, which could have helped consumers make an informed choice.

As a consumer injured by a dangerous drug, you may be eligible to receive several types of damages. First, you may be able to get the liable party to pay medical bills to cover any injuries you sustained as a result of taking a dangerous drug. You may also qualify for lost wages, pain and suffering, and various other types of damages depending on the specifics of your case.

If you have been injured by a defective drug in Seattle or Washington State, please contact an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his knowledgeable legal team today.

E. coli is a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. E. coli is short for the medical term Escherichia coli. E. coli normally lives inside your intestines, where it helps your body break down and digest the food you eat. Unfortunately, certain types or strains of E. coli can get from the intestines into the blood. This is a rare illness, but it can cause a very serious infection. The most common symptoms of E. coli are painful stomach cramps or stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes bloody.

E. coli infection can be passed from person to person but serious E. coli infection is linked to food containing the bacteria. Some of the foods that can cause E. coli poisoning include undercooked ground beef (mostly used for hamburgers); vegetables grown in cow manure or washed in contaminated water; and fruit juice that is not pasteurized. Here are some steps that you can take to identify the symptoms of E. coli infection before they get serious or prevent them altogether:

1. A number of troubling symptoms may surface including abdominal pain or cramps, diarrhea with blood, fever and nausea.
2. Most people recover fully from E. coli infection. However, there are also some potentially serious complications. Pregnant women who drink contaminated water put their fetus at risk of developing neonatal meningitis. A small percentage of people will also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS. This can result in a loss of kidney function, which is obviously quite serious, and some people have died after developing this serious complication.
3. When you eat out, please remember that undercooked ground beef is one of the most common causes of E. coli infections. Heating the meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit is absolutely essential. If you are served a burger at a restaurant that is still undercooked or pink in the middle, send it back.
4. It is also important to remain vigilant at home. Wash fruits and vegetables particularly leafy greens that are consumed raw. Wash kitchen surfaces that are exposed to raw meat in order to prevent cross contamination of food.
5. If you have E. coli poisoning or suspect it, see a doctor immediately. With proper treatment, most people make a full recovery, and permanent damage is rare.

If you believe that another person’s negligence contributed to you suffering serious E. coli contamination symptoms, or if a food product was contaminated while being manufactured, you may be able to file a claim. If you or a loved one is a personal injury victim in Washington, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful educational information to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Over the last two years or so, a number of toys have been recalled for excessive amounts of lead paint or because they pose laceration, fall or choking hazards. However, you’d be surprised that a lot of these toys still sit on shelves where you are likely Christmas shopping, as we speak! As parents, it is extremely important that we remain vigilant during the holiday shopping season. Dangerous and defective toys may still be found at second-hand stores and at retail outlets. That said, these are not the only toys that endanger your child’s well-being. As a skilled personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that other toys that are normally considered “safe” can still pose dangers to young children, especially when they are not age-appropriate.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2008, 235,000 injuries involving toys were treated at emergency departments in the United States. During the same year, 19 children younger than age 15 died in toy-related incidents. A majority of these incidents involved cuts, contusions, facial and head injuries. Here are some useful tips to help prevent such injuries – major or minor – not only this holiday season, but year-round:

Please read the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings. If a toy warns about “serious injuries” or has too many warnings, just stay away from that toy. It’s not worth it.

Do not give children under 8 years of age toys that have sharp edges, have batteries that can be swallowed or have heating elements that can cause burn injuries.

If you have small children, please do not buy toys with small parts that can be swallowed and cause choking hazards. If necessary, twist and pull small parts to see if they come off. Some small parts are simply not properly attached the way they should be.

After you open a toy, immediately dispose of the plastic wrappings, which can cause suffocation or choking.

If your child is younger than 8, please do not give him or her toys that contain small magnets. These can come off and be ingested by young children and could even be fatal. These tiny magnets are extremely dangerous because you can’t even tell from the symptoms that your child has suffered a fatal injury.

Beware of bright-colored toys! They may look shiny and attractive, but those qualities may come from excessive lead paint. In 2009 alone, CPSC ordered the removal of 14 types of toys due to high lead counts. Ingesting lead could lead to cognitive issues and even brain damage in children.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective product or a defective toy, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about defective product cases that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/12/dangerous_toys.html