Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Zelnorm and Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Thursday, August 9, 2007

Zelnorm (generic tegaserod) is a drug prescribed for the short-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. IBS is a disorder that gives millions of people abdominal pain and either severe diarrhea, constipation or both. IBS occurs mainly in women, and Zelnorm is only prescribed to women. Zelnorm has been the only drug therapy for the constipation-causing form of IBS approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In March 2007 the FDA notified healthcare professionals that the manufacturer of Zelnorm, Novartis Phamaceuticals Company, agreed to discontinue marketing Zelnorm in the United States.

FDA studies showed a large number of severe cardiovascular events (angina, heart attack, and stroke) in patients taking Zelnorm. The drug has also been linked to serious cases of diarrhea and ischemic colitis. Prior to the March 2007 decision to remove Zelnorm from the market, the FDA had received 21 reports of severe diarrhea that caused low blood pressure (hypotension) and fainting (syncope).

Truck Accident Leaves College Student Dead - Wednesday, August 8, 2007

A Provo, Utah woman has filed a lawsuit against a construction company, saying one of their employees wrongfully caused the death of her daughter in a truck accident in 2006. The victim, Lorna Lister, a 27-year-old Brigham Young University student, was driving her car up Provo Canyon to Park City, Utah.

An Ames Construction employee, 67-year-old Thomas Landers, was driving a dump truck south down the canyon through a gravel construction zone. The dump truck suddenly crossed the southbound lane and struck the vehicle in front of Lister. The dump truck allegedly rolled over that vehicle and then collided head-on with Lister's vehicle. The car became jammed between the first and second axle, and the dump truck dragged the car back across the southbound lane to the construction site.

The impact of the collision ripped the engine out of the car and left it lying in the middle of the road. Lister suffered some broken bones and internal injuries, but she was entangled in the car's twisted frame and died of asphyxiation approximately 13 minutes after the collision.

The lawsuit alleges that the construction company is responsible for Lister's death because it did not properly train Landers to operate the dump truck he was driving. Also, the construction site did not have a barrier to separate the construction zone from the public roadway.

Lister's mother is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.

Can Bicycle Helmet Laws Prevent Brain Injuries In Children? - Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Over 100,000 children in the U.S. sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from bicycle accidents each year. Some states already have laws requiring children to wear helmets when riding, but like motorcycle helmet and seat belt laws, the effectiveness of bicycle helmet laws in preventing injuries remains a matter of controversy.

A recent review of five studies involving child helmet laws suggests that the laws do significantly increase helmet use and help to reduce brain injuries. One of the reviewed studies showed an 18% drop in bicycle-related TBI in children in California, over the course of 10 years, after helmet laws went into effect. Another found that provinces in Canada that had helmet laws had a 45% decrease in child head injuries, while those without the laws had a 27% decrease. The studies did not address concerns that the laws may reduce bicycle riding in general or that they may encourage riding in riskier situations.

Ford Motor Co. to Recall Several Million Vehicles in August 2007 - Monday, August 6, 2007

Ford Motor Company will recall 3.6 million vehicles to remove a cruise control switch that has been associated to fires in other vehicles. The vehicles involved in the recall range from the 1992 to 2004 model years and include the Ford Bronco, Lincoln Town Car, Ford Explorer, Ford Ranger and Mercury Grand Marquis. Ford is doing this in response to customer concerns about the safety of the switch, which has been the subject of previous recalls.

None of the vehicles involved in this latest recall have experienced an abnormal number of fires; the company is recalling the vehicles so that customers will not be concerned about the switch.

In 2006 and 2006, nearly 6 million vehicles were recalled due to problems with the cruise control cut-off switch. The switch, located under the hood and attached to the brake master cylinder on one end and wired to the cruise control on the other, cuts off the cruise control when the driver firmly steps on the brakes. The switch is powered at all times, even when the vehicle is turned off. In some cases, fluid leaking the switch could cause it to short circuit resulting in a fire.

This recall will begin on August 13, 2007.

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