Owners of the product are urged to only use the Nap Nanny recliner on the floor, and take appropriate action depending on what model they own:

-A first generation Nap Nanny (purchased at a retail store prior to August 15, 2009) may request an $80 coupon towards purchase of a new Nap Nanny with free shipping

-For a newer model Nap Nanny, please visit the Nap Nanny recall site to view the latest product warnings and instructional video. The updated model can be identified by the Velcro straps inside the cover, which secure it to a foam base.

Additional information can be found at:
CPSC Release
http://www.napnannyrecall.com/

The cribs were made in China and sold at Walmart, Amazon.com and various baby and children’s stores nationwide from January 2005 through February 2010 for about $60.

Clips attaching the top “tent” can come loose or snap off, causing children to become stuck between the tent and the playard. If you have this crib in your home, you should stop using it immediately. The CPSC has received reports of at least one incident of fatal strangulation. Contact Tots in Mind via their website or by calling (800) 626-0339 for a replacement crib product. The CPSC is also interested in receiving incident or injury reports on this product here.

Keep in mind that if you have this crib and no longer use it, you should still get the replacement clips. It is illegal to attempt to resell any product that has been recalled.

If you or a loved one has been affected by an accident caused by a defective product, whether or not a recall has been issued, you are probably dealing with a lot more than just hospital bills. Hiring an attorney should be a very informed decision. Consider requesting your free copy of our special report on insurance coverage, Caught In the Act, to ensure you are doing everything you can to protect your rights.

The cribs’ drop-sides can detach, creating a space where a young child could become entrapped or fall out of the crib.

ANY Pottery Barn Kids drop-side crib is included in this recall, regardless of the model number.

Be sure to check the Pottery Barn website for an inclusive list of their drop-side models as all are included.

If you have one of these cribs on hand, even if you aren’t using it, be sure to contact PB’s recall hotline at (877) 804-3487 for free fixed-gate conversion kit. Remember to check that garage pile—it’s illegal to resell (or attempt even attempt to) a recalled product, whether you were aware of the recall or not.

If your child has suffered a serious injury as a result of a defective product, not only must you deal with exhausting medical procedures, but you must also consider the long-term effect these injuries have on you and the rest of your family. Please contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free initial consultation to discuss the options you may have.

Preliminary findings show that the throttles were wide open, and brakes weren’t engaged at the time of crash, insiders told the Wall Street Journal. This suggests that some drivers who said their cars surged out of control were actually pressing the accelerator, though their intent was to hit the brakes.

photo via Getty Images

Official findings haven’t yet been released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency received more than 3,000 complaints of sudden acceleration over the past decade. However, because data recorders can lose their information if disconnected from the car’s battery, the agency is focusing only on recent accidents.

Of 75 fatal crashes, the NHTSA has only been able to verify that ONE was caused by a problem in the vehicle. The NHTSA is expected to officially release study findings once a broader report is completed in conjunction with NASA.

“In spite of our investigations, we have not actually been able yet to find a defect” in electronic throttle-control systems, NHTSA’s associate enforcement administrator Daniel Smith told a panel. “We’re bound and determined that if it exists, we’re going to find it. But as yet, we haven’t found it.”

Unfortunately, doctors nationwide have had to administer millions of vaccines since then. The inoculation for rabies may have come a long way technologically, but it can still be very painful and expensive.

Bites from strange animals are the most common reason for people to require the vaccine. It’s very important to report ANY bites received from a strange animal and to seek medical attention immediately. If the animal is with another person, be sure to get that person’s contact information (here’s why).

No matter how well you supervise your children at the park or how sturdy your neighbor’s fence is, you may not be able to prevent dog bites all the time. So how do you deal with it when it happens?

Aside from reporting the bite, seeking medical attention, and getting the animal owner’s contact information, there may be other steps you want to take. For truly serious bites, you may want to consult an experienced attorney to try and negotiate some sort of settlement before speaking to an insurance adjuster. Even if you don’t think you have a case, you can always request a copy of my free book, An Insider’s Guide to Dog Bite Claims in Virginia.

Dog bite claims in Virginia can be tricky, because so much will depend on where the bite happened. Virginia as a whole is a “one-bite” state, which means that the dog’s owner may be protected from liability, unless they have known dangerous propensity of the dog, meaning they know the dog has bitten someone before, etc.
BUTthat’s just for Virginia as a whole. You could still show that the dog owner was negligent in allowing the dog to bite.

For example, many counties and municipalities have “leash laws,” meaning that dog owners must keep their animals on a leash, and can be considered negligent if they aren’t doing so. Leash laws will differ by city, so you will want to check with your local law enforcement.

Dog bites can be a tricky area of the law to deal with. If you or a loved one is experiencing the aftermath and added medical expense of a dog bite, contact The Parrish Law Firm for a free initial consultation before you speak with an insurance adjustor.

Among these:
New Speed Limits
After conducting traffic engineering studies, the Virginia Department of Transportation can now raise the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph on interstates and other highways. The only change thus far will be raising the speed limit on I-295 from Petersburg to I-64 east of Richmond.

Seat Belts for all Minors
16 and 17-year olds riding in the back seat must buckle up, and can be ticketed if a police officer notices they haven’t. Previously, only children under the age of 15 were required to wear a seat belt in the back seat.

Additionally, if a law enforcement officer can ticket any passenger under the ago of 18 riding in the front seat without a seat belt. Previously, an infraction could only be given if the car had been pulled over for a different offense.

Move Over!
Like many other states, Virginia is extending a law that protects law enforcement officers to offer protection to highway maintenance and other personnel. A driver approaching a tow truck or highway-maintenance vehicle flashing amber lights must change lanes (previously the law only applied to emergency vehicles flashing red or blue lights).

When traffic backed up due to another crash on the road ahead, Singh was caught not paying attention, and rear-ended the Honda ahead of him. The car, driven by a pair of brothers in their early twenties from Houston, Texas, was pushed underneath another tractor-trailer by the force of the impact, and all three vehicles caught fire.

On Wednesday June 23, Singh was plead guilty to two counts of reckless driving and was sentenced to 2 years behind bars, a $5,000 fine, and 1-year license revocation (as part of a plea deal, charges were reduced from involuntary manslaughter).

Our thoughts are with the family of the victims at this time. While the criminal part of the proceedings may be over for Singh, the impact is far from over for the family of Stone and William Weeks, crash victims.

Since the crash happened in Virginia, it would be possible for the Weeks family to seek damages for the loss of these young men. Wrongful Death cases can be very complicated, due to the emotional height and uniqueness of each situation. The best thing to do if you think you have a case is consult with an experienced attorney to determine your best course of action.

This is a voluntary recall following new rules issued by the CPSC in May 2010. The rule, effective December 21, 2010, states that walkers will be required to either have features, like a gripping mechanism, to stop the walker at the top of stairs, or be too wide to fit through a standard doorway. These walkers do neither.

The CPSC has not received any reports of injury or incident due to these walkers.

The walkers were sold in stores between January 2007 and December 2009. They are marked with item numbers WK110 or WK112 on the side of packaging.

If you have one of these walkers, please contact either Suntech or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a full refund.

Suntech’s Recall Hotline: (888) 268-8139
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

This is the latest in the recent wave of children’s product recalls. Please note that even though there have been no reported injuries and this is a preemptive recall, it is now illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. If you’ve got this sitting around unused somewhere, you should remove it from your garage sale pile and call Suntech for a refund instead.

Keep checking this blog and the CPSC website for updates on product recalls. If you or a family member have been injured due to a product defect, whether or not a recall has been issued, know what your options are. Contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free initial consultation to help determine whether or not you have a case.

These products are being recalled as they were inadvertently omitted from the initial recall in January.

Both products were sold over the counter. The specific units included:
Benadryl Allergy Ultratab Tablets (100 count)
Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gels (50 count)

If you purchased either of these products recently, check your lot numbers. For Benadryl, the lot numbers AJA008, ADA194, ABA022 and ABA264 (UPC code 312547170338) were recalled. For Tylenol, lot number ASA202 (UPC code 300450488503) was recalled. Stop use of these products and contact the manufacturer immediately at www.mcneilproductrecall.com or 1-888-222-6036.

The six-year-old leaned against a window screen while visiting a friend’s house. The screen was pushed out of the window frame and the child fell through the window.

He was then airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition.

The incident has been ruled an accident by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office.

While falling through an upstairs window may seem to be an isolated type of incident, similar accidents have happened in Loudoun recently, most notably in April.

Fortunately, in that case (a 2-year-old fell through a 2nd floor window, again by leaning on the screen), the child only suffered minor injuries.

Accidents happen. But you need to be careful leaving windows open in the home, especially if there are children present.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that in the US, about 12 children under the age of 10 die each year, and over 4,000 are treated in the hospital for window-related fall injuries (that doesn’t even take into account accidents caused by window coverings).

Things to keep in mind when it comes to windows:

1. Screens are not made to support human weight. Even a very small child—they’re meant to keep bugs out, not people in.

2. Supervise children closely. Do not allow them to play near windows—even if the window is closed. Keep in mind that window glass isn’t usually made to support the weight of a person either.

3. Consider installing landscaping under windows that may cushion a fall, as a last-ditch effort.

4. Don’t serve alcoholic beverages too close to windows. Grown-ups fall, too.

4. If you have children, consider installing a window guard.

5. Remember, even if you don’t have children, you are likely responsible for any accidents that happen in your home. While most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover these kinds of accidents, the claims process can be long and tricky. Not to mention that insurance adjustors can be difficult to deal with (even going so far as to hide evidence in some cases) and your premiums will likely skyrocket.

In the long run, it’s best for everyone to take the basic precautions to prevent these kinds of things from happening in the first place.