Sigurdson Law

Saws Cut Off 4,000 Fingers a Year. This Gadget Could Fix That.

mikaila — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:54:21 +0000

So why are the big power tool companies refusing to use it?

An Oscar Meyer wiener, serving as proxy for a finger, was pushed into the spinning blade of a table saw. The demonstration, at the International Woodworkers Fair in Atlanta, mimicked the way gruesome table saw injuries often occur. But this saw was equipped with a safety device called SawStop that allowed the blade to distinguish between wood and flesh, and to stop fast enough to prevent serious harm. Sure enough, the blade came to a dead stop in about three one-thousandths of a second, leaving the dog with only a minor nick.

Table saw accidents are painful, life-changing and expensive. Each year, more than 67,000 U.S. workers and do-it-yourselfers suffer blade contact injuries, according to government estimates, including more than 33,000 injuries treated in emergency rooms and 4,000 amputations.

http://youtu.be/fq3o0VGUh50

http://www.fairwarning.org/2013/05/after-more-than-a-decade-and-thousands-disfiguring-injuries-power-tool-industry-resisting-safety-solution/

Man Roughed Up by SWAT Files Lawsuit

mikaila — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:57:06 +0000

A Central Texas man has filed suit against the Hays County SWAT team, claiming they rammed into his car and pointed assault rifles in his face, mistaking him for someone else. The plaintiff says he was handcuffed and questioned by police for almost an hour, even after officers realized he was not their suspect. While the county covered the damage to his car, the plaintiff says he suffered a herniated disk in his back during the altercation.
Esther Robards-Forbes, Austin American Statesman 05/13/2013

Women Injured in Elevator Malfunction File Lawsuit

mikaila — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:08:16 +0000

Two Texas women have filed a lawsuit against Chevron U.S.A., Inc., after they were trapped in a runaway elevator in the company’s downtown Houston building. The women say they were trapped on the 39th floor in the elevator for almost an hour before it suddenly “zoomed upward” and crashed into the 50th floor. The women suffered various injuries, the suit says, including a fractured foot, lower back pains and head trauma. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages. Dale Lezon, Houston Chronicle 05/10/2013

Motorist fails to yield at intersection

mikaila — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:51:46 +0000

The plaintiff alleged that the defendant was negligent in turning in front of him at the intersection and in failing to yield the right-of-way. The jury awarded $800,000, and the parties later settled for about $827,100. Shellum v. Wilson.

Tractor-trailer runs red light

mikaila — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:50:57 +0000

Suit alleged that the rig’s driver was negligent and negligent per se in failing to yield the right-of-way at an intersection, resulting in a crash that injured two people. The parties settled for $530,000. Ramirez v. Chema’s Leasing, Inc.

Texting driver causes collision

mikaila — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:50:29 +0000

The plaintiff, who suffered rib and shoulder fractures, asserted that the defendant failed to heed a red light because she was texting while driving. The jury awarded $150,000. Mellette v. Rabon.

Improper lookout

mikaila — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:49:33 +0000

The plaintiff, who suffered disk herniations in the collision, alleged that the other driver’s employer was liable for his failure to keep a proper lookout and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. The jury awarded $225,000. Kegley v. Filco … Continue reading →

Pickup truck crosses centerline, killing oncoming motorist

mikaila — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:41:22 +0000

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant was negligent in driving too fast for conditions as she approached a dangerous intersection, among other claims. The jury awarded about $9.31 million. Espinosa v. Jayne.

Drunk driver clips motorcycle, causing biker’s disabling

mikaila — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:17:20 +0000

Suit alleged that the defendant had been reckless and negligent in driving under the influence. The jury awarded about $25.93 million. Brink v. De Los Santos.

Truck driver loses control of vehicle

mikaila — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:01:21 +0000

The plaintiff alleged that the defendants were liable for the truck driver’s speeding, failure to keep a proper lookout, and failure to maintain control of the vehicle. Suit charged that the driver should have timely changed lanes when he first noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder with its hazard lights on. The jury awarded $8 million. McHale v. Transfreight.