Atlanta Injury Attorneys Blog

Although toys are purchased throughout the year and some have proven to cause injury and death to children, it is the holiday season in which toy sales increase exponentially that many toy safety groups come out with their lists of dangerous toys to avoid.

The U.S. Public Research Interest Group (PRIG), announced that it appears toys are becoming safer than they have ever been, but that there are still some which need to be brought to the publics attention for safety concerns. PRIG released their list of what they consider to be dangerous children's toys of 2012. This list includes:

• Dora Backpack by Global Design Concepts Inc. for high Phthlate levels
• Dora Tunes Guitar by Fisher Price for excessive noise
• FunKeys by B. Lively for excessive noise
• Snake Eggs by GreenBrier International Inc. for ingestion hazard
• Morphbot by GreenBrier International Inc. for high lead levels
• Just Like Home 120-piece Super Play Food Sets by Toys R Us for choking hazards
• Pullback dragster cars by Z Wind Ups for choking hazards & warning labels that are too small to read

Another watchdog group, Boston based World Against Toys Causing Harm, also released its list of what they consider the 10 worst toys which includes:

• Magnetic Fishing Game by Kole Imports for choking hazard
• Inflatable Bongo Ball by Toys R Us for impact injuries
• Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 dart gun by Prime Time Toys Ltd. for eye injuries
• Spinner Shark 4-Wheel Kneeboard by Fuzion Nextsport for impact injuries
• Explore & Learn Helicopter by V Tech for strangulation hazard
• N-Force Vendetta Double Sword by Hasbro for impact injuries
• Water Balloon Launcher by Water Sports LLC for choking hazard & facial injuries
• Power Rangers Super Samurai Shogun Helmet by Bandai for puncture wounds & impact injuries
• Playful Xylophone by P'Kolino for choking hazard
• The Avengers Gamma Green Smash Fists by Hasbro for impact injuries

CNN also ran a story on dangerous toys which are sitting innocently on store shelves. Some of these dangerous children's products may contain toxic materials like lead or phthalates or contain small parts or parts that can break off and pose suffocation or strangulation hazards. Some toys contain small button batteries which are not adequately secure within the toy and when accessed by small children and swallowed are certain to cause serious and life threatening injury.

Dangerous Children's Products Come in Different Shapes & Forms

Hazards caused by toys come in a variety of shapes and forms and pose many different types of risks to children. Risks include, choking on small parts, strangulation by cords on toys, cuts by sharp edges, and toxic chemical exposure to name a few. The Toy Industry Association did a survey and believes that the presence of lead in toys, exposure to small batteries & magnets, and small parts present the most dangers when it comes to toys.

Continue reading "Watchdog Groups Release Their Lists of Most Dangerous Toys of 2012" »

FDA Uses New Powers From the Food Safety Act of 2011 For the First Time

Sunland Inc., a New Mexico peanut processing plant has had a series of problems with health violations dating back as far as June 2000. The latest problems, according to the FDA, involve a portion of eight product lots which tested positive for Salmonella between March 2010 and September 2012. This latest Salmonella food poisoning outbreak caused by contaminated peanut butter and other peanut products has caused sickness in 41 people across 20 states.

This latest Salmonella outbreak linking back to the Sunland peanut processing facility coupled with its history of violations resulted in the FDA ordering suspension of Sunland's New Mexico plant which is the largest organic peanut butter processor in the nation. This is the first time the FDA has flexed its muscle using new powers that it received from the new Food Safety & Modernization Act of 2011.

During Sunland's September and October 2012 inspections, the FDA found Salmonella in 28 samples they tested. Inspection reports also indicated that employees of Sunland were not complying with standard food safety rules such as failing to wash hands, improperly handling equipment used to process food, and no evidence or records that food processing equipment was being cleaned properly. The FDA also cited the company for having no hand washing sinks in the production and processing areas where foods were being handled with bare hands. Other violations included improper storage of raw peanuts, open warehouse doors allowing access of rodents and other pests, and overall poor sanitation conditions.

According to Fox News Latino, most of those who became ill from salmonella food poisoning were children who had consumed the contaminated peanut butter that was sold at Trader Joe's food market. Sunland also has sold its peanut products to Safeway, Whole Foods, Target, and other large grocery store chains, some of whom repackaged Sunland's peanut butter products selling them under their own brand names.

Continue reading "FDA Closes Sunland Peanut Butter Plant After Series of Violations and Salmonella Food Poisoning" »

Peapod & Peapod Plus Travel Beds Recall Involves Over 220,000 Units Nationwide

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and KidCo announced the voluntary recall of over 220,000 Peapod Plus & Peapod Travel Beds on November 16, 2012. The CPSC had received reports of the death of one 5-month old who was found between the air mattress and the side of the tent and the entrapment of 6 other infants who were found between the tents air mattress and the side or bottom of the tent. In addition, Health Canada also received reports of at least 3 children who experienced entrapment and distress while using this product. The suffocation hazard of the Peapod tents prompted the recall.

The Kidco Peapod Tent & Peapod Plus Travel Beds are small, portable sleep tents that are intended for use by infants and children up to about 3 years of age. The intent of the sleep tent is to provide a comfortable sleep area that keeps the child up off the floor on the air mattress which fits into a zippered pocket in the floor of the tent. These small travel beds were sold at juvenile specialty stores nationwide and on Amazon from January 2005 forward. They sold for between $70 and $100 depending on the model.

Free Repair Kit Available For Peapod Travel Tents

The CPSC advises parents and caregivers to stop using these tents immediately and to contact Kidco for a repair kit which has been designed to remedy the problem. The free Peapod repair kit includes a thinner air mattress and braces designed to strengthen the tent walls for all the models. Recalled Peapod tent models and colors include;

P100 Teal
P101 Red
P102 Lime
P103 Periwinkle
P104 Ocean
P201 Princess/Red
P202 Camouflage
P203 Quick Silver
P204 Sagebrush
P205 Cardinal

Every year Atlanta personal injury attorneys help families who have children that were seriously injured or died after using a defective children's product. Sometimes the injuries are so severe they require years of rehabilitation and sometimes lifelong disability. Medical bills alone can devastate a family not to mention the emotional trauma a family must endure.

Continue reading "Peapod Children's Travel Tents Recalled After 5 Month Old Dies Trapped Between Sections of Tent " »

Tragedy struck on Tuesday, November 13 when a Piper PA-32 single engine airplane crashed into a home in a residential neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi. The small aircraft has just taken off from a nearby local field when the pilot radioed the tower that it needed to return. People in the area who witnessed the accident said they heard a sputtering sound when they looked to see the small airplane crash into a residential area. There was a huge explosion when the airplane crashed and the home and surrounding area was immediately engulfed in flames.

NTSB and FAA Actively Investigating Jackson, Mississippi Aviation Accident

The pilot of the airplane and two passengers were killed. One of the residents was home at the time of the crash. She was able to escape her home but suffered injuries and was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are currently investigating this airplane crash. The NTSB publishes the results of all of its transportation accident investigations for the general public to view and after this aviation accident investigation is complete there will be a report available for the public.

The causes of aviation accidents are often complex and requires intensive investigation to help pinpoint the cause of an accident. Sometimes there is more than one contributing factor involved. An Atlanta aviation attorney like Goldstein & Hayes, P.C. takes accident injury cases throughout the southeastern states. They have the expertise required to help victims of airplane crashes build the case they need to recover compensation for their injuries and loss. Causes of airplane crashes can be the result of one or more kinds of negligence such as;

• Pilot error
• Air Traffic controller error
• Improper loading
• Fuel contamination
• Improper maintenance
• Defective aircraft parts
• Lack of sufficient security leading to vandalism or sabotage

Continue reading "Small Airplane Crashes into Jackson Mississippi Home Shortly After Takeoff" »

Holiday & Year Round Safety Tips Use a Commonsense Approach

State Farm Insurance Company released an article about child pedestrian safety this October 2012 which they felt sure could help make Halloween a safer event for children and their families. Statistics which have been collected and studied over the last 21 years has shown that Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for children who are killed in pedestrian car accidents.

Most importantly the child pedestrian safety advice they gave is valuable not only at Halloween, but throughout the year whenever children are out and about especially during holidays, after school as they play, and as they walk to and from friend's homes or play areas. Child pedestrian safety really encompasses a simple commonsense approach. Parents and caregivers want children to be safe every day of the year, riding in a car, or walking. Some of the driver safety tips which are important throughout the year, but especially during the holidays include:

• When driving be alert for children who may run out between parked cars or cross in the middle of the street
• Don't tailgate, the car in front may be slowly following children along as they trick or treat, Christmas carol, or go door to door for school or club fundraisers
• When dropping children off, use your cars hazard lights to catch other drivers attention
• Don't drive distracted - turn off the radio & other electronic devices and pull over to attend to children in the car
• Slow down when driving in residential areas
• Leave early and allow enough time to get where you are going so there is no need to rush
• Teach your children to carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing when walking in low light conditions or at night

Continue reading "Child Pedestrian Safety is a Priority During the Holidays & Throughout the Year" »

Small aircraft flown by civilians as opposed to scheduled passenger airlines are classified under general aviation. There are thousands of general aviation flights every year, many more than the high visibility of commercial aviation flights. Many people may think that private pilots flying small airplanes composes the bulk of general aviation, but interestingly many more types of flight are included in general aviation including:

• Sightseeing balloons
• Crop dusters
• Helicopter traffic reporting
• Medical evacuation flights
• Overnight package delivery flight services

It might be easier to think about general aviation by comparing it to automobiles used by the general public. Private individuals using their cars or their aircraft for transportation to travel for pleasure or for business is very similar except one has their "feet on the ground" and the other is high in the air. General aviation is considered to be safer than travel by car, although airplane accidents certainly garner big headlines. It might have something to do with people feeling they are in control behind the wheel of their automobile compared to being high in the air and dependent on the pilot and his ability to bring you safely back down to the ground.

The Office of Aviation Safety Investigates Aviation Accidents

Our government "Office of Aviation Safety investigates almost 1700 aircraft accidents each year which are mostly general aviation accidents." They help to determine what safety issues might have been responsible for the accidents, report on them, and help work out better safety programs and safety checks.

One recent airplane accident which happened in Birmingham, Alabama on October 6, 2012 involved a small plane crash just east of downtown Birmingham. The small plane crashed into a field just north of the intersection of Second Avenue and 28th Street North. The pilot of the aircraft was uninjured, but his passenger was transported to UAB with minor injuries. This small plane crash had a happy ending with no serious injuries thanks to the skill of the pilot and the fact the plane had a parachute recovery system which helped bring the plane down slowly.

Continue reading "Small Aircraft Involved in Almost 1700 Accidents Yearly" »

Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis Cases Linked to Framingham Compounding Pharmacy

Contaminated medicine that has caused an outbreak of fungal meningitis has been officially traced to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. So far the tainted medicine has caused 257 serious illnesses and 20 deaths across the nation. State and federal health officials believe more than 14,000 people who received shots of the possibly tainted medicine are at risk for fungal meningitis. The majority of those who are ill and those who have died so far have all fallen ill with fungal meningitis. The CDC has been at the forefront of investigating this multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis.

Most recently 2 new cases of illness linked to tainted medication from the same source have also become ill from a different type of fungus and different medication than those who are suffering from the fungal meningitis
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As the number of fungal meningitis deaths and illnesses continue to rise at an alarming rate and a different type of medication appears to be contaminated, doctors have been instructed to contact anyone who received any kind of injection from the Framingham Compounding Pharmacy as reported by Time on October 16, 2012.

Framingham Compounding Pharmacy Found Violating Its License

The Boston Herald reported that federal agents raided the compounding pharmacy as part of the investigation into the contaminataed steroid medication on October 16, 2012. It was also discovered by authorities that although this compounding pharmacy was licensed to fill prescriptions for individual patients it was violating that license and mass-producing many thousands of doses of steroid medication.

Attorney General Eric Holder has also been asked to investigate the Framingham Compounding Pharmacy to see if it has violated other drug laws by producing medication containing controlled substances without federal approval.

Continue reading "Doctors Told to Contact Anyone who Received Any Kind of Injection From the Pharmacy Linked to the Fungal Meningitis Outbreak" »

The National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration has released a statement about the safety of air bags in tens of thousands of vehicles across the nation. According to an October 10, 2012 news report by Fox News, the NHTSA said that tens of thousands of car owners are possibly driving vehicles which contain defective air bags from China. At NHTSA, testing found that these air bags either don't inflate at all or fail to inflate correctly. There was one instance in which a counterfeit air bag shot out small pieces of metal shrapnel.

According to the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), counterfeit car parts are a $45 billion dollar problem with phony parts & equipment being sold to unsuspecting businesses and individuals every year. MEMA says that a very low price on a part can be a red flag that there might be a problem with the authenticity of a part
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What Vehicles Are At Risk Of Having Counterfeit Chinese Air Bags?

Safercar.gov has a list of vehicle makes and models which may be affected by the counterfeit air bags. If you have just purchased a new vehicle and have not had any work done on your air bags or have a used vehicle but know the entire vehicle history (including knowledge that in the last 3 years the car has not been involved in a crash or had the air bags replaced for any reason), then you should not be affected by counterfeit air bags. Those who are most at risk of having a vehicle with a counterfeit air bag are those who;

• Have had air bags replaced within the last 3 years at a repair shop not part of a dealership
• Have purchased a used car which has had an air bag replacement
• Have a car in which the title indicates the car was salvaged, rebuilt or reconstructed
• Have a car which has low cost replacement air bags purchased from E-Bay or any other non-certified source

At present, the full extent of the problem is not known, but the NHTSA believes that tens of thousands of vehicles could be affected. More will be known as more data becomes available and the NHTSA is presently gathering information about air bag systems from the manufacturers about the best way to verify authentic replacement parts.

Continue reading " Defective Air Bags from China a Major Safety Issue Affecting Thousands of Cars Across the Nation" »

Salmonella Symptoms and Associated Ongoing Health Problems

Salmonella is a bacterium scientists have known about for over 100 years and has been the cause of illness and death far longer than we have understood the disease process. Symptoms of Salmonella include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea which can begin to affect those infected anywhere from 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. Salmonella poisoning usually lasts from 4 to 7 days and most people, who are healthy, recover from their bout with the bacteria although some may experience such severe diarrhea they need hospitalization. People who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill and even dying are babies, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Unfortunately there can be long term health problems lasting many months, even years, after recovering from the initial Salmonella illness. Reactive arthritis is one long term effect of Salmonella poisoning which may become a long term problem and is difficult to treat. Disruption of normal bowel functions, painful urination, pain in the joints, and eye irritation are part of the reactive arthritis symptoms which sometimes evolves into chronic arthritis.

Salmonella Contamination Traced To New Mexico Company

The CDC reports that there are about 42,000 reported cases of Salmonella every year but the number of people who are infected and recover is estimated to be hundreds of times larger because milder cases are never reported. On October 2, 2012 CBS News reported on one of the latest Salmonella outbreaks in the U.S. that has sickened people in 19 states so far. The source of this Salmonella outbreak has been traced to the New Mexico Company Sunland Incorporated.

The Sunland peanut butter factory, believed to be the source of the Salmonella contamination, sells nuts, peanut butter, and nut butters which are distributed to companies across the nation. The recall began with peanut butter which was sold at stores such as Trader Joes, Kroger, & Target. The recall has now been expanded to include at least 101 other products which were distributed to grocery stores and other food distributors who use nuts and nut butters as ingredients in their food products.

Continue reading "Major Peanut Butter Recall Due to Salmonella Contamination Affects Hundreds of Products" »

As our nation ages, the wear and tear on joints such as hips and knees caused by time and injury leads many to seek hip replacement and knee replacement surgery. The number of people getting knee replacements in this country has doubled in the last ten years as older Americans are either seeking joint replacements or need to replace worn out artificial joints they already have. The average life of an artificial knee is approximately 10 to 15 years.

Increase in Joint Replacement Surgery Due to Senior's Desire to Lead Active Lives

One reason for the big increase in joint replacement surgery is that our seniors want to maintain an active lifestyle in their retirement years. These days' seniors want to be able to enjoy sports they have always taken part in such as tennis and golf. They want to be able to go out and dance with their "sweethearts" and engage in other active pursuits, climb stairs with ease, and chase after their grandchildren. When pain and injury in their major joints such as their hips and knees begin to affect their ability to enjoy those pursuits, they turn to medical devices, such as hip and knee implants to replace their worn out, damaged, or diseased joints.

A September 26, 2012 story by Fox News on knee replacements reports there are approximately 600,000 cases of knee replacement surgery annually in the United States alone. Unfortunately the uptick in knee & hip replacement surgeries has also been accompanied by problems with product design and materials used in the manufacture of these prosthetic joint replacements which has resulted in higher failure rates in these devices and medical complications for the patients receiving them.

In the news recently have been reports on problems with the Zimmer Knee Next Gen implants. The knee joint implant in some of the Zimmer Next Gen cases has loosened soon after surgery and caused wearing away of the bone where the artificial joint was attached. This has resulted in pain and loss of function for the patient and the sure possibility of needed revision surgery to correct the problem.

Continue reading "Higher Than Expected Failure Rate Of Knee Implants Causes Uptick in Knee Replacement Lawsuits" »

A child may suffer serious injury at birth simply because of the natural process involved in being born. Doctors are aware of these potential problems and sometimes they can intervene to help lessen or prevent injuries in a birth that may have complications. For example, if it looks like the baby will have a birth weight that is approaching 9 pounds, if the mother's birth canal is smaller than normal, or if the baby is in a breech position, an early delivery or a caesarian section can help eliminate or reduce the possibility of a difficult delivery and a possible birth injury.

Some birth injuries will happen that no one has any way of preventing. They happen despite the best medical care and efforts to alleviate problems affecting the pregnancy and birth. Many times birth injuries are minor & temporary, such as bruising or a broken bone, and will not cause a life-long disability.

A family who has been affected by having a newborn with birth injuries should get advice from a personal injury attorney. He can look at their specific case and determine if there was substandard care or if the injury was the direct result of negligence on the part of a doctor or other medical professional. The family can be too emotionally upset at a time like this to look at their case in an unemotional and factual way to determine if there is any liability, making it a wise choice to seek professional advice.

Sometimes, birth injuries are the direct result of the doctor or other health care professional who accidentally does something or does not do something needed that causes or increases the chances that the child will suffer injury. When a doctor makes a medical mistake that was avoidable and it causes injury, he can be held responsible. When a baby suffers a serious birth injury that was the result of negligence or substandard medical care, the family has the right to seek a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Continue reading "Medical Malpractice Attorneys Help Protect The Rights Of Babies Suffering Birth Injuries" »

Yosemite National Park has been sending out information to thousands who vacationed at the park between mid-June and Aug 2012. They are warning them that there is a possibility they may have been exposed to a deadly virus while visiting the park this summer. According to a September 3, 2012 news release by CBS as many as 10,000 visitors may have been exposed to the deadly Hantavirus which is spread by infected rodents.

The first red flag that something was amiss began August 17 when a tourist, who had been lodging at a tent cabin in Yosemite in June, died from Hantavirus. Hantavirus is extremely rare but approximately one-third of those infected with it die, and there is no known treatment for it. It was discovered that the tent cabins, which have soft double walls for insulation, had infected rodents nesting within the walls. Since that first death, there have been 3 deaths and 5 confirmed cases of Hantavirus in tourists who stayed in these tent cabins at Yosemite this summer. The National Park Service is releasing updates on the current situation involving the Yosemite Hantavirus outbreak on their web site.

Tourists who stayed in the soft-sided tent cabins in the Curry Village area of Yellowstone have the highest risk of exposure to the Hantavirus, but Yosemite Park rangers are concerned that it is possible that as many as 10,000 visitors to the park during this time period had the potential of being exposed.

The cabins were closed down at the end of August when the source of the Hantavirus outbreak was pinpointed to these tent cabins. According to the CDC the symptoms of Hantavirus can take as long as six weeks after exposure to show up causing a lot of worry in thousands of individuals as they wait to see if they have been infected.

Continue reading "Ten Thousand Visitors to Yosemite Park May Have Been Exposed to Deadly Hantavirus" »

Children are notorious for putting things in their mouths. This is a natural behavior in small children and one way they explore and experience objects and items they come into contact with. Many times these items are also accidentally ingested. As adults and caregivers to small children we need to be aware of and vigilant about keeping small items that could be potentially dangerous away from inquisitive little fingers.

Many small items are capable of cutting off the air supply when they become lodged in a child's throat and there have been many campaigns over the years to warn parents about particular items and pieces and parts of children's toys that have contributed to child suffocation. There are many small items in the home that we may not automatically recognize as having the potential to cause injury to children. Although the first danger of ingesting a small item is that it can get stuck in the throat and cut off the air supply, the second danger is that the nature of some of these items can cause serious damage to tissues in the throat, stomach, and intestines.

In a new report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission one small item that is of a particular danger to children has been called to our attention. Small batteries like those commonly used in watches, called button batteries or disk batteries, have been proving to be not only a threat to children, but a potential fatal threat. Between 1997 and 2010 an estimated 40,400 children were treated in emergency rooms for battery related injuries which included battery ingestion. One in ten of these children required hospitalization and 14 of them died. According to the CPSC report 75% of these children were under 4 years old. Over the years, these battery caused injuries and other negligent causes of serious accident injuries in children has resulted in an increase in lawsuits by personal injury attorneys in an effort to help the families recover compensation. Sometimes these accident injury cases can become complex, especially if a caregiver is negligent in carelessly allowing children to have access to dangerous products.

What Makes Button Batteries So Dangerous?

CBS news ran a story on August 31, 2012 about button batteries causing fatal child accidents. According to their research child battery injuries had doubled in the 20 year period between 1990 and 2009. Many small items which children sometimes swallow, such as coins, often pass through their digestive system and out the other end. But with these small batteries, it isn't so simple. When a small button battery is ingested, a chemical reaction takes place within the body. These batteries can build up the chemical hydroxide within just a 2 hour period which causes burns and they can also leak alkaline electrolyte which is highly corrosive. Serious damage can quickly result within a short time frame, so it is recommended that if you should see a child swallow a small battery or suspect they did you should not waste any time, but take them immediately to an emergency room for treatment.

Continue reading "Button Batteries Causing Disturbing Number Of Serious Child Accident Injuries & Fatalities" »

As a number of people began falling ill to Salmonella food poisoning this month local health departments, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, and the Food & Drug Administration began investigating the cases to find the source of the outbreak of these illnesses. On August 29, 2012 the CDC initially announced that the investigations all pointed to contaminated mangos from a California food distributor Splendid Products as the source of the food poisoning, and the first recall for the tainted mangos was announced.

Tainted Mangos Grown In Mexico & Distributed From California Company

The Salmonella tainted mangos all appear to have been distributed by Splendid Products of Burlingame, California and were imported from a Mexican farm. The recalled mangos were distributed across the nation and were marketed under the name Daniella brand mangos. The Washington Post reported that Splendid Products has identified and recalled 5 specific lots of the Daniella brand mangos believed responsible for the food poisoning outbreak. The lot numbers are 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584, 4959 and were sold between July 12 and August 29 in various stores nationwide.

To date, there have been 105 reported cases of Salmonella believed to be related to these specific mangos. There have been no reported deaths as yet, although 25 of the cases were severe enough to require hospitalization. Health investigators used information from PulseNet, a national network of laboratories coordinated by the CDC to test the suspected food source of this Salmonella outbreak.

PulseNet Identifies The DNA Of The Specific Strain Of Bacteria Affecting The Tainted Mangos

PulseNet can identify the DNA fingerprints of the specific bacteria or pathogen in a food that is causing an illness which leads to a more rapid identification of the source. In the case of these tainted mangos, they identified the specific strain of bacteria as Salmonella Braenderup. Many more cases of food poisoning are possible in the coming days since symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning do not always appear right away but can take days to develop.

Continue reading "Nationwide Recall Of Mangos Tainted With Salmonella Causes Food Poisoning In Hundreds of People " »

NAIC Offers An Accident Checklist As A Free App or Printable Download Called WreckCheck

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has developed a free mobile application, for those of us who are more technologically adept, to aid in gathering & giving out the correct information if you should become involved in a car accident. By downloading this app to your cell phone, you have all the information you need to know as it walks you through the steps you should take after a car accident including what information you should record and what information you should share about yourself with the other driver.

Even if you are not comfortable with these new technologies, you can get this information at insurance online and print out a copy so you can familiarize yourself with what you need to know in the event of an auto accident. Besides being helpful information to know, it might also keep you safe from divulging personal information which could make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Some Identity Thieves Use Staged Accidents To Steal Personal Information

Information about this application was discussed in an article in The Washington Post as part of a warning about how some staged accidents are being used by identity thieves to steal personal information. While most auto accidents are "accidents," some are committed on purpose in order to defraud insurance companies with bogus injury claims. These staged accidents are now being used by some identity thieves who have discovered this is an easy way to get people to give out personal information. In any event, you should always call the police after a vehicle accident, so you can have a police report to give to your insurance company and it might be important to have a report for your car accident attorney in the event you will seek compensation for injuries.

After an accident most people are upset & anxious and want to trade information so that they have everything they will need to file a claim with their insurance company. Unfortunately most people are not informed as to just what information is needed and often give out more than is necessary . When you stop to think about it, in this type of situation, you are giving out personal information to a complete stranger.

Continue reading "If You Are Involved In A Car Accident Do You Know What Information You Should Never Give To The Other Driver?" »