Portable gasoline-powered generators can certainly come in handy during Florida's hurricane seasons. But you must take precautions, say product liability attorneys with Jacksonville's Harrell and Harrell.

Here in Florida, storm season means it’s just a matter of time until your home or business loses power for a few hours, or even several days. That’s why thousands of area homes have generators on the ready throughout the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1-November 30 and peaks in September each year. But while they’re certainly convenient, generators also can be dangerous, say product liability attorneys with Jacksonville’s Harrell & Harrell.

A new study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards of Technology and the University of Alabama, demonstrates that readily available technology can significantly reduce deadly carbon monoxide emission rates on some portable gasoline-powered generators, giving consumers more time to detect a problem and escape. That emission control technology already is used on motor scooters and small motor cycles and works by using closed-loop electronic fuel injection and a small catalyst. Test results showed that the change boosts consumers’ escape time (the time between onset of obvious symptoms and incapacitation) from eight minutes to 96 – more than an hour and a half – for people who are in their garage with the generator running. Those inside the home while the generator runs in the garage have an even greater timeframe to escape the potentially deadly fumes.

As manufacturers decide whether and when to modify their products according to the CPSC study results, personal injury attorneys in Jacksonville urge consumers to take safety precautions, noting that carbon monoxide from portable gasoline-powered generators kills more than 70 people each year. In fact, generators are to blame for the majority of non-fire CO deaths associated with consumer products, accounting for 43 percent of CO deaths, compared to 33 percent for heating systems.

If you plan to use a gas-powered generator this hurricane season:

• Place generators as far as possible from your home;
• Never run your portable generator inside your home or attached garage, or near windows or vents;
• Install CO alarms on each level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Note that 93 percent of CO-related deaths involving generators happen in homes without CO alarms;
• Have an escape route planned and practice it frequently, particularly as winter or the storm season begins;
• If you suspect a CO leak, get out of and away from your home and call 911 immediately.

If you or your family are injured because of a faulty gas-powered portable generator, contact the personal injury attorneys at Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell by calling 800-251-1111.

Mr. Coffee has recalled over a half million of its single cup brewing systems as they pose a serious burn hazard. This recall is made in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada. The recalled coffeemaker comes in black with silver, red or white trim. It stands about 11 inches tall and has a Brew Now /Off button and a removable drip tray. The water tank is located on top of the unit towards the back. The model number is printed on the bottom of the brewer. Recalled model numbers are:

About 35,000 convertible high chairs have been voluntarily recalled by the US CPSC in cooperation with Evenflo, Inc of Miamisburg, Ohio. The recall is made based on the fact that the activity tray on the high chair can unexpectedly detach from the chair allowing an unrestrained infant to fall possibly leading to serious injuries. The company has been made known of 18 reports of the activity tray detaching, of which there were 8 reports of children who fell and injured themselves.

This recall involves Evenflo high chairs that convert from a high chair to toddler-size table and chair. The convertible high chair can be identified by the model names and numbers listed below. Model numbers are located on a label on the lower portion of one of the high chair’s legs.

Model Name | Model Number

Dottie Lime | 29111259

Dottie Rose | 29111271

Marianna | 29111234

These dangerous defective products were sold nationwide at Walmart and  Toys “R” Us. They were also available at several online retailers.

If you own one of these chairs, you should contact Evenflo immediately to obtain a replacement tray and instructions. If your child was injured by this chair, you should contact us for your free consultation.

www.harrellandharrell.com

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) along with American Tack and Hardware, Inc of Saddle River, NJ (AmerTac) have announced a recall of Amertac’s LED Night Light. Approximately 227,000 of these LED Night Lights were produced and sold to the public. AmerTac has received 25 reports of faulty night lights. The problems reported include smoking, burning, charring and melting. Thankfully no injuries have been reported. The recall does not mention any personal property damage or fires so I can’t comment on that aspect, but certainly it is a big safety concern. The LED Night Lights suffers from an electrical short circuit which causes it to overheat, melt and potentailly spark a fire in your home.

Three different models of night lights are being recalled. The product can be better identified by following the link to the CSPC recall announcement or by going to the company’s website, www.amertac.com . To prevent potential personal injury or propert damage, consumers should immediately stop using these defective night lights and contact AmerTac for refund info.

www.harrellandharrell.com

Most people have no idea what kind of insurance they have until AFTER they get into an auto accident. Every state is different when it comes to required coverages for your automobile. Florida is considered a “NO-Fault” state because of our required coverage or lack thereof. People call us all day long and tell me until they are blue in the face that they have full coverage. The definition of full coverage varies greatly from caller to caller. Have you ever heard the saying – you can never have enough insurance? What kind of insurance should you have?

The answer to that question also varies tremendously. In my opinion, the most important coverage you can carry in Florida is UM or under/uninsured motorist coverage. How do you know if you carry any or enough of this coverage? Find out BEFORE you have a car accident. Call your insurance company or agent to have them clearly explain to you what  type of coverage you have and then ask them what you don’t have. Run through different scenarios in your head to double check that you have not just the state mandated coverage but the coverage to give you and your family peace of mind in the event of an auto accident related injury. If you need some help, give us a call. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard almost every possible scenario you could dream up.

www.harrellandharrell.com

The US CPSC in conjunction with General Electric and Sharp have recalled over ninety thousand air conditioning and heating units. These units primarily used in apartment buildings and commercial spaces contain a faulty electrical component that can lead to a very dangerous smoke and fire hazard and serious injury. Stop using them immediately and contact General Electric to schedule a free repair.

This is a re-announcement of a voluntary recall by  the US CPSC and McLaren USA, Inc. These strollers were recalled in November of 2009 because the hinge in the stroller had caused 15 separate personal injury incidents, 12 of which involved fingertip amputation. Since the recall there have been 37 additional incidents involving the dangerous hinge on this faulty product.

Over one million of these strollers were produced. The recall involves all McLaren single and double umbrella strollers.

If you or your child were seriously injured by this defective product or any other defective product, please contact us.

www.harrellandharrell.com

If you live in the South, this past weekend was a reminder of how hot it can get. Thankfully it looks like today will be our last really hot day for a bit.  We all can do ourselves a favor by acclimating  to the summer heat slowly. Heat illness can come on you like a ton of bricks and be fatal if not treated properly. Everyone likes to think of themselves as tough enough to work outside especially if you’ve lived down here for any length of time but in reality we are all susceptible to the heat and humidity.

Two of the more severe heat illnesses are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. I won’t bore you with my details on handling heat emergencies mostly because I’m not qualified. Here’s a great article I ran across that can explain the signs, symptoms and proper treatment of heat stroke and exhaustion.

Also, don’t forget to take precautions for your pets by ensuring they have shelter from the heat and a plentiful clean source of fresh water.

www.harrellandharrell.com

Guess what? Toyota is recalling another 2 million vehicles for accelerator issues. They are really getting good at recalling cars. I won’t bore you with my version of the story so here’s a link .

If you’ve been injured by a faulty / recalled product, give us a call or send us an e-mail .

www.harrellandharrell.com

Have you recently been in a car accident? Injured or not, people have lots of unanswered questions about what to do and how to do it. There are lots of backyard cross the fence experts out there that help foster all the bad information about car accidents, injuries, insurance companies and attorneys.

Most folks have no understanding of the basic Florida auto insurance requirements and what their coverages do and for whom. Try explaining to a parent of a grown child still living at home why their own auto insurance has to pay for their child’s medical bills after the child gets in a car accident while riding with a buddy.

Regardless of fault, there are certain questions we ask people to help determine who is going to pay the injured person’s medical bills and lost wages. You should hear the feedback I have heard over the years. Some people get irate, some are still confused even after I have tried to explain it until I am blue in the face while others just say OK!

If you have questions concerning your car accident or auto insurance, call us or send an e-mail through our website. I promise to try to answer all your questions and you won’t even get to see me turn blue.

Give us a call