Articles Posted in Products Liability

leg injury verdictsJury Verdict Research published data on verdicts in severe leg injury cases over the 10 years prior to October 2010. By severe, I mean severe: crush injuries and amputations. For injuries to one or both legs, and leg injuries resulting in varying degrees of leg amputations, the statistics are:

INJURY AVERAGE MEDIAN
One or Both Legs $4,000,000 $2,400,000

The average verdict in these cases is approximately $4,000,000 and the median verdict is $2,400,000 for injuries to one or both legs, and leg injuries resulting in varying degrees of leg amputations.

The leg amputation categories include both traumatic and surgical amputations. The relatively insignificant difference surprised me between above the knee and below the knee amputations:

INJURY AVERAGE MEDIAN
Above the knee $3,958,003 $2,588,649
Below the knee $4,930,186 $3,727,500
Bilateral Amputation $13,392,589 $5,012,500

As you can see, the median for bilateral amputations is a statistically insignificant difference from a single above the knee amputation.

This is interesting data and useful to use in negotiating your case. But asking the numbers to make sense is asking too much.

Settlements & Verdicts – Serious Leg Injuries

Below are summaries of cases resulting in verdicts or settlements where the primary injury was a serious leg injury,

Smith v. Elseroad (Baltimore City 2023) $425,000: The plaintiff was standing between two parked cars when the defendant motorist smashed his vehicle into the rear of one of the cars, pushing it forward into the plaintiff and crushing the plaintiff between the parked cars. The plaintiff suffered a bilateral leg crush injury resulting in permanent injuries, a right fibular head fracture, a permanent concave deformity on his calf, and permanent scarring on his lower body.

Hupp v. United States (D. Md. 2021) $729,000: Plaintiff suffered multiple fractures to his left ankle, requiring fusion and resulting in loss of motion and pain, as well as aggravation of preexisting condition, when the motorcycle he was operating was struck by a USPS mail truck that backed up from a parked position without warning, causing his left leg to be pinned under the motorcycle.

Johnson v. Bautista (Baltimore County 2021) $2,458,000: plaintiff suffered crush injuries to his right leg, including fractures to his right femur and tibia and nerve damage requiring surgery followed by physical therapy, and resulting in the permanent loss of feeling in his right foot and a combined right leg/lower extremity impairment rating of 46 percent. Jury awarded $208,000 in economic damages and $2.2 million for pain and suffering.

Thomas v. MTA (Baltimore City 2019) $1,200,000: plaintiff, a water taxi deckhand, suffered multiple fractures to her left leg and an open fracture of her left ankle, both of which required extensive surgeries, including placement of rods and screws and skin grafting, and resulted in extensive scarring on her leg. Case settled for $1.2 million.

Turner v. Brown (Baltimore City 2018) $390,394: plaintiff suffered a left leg hairline fracture, a left knee meniscus tear that required surgery when he was struck by a commercial vehicle driven by the defendant.

Patton v. Ruiz (P.G. County 2017) $1,584,296: plaintiff suffered right leg compound fractures, including a right knee fracture, resulting in persistent leg and knee pain and weakness and permanent radicular symptoms related to his leg and knee, when defendant allegedly made a left turn at an intersection on a steady red light and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle as it was proceeding through the intersection on a green light.

Koger v. Mabato (Baltimore City 2017) $1,203,013: Plaintiff was hit by a mobility bus in an intersection and suffered a fractured right distal femur, which required open reduction and internal fixation surgery and resulted in permanent impairment, as well as a fractured scapula, resulting in difficulty walking, standing, sitting and using stairs, continuing pain and permanent impairment of his right knee/leg.

Chemical hair relaxer (also known as hair straightener) is a product used by millions of African American women. New medical research now shows that chronic exposure to the chemicals in hair relaxer products disrupts the hormone system and leads to an increased risk of uterine cancer. Product liability lawsuits are now being brought against cosmetic companies by women who used hair relaxers for years and developed uterine cancer.

The product liability lawyers at Miller & Zois are now seeking cases from women not only in Maryland but nationwide who used chemical hair relaxers or hair straighteners on a regular basis for a minimum of 5 years and were subsequently diagnosed with uterine cancer. Contact us about a hair relaxer lawsuit today by calling 410-779-4600.

Where We Are Right Now in the Hair Relaxer Class Action Lawsuit

Firefighting foam (aqueous film-forming foam “AFFF”)) is a chemical product that has been used for years by firemen and in other commercial applications to extinguish fires.

However, various studies have recently shown that chronic use or exposure to firefighting can cause certain types of cancer. This discovery has led to a wave of firefighting foam lawsuits by former firemen and others who developed cancer after long periods of occupational exposure to AFF.

Our lawyers are accepting new clients in all 50 states for inclusion in the nationwide AFFF class action lawsuit.

The CDC recently announced that EzriCare Artificial Tears lubricating eye drops have caused a wave of very serious bacterial infections across the country. Infections from the contaminated eye drops have caused very serious injuries including vision loss and at least one death. Our product liability attorneys are currently investigating potential eye drop infection lawsuits from individuals who used EzriCare eye drops and developed a bacterial infection that caused serious physical injuries.

The FDA is working with the CDC, and state and local health departments to investigate a rare, drug-resistant type of bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa that has caused infections in 55 people across 12 states as of January 31, 2023. The infections are linked to the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears, which has led to hospitalizations, one death from a bloodstream infection, and permanent vision loss from eye infections. The CDC has recommended that people stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears until further guidance is provided by the CDC and FDA.

Anyone who was harmed by bacteria in the EzriCare artificial tear drops could be entitled to substantial financial compensation in a civil lawsuit.

Our lawyers are handling Roundup cases in all 50 states.

Monsanto Roundup lawsuits have led Bayer to pay billions of dollars in settlement compensation payouts to victims and their families with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

If you have a new Roundup herbicide non-Hodgin’s lymphoma cancer case, call a Roundup attorney.  Not today.  Right now.  Because the statute of limitations may come upon you quickly.  The statute of limitations is a harsh and unforgiving deadline that is nearly impossible to get around. But there are exceptions you might be able to jump through.   You can call our Roundup lawyers at 800-553-8082.

Our Maryland-based attorneys are reviewing Camp Lejeune water poisoning lawsuits in all 50 states.

For 35 years (from the 1950s to the 1980s) an estimated 1 million former residents and employees at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina were being supplied with drinking water that was poisoned with massive levels of industrial chemicals. Subsequent studies have shown that exposure to these chemicals caused former Camp Lejeune personnel to suffer higher rates of cancer, birth defects, and other diseases.

Sadly, an austere law in North Carolina has prevented these victims from pursuing justice.  But there is now a new law that gives Camp Lejeune water contamination victims the right to file water contamination lawsuits and get compensation for their injuries.

Our lawyers have high hopes for the Paraquat lawsuit.  Our attorneys are handling these claims in all 50 states.  Our attorneys believe the science strongly supports the premise that Paraquat exposure causes Parkinson’s disease.

As our lawyers discuss below, the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuit may have higher projected individual settlement amounts than any other mass tort in the country.

Let’s start with the latest news in the Paraquat class action lawsuit and then get into what these claims are about.

Pressure cookers have been causing devastating harm to their users. This has led to defective pressure cooker injury lawsuits.  Our lawyers are handling pressure cooker injury claims not only in Maryland but around the country.

With over 53 million Americans owning some brand of a pressure cooker, the safety of the cookers is a huge concern. It is incredibly flexible weapon in cooking. But the rush to grab profits in this competitive market has led some manufacturers to cut corners. Since 2006, many different brands of pressure cookers have been recalled for many reasons regarding their safety. The impact of these recalls and the harm pressure cookers are causing is concerning.  Defective pressure cookers too often lead to serious and avoidable injuries.

Pressure Cooker Update – October 2022

Parkinson’s disease is a devastating neurologic condition in which the brain gradually loses control of body and muscle functions. The exact causes of Parkinson’s disease have always been somewhat of a mystery. Recently, however, new scientific evidence has shown that Parkinson’s disease can be caused by long-term exposure to certain chemicals such as herbicides, PFAS, and solvents. The link between chemical exposure to Parkinson’s is currently being litigated in at least 2 different mass torts: Paraquat and Camp Lejeune.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic condition that occurs when nerve cells in the part of the brain which controls body movement (the substantia nigra) begin to degenerate. When the nerve cells degenerate, they become impaired and eventually die and lose their ability to function by producing a key chemical called dopamine.

Our attorneys are handling Camp Lejeune lawsuits in all 50 states.

Marines and their family who lived at Camp Lejeune may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water between 1953 and 1987.   There is solid evidence that this toxic water caused people who ingested it to develop cancer and other health complications.

Victims has been denied the right to seek compensation for their injuries.  Marines fought back of the course of many years for justice.  Now, finally, justice is at hand.  A new law allows Marines and their families to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit and seek settlement compensation.

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