$9 Billion a year in knee replacements

Knee replacement surgeries have more than double the last two decades in the US as older Americans strive to become more active.  This has led to a startling spike in repairs to previously implanted artificial knee joints (revision)....an increase of over 106%. 

There has been over 318,563 patients who have had revision surgery since 1991.

Several prominent knee surgeons at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons presented data suggesting that the rate of failure for certain Zimmer NexGen replacement knee systems is “unacceptably high,” with many knee replacement patients experiencing loosening with the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral implant and requiring revision surgery within a few years.

This Zimmer NexGen knee has a “high-flex” porous femoral component that attaches to the bottom of the thighbone instead of using cement to keep the knee replacements in place. As a result of what some are considering a defective and unreasonably dangerous design, patients could have been exposed to an unnecessary risk of problems with Zimmer NexGen replacement knees.

The Zimmer NexGen knee lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates are investigating potential product liability lawsuits for individuals who have experienced problems with this replacement knee product.  For more information call 1-800-669-4878.

Bethpage Toxic Plume close to contaminating drinking water supply

The New York State Department of Health is investigating cancer cases in a Bethpage residential neighborhood where decades of chemical pollution from Grumman Corp. and U.S. Navy aviation manufacturing has contaminated groundwater.

Water districts in southern Nassau County have sparred with the state for years over how to clean up the Grumman Toxic Plume -- one of the largest on Long Island.

John Caruso, commissioner of the Massapequa Water District (MWD) and a former Nassau County Department of Public Works deputy commissioner for water supply and sewers says “We had the Navy install a monitoring well here, and that monitoring well now shows that at 150 feet, the Grumman plume is there,” he tells the Press. “That’s within eight-tenths of a mile of our wells.”

Officials from several other water districts within the Grumman toxic plume’s path have also been sounding the alarm about the oncoming disaster set to pollute their consumers’ drinking water—which could ultimately affect more than 200,000 residents.

Heading South: Time-progression charts mapping the South-Southeasterly spread of the toxic plume emanating from the former Grumman aerospace complex and naval weapons industrial reserve plant in Bethpage. 

If you or someone you know has suffered injured due to the negligence of contaminated water from the Grumman Toxic Plume call the experience attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates at 1-800-669-4878.

Tiger Mauls man at Bronx Zoo - monorail accident

A 25 year old man, identified as David Villalobos, was riding on the Bronx Zoo's last windowless monorail when he suddenly climbed over the safety bars and leaped from a height of about 20 feet, cleared a 16-foot high perimeter fence and landed in the Wild Asia Exhibit. (Bronx, NY)

He was almost immediately pounced on by an 11-year old, 400 pound male Siberian Tiger named Bachuta.  The tiger caused puncture and bite wounds to the mans arms, legs and back of shoulders.  The man would have been killed if that was the tigers intentions, the zoo director said.

The man is in critical, but stable condition at a hospital where he has a punctured lung, an amputated foot and bite wounds.

The attack is the first incident linked to the monorail in its 35 year history.  Zoo officials say that safety procedures will be reviewed.

Officials will have to determine whether or not the windowless monorail car contributed to this tragic accident.  One thing is for sure....no one will be riding the last car on the monorail any time soon.  

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the negligence of another call the experienced injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates.  1-800-669-4878

Car Accident Statistics in Long Beach

It's time for Long Beach to slow down.  Groups from Long Beach are hoping to expand through the entire city a public safety initiative intended to reduce speed limits.  A tiny neighborhood in Long Beach may be listen as speed limits could be reduced from 30 mph to 15mph by legislation before city council.

Car Accident Statistics in Long Beach, NY

• 2007: 1,000 accidents
• 2008: 958 accidents
• 2009: 979 accidents
• 2010: 961 accidents
• 2011: 983 accidents

If you or someone you know have been seriously injured in a car accident call the experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates for a free evaluation of your case.  1-800-669-4878

Air-Bag safety probe expanded....Hyundai Elantra

U.S. safety regulators have added two model years to an investigation of an air bag problem with Hyundai Elantras that cut a car owner's ear in half. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it will look into 2011 and 2013 Elantras in addition to those from 2012.  The agency also upgraded the probe to an engineering analysis, a step closer to a recall. 

The agency started investigating 123,000 2012 Elantras in May, after an Elantra owner said a side air bag inflated in a crash and metal bracket sliced the driver's ear.

If you or someone you know has been injured due to a defective airbag call 1-800-669-4878 to speak with an experienced lawyer. 

Child airlifted to hospital after injury at beach park

An 18- month-old child, identified as Phillip Amico, was injured by a falling fence at a beach in Bayville monday afternoon and airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow where the boy was later pronounced dead at 4:02 a.m.

The child was struck by a piece of fencing at Ransom Beach about 4:55pm, Nassau police said.

There are a lot of unanswered questions, among them, why was the fence propped up against the wall of the Town of Oyster Bay’s maintenance office in the first place?
Michael Murray says he was at the beach on Sunday.

"I always wondered why there was a fence there," he said. "It caused me concern that there was vandalism. Certainly a lot of kids in the area."

The Town of Oyster Bay runs the beach. A spokeswoman wouldn't comment citing the ongoing police investigation. She did note the beach closed after Labor Day.

Property owners and city governments are responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent people from serious injury caused by  unmaintained areas.  If you have been injured due to the negligence of another call 1-800-669-4878 to speak with an experienced attorney right away.  Our attorneys will carefully analyze the facts of your case to determine who, if anyone, can be held accountable for your injuries. We will then take the necessary steps to pursue the fair compensation you deserve. Let us put our experience and passion to work for you.

Robbery suspect on bicycle hit by unmarked police car

A 13-year old robbery suspect riding a bicycle was struck by an unmarked Hempstead police car after the breaks failed on the vehicle.

Yesterday, detective had been following the boy, whom authorities suspected of being involved in a robbery at Fulton Ave. and Washington St., when the vehicle they were driving had a brake failure and struck the boy.

The boy suffered minor injuries, was placed in custody and taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure.  The boy did not know he was being followed when he was struck by the car in from of the Hempstead Bus Terminal.

ADHD drug (Adderall) can cause heart attack, stroke...even death.

Recently strengthened warnings on the attention-deficit drug, Adderall, indicate that it may cause psychological side effects and that misuse may lead to sudden death from heart attacks and strokes.

In 2005, Health Canada (the equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) banned Adderall after reviewing reports linking Adderall XR to 20 fatalities, 14 of whom were children, and a dozen strokes.

An Adderall lawsuit can help you seek compensation if this commonly prescribed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drug has injured you or a loved one. Recent findings released by the Food and Drug Administration demonstrate a possible link between Adderall and the deaths of 51 individuals taking the medication. The FDA has cautioned that although no definitive evidence has been found associating Adderall to sudden death, doctors should be wary of adverse side effects such as high blood pressure, heart attack or cardiovascular complications displayed in their patients.

Texas Approves 85-MPH Speed Limit, Fastest In United States

The highest speed limit in the United States can now be found on a central Texas highway.  Transportation officials in the state approved an 85-mile-per-hour speed limit along a 41-mile stretch of State Highway 130, which runs between suburbs of Austin and San Antonio. Under consideration since June, the speed limit had received criticism from traffic safety experts and insurers. The five-member commission, which approved the proposal in a unanimous vote on Aug. 30, said in a joint statement that "safety is our top priority and tests have shown the designated speed is a safe one."

Engineers with the Texas Department of Transportation studied the road prior to the commission granting approval, measuring the curvature of the road, its grade and sight lines. In areas that received the 85-mph blessing, the SH130 is two lanes in each direction.  Each lane measures 12 feet across, which exceeds the 10-foot minimum recommendation from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.  Still, others are worried about the impact of the road, which is slated to open no later than Nov. 11.  The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing crashes, said the new speed limit threatens safety. "There are limits to the amount of crash energy that can be managed by vehicles," the organization said in a written release. "The higher the speed, the higher the likelihood that these limits will be exceeded in crashes." 

A 2009 study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health found there was a 9.1 percent increase in traffic fatalities on roads where the speed limit had been raised, and said roads with 65-mph and 75-mph limits had higher fatality rates than roads with 55-and-60-mph limits. Officials will be closely watching what happens on the road and in the state. The number of traffic fatalities in Texas has declined from 3,351 in 2006 to 2,998 in 2011, the latest year for which statistics are available, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

 Several roads in rural Texas and Utah already have 80-mph speed limits, the previous U.S. high. Chris Lippincott, an official with the SH130 Concession Company, the private consortium that owns and operates the segment of road, said the 85-mph speed limit encourages drivers to take their safety into their own hands. "Ultimately, highway safety is up to drivers," he said. "They can understand road conditions and weather changes." Toll rates for the road have not yet been finalized, but it will cost at least $5 – and probably more – to drive the road. The toll rate tentatively set at 12.5 cents-per-mile in 2006 is based off the Texas gross state product, and needs to be updated to current GSP projections, according to state officials.  True to its free-flowing spirit, no toll plazas will interfere with traffic flow.  Tolls will be electronically collected.  

In its written release, it expressed its optimism that faster speeds would appeal to drivers seeking an escape from traffic-choked Interstate 35, which connects the same cities. "We look forward to opening this segment of SH 130, which will help reduce congestion for the Austin/San Antonio corridor by providing Texas drivers and others with an alternate route for traveling through our great state," it said. But the commission, part of the Texas DOT, had additional incentive to approve the 85-mph limit: Per its contract with the SH130 Concession Co., the state receives an extra $100 million over the 50-year life of the agreement if the road received the 85-mph designation. 

 Unofficially, the approval cements Texas' growing reputation as the U.S. speed capital. Only a mile away from the northern terminus of SH130 in the southeast Austin suburb of Mustang Ridge, workers are putting the finishing touches on the Circuit Of The Americas, the country's first purpose-built Grand Prix facility. A short time after the official SH130 opening, the race track will host, from Nov. 16 to 18, the first Formula 1 race held in the U.S. since 2007. 

Adventurous auto racing fans take note: They can be among the first to drive the nation's fastest highway – and then attend one of the world's fastest races.

Play it SAFE on the side of the ROAD

Being stuck on the side of the road is frustrating.  Pulling your car to the shoulder of the road when there is an emergency is proper procedure, but motorists and pedestrians should never consider themselves safe.  Being mere inches or feet from the roadway is better than being broken down on the roadway, but it is still dangerous.

According to AAA, about 600 pedestrians are killed annually on America's interstates.  After studying a three-year sample of 400 police accident reports in three states, the association found that 18 percent of pedestrians killed were on the side of the road with or in a disabled vehicle.  They also noted that when pedestrians were struck on the shoulder of the interstate, inattentive, impaired, or drowsy driving was often a factor.  About 17 percent of the drivers involved were truck drivers.