Monthly Archives: October 2011

Want To Give Me A Birthday Gift Today?

Written On October 31, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Halloween is my birthday. If you’re like the 99.9% of my friends who didn’t get me a birthday present, I have an easy solution for you. My blog, Bob Kraft’s P.I.S.S.D., has been nominated by LexisNexis as one of the 25 best injury blogs in the country. You can give me a birthday gift by [...]

Posted in Legal Blogs

Friday Fun

Written On October 28, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This Yes-No sculpture by Markus Raentz is fascinating to me. Not so much for the execution of the design as for the imagination that thought of the idea. Take a look at the site for a better view of the different perspectives.

Posted in Friday Fun

Fiat 500 is ‘Top Safety Pick’

Written On October 27, 2011 By Bob Kraft

In my neighborhood I saw a lot of the tiny Smart cars when they first came out, and while I loved the look, I was concerned about the safety. Now the latest hot car is the FIAT 500C, which I see frequently. Again, I think they’re really cute, but I worry about the safety aspects [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

New SIDS Prevention Guidelines Released

Written On October 26, 2011 By Bob Kraft

USA Today reports, “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended Tuesday that parents stop using all bumper pads in cribs because of the risks to infants.” While the group previously only warned against “pillow-like” pads, AAP says there is “no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or [...]

Posted in Computer Tips, Tricks, and Tools, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Texting Makes Drivers Twice As Slow To React To Road Dangers

Written On October 25, 2011 By Bob Kraft

A Texas Transportation Institute study tells us what we already knew — texting while driving is incredibly dangerous. That’s why I was stunned back in June when Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill banning texting while driving. The bill was passed by the Texas House and Senate. See I’m Typing This While I’m Driving from [...]

Posted in Vehicle Law or News

NHTSA Investigating 36,000 Mini Cooper S Models for Engine Fires

Written On October 24, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the 2007-2008 BMW Mini Cooper S for engine fires. This disturbing bit of information was reported by the Detroit News. Here are excerpts from the article:
NHTSA said in a notice posted on its website Saturday it is probing 36,000 models sold in the United States after receiving [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Friday Fun

Written On October 21, 2011 By Bob Kraft

I took a big interest in photography when our kids were young, but I never considered myself to be a good photographer. The professional photographers at YouAreNotAPhotog should not consider themselves to be good photographers either.

Posted in Friday Fun

Young, Male Republicans: Menace of the Highways

Written On October 20, 2011 By Bob Kraft

This article from the Avvo Blog is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but does have some actual research behind it. Who would have guessed that the most dangerous drivers in the country would be Young Republicans?
We all have ideas about who are the worst drivers, and it’s rarely people of our own sex, state, or race. Stereotypes [...]

Posted in Uncategorized

Half of Child Booster Seats Need Checking, Study Finds

Written On October 19, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Child safety seat laws (and child safety seats) have certainly changed in the many years since our kids were toddlers. But now that we have little grandchildren, we’re very conscious of safety seats and the laws controlling them. That’s why an article in the Washington Post was disturbing to me. The article detailed a report [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Why We Need the Civil Justice System

Written On October 18, 2011 By Bob Kraft

From the American Association for Justice:
America’s civil justice system gives people have a fair chance to receive justice through the legal system when they are injured by the negligence or misconduct of others – even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.
This is more important now than ever because the drug and oil [...]

Posted in Tort Reform

Report: Tort Reform Made Healthcare Worse in Texas

Written On October 17, 2011 By Bob Kraft

According to the Austin American Statesman, a report, titled “A Failed Experiment,” by Public Citizen “says the 2003 Texas law that limited damage awards in malpractice suits has caused health care spending to rise and has not significantly increased the number of doctors in Texas.” While “Gov. Rick Perry has touted the benefits of the law,” the [...]

Posted in Tort Reform

Hospital Privacy Curtains May Often Be Contaminated With Hazardous Bacteria

Written On October 14, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Reuters reports that, according to a study presented at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, hospital privacy curtains may often be contaminated with possibly hazardous bacteria. Researchers found that, of the 43 curtains tested, 41 were found to be contaminated. The investigators found that the curtains tested positive for things like MRSA [...]

Posted in Medical Malpractice

Friday Fun

Written On October 14, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Here are aerial photos of some “a-mazing” crop mazes honoring the achievements of NASA.

Posted in Friday Fun

Some Doctors Handing Out Medicaid Prescriptions for Potent Drugs to Kids

Written On October 13, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Texas has a handful of physicians taking advantage of Medicaid rules by prescribing inappropriate medications for children. This is not only bad for the kids, but eats up Medicaid money that should go to other people. The problem was detailed in an editorial in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Here are excerpts:
With little oversight and [...]

Posted in Medicaid, Medical Malpractice

Hip Implant Complaints Surge, Even as the Dangers Are Studied

Written On October 12, 2011 By Bob Kraft

The federal government has received a surge in complaints in recent months about failed hip replacements, suggesting that serious problems persist with some types of artificial hips even as researchers scramble to evaluate the health dangers. This problem was reported by the New York Times in an excellent article. Here are the opening paragraphs:
An analysis [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices

Broad Strategy Needed to Win Battle Against Uninsured Drivers

Written On October 11, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Texas has a terrible problem with uninsured drivers — about 20% to 25% of all drivers in Texas have no automobile liability coverage. That means the rest of us have to pay extra for Uninsured Motorist coverage to protect ourselves against these drivers. An editorial in the Dallas Morning News detailed this problem:
The look in [...]

Posted in Insurance Information, Vehicle Law or News

Survey Finds Health Insurance Costing More and Covering Less

Written On October 10, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Major national news outlets including network news gave substantial coverage to a Kaiser Family Foundation report on health insurance coverage and costs. The reports emphasized the higher rates and reduced coverage with one outlet noting that family insurance now costs more on average than a small car. Many also noted the report’s conclusion that the [...]

Posted in Health Insurance

Friday Fun

Written On October 7, 2011 By Bob Kraft

One of my guilty pleasures is the bizarre photos and funny captions at PeopleOfWalMart.com. Now the site has an unofficial theme song:

Posted in Friday Fun

An Insurance Maze for U.S. Doctors

Written On October 6, 2011 By Bob Kraft

I enjoy reading the New York Times for top-notch reporting on current affairs, and for the great writers who have columns in that paper. But the paper also has several excellent blogs relating to health and medicine. One recent post to a health blog was written by a doctor, and concerned the problems physicians have [...]

Posted in Health Insurance

Primatene Mist Inhalers To Go Off Market After December 31

Written On October 5, 2011 By Bob Kraft

Dow Jones Newswire reports that the US Food and Drug Administration says that Primatene Mist epinephrine inhalers, which are the only over-the-counter inhalers approved by the FDA, will not be produced or sold after December 31, because they use chlorofluorocarbons as propellant.
The AP reports, “The FDA finalized plans to phase out the products in 2008 and [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices