Monthly Archives: December 2011

Hybrid Cars Need to Literally Add More “Bells and Whistles”

Posted on December 30, 2011 by McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be proposing regulations requiring hybrid cars and electric vehicles to be louder, in order to alert pedestrians, cyclists and the blind to their presence. As most people are used to gas engine cars, which are quite noisy, they may not recognize the presence of the quiet hybrid or electric car, especially when one is traveling at relatively low speeds. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted, “As we improve the environment with cleaner cars, we must also consider how it affects those on bikes and foot.” They suggested to manufactures of hybrid and electric cars that they add sounds, such as wave noises, whistles or bells. People can listen to the proposed sounds on the NHTSA website. A person can be seriously injured in an auto accident involving a hybrid car, and who is at fault for such an accident would depend on…
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Ford Recall Issued for Fusion, Milan Sedans

Posted on December 29, 2011 by McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Ford has recalled certain sedans in the U.S., but luckily, it seems they have caught the problem before it has caused any car accidents on account of the defective product. The company stated the bolts holding the wheels on their Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from 2010 and 2011 can cause a fracture, leading to vibrations. If the vibrations are ignored, the wheels have the potential to separate from the car. The recall announcement stated that while the car is in use, “multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location, and the operator may experience vehicle vibration and/or wheel separation, increasing the risk of crash.” This only affects the car models and years listed above, and only those equipped with 17 inch steel wheels, built in April 2009 and from December 2009 through November 2010. This is expected to affect approximately…
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Parents Speak Out Against School District Regarding Contaminated Playground Soil

Posted on December 28, 2011 by McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC

Earlier this week, this blog reported on the lawsuit filed by McGowan, Hood and Felder, LLC against Florence School District One on behalf of schoolchildren who were sickened due to raw sewage in the soil on the playground which has been ignored by the school district. Parents have been speaking up and out about the school district’s lack of responsibility for this environmental tort and against the school district’s continued denials of the effects of the contaminated soil. There is currently yellow caution tape around the playground, warning children and others to stay away. Parents on the school improvement counsel allege crews who cleaned up the sewage backup two weeks ago dug deep holes around the playground, but failed to haul off the dirt that they dug up. While the school district released a statement alleging that the crews put lime down to kill surface bacteria, parents maintain this act,…
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