2010 June Archive

A Dallas three-year-old has a new thumb after doctors replaced the digit with one of the boy’s right toes. The three-year-old lost his thumb to the carelessness of a caregiver, reports The Dallas Morning News. When the boy was an infant and in foster care, one of his foster parents put duct tape around his thumb to keep him from sucking it. While the duct tape stopped the boy’s thumb-sucking, it also caused his thumb to develop gangrene, which required an amputation to correct. The boy was removed from the foster parents’ care and was later adopted by two music ministers and child-care professionals.

This spring, surgeons at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas performed surgery to replace the boy’s missing thumb with a toe. The surgery was an eight-hour procedure and required the use of microscopes to connect tiny blood vessels in the new digit to those in the boy’s hand.

The boy will begin physical therapy in July. So far, he has not found that the lost of his toe – the second one on his right foot – has hampered his ability to run or jump. The boy’s doctors expect his new thumb to grow normally along with the rest of his body.

Injuries that result from the carelessness or negligence of a caretaker sometimes require costly and complicated surgery to correct. While these types of Dallas personal injury cases are often complex, this does not mean that your loved one should not receive the medical attention that he or she needs to recover.

One teenage girl died and five other people were injured recently when their car collided with a light pole in the Oak Cliff suburb of Dallas. The Dallas Morning News reports that the girl was riding as a passenger in a Chevrolet sedan when the driver lost control, causing the car to slam into a light pole in the 6100 block of South Lancaster Road. The accident occurred shortly before 2:30 in the morning.

The force of the impact uprooted the light pole, which was cemented approximately four feet into the ground, according to a local police officer. The officer described the accident as “horrendous,” noting that it was unusual for a light pole installed so firmly to be completely dislodged by a vehicle impact.

The 17-year-old passenger died at the scene. The driver, who was 18 years old, suffered critical injuries as a result of the Texas car accident. The other four passengers in the car were also hospitalized, but there is currently no indication that their injuries were life-threatening.

Police are investigating the accident. They have received reports that a second car may have collided with the Chevrolet sedan and then left the scene.

Auto accidents in Dallas such as this one can produce tragic results for drivers, passengers, and families. An accident caused by another motorist’s negligence may allow the injured parties to recover compensation from the negligent motorist in the form of medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.

Home decoration and furniture giant Ikea recently announced a recall of 3.36 million window blinds and shades it sold from January 1998 to June 2009. According to The Dallas Morning News, the Consumer Product Safety Commission received a report that a Lowell, Massachusetts boy had become entangled in one of the blinds and choked. The recall covers Roman shades and roll-up shades as well as some roller blinds that were sold without a certain tension device installed.

Child safety is a major concern when it comes to window treatments like blinds or shades. The blinds and shades sold by Ikea are being recalled because young children’s necks may become entangled in the cords. In addition, a child playing with or near the roller blinds or the Roman shades may choke if the chain installed to raise or lower the blinds is left to swing freely, instead of being attached to the wall or floor.

On the recalled roll-up blinds, children’s necks may be caught by the extra fabric in the blind if the adjustment loop slides off. The Roman shades also endanger children who may get caught between the blind’s inner cords and the back side of the blind.

Ikea is one of several retailers who agreed to join the latest recall, as well as one announced last year. Last year’s recall covered millions of Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold at Ikea and other stores. It was initiated after the Consumer Products Safety Commission received reports of at least eight deaths and 16 strangulation-related injuries caused by Roman shades and roll-up blinds.

Persons injured by defective products in Texas may be eligible to recover damages from a negligent manufacturer or supplier. Damages can include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and continuing care, or for the untimely loss of a loved one.