Manufacturers generally try to put the best, safest products
on the market. Usually they succeed. But sometimes a product is not properly
designed and can pose a risk of harm to users. Sometimes this harm can be very
serious.

Here are a few products that have recently been in the news
for risks they pose. If you use or have been exposed to any of these products,
you should be aware of these risks. And if you believe you’ve been harmed in
the manner described, you should talk to a lawyer to see if you might have a
legitimate claim. These products include:
-The 2015
Jeep Grand Cherokee

An apparent design flaw in the 2015 Jeep Cherokee has been
connected to hundreds of accidents. One of these accidents caused the death of
actor Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the updated Star Trek. The 27 year old got out of his vehicle after he thought
he’d put it in “park” and it suddenly rolled down his driveway, pinned him
against a brick pillar and crushed him to death.

As it turns out, a defect in the electronic shifter
apparently failed to provide an automatic warning that the driver door was open
while the vehicle was in gear. It also turned out that this defect apparently
affects hundreds of thousands of vehicle and puts drivers in serious danger if
they leave the vehicle while the engine is running and the emergency brake
isn’t engaged.

In response, Jeep’s parent company, Fiat Chrysler, has
issued a recall for 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees and for Dodge Chargers and
Chrysler 300s from the years 2012 to 2014. If you drive one of these cars, be
aware of the risk and contact your dealer once a fix becomes available.
-Proton
Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are pills that millions of
people use to treat symptoms of acid reflux, like heartburn. But they’ve been
linked to serious side effects and now they may be linked to severe problems
when people discontinue the medication, like the risk of bone fractures, heart
attacks, brain dementia and kidney disease. The pills include brands like
Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid.

If you believe you’ve suffered complications from the use of
PPIs, you should talk to an attorney to discuss potential legal options.
-Toxic
Exposure

The link between asbestos exposure and deadly diseases like
mesothelioma and lung cancer is old news. So is the link between other toxic
substances and other deadly diseases. But there have been some recent
developments on the issue of “take home” or “secondary” exposure. These cases
involve people who got seriously ill after exposure to asbestos and other toxic
materials from family members who were themselves exposed to such materials at
work.

One such case arose in New Jersey. The wife, Brenda Ann
Schwartz, was diagnosed with irreversible lung disease. She claimed her disease
was caused by secondary asbestos exposure years earlier when her husband Paul was
exposed to beryllium while working at a ceramics facility. Paul allegedly
brought the substance home in his clothes, which Brenda often handled.

Brenda argued in court that Accuratus Corp., which owned the
facility, should be held responsible for her condition.

While the company claimed it had no duty of care to the
spouse of an employee, the New Jersey Supreme Court found that it was
foreseeable that an employee’s spouse would be handling and laundering his
clothes and thus the company could be held liable.