McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A.

The South Carolina defective product attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates are now accepting claims from people who have been injured by defective DePuy hip replacement units. If you have been affected by the recent DePuy hip replacement recall, we will be happy to advise you regarding your legal rights. It is important to consult your doctor at once to find out if you will require additional surgery.

This past August, DePuy Orthopaedics announced a recall of the following hip replacement products:

• ASR Hip Resurfacing System
• ASR XL Acetabular System

The recall was prompted by compelling evidence that these defective products place patients at an increased risk of revision surgery. Within five years of the initial surgery, 12% of ASR Hip Resurfacing System patients and 13% of ASR XL Acetabular System patients required additional procedures to correct damage caused by the defective medical devices. These devices may result in debris in the hip region, causing inflammation and tissue damage.

Data indicates that women are more likely to require revision procedures than men. Also, hip replacement units with head sizes less than 50 mm in diameter are at greatest risk of needing a revision surgery.

DePuy sold these defective hip replacement products between 2003 and 2009. During that time, roughly 93,000 patients had these devices installed during hip replacement surgery.

If you have suffered damages from one of these defective medical devices, our attorneys can help you receive the compensation you deserve. We will provide you with highly personalized representation throughout every step of the process to ensure that all of your needs are met.

Please contact our South Carolina defective product lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates serves clients in Aiken, Columbia, Sumter, Camden, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Lexington, South Carolina.

The government has established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VCIP) in order to provide vaccine injury victims with a no-fault system for resolving their claims. The program acts as an alternative to a traditional personal injury lawsuit.

Under the VCIP, you may be eligible to file a vaccine injury claim on behalf of your child if:

• You are the parent or legal guardian of a child who suffered an injury from taking a vaccine covered by the VCIP
• The vaccine injury lasted more than six months
• The vaccine injury resulted in a hospital stay and surgery or
• The vaccine injury resulted in wrongful death

There are also several important filing deadlines which must be met to maintain your vaccine injury claim eligibility. Your claim must be filed within three years of developing the first vaccine injury symptoms. In the event of wrongful death, you must file within two years of the time of death and up to four years after the first symptoms appeared.

The South Carolina vaccine injury attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates have helped many vaccine injury victims receive the compensation they deserve under the VCIP. We have a thorough understanding of the laws governing these sophisticated claims, and we will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

Please contact our South Carolina vaccine injury lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates serves clients in Aiken, Columbia, Sumter, Camden, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Lexington, South Carolina.

We are proud to announce that our firm, McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, has been given a First-Tier Ranking by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in America 2010® for our work in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants for Columbia, South Carolina. We are much honored that our work on behalf of workers’ compensation plaintiffs in Columbia has been recognized by one of the America’s most prestigious lists of lawyers.

About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers has become the "definitive guide to legal excellence" in the United States and Canada since it began in 1983. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is a great and unique honor because the list is based on nearly 3.1 million votes from over 39,000 leading attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their area of practice. Best Lawyers is an independent list, meaning no lawyer is required or even allowed to pay a fee to be included in the list.

Advocates for Injured Workers
At McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, we strive every day to provide excellent representation and results for each and every client. We have been fighting for injured workers for years and are proud that our peers have selected us for inclusion in Best Lawyers 2010.

Our Columbia workers’ compensation attorneys are extremely dedicated and effective advocates for injured workers seeking fair compensation for workplace injuries. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act, we help victims of on-the-job injuries receive the benefits they deserve, including compensation for medical bills, prescription drugs, lost wages, and other monetary awards.

To learn more about the workers’ compensation lawyers of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates and our advocacy for injured workers, please contact us today.

Best Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America® 2010 are registered trademarks of Woodward/White: The Best Lawyers in America® 2011. Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC

Honda Motor Co. has confirmed that it will recall over 400,000 automobiles in the United States and Canada because of a defect that could cause cars to roll away if they are parked incorrectly. The vehicles identified in the recall are the Accord, Civic and Element models from 2003 and 2004. The models in Canada include those and some Acura 1.7 ELs.

The recall involves a part known as the ignition interlock lever. This device is intended to keep drivers from removing their key from the ignition when the vehicle has not been put in park. If the lever fails, it could allow the vehicle to roll away when parked incorrectly. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration upgraded its inquiry of the potential defect for the 2002 model year Accord. At that time, Honda received reports of 10 crashes related to the defect. Consumers had reported 11 crashes to the safety agency (NHTSA) for the same problem. Honda has indicated that it will begin notifying consumers of the recall in September. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call the Law Firm of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. at 1-800-694-0994 for a free consultation.

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Toyota has launched its largest recall ever due to sliding floor mats that may cause crashes. The automaker has warned owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, approximately 4 million, to remove the driver’s side floor mat. The following models are affected by the recall:

07-10 Toyota Camry
05-10 Toyota Avalon
07-10 Toyota Tundra
05-10 Toyota Tacoma
04-09 Toyota Prius
07-10 Lexus ES 350
06-10 Lexus IS 250/350

The federal government says it has received 102 reports of jammed accelerators in Toyota and Lexus models, including 13 crashes, five deaths, and 17 injuries. In late August, four people died in a Lexus which was estimated at traveling 120 mph. In a 911 call, the passengers said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn’t turn off the engine. The company has requested that all owners of the models completely remove the driver’s seat mat. Toyota is currently working on a replacement mat. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call the Law Firm of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. at 1-800-694-0994 for a free consultation.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has released their most dangerous automobiles for 2010 with respect to crash tests. According to the institute, smaller cars and lower level sedans are especially at risk. Bigger cars, because of the mass involved, obviously fair better in a crash, but also are more likely to roll.
The test results explain why the Chevrolet Aveo and Chrysler PT Cruiser, both inexpensive and smaller cars, have the worst crash test data. They join the Cadillac STS and Mercury Grand Marquis as some of the most dangerous for 2010. It is important to note that all of the cars on the list meet federal safety standards and they’re all much safer than anything on the road even 15 years ago. Also of importance according the institute is that other than the Cadillac STS, no luxury cars appear on the list because typically those are fitted with the highest end of technology.
The institute recommends buying mid-size cars to encompass all the buyer’s needs. While they have a little less powerful engine, they offer close to the gas mileage as a smaller vehicle does while still providing adequate space and good safety ratings.
Most dangerous automobile for 2010:

Jeep Wrangler 4 door
Jeep Wrangler 2 door
Nissan Titan
Chevy Aveo
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Mitsubishi Galant
Mercury Grand Marquis
Cadillac STS