Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

A new phenomenon in the recreational drug market centers around “synthetic substances that mimic marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs.” (J. Salter, J. Suhr, AP Iowa, 4/6). These synthetic substances are unsafe and have made users across the country extremely ill, causing labored breathing, rapid heart rate, paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, and even deaths. As a Chicago products liability attorney, I encourage everyone to stay away from these unsafe substances.

These products are inexpensive, only widening their appeal, and are often deceptively “packaged as incense or bath salts.” As more consumers experiment with these substances, hospitals are reporting a sharp spike in Emergency Room visits resulting from usage.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers has nationwide figures on calls related to synthetic drugs, and made some startling findings. Last year, 3,200 hospital cases related to synthetic drug use were reported. In just the first three months of 2011, 2,700 cases are known, leading to predictions that the number of medical emergencies could increase nearly fivefold by the end of 2011. To avoid serious personal injuries, please stay away from these dangerous substances.

The Federal Aviation Administration “plans to issue a directive Tuesday mandating operators of about 175 older Boeing 737s to conduct inspections for wear and tear.” (CNN, CNN Wire Staff, 4/5/11). This announcement comes just two days after a Boeing 737 flown by Southwest Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing due to a several foot hole in the fuselage.

As a Chicago personal injury lawyer, I am hopeful that the FAA acts quickly to make sure all planes are safe for flying. The recent events have unveiled a big issue, that must be addressed immediately.

The FAA says most of the 80 Boeing 737s registered in the U.S. are part of the Southwest fleet. Southwest grounded these planes for inspection following the emergency landing in Arizona. Approximately 95 Boeing 737’s are registered outside of the United States.

All of these planes have “taken off and landed more than 30,000 times and will receive repetitive electromagnetic inspections at regular intervals for fatigue damage.” The National Transportation Board is also part of this process and solution, and Boeing released a statement saying it too is working with the airlines to ensure the safety of these planes.