Recorded as the deadliest train accident in the 33-year history of the US subway, two Washington metro trains collided in Washington DC on June 22, 2009. Nine people were killed in this accident and several others were injured. The year 2009 was probably one of the worst years for train transportation, with seven train accidents across different states in the US. Train accidents are usually catastrophic for the victims and should be followed up with monetary compensation.

Train Accidents and Personal Injury Claims

In most cases, the state government or concerned authorities announce compensation for the victims of large-scale train accidents. However, there can be individual accidents while you are at a station or have boarded a train, such as injuries due to a short circuit in the train. In such cases, you have to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation.

According to an Associated Press report, published on May 7, 2010, approximately 19 people have fallen ill due to an E. coli outbreak in the states of Michigan, New York and Ohio. Of these, three people are facing life-threatening symptoms. Confirming the reports, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into probable outbreak of this infectious disease in different states of the US.

According to initial investigation reports, lettuce grown in Arizona is the possible source of the E. coli infection. To prevent further spread of infection, food companies are recalling lettuce products in 23 states.

What is E. coli Infection?

E. coli is a bacterium that can enter into the human system through food products. Mostly, the intake of this bacterium does not harm human systems; however, some strains may cause deadly infection. In this history, E. coli has spread through the following food products:

2010 has been a year of public disgrace for Johnson & Johnson, with its over-the-counter medicinal products being recalled twice due to production problems. Recently, on April 30, 2010, McNeil Consumer HealthCare, a drug manufacturing unit of Johnson & Johnson, recalled seven Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl batches. According to the company reports, McNeil is voluntarily recalling all the lots of these drugs, even those that are not expired, because they fail to meet the prescribed quality standards. One of the major reasons cited by the company is higher concentration of active ingredients in the medicines.

This is, of course, not the first time that a drug has been recalled. In most cases, a drug recall initiative is preceded by several consumer reports against the manufacturer. In the above mentioned case, there have been several media reports about health hazards due to Tylenol consumption. McNeil has initiated a public complaint redressal campaign following the recall. However, seeking just compensation through a corporate redressal system can be a daunting task.

According to the data available with the US National Institutes of Health, approximately 76 million cases of food poisoning are reported each year. This statistic might seem a bit remote if you are amongst the un-afflicted. However, if you have ever had the misfortune of falling prey to this illness, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the facts given below.

Causes of Food Poisoning

food poisoning can occur due to several reasons; however, inadequately cooked food, improper storage, contaminated ingredients and unhygienic cooking conditions are the primary reasons. In most cases, food poisoning may cause severe headaches, chills, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and stomach cramps. Usually, the victim recovers from the symptoms of food poisoning within a period of one or two days. However, in case of severe contamination, the patient will require hospitalization.