Press Articles

For media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Eitrheim, 512-225-5322, seitrheim@slackdavis.com

Tragic Medical Helicopter Crash in Colorado

By Slack Davis Sanger | July 6, 2015 |

A Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crashed last Friday (July 3) in Frisco, Colorado, shortly after taking off from St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, killing the pilot and injuring the other two crew members. This is a “classic post-crash fire crashworthiness case and demonstrates that the fuel system is defective because the tank ruptured and caused injury in…

Pending Lawsuit: Smith & Nephew Metal-on-Metal Hip Recall

By Slack Davis Sanger | July 1, 2015 |

In early June 2015, Smith & Nephew, a multinational medical equipment manufacturer, issued a medical device alert stating that certain groups of patients with the Birmingham Hip™ Resurfacing (BHR) implant system are at a higher risk of revision compared to the other groups. The company has recently been hit with a large number of lawsuits…

NTSB Fights for Inclusion of Collision Avoidance Systems in All Vehicles

By Slack Davis Sanger | June 22, 2015 |

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a statement calling for the inclusion of collision avoidance systems as the standard in all vehicles, regardless of luxury status. They recommend that it become a standard system in all new passenger and commercial vehicles. The statement specifically cited the dangers of rear-end crashes and pointed out how…

Reliance On Dated Technology Won’t Prevent Plane Crashes

By Slack Davis Sanger | May 26, 2015 |

The recent crashes of Germanwings Flight 9525 and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are tragic, but germane illustrations of the perils of the reliance on flight data boxes and the need to incorporate advanced technology for forensic and safety purposes in modern aircraft. (The data recorders from Malaysia 370 have never been found and the recorders…

IT Vendors May Be Setting Themselves Up for Data Breaches

By Slack Davis Sanger | May 12, 2015 |

Healthcare industry data breaches are an all too common thing nowadays. With half of major data breaches occurring in the healthcare industry by third parties, you can never be too careful. Unfortunately, IT vendors who serve this industry share some of the blame by not practicing preventative measures. Below are some problems these IT vendors…

Controversy and Request for Amendment to New Federal Aviation Administration Drone Regulations

By Slack Davis Sanger | May 8, 2015 |

The American Association for Justice has suggested amendments to the recently proposed Federal Aviation Administration Drone Regulations. The proposed rules are causing controversy as many believe they don’t go far enough to ensure public safety. The Problem With their increasing popularity and availability, drones are starting to take up airspace, sometimes in protected, high-risk areas…

Michael Slack Weighs in on STAR Flight Investigation

By Slack Davis Sanger | May 7, 2015 |

Michael Slack offered comments and insight to KVUE-TV news, after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its preliminary report about the medical helicopter incident that resulted in the loss of a flight nurse. Kristin McLain died on April 27th, during a rescue. AUSTIN — While the STAR Flight community is reeling from the loss…

Trucking in the Oilfield

By Slack Davis Sanger | April 22, 2015 |

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2012, 3,921 persons were killed in crashes involving large trucks. In addition to the 3,921 fatalities, 104,000 persons were injured in crashes involving large trucks. Texas had the dubious distinction of leading the nation in trucking injuries and deaths in that year. In fact, of…

National Transportation Safety Board Issues Safety Alerts for Aviation Pilots and Mechanics

By Slack Davis Sanger | April 21, 2015 |

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued four safety alerts to aviation pilots and mechanics as a result of investigations into recent accidents. The safety alerts involve considerations for flying skills, survival skills, training, and preflight checks. In the wake of an increase of accidents within the past couple of years due to neglect…

Product Liability Investigation Conducted for Michelin Tires

By Slack Davis Sanger | April 13, 2015 |

In February 2015, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed an investigation involving blowouts purportedly caused by certain Michelin tires. The findings determined that truck operators were at fault, not the tires. An investigator in the report stated that exceeding the 75 mph rating was the most likely cause in all 16 complaints examined.…