Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

Everyone knows about the McDonald’s coffee case in which a woman sued them for the burns she suffered after hot coffee spilled on her lap. It is regularly cited as being an example of how people can take advantage of our country’s legal system, but that may not be a fair version of the case’s facts. Hot Coffee, a new documentary by Susan Saladoff offers a new outlook on the situation. The film explores what really happened to the woman, and also addresses how and why the case received so much attention from the media, as well as who funded the effort and why. Viewers will decide for themselves who really profited from the McDonald’s coffee incident.

The movie seeks to help viewers realize how the media and the corporate world have shaped our opinions and views of our country’s legal justice system. According to the documentary, the McDonald’s hot coffee case and others were used to enable tort law reform, as well as to place caps on medical malpractice lawsuits and help companies demand closed-door arbitration, where they select the arbiter. The film attempts to give the case a fair depiction and its overall impact on society. According to the film’s website, those involved with the documentary believe the movie has the potential to change the way people think about the country’s civil justice system and access to the courts.

The movie is produced and directed by Susan Saladoff, who spent 25 years practicing law in the civil justice system representing people who had been injured due to individual and corporate negligence. In 2009, she stopped practicing law to make Hot Coffee, her first feature-length film.

Hot Coffee premieres on HBO on Monday, June 27, at 9 p.m. (E/P), 8 p.m. (C).

Visit http://hotcoffeethemovie.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/hotcoffeethemovie for more information.

View the trailer below:

SimplyThick is a thickening agent given at medical centers to help manage difficulties prematurely-born infants have with swallowing. This agent is typically added to breast milk and infant formula to help premature babies swallow and keep their food down. As of June 4, 2011, Simply Thick LLC recalled their products that were manufactured at their Georgia plant because of the presence of harmful bacteria that could prove injurious to infants. The FDA reports that some bottles of SimplyThick cause necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious infection which can result in death.

After two reports of a possible link between the defective product and NEC, the FDA began an investigation. There have been 15 cases of NEC and two deaths involving premature babies. Parents and hospitals have been encouraged to stop using SimplyThick until the investigation is complete.

Manufacturers of products that put lives in danger should be held accountable. These product manufacturers have a legal and moral obligation to produce safe products. That responsibility multiplies when it involves a vulnerable section of the population such as infants, the elderly or those who are already ill. If you or a loved one has been affected by a defective product, please contact an experienced products liability lawyer in Philadelphia to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

The experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys at Anapol Schwartz know how to hold negligent product manufacturers liable for the damages they cause. We provide free consultations at 1-866-735-2792 to anyone who has suffered a loss because of a defective product. Call us today to find out how we can help.

Three teenagers were ejected from a rolling car in Washington County resulting in the death of a 19-year-old man. According to WTAE Pittsburgh, the fatal car accident in Pennsylvania occurred on Main Street in Blaine Township. For unknown reasons, the fatally injured victim was unable to negotiate a curve and the vehicle veered off the roadway. The 19-year-old driver was killed and a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were both ejected from the vehicle. The 17-year-old girl was hospitalized for her injuries. It is unclear what caused the crash, but bad weather may have played a part. The report does not state if this roadway has a history of similar accidents.

According to the 2009 Pennsylvania Crash Facts, there were about 14 crashes every hour throughout Pennsylvania that year. Those Pennsylvania car accidents resulted in one death about every seven hours. Additionally, about 239 people were injured every day in statewide car crashes. Also, 41.6 percent of all car accidents involving young drivers (16 to 21 years of age) were single-vehicle crashes.

Whenever there is a serious injury accident involving only one vehicle, an investigation is needed to determine the cause of the crash. There are a number of cases in which a dangerous roadway, a hit-and-run motorist or a defective auto part may have contributed to the crash. In such cases, the driver or the driver's family may be able to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Injured passengers may also pursue financial compensation for their losses from the individual or entity responsible for the crash.

The experienced PA wrongful death attorneys at Anapol Schwartz help families of wrongful death victims get the compensation they need following a fatal accident. Our knowledgeable attorneys offer free consultations at 1-866-735-2792 to anyone who has suffered a loss in a Pennsylvania car accident.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), 1,380 people were injured and 16 were killed in Pennsylvania bicycle accidents in 2009. The majority of injury accidents involving bicyclists occur at intersections but most fatal bike accidents occur at non-intersections. Anytime someone is seriously injured or killed in a bike crash, it must be determined who had the right of way and who may be held liable for the damages suffered by the injured person.

Injured victims of a bike accident may have to prove that the driver was responsible for the crash to receive compensation for their hospital bills and other crash-related losses. There are many questions that must be asked after such a collision in order to determine fault and liability. Did the car driver fail to properly yield right-of-way to the bicyclist? Was the car's driver distracted, fatigued, drunk, or speeding at the time of the crash? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway at the time of the accident?

If it is determined that a motorist’s negligence caused a bike crash in Pennsylvania, then, they can be held liable for the accident. If a dangerous roadway caused the accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held responsible. Valuable information about the details and circumstances of the crash may be obtained from police reports and eyewitness accounts in order to determine who is at fault for the collision. This process is not always easy and it may be in the bicyclist's best interest to seek legal guidance from a skilled attorney.

The bicycle accident attorneys in Philadelphia at Anapol Schwartz have an excellent track record of protecting the rights of injured bicyclists and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike crash in PA, call us at 1-866-735-2792 to discuss your legal rights and options.

The Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act (SHIPA) is legislation that restricts the size and weight of trucks traveling on U.S. highways. When trucks are overloaded, there is the potential for road damage and an increased chance of the vehicle veering out of control. An out-of-control truck can not only cause significant damage to property, but also catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Anyone injured in a Pennsylvania truck accident would be well-advised to speak with a skilled attorney who understands the rules and regulations that every trucking company and truck driver must follow.

Under H.R. 1574 Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, no vehicle longer than 53 feet will be allowed to operate on the National Highway System. This new bill will also reduce each state's ability to allow large and heavy trucks on their roadways. The damage that these large trucks can do to the roadways puts every motorist at risk. Oversized and overloaded trucks have a greater chance of causing uneven surfaces and potholes and they are much more difficult to operate than normal size tractor-trailers.

When a shipping company, truck owner, or truck driver bends the rules and regulations and their negligence results in an injury accident, they may be held liable for the damages suffered by the victim. Injured victims of truck crash in Pennsylvania may pursue financial compensation for damages including medical bills, past and future suffering, and lost wages.

The Philadelphia truck accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz understand how to hold truck companies liable for a serious injury accident. To discuss whether you might be able to pursue compensation for the injuries and related losses you have suffered due to an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating certain birth control pills such as Yaz and Yasmin that contain the hormone drospirenone in order to determine if they present a risk of blood clots. Some studies have shown that women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone are two to three times more likely to develop blood clots in their legs. Common brand names containing this hormone include Bayer’s Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Beyaz and Safyral.

Anyone taking these potentially dangerous drugs should be aware of the side effects involved. While the FDA does not recommend that women stop taking these drugs at this time, women who are already at risk for blood clots should consider discussing their options with their physician. It is also important that doctors monitor their patients diligently to look out for blood clot symptoms in patients taking these drugs. In addition to blood clots, drugs such as Yaz and Yasmin have also been known to cause other serious side effects such as heart attacks, seizures and gallbladder disease.

All drugs have some type of side effect. But when those side effects are life-threatening or cause long-term health issues for patients, then, the drug manufacturer can be held liable. If you have suffered adverse side effects as a result of taking Yaz or Yasmin please contact the reputed Yaz birth control attorneys of Anapol Schwartz to obtain more information about your legal rights and options. You may be able to receive compensation for all medical expenses, lost wages and other damages caused by the defective drug. Call us today at 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that eight manufacturers have recalled about 1 million defective pool drain covers because of a possible entrapment hazard for swimmers. According to the CPSC, the recalled pool drain covers were made by A&A, AquaStar, Color Match, Custom Molded Products, Hayward Pool Products, Pentair Water Pool & Spa, Rising Dragon and Waterway.

The massive recall was issued because the drain covers "were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover." This issue results in potential dangers to people swimming near the drain. Defective drain covers can pose significant hazards. For example, toes, feet and fingers can become trapped and hair can become tangled in faulty drain covers, thereby causing swimmers to become entrapped. This can lead to near-drowning or drowning incidents as well. So far, no injuries or fatalities have been linked to the recalled products.

According to recently released swimming pool accident statistics by CPSC, there were 55 drowning accidents and 63 near-drowning incidents in 29 states in the first five months of 2011. The report also states that 96 percent of victims who are seriously injured in submersion incidents will die as a result of their injuries. Also, 72 percent of submersion victims die the same day and another 24 percent of them pass away within a week of the incident. The high fatality rate in such submersion cases is due to the potential for severe brain damage when oxygen to the brain is cut off.

When a Philadelphia drowning accident occurs due to a faulty pool drain cover, the injured victim or family of the deceased victim can file a claim against the manufacturer of the defective product. The owner of the swimming pool can also be held liable for using a dangerous and defective product in their facility.

For more information about pursuing your legal rights, please contact the experienced Pennsylvania products liability lawyers at Anapol Schwartz. We will fight for your rights, look out for your best interests and ensure that you receive fair compensation for all your injuries, damages and losses. Call us today at 1-866-735-2792 to find out how we can help.