Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

According to a courierpress.com news report, a 47-year-old man from Loogootee, Indiana was recently injured while on the job in Daviess County. Reportedly, the man was working with others to release pressure on a gas line when the pipe being worked on hit the man in the upper arm. According to the article, the pipe's threading gave way and, when combined with the pressurized gas, moved out of position, striking the man and resulting in a compound fracture of his left arm.

Thankfully, the man was stabilized and flown to Evansville hospital for further treatment. More details surrounding the incident were not made available; however, a more thorough investigation into the matter will undoubtedly take place. It is important for all work-related accidents and injuries, especially those involving pressurized gas, to be investigated in order to determine whether or not negligent action of some kind may have taken place.

If it is determined that negligence played a role in this man's injury, he may be able to seek compensatory damages from the party deemed responsible for the incident. On the job injuries affect Pennsylvania residents much more often than they should. All instances of such injuries should be thoroughly examined by an experienced Central Pennsylvania injured at work attorney who will fight to ensure that the rights of the injured are not infringed upon in a court of law.

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We tend to take for granted that doctors and medical professionals can sometimes be wrong and make mistakes. After all, they are human just like we are. However, when protocol is ignored and an individual suffers as a result, the question is no longer why did a doctor not know something; but rather, why that doctor did not do something when they very well should have.

A story featured on pittsburghlive.com discusses a case of medical misdiagnosis that resulted in loss of life. Reportedly, a 51-year-old Fayette County woman, after visiting Uniontown Hospital and complaining of chest pains, was discharged after examination, but then died of a myocardial infarction just five days later. Allegedly, the hospital released the woman with a diagnosis of non-cardiac pain, even though the hospital was made aware of family history which indicated that a heart condition may be likely. Now, the woman's daughter is filing a wrongful death suit against the hospital, claiming that their negligent care played a determining factor in allowing the mother's heart condition to claim her.

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Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is being taken into consideration by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a possible cause for the influx of acceleration-related vehicle issues plaguing Toyota Motor Corporation and its vehicles. The issue was recently highlighted in a usatoday.com article that discussed the problems associated with EMI and how auto manufacturers have known about these issues for quite some time. While faulty floor mats and gas pedal malfunction have been the more closely examined causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, EMI could end up being cited as a contributing factor in at least some crashes which, at this point, have not been assigned a definite cause.

The theory of EMI explains that electronic devices emit a certain amount of electronic radiation, and it may be possible for that radiation to interfere with electronic control systems that all modern day cars now rely on. In regard to the unintentional acceleration issue, it is being examined whether or not the electronic throttle systems in Toyota vehicles are experiencing interference which is causing them to malfunction. However, regardless of whether or not this issue or another is found to be the cause of motorist accidents involving Toyota vehicles, it is safe to say that negligent action of some kind may be greatly contributing towards the numerous auto vehicle recalls that seem to be taking place on a weekly basis.

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The personal injury law firm of Anapol Schwartz is happy to announce the launching of its nursing injury news website: http://www.nursing-injury-news.com. In dedicating over 30 years to helping those injured while on-the-job and due to the negligence of others, Anapol Schwartz is at the forefront of assisting injury victims receive full compensation for work-related injury, illness, assault and abuse. The debut of Anapol Schwartz’s nursing injury website aims to provide updates on nursing injury news; serving as a valuable legal resource for nurses who have been hurt at no fault of their own while trying to do their job and help others.

The new nursing injury website hopes to help nurses better understand what qualifies as injury in the nursing profession and the possible legal avenues one may take to hold negligent employers accountable for their oversight or disregard. The website provides information about bed transfer injury, hazardous substance injury, equipment and appliance injuries, physical assault, physical exertion, slip and fall injuries, workers compensation, unsafe working conditions, MRSA infection, and much more.

Nursing injuries may occur at a hospital, medical facility, or at a private residence. Such injuries can take place for several different reasons, many of which circulate around unsafe working environments, improper training by staff members or employers, or various other types of negligence or reckless action on the part of a nurse’s employer. To learn more about nursing injury and what legal options may be available to you if you’ve suffered a nursing injury, please visit http://www.nursing-injury-news.com or call (866) 735-2792 for a free consultation with one of the skilled nursing injury attorneys at Anapol Schwartz.

Chemical plant employers and managers have the responsibility of ensuring that employees who dedicate their lives working for them are protected from exposure to dangerous levels of chemicals, gases, and other toxic materials. Most of these components are harmless if handled in certain quantities, with specific protection, after receiving adequate training, and when following proper procedures.

A recent startribune.com article discusses the death of a West Virginia chemical plant employee. After being exposed on January 23, 2010 to phosgene, a major industrial chemical that is poisonous at room temperature, the worker died the next day. As a result, the chemical plant has shut down while the federal Occupation Health and Safety Administration investigates a series of leaks, three of which were reported over the weekend and one of which went unnoticed for a full week. A plant spokesman said that the plant is reviewing operating procedures and that there is no immediate plan to start-up production.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, phosgene poisoning varies based on the amount of phosgene that a person is exposed to, the route of exposure, and the length of time in which an individual is exposed. Serious damage can be done to the eyes, nose, skin, throat, and lungs from phosgene gas and liquid exposure.

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Approximately 1.5 million Graco strollers, including specific model numbers of Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems, have been recalled due to a significant fingertip amputation and laceration hazard. According to a fox43.com report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the stroller recall on January 20, 2010 due to the risk posed to children when the canopy of the designated strollers are opened or closed. Consumers are advised to stop using the strollers and contact Exton, PA-based Graco Children’s Products Inc. for a free repair kit.

The strollers were recalled after Graco received reports of five children having their fingertips severed, leaving them disfigured, and two children receiving cuts on their fingertips. Apparently the risk of these injuries is presented when a child places their fingers in the stroller’s canopy hinge as the canopy is being opened or closed. The strollers were sold nationwide between October 2004 and December 2009 at multiple stores including Target, Wall-Mart, Babies R Us, Sears, Toys R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, and many others.

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A 61-year-old man from Derry recently lost control of his vehicle in Westmoreland County. Reportedly, the man had just purchased a 1965 Pontiac GTO and was on his way home when the car suddenly failed to stop, came to rest on railroad tracks, and was then struck by a Norfolk Southern freight train. The operator of the train did attempt to apply the train’s brakes prior to striking the car, but was unable to stop in time. This incident marks the third fatality involving a train to have taken place in Derry since this past summer.

According to Pittsburgh’s ABC affiliate, WTAE-TV channel 4, the man was able to bail out of the vehicle prior to the collision, and was found about 40 yards from the scene of the accident. It was determined that the 61-year-old died at the scene from blunt force head trauma. Police are investigating the accident and trying to determine what exactly went wrong with the vehicle. In accidents where vehicle malfunction plays some sort of contributing factor, it is important to attribute any instance of negligent action to the appropriate party so that they can be held liable for their actions. Although the vehicle involved certainly wasn’t brand new, the man involved in the accident had purchased the vehicle the very day that the accident took place. Whether or not the seller of the car knew that there was something wrong with the vehicle is yet to be determined.

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Located just south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Three Mile Island, the scene of the worst nuclear disaster in United States history, is again making headlines, this time for a radiation leak that forced the evacuation of 150 workers. According to an english.cctv.com article, workers were generally exposed to low levels, although one worker was found to have been exposed to 16 millirems of radiation, which is the equivalent of about three X-rays worth. Reportedly, the leak did not pose a threat to public health or safety.

While there was no further mention of worker illness, any illnesses that do arise could result in the power plant being held accountable. Employers have an obligation to provide their employees with safe working environments, even in a place such as a nuclear power plant. In the event that an employee falls ill because of hazardous conditions in the workplace, the employee may have the right to seek compensatory damages from their employer. Such compensation can assist with costs associated with an accident or illness, such as medical bills, loss of wages, and physical therapy fees.

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Inclement weather conditions contribute towards a large number of traffic accidents each and every year. According to a philly.com article, multiple accidents have been occurring in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as a result of icy road conditions. Reportedly, a Blue Route accident involving a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus and two other vehicles took place when the bus crashed into the two vehicles that had already been involved in a crash with each other. According to the article, a total of 10 bus passengers were injured. There was no mention of injuries sustained by the motorists of the two other vehicles involved.

Inclement weather conditions are certainly not the fault of motorists, but driving recklessly in such conditions is. Reckless driving practices result in far too many Pennsylvania auto accidents each year. In the event that a motorist chooses to drive in a reckless manner, that motorist can be held liable for injuries and other damages that take place as a result of said reckless driving practice.

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According to a report from KYW 1060 News Radio, a total of six people sustained minor injuries when a trolley collided with a passenger car in West Philadelphia. The accident occurred near South 36th Street and Market, and involved five adults and one child. The injured adults were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, while the lone child was taken to Children’s Hospital. None of the involved individuals sustained major injuries, and the cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Traffic accidents in Pennsylvania always need to be carefully examined to ensure that the negligent party deemed responsible for the accident is held accountable for his or her actions. Furthermore, it needs to be investigated as to whether or not some other entity played a contributing role in the accident as well. That is, if a faulty auto part leads to an accident, then the manufacturer of that part can be declared negligent in their ability to provide the consumer with a supposedly safe product.

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Energy conservation is becoming more and more commonplace amongst not only private citizens, but businesses and other entities who are seeking to be more eco-friendly. However, not all ideas are as effective as they are in theory when put into action. According to an ajc.com article, energy-efficient traffic lights are doing more than just cutting down on energy usage. They’re also cutting down on how safe motorists are while traversing city streets equipped with the LED-powered lights.

Reportedly, the traffic lights outfitted with the energy-efficient light bulbs are not creating enough heat during their usage, which makes traveling in freezing temperatures rather difficult. The reason for this is that frost can now easily build up over the traffic light lens, making it impossible for a motorist to be completely sure as to which traffic law must be obeyed. The issue has already led to dozens of traffic accidents, one of which included a motorist fatality. While governing authorities cite monetary savings as a significant factor in installing the efficient bulbs, opponents of the move can cite several cases where individuals were involved in car accidents as a result of the low heat-producing light bulbs that contributed towards the obstruction of a traffic signal.

Municipalities have a responsibility to provide and maintain safe road conditions for city residents and visitors alike. In the event that a governing body fails to provide such conditions, then that government entity may be held liable for damages resulting from said instance of improperly maintained conditions. Ultimately, if a city fails to provide safe conditions and does not address and correct known problems in a timely manner, then the city is exercising negligent behavior that needs to be addressed in a court of law.

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As consumers, we assume that the products we use are safe. This is never more applicable than in our consumption of food. According to a nj.com article, a long-awaited bill proposed by the Senate to overhaul the food safety system set forth by the Food and Drug Administration has been unanimously approved. However, it still needs to go for a floor vote, which is speculated to not take place until sometime in 2010. The bill will allow the FDA to recall tainted food rather than simply make a request to the manufacturer of the food to do so, and will also require food manufacturing plants, especially high-risk facilities, to be regularly inspected.

Currently, the FDA is responsible for safeguarding nearly 80% of the food supply in the U.S. However, safeguarding against food-borne illness does not always prevent the public from falling ill due to tainted food. Currently, it is estimated that nearly 76 million Americans are affected each year by food-borne pathogens. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 5,000 people die annually due to such illness.

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