Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

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.

Continue reading "Misdiagnosis at Uniontown May Have Led to Woman's Fatal Heart Attack" »

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.

Continue reading "Worker at Chemical Plant Killed by Phosgene Exposure" »

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.

Continue reading "Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazard: 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Recalled" »

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.

Continue reading "Derry Man Dies After 65' GTO Fails at Railroad Crossing" »

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.

Continue reading "Three Mile Island Radiation Leak Causes Workers to Evacuate" »

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.

Continue reading "Icy Road Conditions in Pennsylvania Contribute to SEPTA Crash that Injured 10" »

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.

Continue reading "West Philly Trolley and Car Collide Injuring Six" »

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.

Continue reading "Energy Efficient Traffic Lights Prone to Frost Buildup, Pose Danger to Motorists" »

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.

Continue reading "FDA Bill Seeks to Safeguard Against Food Borne Illness" »

Unilever, the maker of the popular weight loss drink Slim-Fast, has recalled 10 million cans of its canned diet drinks because they may be tainted by bacterial contamination. According to a yahoo.com report, Unilever believes that the dietary aid may be tainted by Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The recall only affects ready-to-drink Slim-Fast products, and not the brand’s powdered shakes or snack bars.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became aware of the problem and notified Unilever of the possible contamination on December 2, 2009. The FDA is currently investigating the matter, paying particular attention to a production facility in Covington, Tennessee. Customers who have in their possession such canned drinks should immediately discard those drinks and may contact Unilever at 1-800-896-9479 for a full refund.

Continue reading "Slim-Fast Consumers Beware: Possible Bacillus Contamination Poses Risk" »

The H1N1 vaccine is doing more, and less, than it’s supposed to. According to reports from both ABC News and MSNBC.com, the swine flu vaccine is not always providing the necessary safeguard against the swine flu, and is even ladling some users with unwanted side effects in the form of allergic reactions.

An ABCNews.com report has revealed that a batch of the H1N1 vaccine has been recalled in Canada. Its maker, U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline, has recalled the vaccine because it has caused at least six known cases of severe allergic reaction in its users. So far, 170,000 doses of the vaccine have been recalled in Canada. Although reports claim that this side effect is limited to the vaccine distributed in Canada, it has yet to be seen whether or not other users in different locations are also affected by this defect. A total of 7.5 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed in Canada thus far.

MSNBC.com reports a completely different issue, this time one that has affected children. According to the article, over 800,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been recalled by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine’s division of France-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis Group. It has been determined that these particular doses of the vaccine are ineffective in preventing the onset of swine flu, thus putting children inoculated with the vaccine at risk of contracting the illness. The doses in question have minimal to no potency, and were distributed amongst children.

Continue reading "H1N1 Vaccine Recall Reveals Vaccine Doesn't Always Deliver as Promised" »

A recent article from gazette.net reported that a Giant Food Store was evacuated after multiple customers and employees (approximately 14 all together) complained about feeling sick and having trouble breathing after smelling gas within the building. Six of the sick individuals, two Giant customers and four employees, were taken to local hospitals in Maryland for evaluation. According to the article, no gas leak was discovered on the premises and officials are still not sure what made the individuals sick.

After evacuating the building shortly after the several reports of people feeling ill, a hazardous materials team responded and investigated the possibility of a gas or Freon leak. However, these possibilities were cancelled out, with no other explanation discovered or provided. As a safety precaution for people within close distance to the area in question, police temporarily closed off certain access points to the shopping center where the Giant Food Store is located. Many other surrounding businesses were also evacuated and others were left to make their own determinations whether or not to evacuate.

Continue reading "Shopping Center Evacuated: Employees and Customers Feel Sick after Smelling Gas" »

The Food and Drug Administration has declared its plans to begin a study of the negative side effects following Lasik eye surgery, which include dry eyes, blurred/double vision, and halos around objects at night. According to a recent report, the FDA will coordinate with the Department of Defense and the National Eye Institute to establish the percentage of patients who have been negatively affected by the eye-correcting procedure.

Although it is encouraging that such action is finally being initiated, a clinical trial tracking of patients who undergo the surgery will not conclude until 2012. To start things off, an online questionnaire will help patients gauge their quality of life after Lasik surgery. The head of the FDA’s medical device division stated, “This study will enhance our understanding of the risks of Lasik and could lead to a reduction in patients who experience adverse effects.”

Considering that approximately 6 million Americans have had Lasik surgery, an extremely sensitive procedure that everlastingly reshapes the cornea (a clear layer covering the eye), it is of the utmost importance that the FDA administers this study. Although 95% of Lasik patients are apparently satisfied with the results of their surgery, last summer the FDA received 140 reports of Lasik-related problems of eye damage between 1998 and 2006.

Continue reading " FDA Initiates Study of Lasik Eye Surgery's Negative Effects" »

A recent latimes.com article has left patients and citizens throughout the United States horrified and concerned about the quality of care provided during CT scans and other hospital services. According to the report, over 200 brain scans for potential stroke patients on a CT scan machine at Cedars-Sinai in California were conducted at eight times the normal level of radiation. Apparently many cases of radiation overdoses at the Los Angeles based medical center have been connected to a mistake the hospital made when resetting a CT scanner to accommodate new protocol for a specific kind of scan used to identify and diagnose strokes.

What is even more shocking is that this serious hospital error went unnoticed for 18 months. The problem was brought to the attention of the hospital in August 2009 when a stroke patient told the hospital that he had begun to lose his hair after a CT stroke scan. A hospital spokesman told reports that the CT machine was used for other kinds of scans, but that the re-set error only affected the potential stroke patients. However, each patient who received the CT brain perfusion scan procedure for stroke diagnosis was exposed to the radiation overdose. The hospital has found and gotten in touch with 206 patients who were subjected to the overdoses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. After doing so, the hospital discovered that approximately forty-percent of the patients had endured sporadic hair loss and many of the individuals also showed signs of reddening of the skin.

Continue reading "Radiation Overdoses Linked to Hospital's Mistake" »

A recent article from thepittsburghchannel.com reported that a fatal head-on auto collision between a passenger car and a UPS truck in Pennsylvania took the life of the passenger car driver. The UPS truck driver’s condition was not provided but the article stated that he was taken to a local hospital. According to police, the car swerved out of control after skidding on some oil that was on the road. Although the article does not mention at what speeds the vehicles collided, considered the catastrophic consequences of the head-on crash, it is fair to say that speed may have been a factor.

When auto accidents are caused by foreign substances on the road, such as excessive oil, or by poor road conditions, these factors are unfortunately enough to cause vehicles to lose control, taking an automobile in unexpected directions and resulting in a collision with other vehicles. Head-on collisions in Pennsylvania are some of the most serious auto accidents to take place due to the vulnerability of drivers and front-seat passengers, especially for individuals in small passenger cars who are involved in accidents with larger vehicles like delivery trucks and SUVs.

Continue reading "Robinson Township Auto Collision Kills 1" »

In what many people are referring to as “long overdue”, the FDA has recently announced its new program called “The Safe Use Initiative” to help lower wide-ranging problems associated with drug dose errors. According to a latimes.com report, the problem of drug dosage error takes a staggering toll on consumer and patient health in addition to costing about $4 billion a year. In fact, based on a study by the Institute of Medicine in 2007, approximately 1.5 million preventable “adverse drug events” take place in the United States every year. With this information in mind, it is no wonder that the Food and Drug Administration is calling on doctors, consumers, and various other healthcare professionals to help in identifying drugs and circumstances that may be particular problems.

In its efforts to lower the deaths and severe health problems brought about by misuses of medication, the FDA adverse event reporting system and the organization as a whole are trying to determine the most serious threats, dangers, and risks, and find ways to prevent them from happening. The agency is supposed to hold public hearings to gather information pertaining to the following drug concerns:

• Overuse of acetaminophen (a pain reliever that can cause liver damage if too much is taken)


• Information given to patients (i.e. package inserts, labels and instructions that pharmacists distribute when giving prescriptions)


• Ways to lower dosage errors in liquid medications by including a spoon or cup to accurately regulate a dosage

Continue reading "FDA Launches "Safe Use Initiative" to Lower Drug Dosage Errors" »

After suffering a stroke and additional related health problems, a 39-year-old Newark woman has filed a suit against Bayer Corp., the makers of the popular birth control product, Yaz. According to an insidebayarea.com article, the woman took Yaz, a prescription-only product, for four weeks in the summer of 2007 to help reduce premenstrual pains, which is one of Yaz’s advertised uses. She then suffered a stroke that resulted in six months of hospitalization.

In attributing her health problems to using Yaz, the woman had part of her skull temporarily removed, due to excessive swelling of her brain, until the affected portion of her skull was later replaced. The woman’s attorney stated that she also suffered a reduced IQ and is now close to being mentally handicapped in addition to experiencing a drastic change in her speech and mood.

Although Yaz is one of the most popular birth controls used in the world, it has been at the forefront of much debate and criticism for presenting additional health risks not associated with other birth-control pills. The woman in the aforementioned case and over 100 others have filed suit against Yaz’s maker, Bayer Corp.

Continue reading "39-Year-Old Woman Files Lawsuit against Makers of Yaz" »

Recent reports of several homeowners encountering serious problems with their insurer after reporting defective materials in drywall in their homes have been quite unnerving for families throughout the United States. This is far from a simple matter. One report stated that insurers are declining to file homeowner’s claims. But this is not all. Insurers are also cancelling the policy altogether, or giving out notices that policies will not be renewed until the defective drywall problem is resolved at the homeowner’s expense.

Why are so many incidents of defective drywall taking place? According to a news.aol.com report, building materials were in short supply during the apex of the U.S. housing boom. As a result, American construction companies turned to millions of pounds of Chinese-made drywall for its affordability and abundant quantity. It is far from comforting to know that an Associated Press analysis of shipping records determined that over 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board was imported between 2004 and 2008 to be used in building homes.

Unfortunately, it is likely that neither the Chinese manufacturers nor the Chinese government will respond to any lawsuits or reimburse homeowners for the defective drywall. In addition, a spokesman for one homeowner’s insurer who denied their claim said that the drywall is considered a builder defect, which is not covered under the policy. The insurance spokesman also said that they consider the drywall a pre-existing condition that could lead to future damage, which is why the company will not renew the policy unless the issue is corrected.

Continue reading "Toxic Chinese Drywall: What Can Homeowners Do?" »

According to recent news reports, many insurers have been dropping policies or sending notices of non-renewal based on the existence of toxic Chinese drywall in homes. This problem, although relatively small at the moment, is having a monumental impact on the lives of homeowners. Furthermore, this issue will only become widespread, and possibly grow out of control, as insurance companies continue to process the hundreds of claims currently in the works.

While families are being told that their insurance claim for defective drywall is denied, some are also being informed that their complete insurance policy will not be renewed due to the drywall that corrodes pipes and emits sulfuric fumes.

The insurer’s actions do not seem reasonable to many citizens. State and federal agencies have found that the defective materials in the affordable Chinese drywall emit “volatile sulfur compounds” and have remnants of strontium sulfide, which can create a rotten-egg odor, in addition to organic compounds not found in American-made drywall. Not only do the fumes destroy personal possessions such as jewelry and silverware, and damage parts of a home including pipes and air conditioners, but some reports of illness due to the wallboards have been made as well.

Continue reading "Chinese Drywall Policies Being Dropped by Insurers" »

Dartmouth investigators are examining the death of a 100-year-old woman who was living out the rest of her years in a nursing home. Now the victim’s son is alleging that they had notified the nursing home staff that his mother had been threatened by her roommate who is in her late 90’s and requested that they be separated. The centenarian was found in her bed with a plastic bag tied around her head.

According to the son, his mother told him that her roommate had said, “I’m going to have that bed next to the window.” His mother responded, “Why do you think that?” The roommate then responded, “Because I’m going to outlive you.” After the son asked that they separate them, he was told by the nursing home staff that they were getting along fine.

Chief of operations at the nursing home stated that the roommates were offered a room change twice during the summer, but they both refused. The son said his mother did not want to leave the nursing home because it was where she had lived with her husband for many years prior to his death in 2007. The son also said that as the roommate was being wheeled away she told him, “You’re going to blame me for this … but you’re wrong.” Police have questioned several employees but have yet to name any suspects.

Continue reading "100-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in Nursing Home" »

It was reported on the website sfexaminer.com that families of the 10 people killed when a semi truck smashed into stopped cars on the Will Rogers Turnpike in Oklahoma have decided to file a joint lawsuit against several defendants. The defendants mentioned in the lawsuit are the driver of the truck, his employer, Associated Wholesale Grocers, ACE American Insurance located in Pennsylvania, G.D. Transport out of California, their insurer National Liability and Fire Insurance Co. located in Nebraska, Rajeev Sharma a resident of California, and Erin Alf who is from Texas.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., the 73-year-old truck driver slammed his big rig into the cars while cruising at 70 miles per hour. Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that the driver made no attempt to avoid the devastating collision. The lawsuit contends that the driver was rushed by his employer Associated Wholesale Grocers to make a delivery and forced him to work beyond what is deemed safe and lawful. The two residents mentioned in the lawsuit were the drivers of another tractor trailer involved in the collision that had stopped traffic on the turnpike when unfortunately the worst case scenario occurred. G.D. Transport is their employer and they are accused of not training their drivers properly.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs said the grieving families acted this way as “a means of obtaining efficiency and economy in the administration and handling of the case, and demonstrates the enormity and gravity of the loss, and harm caused.”

Continue reading "Family Members File Joint Suit In Tragic Truck Accident That Killed 10 People" »

One may think that the following is a comic story, but do not tell that to the woman who fell at the “flippers of a dolphin.” According to the chicagotribune.com website, a woman has filed a lawsuit against the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society alleging that they encouraged the dolphins to splash water onto the spectator area causing the floors to become wet. The woman alleges in the lawsuit that she slipped and fell, seriously hurting herself. She is suing for medical expenses, lost wages, and the mental and physical suffering she has experienced since the fall; totaling more than $50,000 according to her lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that the zoo “recklessly and willfully trained and encouraged the dolphins to throw water at the spectators in the stands making the floor wet and slippery” and that they “failed to provide warnings of the slippery floor, failed to provide mats when the staff knew the floor would get wet and slippery.”

“Slip and fall" cases involve accidents that occur due to negligent maintenance, or unsafe and dangerous conditions upon property owned by someone other than the accident victim. Property owners and business establishments have a duty to provide a safe environment for individuals on their premises. Common situations giving rise to premises accidents include uneven floor surfaces, poorly marked changes in elevation, slippery surfaces, broken sidewalks, uneven elevators and broken steps. A telling stat reports that overall falling is the second leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, after automobile accidents.

Continue reading "Slip and Fall Accident Caused by Dolphin's Splash at Zoo" »

A jury in Carlisle Pennsylvania listened attentively to the testimony of Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of the state Labor Department, who is accused of driving drunk and crashing his state issued vehicle with a parked car. The report stated that the 50-year-old secretary testified that he was completely sober and had absolutely nothing to drink prior to him running into a parked car at approximately 3 a.m. He did admit to having some drinks shortly afterwards, specifically three or four beers and two whiskey drinks. Cumberland County prosecutor strongly contended the deputy secretary’s testimony pointing out that his blood alcohol level was higher than twice the limit four hours after the crash.

Fortunately no one was injured in this car crash, but it does raise eyebrows in regards to the justice system. In this country, everyone has a right to a trial, but we hope that no one is given any special favors. In this case, it appears that the deputy secretary was completely intoxicated when he crashed and is now trying to save himself going as far as to lie under oath in the courtroom. The owner of the vehicle should be able to receive full compensation from the deputy secretary.

Continue reading "PA Official Testifies in Carlisle Courtroom that He Was Not Drunk Driving" »

A lawsuit alleges that the famous former Wrestler Hulk Hogan, his wife, and their son are culpable in the tragic car accident that left a friend of the Hogan son and Iraq veteran with a serious brain injury, the celebrity news website eonline.com reported. The 23-year-old friend was a passenger in Hogan’s son Toyota Supra that had been altered for racing. They were racing another friend who was driving a Dodge Viper that is also owned by Hulk Hogan. The race ended with the Supra crashing into a palm tree.

The lawsuit also alleges that the Hogan parents are responsible for their son driving “reckless and negligent” and that “they not only encouraged it, but they did not take appropriate action to stop it and to protect the safety of the public.”

Hogan’s son has had a history of speed driving since he acquired his license in 2005, including twice being pulled over for driving in excess of 100 miles per hour in 2006, and three separate speeding tickets in 2007. The lawsuit claims that Hogan’s son was a drift racer akin to the Movie The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Most implicating is the accusation that Mrs. Hogan was heard saying, “Oh, I love it. I love it. The rush, the speed on the road, stereo-blasting, heat-pounding, racing in between all the cars, dodging the cops. It’s awesome.”

In addition, the lawsuit claims that Mr. Hogan, the co-owner of the car, purchased the alcohol that was consumed on the day of the accident and furthermore Mr. Hogan was aware or should have been aware that his son had customized his car, in effect making it “exceedingly dangerous instrumentality for his son.”

Continue reading "Hulk Hogan and Wife Facing Lawsuit Alleging they Encouraged Son to Race" »

The news got a little bit worse for doctors in Pennsylvania. According to a post-gazette.com article, the money that doctors have been paying for a statewide fund to use in case of large medical malpractice lawsuits will be $100 million less, which represents two thirds of the total. This money will be transferred over to the state’s general fund because Pennsylvania is trying to balance its 3.2 billion deficit. Hopefully this action does not lead to poorer healthcare when the patient goes in to see a physician.

An aide to House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Hazleton said, “This is not an element of the budget that currently is in dispute. This money would be used as part of our overall strategy at plugging a $3.2 billion deficit that we face this year. If we don’t do this … we face a significant tax increase next year.”

Director of governmental affairs for the Pennsylvania Medical Society, said, “We believe we have a vested property right to that money.” Doctors have found it difficult to find insurance so they setup the fund in the 1970’s to protect them from Pennsylvania medical malpractice judgments. Doctors are mandated by state law to not only have their own insurance but to also pay money into the fund known as the Mcare insurance fund. The association also alleges the state of not transferring yearly surplus funds over to the next year, which they claim makes everything more expensive for everyone.

This is not the first time the medical society and the state have tangled in court as the medical association accused the state of withholding $616 million from going into the Mcare fund from money collected through a cigarette tax. The state went so far as to say they did not have to transfer the money. A Commonwealth Court ruled that the state’s motion to throw out the case was denied.

Continue reading "PA Will Take 100 Million of Doctor's Medical Malpractice Fund" »

Target has violated a ban on lead toys, which has been in place for 30 years, and has been fined $600,000 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for selling these toxic toys to our children. Many would think that this is just a drop in the bucket for a large corporation such as Target. The commission uncovered that Target “knowingly” imported and sold the toys in addition to neglecting to take adequate action to ensure that no toys or children’s products would bear lead-containing paint.

Target denies these awful and damaging allegations. The toys were made in China and sold between May 2006 and August 20007 for prices from $3 to $10 dollars in Target stores countrywide. Toys affected include Kool Toyz Products, Anima - Bamboo Collection Games, Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and Sunny Patch Chair.

It is unacceptable that we still have to question stores that we trust to do the right thing and ensure that the products they are putting on their shelves are safe for consumers, especially products intended for our beloved children.

Continue reading "Shame on Target, U.S. Government Fines Them for Selling Toys with Toxic Levels of Lead" »

A news report on the wdtv.com website informed the public of a dreadful pedestrian accident involving an SUV which took the life of a Pennsylvania man in front of the Cottrrells Store in Morgantown. Sheriffs from the Mon County Department reported that at approximately 9:30 p.m. a 56 year old woman was behind the wheel of a Dodge Durango heading north on Point Marion Road when she ran over a the 43 year old man.

Emergency response teams transported the victim to Ruby Memorial Hospital via ambulance but it was too late, and doctors pronounced him dead. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led up to the accident and urge the public with any relevant information regarding this case to call the sheriff’s department at (304) 291-7260.

Many of us enjoy eating foods that may not be to healthy for us, which in turn, leads many us to exercise to try to burn some of those pounds off. Many Americans choose to do their exercise outdoors in various fashions such as biking, jogging, or simply taking a stroll around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, each day in the United States, innocent pedestrians are injured by negligent motor vehicle drivers. The effects on injured pedestrians can be quite serious, including broken bones, comas, paralysis, brain injury, and even death as in this story.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Pedestrian Killed by SUV in Morgantown" »

Even though the FDA has not issued a recall of popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin as of September 2009, it is understandable for many consumers to have various questions of concern regarding the serious medical conditions that can result from taking these medications. One of the main questions refers to what kinds of dangers are linked to Yaz and Yasmin.

First of all, both Yaz and Yasmin contain a type of hormone that most birth control pills do not contain. Drospirenone (DRSP) has been linked to be the cause of increasing a woman’s potassium levels, which can create health problems for a woman who has liver, adrenal, or kidney disease. There have also been multiple incidents of Yaz and Yasmin increasing the chances of a woman suffering deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), stroke, heart attack, and other serious medical issues.

Another major question that consumers have been asking is whether studies have been conducted to support claims that Yaz and Yasmin can inflict serious injury. One study performed in the Netherlands discovered that all birth control pills raise the risk of blot clots by five times. What is more shocking, however, is that due to containing DRSP, Yaz and Yasmin have been shown to increase the risk by 6.3 times. In recognizing these dangerous Yaz side effects, the FDA issued a letter of warning to Bayer, the drugs’ manufacturer, regarding questionable results from tests for key ingredients in the pills and said that many batches of the oral contraceptive should never have been given to the public.

Continue reading "Yaz and Yasmin Questions of Concern for Consumers" »

The Washington D.C. Metro crash that took place in June (the region’s deadliest on record) that killed 9 people and injured 76 others will cost the insurance company American International Group Inc., insurers at Lloyd’s of London and several other companies at least $100 million in claims. The exact dollar amount is not known yet since it hinges on a few factors like expected lifetime earnings of victims and how negligent the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was.

This high cost will most likely prompt insurers to raise their rates on coverage to other entities that they insure, like the aviation industry. A Manager for a New York based insurer said, “Underwriting criteria will get more strict. And this in turn may prompt the transit agencies to buy new safer equipment.” Washington D.C. officials have ordered an “urgent” review of the Metro rail system in order to ensure that a repeat of the incident does not occur.

Operating several thousand tons of moving train cars requires the utmost concentration and diligence. Yet all too often, operator negligence is found to be the root cause of a train accident. Although much is made of the operator’s responsibility for the safety of passengers and the general public, a large team of professionals are also involved in keeping a train running safely. Investigators are continuing their investigation as to the exact cause of this tragic train accident.

Continue reading "Washington D.C. Train Crash Leads to Record Claims" »

The website ldnews.com reported that a year after the Conshohocken fire, which left 400 people homeless, there has been little or no progress in court according to a lawyer for the former tenants. The lawsuit contends that a construction worker who was welding on an adjacent construction site accidently set off a blaze that torched 200 upscale units. The lawsuit claims that the developer and other parties were negligent, along with the owners of the building who did not have sufficient fire protection.

A Montgomery County judge has ordered the developer and the tenant’s lawyers to negotiate but the tenants’ lawyer stated that has been “fruitless.”

While the rules regarding the maintenance and safety at construction sites are strict, many sites are not as safe as they could be. The reality is that many construction site accidents can be prevented if the employer implemented smarter and enforceable safety practices. Insuring that all workers are properly trained in the operation of machinery and that the site is properly managed under OSHA and local standards can help increase construction site safety. No matter how stringent the safety standards are regarding construction, it remains one of the most dangerous of all occupations, with all construction laborers being at risk every day while on the job.

Continue reading "Construction Worker Accused of Starting Massive Pennsylvania Apartment Fire" »

An industrial explosion at the ConAgra Foods Plant in Garner, North Carolina that killed two workers and injured many others in June is still an incident that has many industrial workers concerned over the safety of their future. A wral.com report stated that approximately 300 workers were in the plant at the time of the explosion, many of whom were exposed to toxic fumes released from ammonia leaks. Thirty-eight individuals had to be transported to local hospitals for serious injuries resulting from the explosion, and three firefighters suffered from ammonia inhalation.

According to the article, district chief for Wake County EMS stated, "It's not just a matter of fire or any chemical exposure, but certainly with the structure collapse, there's the issue of the safety of going in." In any explosion, structure integrity is always a serious issue, but it is not the only concern that involved workers have to deal with. Exposure to toxic substances in the workplace can have long-lasting effects on a person’s well-being, putting an individual who has come in dangerous contact with an environmental toxin at risk of organ damage, cancer, severe burns, and many other calamities.

Fortunately in this incident, the ammonia toxic fumes were contained enough that the surrounding community was not threatened. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials kept a close watch over the air quality near the plant soon after the explosion to ensure that the toxic chemicals did not endanger people in the surrounding areas.

Continue reading "Industrial Explosion Exposes Workers to Toxic Ammonia Fumes" »

Once again the specialty steel company Allegheny Ludlum has soiled the Allegheny river, this according to the website pittsburghlive.com. An oily looking substance, which is all we know at this point as to what it actually is, has been spotted near the company’s riverside plant by Brackenridge and Harrison. A spokesman for the company did come out to confirm the leak and acknowledge that the origin appears to be the company’s river plant. Although he was very careful as to the words he used to describe the leak on the water saying that, “We did see a sheen.”

This marks the 3rd time that a suspicious looking substance has appeared on the river since July 2008. Crews were already at work placing booms near the downriver inlets where Brackenridge and Tarentum get their drinking water. These booms help absorb the oil on the top of the water so that it does not contaminate the drinking water. Some residents were asking how safe the water was to swim in. They also stated that oil seemed to take a good amount of time to dissipate in the river.

The company spokesman also stated that all parties required by law have been notified.
We all know that due to the growth of industry and a corresponding increase in the use of chemicals, the number of dangerous or toxic substances in our environment has grown immeasurably.

Continue reading "Allegheny River Coated With Oily Lead - Again" »

The website post-gazette.com reported that another big rig accident on route 22 in West Wheatfield claimed the life of an 82 year old man from Apollo, in Armstrong County. The man suffered serious injuries according to the authorities. He was immediately taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, where he was later pronounced dead of multiple traumatic injuries according to the Cambria Country Deputy Coroner. State police said the 82 year old man crossed over to oncoming traffic and hit the semi truck. The man stood no chance of surviving the impact, and there was a third vehicle involved which ran over a tire that became loose from the truck accident in Pennsylvania. That driver suffered minor injuries.

Accidents involving trucks account for over 130,000 injuries in the United States. There are 5,000 deaths each year and close to 35% of the injuries are catastrophic. Trucks over 10,000 pounds (semis and tractor-trailer) represent only 3% of all registered vehicles but are responsible for over 25% of vehicle related deaths. The most common causes of truck accidents are unsafe driving, driver fatigue, oversized loads and mechanical negligence.

Continue reading "PA Trucking Accident Kills Senior Citizen" »

Just as consumers were recovering from one recall, another recall has been issued, this time it is for 800,000lbs of ground beef that was processed by BeefPakcers Inc. in Fresno, CA. The report on the latimes.com website stated that the U.S. department of Agriculture believes the meat may be linked to an outbreak of salmonella. The USDA announced that the beef in question was processed between June 5 and June 23 and has “EST. 31913” printed on the case code labels. The beef was sold to stores in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.

Home consumers will have to take extra precautions with the beef they have purchased as some of it was repackaged into smaller consumer sized packages. Consumers will have to ask their retailer to determine if the meat they purchased came from the recalled beef. Beefpackers have asked consumers to call (877) 872-3635 with any questions they may have concerning the recall.

Salmonella can be life-threatening in some rare occasions and is one of the most common food-borne illnesses. Salmonella is notably more dangerous to those who have a weak immune system, infants, and people who are undergoing chemotherapy or have HIV.

Continue reading "Meat Recall Due to Salmonella Contamination" »

Three members of a Pennsylvania family were in a small single propeller plane which was involved in a crash with a helicopter over the Hudson River in New York City, killing them and six others. Not only was the controller on the phone taking a personal call but his supervisor was not even in the building. Both have been pulled from duty and placed on administrative leave with pay. In their defense, the Federal Aviation Administration stated that presently there was no reason to believe that their actions had anything to do with the accident but the investigation was ongoing.

The FAA added that the controller had transferred the plane monitoring to another airport just before it crashed with the helicopter. According to the FAA, “air traffic controllers, including supervisors are considered on duty throughout their shifts and are expected to be available in case they are needed, even when they are taking breaks.”

A recently retired air traffic controller and former union representative for controllers said, “This had absolutely nothing to do with the accident. The suspended controller handling the plane appeared to perform all his duties related to the doomed flight properly.”

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Family Involved in Hudson Crash - Controller Was on Phone" »

A terrible accident at a wading pool will force a six year old girl to be fed through a port for the rest of her life, according to a report on cbsnews.com. The tragic pool accident occurred as the pool was being drained and the little girl got sucked in by the powerful suction pump. The result of the tragic accident was a two inch tear in the rectum of the child, which was worsened when the force of the suction tore out part of the child’s intestinal tract. The family’s lawyer told reporters that doctors had no option but to remove the rest of her intestine. He added that the girl remained at Children’s Hospital and showed signs of improvement and would be going through surgery.

Unfortunately the lawyer also said that, “She’ll receive her nutrition through a port for the rest of her life.” He claims that the pools drain was uncovered for an unknown reason. In contrast the general manager of the club stated to reporters that he did not believe anything was wrong with the pool. He asked that any questions regarding the pool be addressed to the club’s insurance company.

Continue reading "Pool Accident Will Force 6 Year Old Girl to Be Fed Through Port" »

Lower Merion police have arrested a 75-year-old woman who they believe caused a hit-and-run auto accident in Philadelphia that injured a 13-year-old area boy. According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the woman, when confronted by authorities, said she thought she had struck a deer. But she had actually hit the teenager who was riding his bike west on Gulph Road near Morris Road. He was apparently not wearing a helmet.

The high-profile case generated a number of tips and culminated in the woman's arrest. She is likely to be charged with causing an accident involving death or personal injury, which is a third-degree felony and failure to render aid, which is a summary offense.

Regarding hit-and-run accidents, Pennsylvania law (Chapter 37, Section 3742) states: "The driver of any vehicle involved in a PA bicycle accident resulting in injury or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident." Even if you don’t have auto insurance or are underinsured, you still must fulfill your responsibility and the obligation to stop if you’ve been involved in an accident. The consequences, as are demonstrated in the above incident, are far too great for all parties involved if anyone in a car accident flees the scene.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Auto Accident" »

The New Jersey Supreme Court has overturned a $75-million medical malpractice award given to the parents of a boy who suffered brain damage as an infant when he was deprived of oxygen following surgery in 1998. According to a news report in the Insurance Journal, the justices reversed the damages citing "numerous trial errors and other problems." According to court documents, the child now suffers from significant intellectual, verbal and neuron motor deficiencies and requires constant care. The justices also said in their ruling that the trial jury in Essex County was unnecessarily exposed to bias against medical professionals during the jury selection process.

This case illustrates the complexity of medical malpractice cases as well as the devastating impact it could have on the injured victims and their families. In this case, it involves a child who has suffered brain damage as a result of medical negligence and will probably never be able to function normally for the rest of his life.

Pennsylvania hospital negligence and medical malpractice claims help such victims obtain compensation for the damages they have suffered. Where it involves young children who have suffered brain damage because of surgical errors or birth injuries, the money obtained helps create a secure future for them, given their permanent disabilities.

Continue reading "Record Medical Malpractice Verdict Overturned in NJ High Court" »

Honda has recalled many models of its 2001 Civics and Accords for an airbag defect, which may cause serious injuries to vehicle occupants. According to this news report, a 26-year-old woman was nearly killed when metal fragments shot out of her Honda airbag during a car crash in April.

The metal shards from the airbag apparently cut two arteries in her neck and left her with a whole in her chest. What this woman, like many others in the country, found out was that the airbag that was supposed to protect her in the event of a car crash instead hurt and almost killed her.

Honda recalled these vehicles for a problem with a device that inflates the airbag on the driver's side, which produces too much pressure. This in turn can cause the device to rupture, sending metal fragments through the airbag. These sharp metal pieces can injure or even kill a driver during an auto accident. Consumers expect that the vehicles they purchase are safe and won’t pose any direct harm caused by a defective auto part.

Continue reading "Defective Honda Airbags Can Seriously Injure Drivers" »

A two-car crash in Warren County killed two people, according to this news report. The fatal auto accident in Pennsylvania occurred when a pickup truck collided with a sport utility vehicle on Route 6 in Columbus Township. The driver of the pickup attempted to pull out of a driveway into Route 6 when he drove into the path of an SUV driven by a 20-year-old man.

Police say the man tried to avoid the collision, but that his vehicle struck the truck. The impact caused the pickup to roll over to its left side. One person was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the SUV and a passenger were transported to an area hospital with injuries. Police say none of those involved in this accident may have been wearing seatbelts.

Auto and truck accident cases in Pennsylvania can be extremely complex. The causes for car crashes could range from drunk driving, negligence, recklessness, dangerous roadways or defective automobile. Some auto accidents, such as the incident previously described, may involve multiple defendants and claims against auto makers or even governmental agencies. In various other cases, our attorneys have seen auto accident cases often involve uninsured or underinsured motorists.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Auto Accident Kills Two" »

A man has sued his surgeon for operating on the wrong knee during a knee replacement surgery. According to this news report, the suit alleges that the doctor botched his right-knee operation that left him with damage to his left knee. The patient actually went in for right knee replacement. However, his surgeon prepped the left knee and began performing replacement surgery on his left knee. However, midway through the procedure, the surgeon realized he was operating on the wrong knee, removed the instruments, sutured the incision and started operating on his right knee as planned.

The suit alleges that the defendants not only failed to perform the surgery properly, but also failed to documents in their medical records that they "surgically invaded" the wrong knee. The patient was later diagnosed with damage to cartilage under his left knee cap. The five-count medical negligence lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 on each count, plus costs of the suit.

It is an unfortunate and unnerving reality that surgical errors commonly occur in Pennsylvania. Most surgeries are done without any problems, but sometimes complications can arise because of medical negligence on the part of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse or other hospital support staff. Surgical errors in Philadelphia and throughout the state of Pennsylvania can leave you with lifelong problems or worse, result in death.

Continue reading "Man Sues Doctor for Operating on Wrong Knee" »

Brookstone Pharmaceuticals has issued a voluntary recall of all lots of its Concentrated
Acetaminophen Drops that come in 16-ounce bulk containers. According to a consumer safety alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the 16-ounce container is comparable to the size normally used to package regular strength acetaminophen liquid preparations. This aspect of the product combined with the absence of an integrated dosage delivery device could possibly contribute to dosing errors or inadvertent overdosing.

Overdosing on acetaminophen can cause a variety of complications including liver toxicity, kidney damage and blood disorders. The recalled drops were manufactured by Pharmaceutical Associates Inc. Consumers and those who have this unsafe product in their possession are asked to stop using it right away.

Drug makers, pharmacists and doctors have a duty to make sure that the medications they prescribe do not cause their patients injury or harm. Some drugs have dangerous side effects that can sometimes leave patients with long-term or lifelong damage. In some cases, mislabeling of drugs can cause dosage errors, which can also result in serious personal injury or death.

Continue reading "Brookstone Recalls Acetaminophen Drops Because of Overdosing Hazards" »

The city of Pittsburgh must face its growing number of landslides that are affecting its residents and public roadways, according to a report in the post-gazette.com. Landslides that go back as far as 2004 have gone unattended or barely worked on and those are the lucky residents. Many homes have been bought out by the city. A myriad of streets including Greenfield to Stanton Heights, Spring Hill to Oakland, and from Perry South to Arlington all have significant landslide problems. Home owners are encountering that either their backyards are sliding into other back yard homes or end of covering roads which lead to homes becoming inaccessible to other homeowners.

Many feel that the city of Pittsburgh most force homeowners to make the necessary changes but the city itself must assure safe public rights of way, especially if they expect homeowners to get private contractor up those steep and unsafe roads. Most contractors now are refusing to take on work in these areas in fear of liability lawsuits.

A homeowner had this to say about her house, “The kitchen gets water [from the hillside] when it rains, and the cabinet's buckling. We're like the sticks up here and never get any service, no snow removal, not even paving. The city has cited us to fix up our house but they don't fix our road. We don't want to put anything in this. It's a buyout waiting to happen.”

Continue reading "City Must Fix Public Rights Of Way for Public Safety" »

Some cities in the state of Georgia have failed to implement a new law which requires them to increase the yellow light by one second at stop lights equipped with red light cameras. Cities that have implemented the change have noticed an 80% decrease in violations according to an account.

Cities such as Duluth, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville, and Suwanee have declared that they will be halting the red light cameras as they are no longer making money. On the other hand, the city of Atlanta insists that they do not want to do away with their 8 red light cameras and said that they actually saw an increase of violations. Not only have the number of violations increased for the city but so have the fines, in some cases more than double the amount than just a year ago.

Jack Murphy, State Senator (R-Cumming), sponsored the amendment that added the one second to the yellow light. He said, “If they’re not doing it, I’m going to find out why. Longer yellow was the intention of the bill. They set the yellow too low – especially for left turns.”

Why would cities fail to follow state law, putting drivers and essentially anyone on the road including people on motorcycles and pedestrians at increased risk? These stop light cameras can bring in significant cash revenue for cities that are finding it ever more difficult to balance their budgets. Cities also have a responsibility to make sure that our public rights are secured. If cities fail to comply with state law, they must be held responsible.

Continue reading "Cities Ignore New Traffic Light Law" »

A report stated that an Airbus 310 jetliner from the island nation of Comoros had crashed into the ocean on June 30, 2009. Facing daunting winds, the plane carrying 153 passengers was unable to maintain itself in the air and plummeted into the Indian Ocean as it was attempting to land. According to authorities, five bodies have been found and a 14 year old girl miraculously survived the crash.

Aviation officials had warned of faults with the plane just two years before this tragic accident. Chief Mohammed Abdul Qader, Yemeni Civil Aviation Deputy, told reporters that the plane was flying against 40 mph winds in the middle of the night. Rescue efforts were unsuccessful and limited due to harsh weather conditions including strong winds. Qader reiterated to the press that all efforts were being made to locate the flight data recorder.

This Yemenia plane crash is the second Airbus to go down in June. On June 1st, an Air France Airbus went down in the Atlantic killing all 228 people on board. That plane is also believed to have been flying through a storm. Officials have not located the flight box in that crash and it is feared the 30 day beacon will soon run out of strength and prohibit any chance of finding out exactly what went wrong. Inspectors from the French Aviation had found a “number of faults” in 2007 after an inspection.

Continue reading "Plane Crashes During Landing, Girl Survives" »

University of Georgia officials were startled to find out that Hardin Construction Co., the general contractor that is currently building its parking garages, is the same contractor that built the Centergy garage that just collapsed in midtown Atlanta, according to a story. Fortunately the collapse in Atlanta did not injure anyone except by way of their vehicles.

Onlineathens.com also reported on July 1st, that UGA officials have ordered that their 10 parking garages be inspected along with the two garages that are currently under construction. Hardin Construction Co. is leading the construction team that is erecting two 400 plus parking garages on the UGA campus. The two lots are scheduled to open sometime this coming fall after a thorough inspection that reveals a safely built parking garage.

This eye-opener for Hardin Construction Co. hopefully will prevent any other collapses that could be a lot more costly, especially in terms of human lives. The private contractors as well as the owners of these buildings must make every conceivable effort to ensure that the parking garages are built correctly and efficiently in order to insure public safety.

Continue reading "Are You Safe in Parking Garages? Collapse Raises Safety Concerns" »

One police officer who arrived first on the scene described it as the worst dog attack he had ever seen, according to an article. Police were ready to throw the book at the owner of a pit-bull who savagely bit a 13-year-old boy, according to a report on the website onlineathens.com. After investigators questioned the boy again, they found out that he had been hitting his ball against the outside wall of where the dogs were being held. On one of those bounces against the wall the ball hit the gate and it opened, allowing the dogs to escape and attack the boy.

Patrick Rives, Superintendent of Athens-Clarke Animal Control said, “He admitted he caused it. He had been knocking his basketball against the side of the house, and it hit a door that had been previously damaged, and when the door came open, the dogs ran out. That changed everything for us. A provoked bite eliminated the citation for allowing a dog running loose.”
Officials were seeking criminal charges against the neighbor but have not dropped them and will only charge the boy’s neighbor with not having a valid rabies tag on the dogs.

Continue reading "Teen Admits Taunting Dog Before Being Mauled" »

Two teenagers suffered injuries in a Pennsylvania car accident when one car turned left in front of another, according to this news report. The two-car crash occurred when a 19-year-old man driving a Chevy Lumina turned his car left onto Route 51 in the path of a Cadillac El Dorado that was northbound on Route 51. The Cadillac was also being driven by a 19-year-old, Pennsylvania State Police said. The El Dorado struck the back of the Lumina causing severe damage to both vehicles.

The driver of the Lumina sustained moderate injuries, but his 18-year-old female passenger suffered severe injuries. The driver of the Cadillac was not injured and his passenger suffered only minor injuries. The driver of the Cadillac said he had no time to stop because the Lumina cut out in front of him and that he couldn't get out of the way because there was another car next to him in the adjacent lane.

When it comes to liability in auto accidents in Philadelphia, a lot depends on who was at fault for it. A number of car accidents commonly occur when left turns are being made. In such cases it is important to see who had the right-of-way. If the auto accident victims suffered injuries because of another driver's negligence, carelessness, or wrongdoing, then they may be entitled to receive compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, property damage and other losses.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Car Accident Seriously Injures 18-year-old Woman" »

In a country in which more than 22 million Americans (7.7% of the country’s population) suffer from asthma, and 10-30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis, it is no surprise that asthma and allergy medications are widely used by children and adults alike. It would seem inconceivable that these same medications we are prescribed by doctors can cause “neuropsychiatric events” to those who consume them. Ky3.com reported in a story on June 22, 2009 that this is the unfortunate conclusion of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. The study has prompted the agency to issue an order to the makers of Singulair and other leukotrienes, a popular asthma and allergy medication, to place warning labels on their medications which would inform consumers of potential dangerous side effects.

A mother of a boy was shocked to find out that it was her son’s asthma medication that was causing his erratic behavior. She said, “He started hitting me and kicking and screaming at me, to the point where I had to lock myself in the bathroom.” She later found out that hundreds of other parents had experienced similar occurrences. One report from another mother said, “He said, ‘I’m just going to kill myself so I don’t have to see you anymore.’ ” The boy’s condition was remarkably better after he stopped taking Singulair.

According to the FDA’s report into the mood and behavioral changes associated with Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo and Zyflo Cr, cases were reported of agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

Continue reading "FDA Orders Asthma and Allergy Medication Warning Labels" »

A Philadelphia doctor has admitted to botching dozens of prostate cancer surgeries at a Veteran Administration hospital stating that he sometimes missed his target while implanting radioactive seeds, leaving patients with incorrect dosages. According to this Associated Press news report, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found that 92 out of 116 men treated at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia in the hospital's brachytherapy program received incorrect doses of radiation seeds. The doctor in question performed a majority of the procedures under a VA contract with the University of Pennsylvania, where he was on staff.

During a Senate hearing, the doctor admitted that he never informed patients about his errors. He argued that this does not amount to "substandard care" because brachytherapy is still an "evolving field." A 68-year-old victim of this medical malpractice in Philadelphia testified that he lost his job during the five months he spent in bed after the doctor implanted the seeds into his rectum instead of his prostate in 2005. The VA misdiagnosed his condition stating that he was suffering from hemorrhoids or constipation. But the problem was eventually diagnosed as a radiation burn and the man had to undergo surgery to get it corrected.

Continue reading "Philadelphia VA Hospital Medical Malpractice Allegation Against Doctor" »

Almost any type of work or job has its inherent risks and dangers. However, it has been statistically proven that construction sites are more hazardous than most other job sites. Accidents at construction sites often result in catastrophic injury or death. Still, even at a construction site, accidents and hazards can be prevented by implementing stringent safety standards. It is critical for employers to make sure that workers are properly trained in the operation of various types of machinery so they don't expose themselves to danger by operating heavy machinery that they are not trained to operate.

Construction accidents in Philadelphia can result from defective or unstable scaffolds and falls off of or through roofing structures. Other common construction accidents that can result in serious injury or death include electrocutions, ladder injuries, defective machinery, malfunctioning tools and slip and fall incidents.

When defective or malfunctioning products cause construction accidents, the injured worker, in addition to collection worker's compensation benefits, can also file a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the defective product.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Construction Site Accident Attorneys" »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning users of Zicam pharmaceutical products about serious adverse effects caused by these unsafe drugs that have reportedly caused loss in sense of smell among hundreds of consumers. According to an ABC News report, these over-the-counter Zicam cold remedies contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The products affected by the FDA's announcement include adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

According to the FDA, about 130 consumers have reported a loss in sense of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives' Zicam products since 1999. Zicam cold medications never received formal approval from the FDA because they were part of a small group of medications that are not required to undergo federal review. Loss in sense of smell can not only seriously affect your quality of life, but can also be potentially life threatening. For example, people without a sense of smell may not be able to detect hazardous situations such as a fire or a gas leak.

Continue reading "Zicam Cold Remedies Linked to Loss of Smell" »

Rollover and roof crush is a serious auto product liability issue. Because of a defective or weak roof, vehicle occupants can suffer serious brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even death when the collision’s force causes the roof to cave in. These rollover accident victims are put at risk of being rendered disabled for the rest of their lives because of these defective autos. This is particularly true when it comes to several brands of sport utility vehicles or SUVs that have a propensity to roll over because of their high center of gravity.

The federal roof strength standard has not been changed since the 1970s. Large auto makers including Ford and General Motors have lobbied to keep those standards unaltered in spite of knowing that these roofs will only result in more injuries and deaths. It wasn't until this April that the U.S. Department of Transportation announced new roof standards for light vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds.

In an effort to help lower the severity of rollover accidents in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation, the new rule specifies that both the driver and passenger sides of the roof must be capable of withstanding a force equal to three times the weight of the vehicle. The Department of Transportation also announced recently that heavier vehicles from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds must now have both sides of the roof capable of withstanding a force equal to 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle. The phase-in schedule, which begins in September 2012, will be completed for all affected vehicles by the 2017 model year.

Continue reading "Roof Crush during Rollover Accidents Causes Serious Injuries" »

Pennsylvania-based Blair LLC., along with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling about 162,000 women's chenille robes after reports that several women died and many others suffered burn injuries as a result of the robes catching fire. According to this Associated Press news report, at least six women are believed to have died due to the Pennsylvania flammable products. In five out of six cases, the victims were women who were cooking at the time. CPSC officials are asking that consumers stop using these robes immediately.

The robes, made in Pakistan, have the following item numbers: 3093111, 3093112, 3093113, 3093114, 3093115, and 3093116. The robes were apparently sold in Blair catalogs, on the company's Web site as well as in Blair stores in Warren and Grove City, Pennsylvania from January 2003 through March 2009. Consumers may return these defective robes to Blair and receive a refund or a $50 gift card.

Burn injuries in Philadelphia can be serious and often life-threatening. In order to prevent these tragic events and to hold those accountable for the injuries responsible, it is important to understand what causes burn injuries. Burns can be caused by many different products, including defective clothing. Burn injuries are also costly.

Continue reading "Defective Robes Cause Fatal Burn Injuries" »

A story on the newsblaze.com website reported that on May 4, 2009 Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak introduced legislation to keep workers with violent histories out of long-term care facilities. The bill H.R. 2223, the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act, will stop individuals with criminal histories from working in long-term care locations by creating an all inclusive country wide system of background checks. The legislation would broaden an extremely successful three-year pilot program that stopped 7,000 applicants with a background of continued abuse or a violent criminal record from working with and victimizing our elders and individuals. These efforts should help lower incidents of nursing home abuse in Philadelphia.

Congressman Sestak said, “The measure of a society is how well it looks after its most vulnerable citizens. Every day, too many of our Nation’s seniors and disabled become victim to physical, emotional, or other abuse. This legislation will help prevent those abuses by ensuring the patients in long-term care will not be at the mercy of those with a violent or criminal past…our most vulnerable citizens deserve better, demand better, and this bill is an important step in implementing the safeguards they need.”

Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, Senator Kohl, said, “We have hard evidence that this policy will work and will protect lives. It is vital that this legislation moves quickly, and I look forward to working with the Finance Committee, the elder justice community, and Congressman Sestak in the House to make that happen."

Philadelphia nursing home abuse and neglect consists of bedsores, open wounds, cuts, bruises, dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, burns, falls, bowel impactions, medication errors, poor personal hygiene, verbal or physical abuse, over-sedation, and other cruelties. People in nursing homes may not be able to speak for themselves or may be afraid to speak about their conditions or what they see and hear going on around them. Nursing home abuse is a crime against the sick, helpless, and elderly.

If you or a loved one has been mistreated in a nursing or long-term home in Pennsylvania, you should consider contacting the compassionate and experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Anapol Schwartz. With over 30 years of experience, they know the law and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The website www.dangeroustrailers.com reported in an article on April 26, 2009 that families of three victims killed on the Bay Bridge in 2007 have filed a $19 million dollar wrongful-death lawsuit in which they claim the state is partially at fault for the auto accident. Matters discussed included prior crashes and fatalities during two-way traffic on the bridge and concern that the state should have been aware that the bridge needed barriers to divide lanes as well as a sign system to caution drivers of the “dangerous and perilous condition” approaching them.

Representatives with the transportation authority who are listed as one of the defendants and responsible for the bridge declined to comment on the allegations.

Downplaying the significance of two-way traffic, Sgt. Jonathan Green said, “If the trailer had not come unhitched, there would not have been an accident.”

Attorney Paul D. Beckman, disagrees and said, “This was a preventable tragedy.”

According to police reports a man was driving a 2000 Lincoln Navigator West across the Bay Bridge at about 4 p.m. when a homemade trailer he was hauling came loose ending with a 7 car pileup.

The families have named the following 8 parties as defendants in their wrongful-death civil lawsuit: Maryland Transportation Authority, the agency that oversees the Bay Bridge; Stephen Adam Burt, driver of the SUV hauling a trailer that became unhitched and caused the seven-car pileup; Levon Andonian, owner of the trailer that caused the accident; Joshua Hargrove, driver of a 18-wheeler semi involved in the crash; Mobile Mini Inc., a Tempe, Ariz., company that employed Hargrove; Edwin Dixon, driver of a second 18-wheeler semi involved in the crash; AG Trucking Inc., a Goshen, Ind., company that employed Dixon.; Travelers Property Casualty Co. Of America, the company that issued the car-insurance policy for one of the men killed in the crash.

Along with the pain and suffering of losing a loved one, you may have to battle many parties in a wrongful death claim, which can be overwhelming. This tragic story demonstrates that wrongful-death lawsuits can be incredibly complicated and require the help of a skilled attorney. The experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Anapol Schwartz have been helping victims of such tragedies for over 30 years.

Of course, wrongful death monetary gain can never replace the loss of a parent, child, sibling, or other family member. However it can support loss of income earned and pay for medical bills, if there were any, and funeral costs, and perhaps mental anguish.

The skilled Philadelphia wrongful death lawyers at Anapol Schwartz know it’s hard to come to grips and file a wrongful death lawsuit. Statutes of limitations apply and you don’t want to lose the rights you have in filing a wrongful death lawsuit. You have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Don’t wait until the last minute. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The government website cpsc.gov reported in an article that Jardine announced on April 30, 2009 a second recall expansion of cribs sold by Babies ‘R’ Us. The news was released by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The U.S. CPSC, in support with Jardine, announced the voluntary recall of the cribs. They advise that consumers should stop using recalled products right away due to the crib design and safety concern unless otherwise directed.

The name of the product is Jardine Cribs, manufactured by Jardine Enterprises based in Taipei, Taiwan. There were about 96,000 of these particular units sold. More than 320,000 units were also recalled in June 2008 while another 56,450 were recalled in January 2009. The danger associated with these cribs is that the “wooden crib slats can break, creating a gap, which can pose and entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers.”

CPSC has received 31 reports of incidents providing the crib is an unsafe product where the slats broke, including two reports of children becoming entrapped in the gap created by the broken slat on the crib models listed. Seven models of Jardine wooden cribs have been recalled. The crib model number and date code can be found on the inside of the bottom rail on the headboard or footboard. The defective cribs were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys “R” Us, and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide, and at babiesrus.com, from September 2005 through April 2009 for between $220 and $330. Consumers should contact Jardine for a full refund.

One of the most common ways in which a crib could be dangerous is through entrapment. Newborns, even when they are on trap (not premature) are so tiny that it might be hard to imagine their size when you’re picking them out of a crib. If the slats – the vertical bars on the sides of the crib – are too far apart, a baby could easy slip through or slip an arm or leg through. Any space that is large enough for a head or limb to fit through is dangerous. Although almost all cribs on the market today meet safety standards, defects or improper set up could cause problems.

If you or a loved has had a child suffer injuries in a baby crib, please contact the skilled Pennsylvania defective crib lawyers at Anapol Schwartz who have successfully defended their clients for over 30 years. They have handled these kinds of cases and can be an asset to you during this challenging time. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The website philly.com reported in a story on May 13, 2009 that the trial involving a New Jersey State Trooper who collided with a minivan killing two teenagers while on pursuit of a speeder. Unknowingly, Joshua Wigglesworth, the speeder who the trooper was following, was a classmate of one of the victims and had no idea anyone had died in the auto accident.

Testifying in court Wigglesworth, 20, said, “I just broke down.”

There is no doubt that Trooper Robert Higbee sped through a stop sign at Tuckahoe and Stagecoach Roads in the Marmora section of Upper Township approximately around 10 pm.

The force of the collision on the Dodge van was so violent that Jacqueline, 17, a student at Ocean City High School, and passenger Christina, a student at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, were flung through the passenger’s window and died at the scene of the car accident. According to the data recorder on the police cruiser, the trooper was traveling at 70 m.p.h. He claims he wanted to “close the gap” before turning on his emergency lights and siren.

Another witness who was in a car hit by the Dodge van testified that he was shocked when he went to check the conditions of the other occupants.

Wrongful death is a heartbreaking event. There is never a chance to say goodbye. Wrongful death is caused by a defendant’s misconduct or negligence. If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person in a car accident in Pennsylvania, contact the skilled Philadelphia auto accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys at Anapol Schwartz who will inform you of your legal options. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The website philly.com reported in an article on March 17, 2009 that a semi truck had been cited time and time again for faulty brakes and operating with a falsified inspection sticker purchased at a Philadelphia shop. This truck crashed into stopped traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway in Janury, killing David Schreffler, father of three. The investigation of the Pennsylvania truck accident lasted seven weeks and now the driver Valerijs Belovs, 55, of Northeast Philadelphia is being charged with vehicular homicide.

Along with Belovs, the co-owner of the 18 wheeler and a garage owner were charged with vehicular homicide, which authorities say is rare in these cases but shows how seriously they are taking the case. All three are now sitting in jail.

Risa Vetri Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney, stated that the auto accident in Philadelphia should serve as a wake-up call. She said, “It’s a death machine. The take-away is that these machines are all over the road, and people are going to get killed.”

Ferman added that the 18 wheelers worn-out brakes were unable to slow down the truck in time before it crashed into traffic.

Accidents involving trucks account for over 130,000 injuries in the United States. There are 5,000 deaths each year and close to 35% of the injuries are catastrophic. Trucks over 10,000 pounds (semis and tractor-trailer) represent only 3% of all registered vehicles but are responsible for over 25% of vehicle related deaths. The most common causes of truck accidents are unsafe driving, driver fatigue, oversized loads and mechanical negligence.

If you have suffered serious injury or lost a loved one due to a truck accident in Pennsylvania, the lawyers at Anapol Schwartz can help you. The skilled Philadelphia truck accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz handle a multitude of cases involving automobile and truck accidents. They have the experience and knowledge in personal injury claims to help you get the maximum compensation possible. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The popular weight loss supplement Hydroxycut has taken off the market by the Food and Drug Administration to protect consumers. After 25 reports of liver damage and severe liver injury, what does this recall mean for the millions of people who have bought and used Hydroxycut products? To start with, if you haven’t already stopped taking Hydroxycut products, it is advised that you do so right away.

Due to Hydroxycut use, there has been one reported death caused by severe liver damage and 23 patients have required liver transplant surgery. It has not been revealed to the public which ingredients in Hydroxycut damage the liver. Symptoms of Hydroxycut liver damage include jaundice, weakness, brown urine, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain loss of appetite, and/or itching. Hydroxycut products have also been linked to a rare muscle/kidney conditions, adverse cardiovascular events and seizure.

Hydroxycut over-the-counter drugs have been purchased by over $7 million people for weight-loss, energy-enhancement, low-carb dieting, and fat-burning applications. Considering the prominent use of Hydroxycut nationwide, these numbers pose questions of how many cases of liver damage and liver injury have gone unreported and what will the future hold for any new cases?

Liver damage can be irreversible, which is why it is crucial to seek medical attention for your injuries if you have experienced any symptoms of liver failure or liver damage after using Hydroxycut products. You may also want to keep track of all your symptoms and any information regarding their characteristics and onset.

You are not alone if you find yourself asking, “Do I have a Hydroxycut case?” News of the recent FDA recall has provoked concern for consumers’ rights and you may have a potential Hydroxycut lawsuit, but time to file could be limited. The experienced personal injury attorneys in Pennsylvania at Anapol Schwartz are equipped with the resources, skills, and knowledge required for your Hydroxycut lawsuit. Recover the compensation you deserve. Call our Pennsylvania Hydroxycut lawyers today at 866-735-2792 for a free and confidential consultation.

The website philly.com reported in an account on March, 25 2009 that Philadelphia community groups and city council members urged the city’s law department to sue the drugstore chain CVS for continually selling expired products and exposing the public to unsafe drugs in Pennsylvania.

Shelley Smith, city solicitor, was called upon during the City Hall Press conference to follow California and New York legal action suits taken against CVS. CVS was sued in December by New York State for the sale of expired products. Edmund Brown, California’s Attorney General, requested in June 2008 that the pharmacy remedy its problem after coming across 26 Southern California stores. Currently, California is pursuing suing CVS.

Lance Haver, Philadelphia Community Affairs Director, said, “CVS should spend the money it needs to clear the shelves of expired products that are putting our children at risk.”

Maria Quinones Sanchez, Councilwoman, said, “CVS has been caught selling expired products in our City and around the country. It is outrageous that we are here today calling on a corporate citizen to remove dangerous products from the shelves.”

Expired products found at 15 CVS stores in Philadelphia ranged from infant formula, to over-the-counter medications, and dairy products. Tablets to treat allergies were over a year old and baby’s gas relief medicine was nearly two years expired.

Bill Greenlee, Councilman, stated that legal action was required to protect the community from dangerous items sold at CVS drugstores.

Consumer class action lawsuits in Philadelphia are among the most effective tools consumers have at protecting their power over the marketplace. When a large corporation does something that adversely affects a large group of people, a class action lawsuit enables all of the affected people to act with one voice.

Anapol Schwartz represents consumers, small businesses, and injured people in class action lawsuits throughout the country, seeking money damages and other relief in the federal and state court systems.

If you or someone you know been wronged or harmed due to a company’s negligence contact Anapol Schwartz. They have helped their clients for over years and they know the law and court system to get you the compensation you deserve. Please call the experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The website boston.com reported on February 21, 2009 that a scary scenario in Massachusetts may be an early indicator of what is yet to come, as a third home in many months exploded causing the death of a woman and her dog. Adding to this unusually tragic wrongful death accident; the New England Gas Co. had told firefighters who were in the area checking for high levels of gas that there was no need for them and that the gas company had everything under control.

Fire Chief Scott Jepson said, “Basically, they said there's nothing much further for you right now . . . as far as fire services."

Apparently the gas crew did not turn off the gas to the area, and within 20 minutes of them getting there, a home exploded. Rose Marie Rebello, 62 was found dead after the huge explosion along with her dog. Debris went flying and injured a worker from the gas company and a firefighter. Authorities also ordered 200 neighbors to evacuate. Last month a man was severely hurt in a house explosion and in December another man died.

Questions about the safety of the states 20,000 miles of pipelines are now on everyone’s mind. A large amount of those pipes are many decades old, and could pose a threat to public safety.

Stephon Connors, Director of Analysis at the MIT Energy Initiative, said, “I would say these explosions are early warning flags, if nothing else. There's a body of evidence that our infrastructure is reaching old age and it needs the equivalent of a knee and hip replacement. This is not a new issue. We want to keep water, gas, and electricity rates down, but we don't want to keep them down so much that it endangers public safety."

Spokeswoman for the American Gas Association Laura Sheehan, a spokeswoman for the American Gas Association, said "I don't think you can say these explosions are indicative of the degradation of the pipelines throughout the country. There's no reason for panic."

Accidents that result in serious personal injuries or even death due to someone’s negligence are an inexcusable but sad reality. Wrongful death is a heartbreaking event. There is never a chance to say goodbye to the one’s you’ve lost. The personal injury attorneys in Philadelphia at Anapol Schwartz they know it’s hard to come to grips and file a wrongful death lawsuit. Statutes of limitations apply and you don’t want to lose whatever rights you have in filing a wrongful death lawsuit. You have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Don’t wait until the last minute, let them help. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The online Daily Journal reported in a story that former Missouri Rep. Brad Robinson, 42 has been charged with hit and run, being sentenced to five years of probation. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Robinson was also ordered to pay out of pocket expenses for the victim Donald Marler of Desloge. The car accident happened in Bonne Terre approximately 60 miles south of St. Louis.

Capturing the whole thing was a high school surveillance camera. The video shows Robinson and his wife switching positions and returning to the scene of the crime.

Each day in the United States innocent pedestrians are injured by negligent motor vehicle drivers. The effects on injured pedestrians can be quite serious, including broken bones, comas, paralysis, brain injury, and death.

The experienced Pennsylvania auto accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz handle a multitude of cases involving automobile and truck accidents. These cases range from automobile accidents involving modest injuries to those in which death and catastrophic injuries are the result. They also represent clients in actions against their own insurance companies, uninsured and underinsured motorist cases, when the responsible party either has no insurance or not enough insurance to pay for the damages caused. Often, the most devastating injuries occur when trucks are involved in the accident. Their attorneys are knowledgeable with respect to state and federal regulations governing the conduct of truck drivers, as well as the condition of their vehicles.

If you have been seriously hurt in auto accident in Pennsylvania contact Philadelphia’s skilled personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Anapol Schwartz. They will help you fight against those who have wronged you or caused you harm because of negligence. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The centredaily.com website reported in an account on March 23, 2009 that Scott Hilliard was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking alongside Airport Road in the Pennsylvania auto accident in Bellefonte. There is a bike path running along this road but it is a couple hundred feet before it reaches State Route 550. Markings along the road indicate that Hilliard must have been struck while he was walking on the side of the road where the bike path runs short.

Maureen Farber said, “When we found his Bible he had pictures of the kids in there.”

Hilliard’s relatives believe that he was struck while walking home to his apartment on Governors Park Road, and was attempting to reach the bike path that runs alongside that road. The tragic auto accident in Pennsylvania happened around 7pm.

Farber said, “I just feel like Scott, he didn’t really get a chance. His life was brief and he spent most of his time in pain. It really frustrated me that he died with his feet at the bottom of the bike path. There was no where for him to walk.”

According to Farber, many elderly people without cars live in the area were the Pennsylvania wrongful death accident happened.

“They need a way to get back and forth. My own kids had to walk to the high school. It’s not safe. I don’t understand why there’s a bike path with no way to get to it. I don’t ever want to see that happen again,” said Farber.

Ralph Stewart, Borough Manager, said talks have been raised about constructing a sidewalk that would connect into the bike path; but two problems have hindered this from happening. Stewart stated that Zion and Airport Roads are state roads and that “our grant funds did not allow us to do that.” Secondly, the Department of Transportation has plans to widen the roads in that area, possibly changing the alignment of the Airport Road intersection. Stanley Goldman, Mayor, stated they are open to options.

If you or a loved have been involved in serious traffic accident in Pennsylvania you should contact a skilled attorney to protect your rights during this difficult time. The experienced Pennsylvania auto accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz handle a multitude of cases involving automobile and truck accidents. These cases range from automobile accidents involving modest injuries to those in which death and catastrophic injuries are the result. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

The website post-gazette.com reported in a story on March 20, 2009 about the untimely death in a Manhattan hospital of actress Natasha Richardson, 45 who suffered head injuries while skiing in Quebec. Richardson’s death has put the helmet debate back in the spotlight. Richardson was skiing without a helmet at the Mont Ttreblant resort when she fell while riding on the beginner slope. According to Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the New York City Medical Examiners Office, Richardson’s fall caused epidural hematoma, producing bleeding between the brain covering and the skull.

An ambulance was called but the paramedics never saw Richardson. Director of operations at the emergency services company, Yvess Coderre, stated to reporters that when the paramedics arrived at the resort they were told they were no longer needed and sent back before ever seeing Richardson. Some time later another ambulance was summoned to the resort when her condition had gotten significantly worse and she was rushed to the hospital.

Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Allegheny General Hospital, Dr. Jack Wilberger said, “It sounds like she had a relatively prolonged period of being relatively OK. Usually with this type of problem people get into trouble in a short period of time. Such injuries involve a laceration of an artery just under the skull bone, which can lead to significant bleeding to build up to a level that causes unconsciousness. Usually unconsciousness occurs in 15 to 20 minutes. It sounds to me that what happened to her is one-in-a-million kind of chance of occurrence."

According to reports, slightly more than half of advanced skiers wear helmets, with a small but significant upward trend occurring within the last few years. Records show that ski helmets are only helpful up to speeds of 14 mph, and do not offer much protection from falling at higher speeds.

Have you or a loved one fallen? Are you injured or debilitated from a fall that was not your fault? Consider consulting a Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyer. You have questions and they have answers. For more than 30 years, the skilled Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Anapol Schwartz have advocated zealously to ensure that those who are negligent are held accountable. Let them help you determine what your legal options are. Please call 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

An article published on philly.com discussed the revelations contained in the deposition of Jim Sullivan III. Sullivan is a Gloucester County real estate broker who acquired a contaminated building and rented it out as a day-care center.

The deposition revealed that Sullivan did not feel an environmental cleanup was necessary despite the fact that the building was once home to a thermometer factory with a history of mercury spills. Testing later revealed that the property contained hazardous vapors 27 times the acceptable limit. Mercury was also detected in cracks and crevices of the floors and ceilings.

Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes. Exposure to mercury vapors has been known to cause profound central nervous system effects. In children, the vapors have been known to cause neurological and kidney dysfunction.

Continue reading "Deposition Of Landlord In Toxic Day Care Revealed" »

Over the course of one day on Friday, February 20, two car accidents in Pennsylvania left one pedestrian dead and one driver in critical condition, according to an article from philly.com.

Around 7pm, Kurt Spielberg, 81, was hit by a car driving westbound on Kelly Drive as he walked into oncoming traffic, according to a police spokeswoman. Spielberg was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital where he was pronounced dead due to the serious injuries. It was reported that it is unknown why Spielberg walked into oncoming traffic and the driver who hit him will not face charges.

Later that night, Lewis Leon, 26, was driving westbound on Somerset Street when he allegedly hit a car stopped at a traffic signal. The woman in the hit vehicle suffered head trauma, extensive bruising, and broken bones from this auto accident in Philadelphia. She was reported to be in critical condition on Monday February 23. Leon was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering another person, driving while under the influence of intoxicants, aggravated assault, and related offenses.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Kills Man While Auto Accident Injures Another" »

According to an article from wfmj.com, Mary Ann Bower, 57, a former nurse at a Pittsburgh-area nursing home, was convicted on February 18, 2009 of harassment and fined $300 for abusing a 94 year old Alzheimer’s patient. Bower was a night supervisor at the Allegheny County-run facility where she did not stop abuse or chastise other nurses accused of being involved.

While charges against one woman have been dismissed, three other former nurses face more serious charges for supposedly hitting a resident. Bower may lose her nursing certification after an investigation of this nursing home abuse in Pennsylvania.

When families entrust the care of a loved one to nurses and those working at an assisted living facility or nursing home, they expect that their family member will be given professional and proper treatment. It is a devastating reality that nursing home abuse happens, especially considering the vulnerability of those living in a nursing home facility.

If you or a loved one has suffered negligence or nursing home abuse, you need a top Pennsylvania nursing home abuse attorney to evaluate your case. The lawyers at Anapol Schwartz will provide you with the help you need during this difficult time so that justice is brought to you and your family. Please do not hesitate to call us for a free consultation today.