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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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 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 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" »

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" »

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 website abcnews.go.com reported in a story on March 6, 2009 that the parents of an 18 year old who sustained a brain injury during a snowboarding accident are suing the doctors claiming they “intentionally killed” him to harvest his organs. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District of Western Pennsylvania by Michael and Teresa Jacobs claiming that doctors “hastened” their son Gregory Jacobs’ death by impeding treatment and eventually removing his breathing tube, causing him to suffocate. The family claims that their son had not been officially declared brain dead when doctors began the transplant process. The Jacobs are seeking $5 million in damages against doctors at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa. and a representative from the Center for Organ Recovery and Education in Pittsburgh.

Both Hamot Medical Center and the organ center expressed condolences to the family for the Pennsylvania wrongful death in a prepared statement. Hamot insists that their doctors performed treatment that was “timely, appropriate, and well documented.”

In addition the Hamot said, "Proper consent was received in order for his organs to be donated and the protocols that were followed were consistent with all established donation procedures," it read. "Any claims otherwise are completely baseless. While we have yet to receive formal notification of a lawsuit having been filed, we will vigorously defend against any accusations of wrongdoing."

Dennis Boyle, the Jacobs’ lawyer, said, “Essentially, the family was told that Greg was brain dead and he would not recover and therefore, they signed a document that agreed to an organ transplant. Greg was not, in fact, brain dead.”

The Jacob’s family claim that their son was listed brain dead “retroactively” as life support was being removed in preparing for organ harvesting.

Hospital officials recognized in an interview with the media in 2007 that the recorded time of death was a mistake.

In many cases, as careful as a medical team is, they won't be able to protect the patient from the need for more medical treatment. To be liable for medical malpractice in Philadelphia, the doctor has to have been negligent. However, as a patient or the family of a deceased patient, you have the right to explore legal options. Sometimes, a wrongful death claim is cut and dry. Other times, you may not be sure of the best option.

A personal injury lawyer who has experience with medical malpractice can look at the basic information and determine whether or not you have grounds to sue a doctor, medical team, pharmacist, or hospital for medical malpractice. Anapol Schwartz has successfully represented clients for over 30 in Pennsylvania, and they can help you. Please call Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at 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 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 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.

Jarrad Rocheleau and Loren Welsh, two former University of Rhode Island (URI) students, have settled a lawsuit that accused them of causing the death of a college student from Richboro, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The wrongful death lawsuit alleged that the two students were responsible for the death of Francis J. Marx V who was crushed by a bus in Newport five years ago.

According to an account from philly.com, the wrongful death lawsuit began two weeks ago in Superior Court and was resolved prior to final arguments. Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Rocheleau and Welsh admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Marx was out at a formal dance with friends when he got into an argument with a group of URI students who were out celebrating graduation. According to the lawsuit, the argument escalated to the point that Marx was pushed to the ground and fell beneath the wheel of a bus carrying students on a bar tour. Lawyers for the defendants said they never pushed Marx and suggested that he had been drinking heavily and fell backward on his own, resulting in the fatal pedestrian accident.

While there are many variables involved in this instance, the sad truth is that bus, pedestrian and auto accidents in Pennsylvania are an everyday occurrence. The details surrounding a pedestrian accident are complicated and should not be handled alone, especially while you are trying to recover from your injuries. Contact Anapol Schwartz today for your free consultation with a skilled Pennsylvania pedestrian accident lawyer. We will tell you whether you have a case and whether the best way to proceed is through your insurance company or through a court of law, or maybe both.