Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Twenty children were overloaded in a 15-passenger van operated by a driver from Kids Clubhouse Daycare that did not have a license. The full capacity of the van was actually 14 people. Additionally, the children were not seat belted. According to news source, the driver will face multiple traffic charges including running a red light and allowing children to sit in the van without seat belts. As a result of an intersectional collision, the van flipped over causing catastrophic injuries to the children inside of the van.

As I have written and spoken about for many years now, 15-passenger vans used to transport church groups and children are simply not safe and in this experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyer’s opinion, simply death traps and their inherent defective vehicle design is the cause of accidents waiting to happen. 15-passenger vans have been banned by many governmental authorities and most states, as well as military authorities. As a matter of fact, many insurance carriers refuse to provide insurance for the same.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims in this unfortunate 15-passenger van rollover accident and they would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney to help them investigate the claim and prosecute the wrongdoers.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a 15-passenger van rollover accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Unfortunately in today’s recessionary environment many people are taking the option to drive a motor vehicle uninsured or minimally insured (underinsured). The car accident driver who does not have enough insurance but has significant personal assets puts those personal assets at risk if he does not have enough insurance.

In August of 2009, I wrote a blog noting that the uninsured and underinsured motorist epidemic is becoming pandemic in Philadelphia and other major cities in the United States. Now more than ever, it is important to have full insurance coverage in order to make certain that you are not a victim in an accident involving a minimally insured (underinsured) or uninsured person. If you were in a car accident with an underinsured or uninsured motorist, it is important that you seek an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who will prosecute your claim with the “pedal to the metal.” Your life may be affected forever and one should never, never, never give up.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a car accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Every year in Pennsylvania over 30 thousand school bus drivers log more than 3.5 million miles transporting our precious cargo. Although Pennsylvania state authorities note that school buses are already the safest vehicles on the road, this experienced Philadelphia school bus accident lawyer would argue otherwise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it has been determined that seat belts would not significantly improve safety on school buses and that crash protection is provided through a concept known as compartmentalization.

Unfortunately, in my school bus accident law practice, I do not believe that this is the case. It is interesting to note that many school buses, those with a gross weight rating less than 10,000 lbs., must be equipped with lap or lap/shoulder belts in all designated positions. There is a 10 foot area around a school bus known as the danger zone in which the school bus driver cannot see people or objects. Although failing to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing could cost a motorist a six day license suspension, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, many times this is not the case.

Continue reading " School Bus Safety, Seat Belts, And The Danger Zone In Pennsylvania " »

According to news sources, a Philadelphia man, Russell Dawson 44-years old, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of a 91-year old man and his 84-year old wife in a September 21st crash in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Police said that the investigation determined that “Dawson was the direct and substantial cause of the crash that fatally injured the couple on their way home." Police stated that the couple were headed north on Street Road when their car was struck by Dawson’s vehicle as he tried to make a left hand turn from Hulmeville Road.

This experienced Philadelphia car accident sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of Robert and Ann Clayton who were enjoying the golden years of their life until this tragic accident. The law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is clear that a vehicle making a left hand turn must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

The families and survivors of the Claytons would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced car accident attorney to investigate this claim in greater detail to determine the rights and remedies available to them under law.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a car accident, please contact one of our experienced car accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Almost a year ago, my client’s daughter was sitting on a school bus mid-week on her way to school when the school bus was broadsided by an uninsured vehicle that ran a red light. At 8:30 a.m. on this school morning, the child’s life was altered forever. She sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of being thrown into the window which cracked upon the impact of her head. There were no injuries to the driver of the uninsured vehicle. Yet, all of the students on the school bus had to be transported to a local hospital.

Unfortunately despite the fact that the National PTA and multiple physician groups and other safety groups are demanding improvements on school bus design, including but not limited to seat belts on school buses, the basic design of the large yellow school bus has not been changed since 1977. The simple fact of the matter is that seat belts would save lives if installed on school buses as a school bus is no different than any other motor vehicle yet carries our most precious cargo.

Continue reading " Uninsured Car In Philadelphia Runs A Red Light Striking A School Bus Causing Traumatic Brain Injury To Child On Bus - Improvements Called For On School Bus Design And Safety " »

As the school year opens, regretfully I still see many 15-passenger vans transporting children, our precious cargo, despite being called a “death trap” by the Safety Forum, a U.S. consumer watchdog. Although more than 30 American states prohibit schools or day care providers from using them, there are still 20 other states that use them for transporting school children and there is still an ever increasing number of church groups or convention groups using a 15-passenger vans while unaware of the dangers.

The 15-passenger van was originally designed to carry cargo and was never modified in a proper fashion for passenger safety. In the 1970s the major automobile manufacturers Chrysler, Ford and General Motors took cargo vans and expanded them to carry more than 10 passengers, yet they never modified them to include steel plates, roof reinforcement or laminated windows to protect passengers during a rollover collision.

As an experienced Pennsylvania SUV rollover and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am all too aware of the safety inadequacies of the 15-passenger van and how they fail to protect their occupants in a rollover accident. As a matter of fact, automobile manufacturers have knowledge of the design flaws but have failed to fix them calculating that it was cheaper to pay out claims rather than modify the vans with a safe and proper fix.

Continue reading " 15-Passenger Van Death Traps Still Transporting Students As Schools Reopen: Experienced Rollover Attorney Weighs In " »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer practicing since 1979, I am often confronted with a situation where husband and wife bring an action for damages for injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Even though the husband may not have been in the car with his wife, he may be entitled to a monetary recovery for his consequent loss of consortium and other services of his plaintiff-wife if the two were married at the time of the accident.

It has long been established in the courts of Pennsylvania that either spouse is entitled to recover for loss of consortium. Damages for loss of consortium are intended to compensate for an injury done to the connubial or marital relationship. Loss of consortium claims are made in Pennsylvania personal injury cases where one spouse is no longer able to perform normal sexual activity or provide care or companionship or affection and may be claimed in negligence or intentional tort cases. Loss of consortium may also occur if one of the marital partners is not able to perform his or her regular duties around the house such as parental guidance of children or other activities such as caring for children, siblings or extended family members.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been successfully representing loss of consortium claims on behalf of their clients since 1979. If you or your spouse was involved in a serious automobile accident that affected your marital relationship together, you may be entitled to monetary damages for loss of consortium. For a free consultation, contact one of the experienced Reiff & Bily car accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On Friday, August 28th a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania man learned that it is not wise to show up at the local State Police barracks to pick up your friend when you have been drinking. Believe it or not, according to news sources Jeffrey Eric Coulter, age 46, was arrested for driving under the influence after he arrived at the State Police barracks intoxicated at 2:54 a.m. News sources further report that he was at the police barracks to pick up his friend who was arrested for DUI earlier that night.

The Philadelphia Dram Shop and alcohol-related injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily salute the efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police in recognizing that Mr. Coulter was intoxicated when he arrived at the barracks. In Pennsylvania, people who are harmed by drunk drivers may file lawsuits against irresponsible and reckless bar owners, as well as an intoxicated driver. Unfortunately, according to a NHTSA study, someone dies in an alcohol-related car accident approximately ever 30 minutes. Each one of these tragic deaths is easily preventable.

If you or a loved one has been killed or injured as a result of a drunk driving accident or any other alcohol-related injury caused by the negligence of the irresponsible party, please contact one of our experienced Dram Shop and alcohol-related injury lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free evaluation of your case at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Yesterday I took one of the most frightful and disturbing taxi cab rides ever and unfortunately, it was in a cab operated by a man who not only barely spoke English but was also extraordinarily rude and offensive to my senses. The driver of this vehicle ran red lights, ignored traffic signals and then tried to charge me a fee in excess of the metered rate. The same cab driver was screaming on a cell phone while traveling at high rates of speed throughout the city and almost struck a pedestrian crossing the street.

Almost three weeks ago, I had a similar experience when taking a cab with my wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law and it makes me believe these are not isolated incidents. As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer since 1979, I have handled more than my share of taxi cab accident cases and personally came to recognize that some of these taxis operated by such drivers are extremely dangerous to passengers, as well as other drivers and pedestrians with whom they share the road. When a Philadelphia taxi cab is in an accident, it is only are required to maintain minimal insurance coverage. Though all Pennsylvania taxi cabs must be licensed by the Public Utility Commission in order to legally operate, they are not required to have insurance beyond a statuary minimum of $15,000.

Continue reading " Cases Of Crazy Cab Drivers In Philadelphia " »

Last week my son purchased a bicycle which will be his primary means of transportation to and from his classes in medical school. As any normal and loving parent would reveal, I am somewhat concerned about my child’s safety while operating his bicycle on streets already overcrowded with cars, buses, and trucks operated by motorists not paying full attention.

According to a recent study, bicycle riders are 12 times more likely than those in cars to suffer a fatal accident. Another study found that pedestrians are 23 times more likely than drivers to die per mile of travel. It is also interesting to note that 11% of bicycle accidents involve a collision with a car. As an avid bicyclist and motorcyclist since my early teen years and as a practicing car accident lawyer in Philadelphia since 1979, I can honestly state that there are a lot of bad drivers on the road who simply do not pay attention. Many times they will cut in front of you, open their door in your path, run a stop sign or traffic light, so you must always operate a motorcycle or bicycle in a defensive fashion and follow the boy scout model “Be prepared.”

Continue reading " I Ride My Bike To Work Everyday: Do I Need Insurance? " »

On January 19, 2002, Benetta Buell-Wilson of San Diego, California was driving her 1997 Ford Explorer on an interstate highway when she swerved to avoid a metal object in the road and the SUV went out of control. The vehicle skidded across the highway and rolled more than 42 times before the Explorer came to rest on its roof. The accident left the 49-year-old woman crushed and paralyzed. A California jury awarded Buell-Wilson and her husband $369 million, including $246 million in punitive damages. The state courts of California reduced the amount of the verdict. However, the California Court of Appeals approved an $82.6 million dollar settlement, including $55 million in punitive damages.

The experienced motor vehicle accident and Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Reiff & Bily have been handling SUV Explorer rollover and 15-passenger van rollover cases in Pennsylvania and other states in the nation with a successful track record. The Explorer and other SUVs are flawed because they have a high center of gravity and are prone to rollover. Also, research indicates that the Explorer roofs are inadequate to protect occupants in a rollover accident and Ford was aware of knowledge of these designs flaws but failed to fix them. Ford has consistently argued that the verdicts against them are unjust because the design of the vehicles meets minimal federal safety standards.

Continue reading " Pennsylvania SUV Rollover Lawyer Weighs in on Design Defects Inherent to SUVs and 15-Passenger Vans in Pennsylvania and Throughout the United States " »

According to news sources, John J. Vaught, 35, of Smithfield, Pennsylvania was traveling south on Route 119 on his Honda motorcycle when another vehicle attempted to make a left hand turn into a private driveway in front of him. The impact sent Mr. Vaught to the northbound lane where he impacted a second car head-on. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fayette County Coroner. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Vaught. The facts as reported indicate that the vehicle turning left into the driveway failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic in accordance with Pennsylvania law. The survivors of Mr. Vaught would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced car accident and motorcycle accident lawyer to fully investigate and analyze this claim for damages resulting from this fatality. Pennsylvania law is clear that vehicles on a two lane highway turning left have a duty to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.

Apparently the driver of the vehicle failed to have any regard for the safety of John Vaught as he traveled in the opposite direction on his motorcycle. Although the State Police claim that Mr. Vaught was traveling at an excess speed and viewed his excessive speed as the primary cause of the crash, this experienced motorcycle and car accident lawyer would argue that a full investigation of the facts might reveal otherwise.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of car accident or motorcycle accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to a recent report, drunk driving arrests among women are rapidly rising in the United States while DUI arrests among men are falling. A recent deadly crash in New York claimed the lives of eight people, including 4 children, and involved a woman allegedly driving drunk while transporting her children. In this New York case which drew national attention, Diane Schuler, 36, was noted to be high on alcohol and marijuana when she drove her minivan the wrong way for nearly two miles on a highway before smashing head-on into another vehicle. Schuler, four children in her van and three men in the other vehicle died in the violent car accident.

According to the survey, nationally the women arrested while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was 28.8% higher than in 2007 while arrests of men for drunk driving decreased 7.5%. Uniform crime reports in Pennsylvania indicated that males accounted for 78% and females for 22% of the state’s DUI arrests last year and Lt. Mira Taylor, Director of Public Information for the Pennsylvania State Police, noted that there was a 6.2% increase in the number of women arrested for drunk driving from 2007 to 2008 in Pennsylvania.

Continue reading " Mother’s “Little Helper” (Alcohol) Results In More Drunk Driving Arrests Among Women In Pennsylvania As Well As Nationally " »