Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

In most of our cases where a victim has sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the attorney for the defendant and their insurance companies always try to negate the injury or in severe cases greatly minimize the consequences. Unfortunately, the issue of traumatic brain injury goes beyond each individual case, the victim, and the betrayer.

In the early 1990’s, the United States government began to publish studies of traumatic brain injury and traumatic stress. The studies sought to clarify the impact of traumatic brain injuries on a victims everyday life. The National Institute of Health, the world’s largest government sponsored research institute spends approximately $80 million dollars on (TBI) traumatic brain injury research which has concluded that most people who sustain a traumatic brain injury will suffer lasting damage to their short term memory and problem solving abilities. The prognosis and diagnosis of traumatic brain injury is generally confirmed by objective and subjective testing administered by a neuropsychiatrist over a period of a few hours or days. Traumatic brain injury occurs at various levels and involves an injury to the brain due to a sudden trauma. Many times unfortunately, TBI often goes undiagnosed.

The major causes of TBI (traumatic brain injury) are a motorcycle accident, car accident, truck accident, bicycle crash, or an explosion blast very close to the head. Millions of people in the United States sustain some form of TBI each year. However, most people with mild TBI do not go to the emergency room or ever report these injuries to their doctor. Common symptoms caused by a TBI (traumatic brain injury); are headaches, ringing in the ears, mood changes, trouble remembering or inability to concentrate for long periods of time, depression, affectation of sleeping habits, anxiety, lethargy, and the inability to enjoy routine events daily. Many of our clients have reported feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or thoughts of suicide. In almost all cases involving TBI, the insurance company or lawyer for the defendant will hire what we refer to as a “paid painted lady” expert to vigorously refute all claims of TBI as they attempt to vigorously defend mostly all of these claims and boldly pronounce the findings as “nonsense”. Traumatic brain injury is the “real deal” as recognized by the United States government and other prominent medical scholars.

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury to your head, or has been a victim of any of the accidents stated above, it pays to contact an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer for a free, no obligation consultation. The experienced Philadelphia car accident and defective auto product liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily have over 30 years of experience successfully representing traumatic brain injury victims and making sure that their claims are heard and understood. If the federal government and scholars think that TBI is a big deal, we will not let the insurance company or their representatives minimize it and tell you that it’s not. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As the parent of three boys, two of whom have progressed through the teenage years, I have always expressed a concern for poor decision making by young and inexperienced teenage drivers. After handling catastrophic automobile accident cases in Philadelphia for over three decades, some of the most serious and catastrophic accidents have been caused by teenage drivers. Unfortunately many teenagers still continue to operate vehicles while texting or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, oblivious to the criminal and civil penalties that await them or their parents if an accident should occur.

Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of horrific car accidents in Pennsylvania and America today. My father used to tell me routinely that an inexperienced driver behind the wheel of a powerful vehicle can be just as dangerous as a man with a gun, not to mention what occurs if we add intoxicating substances into the mix. Unfortunately many teenage drivers feel they are experienced and know more than their parents and yet over and over in depositions, it amazes me how many teenagers and their parents lack a sense of responsibility or culpability after an accident occurs.

Each year over 5,000 teens will die from injuries caused by car crashes and more than a half a million teenagers will sustain injuries serious enough to require emergency treatment according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney and a parent, I reach out to all of my readers to educate their children and friends on the dangers associated with distracted driving and teenagers. 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 attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

How many times have you been driving down a highway or street when someone cuts in front of you at a high rate of speed and you narrowly avoid an accident. If you avoid an accident you are one of the lucky ones because many times fatal and catastrophic injuries are caused by unsafe driver actions such as an improper or erratic lane change.

In a study prepared for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety by Lydia P. Kostyniuk, Frederick M. Streff, and Jennifer Zakrajsek of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute unsafe driver action conditions that were most likely to cause fatal crashes between cars and trucks were addressed as well as the identification of strategies for educating motorists in safe driving practices. (http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/CarTruck.pdf). While the study is limited in that it did not address non-fatal crashes, single vehicle crashes, or crashes involving more than two vehicles, the study identifies probability and analyses techniques realizing information about pre-crash actions of drivers based upon police observations, post-crash scene, and unsworn testimony of survivors and other witnesses. The study concluded five likely factors contributing to an accident:

1. Failing to keep in the lane;

5. Inattentive or distracted drivers.

Additionally four factors out of 94 were found to be more likely to occur in fatal car/truck crashes than in fatal car/car crashes:

1. Following improperly;

2. Driving with vision obscured by rain, snow, fog, sand, or dust;

3. Drowsy or fatigued driving;

4. Improper lane change.

The study noted that drowsy or fatigued driving and following improperly were more likely to be reported for male than female car drivers, car drivers in crashes where their vision was obstructed tend to be older than other drivers, car drivers who were drowsy/fatigued were likely to be younger than other drivers, and younger drivers were more likely than older drivers to follow improperly, speed, and use alcohol or drugs.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and Philadelphia truck accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have joined a national campaign to educate students and drivers in safe practices and must emphasize that mistakes or erratic driving or erratic changing of lanes often comes at a cost with serious consequences.

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In one of my recent Philadelphia car accident cases, my client was severely injured and notified his insurance company of the accident. Immediately, he received a notification in the mail with a carbon copy to my law firm that stated in effect the following, “This notification is to advise you that in the event you are injured as a result of an accident, you have available to you the services of _________ medical provider. You can call _______ phone number of visit them online at _________ to find out which medical providers are included in this health network. You may also have available to you the services of a different medical provider as a secondary medical provider network in the event a provider is not available in the first health network.” The letter goes on to explain that this program is designed to provide better customer service and that you are under no obligation to use the network and are free to use a medical service provider of your choice. This notice is for informational purposes only and using a provider within the network should not be considered confirmation of coverage.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has handled thousands of catastrophic car accident injury cases over the last 30 years, one thing I am certain of is that insurance companies will continue to delay, deny, and defend any claim and do whatever it takes to improve their bottom line despite the fact that we all pay a lot of money to insure our homes and automobiles expecting that all damage claims and medical bills will be paid promptly.

I have found that when clients go to automobile repair shops recommended by their insurance company or repair shops on the insurance company’s approved list, the prices are controlled by the insurance companies who steer the clients toward their “preferred businesses” that bid for the work. Many times this leads to repair shops that do superior work losing business to shops that use substandard parts and do inferior work. The insurance industry tells us that every year they try to figure out who can do the best work for the lowest cost and yet I have been engaged in continuous battles with insurance companies over the price and quality of auto repairs necessary to satisfy the client. Many shops that sign on to do business with insurance companies claim they are fearful that they will be left in the cold if they do not participate , and as one owner of a body shop claimed, he views the insurance company as his customer and not the customer who owns the car.

Imagine what the situation will be when it comes to health coverage. It is important to note that as an educated consumer, you have the right to choose the physician or health provider you want. Under most car insurance policies your bills must be paid no matter where or from whom you receive medical treatment and get your car repaired. Understand that you may choose any doctor, hospital, or health provider for your care and the bill must still be paid by your insurance company.

When selecting a healthcare provider or physician, I advise my clients to always select the best possible health provider and not the cheapest.

If your insurance company tries to force you to utilize a particular health provider or auto repair shop, it is time to speak up and exercise your rights. Do not let them pressure you.

The Philadelphia car accident and catastrophic injury law firm of Reiff and Bily has been representing injured consumers for over 30 years and always offers a free, no obligation consultation to victims and their families injured in serious car accidents. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer for over three decades, I am well aware of the dangers of black ice and always thought I knew what to look for when weather conditions seemed appropriate. This morning as I was leaving my driveway on roads that appeared to be dry with normal traction, I went to apply my brakes at a downhill stop sign and skidded clear across the road and narrowly avoided a car accident. After two strong cups of coffee, it was a rather unnerving and anxious way to start the day.

Icy streets and roadways are a top cause of Pennsylvania auto accidents when drivers lose control of their vehicle in an innocent fashion as was the case in my situation. Car accidents on icy roads happen to many people, and in fact, when my son was 17-years old, he did the same thing and skidded through a stop sign and unfortunately caused a car accident causing injuries to an innocent victim. He was rightfully found to be responsible.

The danger and threat of black ice on the highways is particularly concerning due to the fact that it is normally invisible. Black ice normally occurs due to light freezing rain or because of melting and refreezing of moisture on road surfaces and blends with the surface making it hard to detect. Many times black ice will form due to the heat of tires on the roadway coupled with freezing temperatures and is most common at night or in the early morning when the sun is not shining. Drivers passing over bridges or overpasses and the road beneath overpasses need to be particularly sensitive to black ice as do drivers on hills. If you lose traction or skid on black ice, don’t panic and don’t fight it. Always try to steer the car into the direction you want it to go and it may not be a bad idea to put your flashers on to indicate to other drivers that you are taking your time and exercising caution.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident and sustained an injury on an icy or snowy road, the Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have over three decades of experience with successful results recovering in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Imagine this scenario, you were in a violent automobile collision where both vehicles have to be towed from the scene, occupants taken to the hospital and diagnosed with significant and permanent injuries. A few days later, a representative of the insurance company comes to your house and offers a small sum of $250 to settle the claim and tries to disclaim responsibility in an attempt to intimidate the claimants. Does this sound strange? Indeed it does, but unfortunately it is true.

I recently met with clients who were witnesses and participants in this scenario only to learn that they had sustained severe and permanent debilitating injuries which require surgical intervention and due to the fact they were naïve and immigrants to America, a representative of the insurance company for the striking vehicle clearly tried to take advantage of them when the justifiable and proper resolution of their claim could be worth a multiple of hundreds of thousands more than the original settlement offer.

Why does this continue to happen? Because the main objective of insurance companies is to try to avoid payments of justified claims or settle early before claimants have a chance to educate themselves and seek the advice and opinion of an experienced car accident lawyer who understands the stonewalling and low balling techniques increasingly utilized by insurance companies. It is imperative to fight back against the insurance companies if you are injured in a Philadelphia car accident caused by the negligence of another.

Experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney Jeffrey Reiff has witnessed such despicable insurance company behavior for over three decades and distinctly remembers one claim over 30 years ago where an adjuster for a large company visited a wonderfully naïve and polite elderly “old school” Italian woman, bringing her lunch and offering her a check for $100 to settle her claim that was ultimately resolved later for over $100,000. Initially the client was going to accept the $100 to fully settle her claim after she was seductively encouraged to do so by the “kind claims representative” who befriended her with lunch and polite small talk about her family. Chance favors the prepared mind and I advise anyone involved in a serious automobile accident who sustains a serious injury to contact an experienced car accident lawyer for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss their rights and remedies.

Car accidents in Pennsylvania are one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths. It is important to level the playing field by seeking the assistance of a lawyer who has dealt with insurance companies and tens of thousands of cases involving cars, buses, and truck accidents.

Reiff and Bily is an experienced Pennsylvania catastrophic injury and car accident law firm and always offers a free, no obligation consultation and can be reached toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. We always offer a zero recovery, no fee guarantee.

In the past few days, I have met with a number of catastrophically injured victims and their revelations of the attorney selection process was mind boggling to me. One of the victims, a well-educated professional, was approached and informed by an out-of-state attorney unfamiliar with Pennsylvania laws relating to Pennsylvania car accidents. The victim was informed erroneously that she could recover benefits from the defendant’s homeowner’s policy, as well as from the defendant’s car insurance policy. Not only that, the soliciting attorney offered to accept the case at a greatly reduced fee due to the nature of the catastrophic injuries involved. The same attorney was not even licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and mentioned that he would try to settle the case or refer it to a friend.

As my client had never had experience with a catastrophic injury or car accident lawyer and had never been involved in an accident in over six decades, she was naïve as to the realities of the situation and was being erroneously led down a primrose path by a lawyer interested in signing up her case by providing false and inaccurate information.

There is a well-known Latin statement “caveat emptor” which translated into English means “let the buyer beware.” The selection of a good and experienced Pennsylvania injury lawyer involves due diligence to find someone with the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully resolve the client’s problem. When a victim has suffered catastrophic injuries, loss of earning capacity, loss of life’s enjoyment and pleasures, and is saddled with medical bills and household expenses due to a catastrophic accident, selecting the right attorney may be one of the most important decisions of her lifetime. After all, the victim or client only gets “one bite at the apple.”

There are many independent review processes that are good places to start to help a client come up with a short list of candidates to consider. The avvo.com directory as well as lawyers.com directory are good places to start, and a careful search of the Internet will reveal much information on attorneys and law firms including articles they have written or news items. Don’t let a hungry lawyer overanxious for business take advantage of you, and you should never feel rushed or pressured to hire an attorney. I recommend speaking to a number of attorneys to determine if you have a comfortable fit. When you meet with an attorney during an initial consultation, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the lawyer’s experience, ask questions as to who will be handling your case, and what you can expect in terms of interactions and communications. Don’t be afraid to ask for references.

For over 32 years, the skilled catastrophic injury and Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have been committed to representing catastrophically injured victims and their families. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation and a zero recovery no fee guarantee. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over the last few months, I have noticed a most disturbing discovery as I have met with some high net worth and fairly well educated clients after a catastrophic automobile accident only to discover that their insurance company attempted to limit or reduce medical coverage without their knowledge.

In one case, my client, an executive of one of the Philadelphia region’s largest Fortune 500 companies, was informed by his agent that he had full coverage, and when our skilled Pennsylvania car accident attorneys reviewed his policy after the accident, it was interesting to note that although his agent was careful to load him up with third party coverage and uninsured motorist coverage, he failed to provide underinsured motorist coverage or appropriate medical benefit coverage. The client was involved in a catastrophic accident and the $100,000 third party policy limits of the defendant were not even close to adequate to cover his medical expenses. The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are now commencing an action against the victim’s insurance agent and insurance company, both of whom have yet to provide proof that the client intentionally signed down or waived such a limitation or reduction in coverage.

In another recent motor vehicle accident case, I met with a client whose medical payment coverage was reduced from $250,000 to $15,000 without the client’s knowledge or consent, and yet the client was charged an increased premium.

Ironically when I mentioned the situation to colleagues, I learned that the same insurance company was commencing special investigation unit fraud inquiries on a large number of claimants who had filed claims in what we believe is an attempt to intimidate those who have proper and valid legal rights.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who has successfully handled tens of thousands of car accident cases since 1979, it is clear that many automobile insurance companies are now more than ever systematically attempting the squeeze the guts out of claimants despite the fact that when one buys a policy of insurance, a contract is entered into to be dealt with fairly and promptly.

The Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident law firm of Reiff and Bily is committed to fighting the battles of injured consumers every day against insurance companies. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation and can be reached toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

It never ceases to amaze me when dealing with defendants and insurance companies after a car accident and I suggest a loss of life’s pleasures, the representative or attorney on the other side seems to suggest that most people have the ability to walk away unaffected despite the fact that there may not be “hard core” objective findings of broken bones. Certainly it goes without saying that a car accident is a traumatic incident that produces anxiety, frustration, and depression in most individuals. While each individual is unique, even a minor injury can impact an individual’s ability to function as they did prior to the accident according to studies. You don’t need to sustain “broken bones” to be severely affected or injured in a car accident.

Over the last thirty years as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have been able to effectively demonstrate through objective testing that victims of car accidents scored lower in cognitive function testing and lagged behind healthy peers in a work or educational environment, suggesting that anxiety, frustration, or depression associated with getting hurt can explain the lower scoring. A Pennsylvania car accident victim is entitled to receive compensatory damages against a defendant who is liable for his or her negligence or harm. An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer should aggressively pursue financial compensation for various out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and loss of life’s enjoyment and pleasures.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation and can be reached toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently had the opportunity to review a situation where a passenger in a car was severely injured after the driver hit a deer, swerved, and then hit a tree. Many lawyers might argue that the sudden appearance of a deer raises a defense known as the “sudden emergency” doctrine. An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer would argue that drivers of all vehicles have an obligation to keep their car under control at all times and when driving through a wooded area where there is or should have been notice of deer crossings, the driver of the vehicle should have proceeded cautiously. In order for the driver of a vehicle to be held negligent and liable for injuries suffered in a car accident, the plaintiff has a burden to prove that the driver of the vehicle was driving in a thoughtless or careless manner which caused harm or injury to another.

Each car accident case is unique and must be skillfully tailored to the specific circumstances of each unique fact pattern. The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer must demonstrate that the offending party or driver breached what is known as “the duty of reasonable care” which means that if the defendant’s behavior is not necessarily similar to how a reasonable person would have acted under the circumstances, an argument can be made that there was a violation of the duty of reasonable care.

Every year there will be 1.5 million car accidents caused by deer on the highways. Many suburban neighborhoods of Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have been noted to have too many deer. As I live in a wooded suburban area of Philadelphia, there is almost not a day that goes by that I do not see deer in the woods or on the side of the road, and of course, I normally exercise due caution in these locations. Violent collisions with a deer by an automobile or other motor vehicle is often the cause of catastrophic injuries and fatalities, not to mention extremely high property damage repairs. Pennsylvania tops the chart for the highest number of deer related automobile accidents. Since every case is unique, a Philadelphia car accident lawyer should always think outside of the box and consider all circumstances surrounding the accident in determining whether or not there is an appropriate claim for negligence and resulting liability. Many times, a product liability legal claim may underlie the actual striking of the deer due to the failure of a safety restraint or airbag defect.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia and Pennsylvania car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have successfully litigated thousands of motor vehicle and car accident cases and always offer a free, no obligation consultation as well as a no recovery, no fee guarantee. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia car accident and auto product liability and automobile defect lawyers of Reiff and Bily have handled tens of thousands of car accident cases. Over the three decades of our legal practice, we began to notice more and more significant injuries and deaths to victims due to seat belt failures, airbag defects, tire defects, as well as seat back failures and motor vehicle crashworthiness issues. While many attorneys look for the easy “A” and fail to explore issues beyond normal negligence theories, we began to pioneer inroads into auto defects, automobile manufacturer failures, and design defects which resulted in significant catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Of course, the learning curve was significant and the costs were quite expensive. However being curious lawyers committed to the best interests of our clients, we understood that there were many puzzles to be solved, and since have successfully resolved many cases against not only offending third party defendants or negligent automobile drivers but also against the automobile manufacturers and automobile component manufacturers as well. We practice car accident law with the same degree of intensity required for the most complex cases. We understand that when you put your mind to it, it can be done and further understand that chance always favors the prepared mind.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to automotive and motorist safety and always offer a free, no obligation consultation and a no recovery, no fee guarantee. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over thirty years, our office has represented many victims and their families who have suffered catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths due to car accidents caused by black ice on the highways. I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia and have a 17-year old son who travels to school early every morning as a relatively new driver. I am sure that my son has never had an experience with black ice, and recall an incident that occurred when my oldest son who is now 30-years old skidded through a stop sign on black ice approximately a month after he learned how to drive. Yes, Halloween can be scary enough for young kids, but when the first frost comes and moisture joins it as a partner and creates a black ice situation, the fear reality should strike with even greater magnitude than a scary Halloween. Black ice, also known as glare ice, is really nothing more than a thin layer of ice on the roadway that occurs when there is moisture in the air and temperatures are below freezing. When you travel over certain spots and go to apply your brakes, you lose traction and the car has a tendency to shift to the left and then right, or proceed dangerously into an object in front of it. This typically happens and occurs when you least expect it and is often the cause of car accidents that were avoidable with the proper use of caution. Many times black ice is not glossy like typical ice and has a dull appearance making it almost invisible. The moral of the story is, if it is a cold day and there is moisture, take some extra precaution. Even if you have a four wheel drive vehicle, it does not mean you are immune to black ice.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to motorist and automotive safety and have successfully handled thousands of car accident and auto defect claims since 1979. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently one of the major automobile manufacturers confidentially resolved a case involving brain damage to a driver who was at fault during the accident. Counsel was able to demonstrate that the failure to provide side curtain airbags and lack of side laminated glass caused massive head trauma and resulting brain damage when the vehicle experienced multiple rollovers. The attorneys were able to demonstrate that the technology to provide operating side-impact airbags existed long before this catastrophic incident occurred and that the automobile manufacturers simply decided that it was not necessary to place side curtain airbags in the vehicle or provide glazed or laminated glass when in fact the same was being provided in other countries. Obviously, the automobile manufacturer felt that they could make more profits by their actions.

At the Philadelphia car accident and automotive product liability and airbag defect law firm of Reiff and Bily, we understand that safety is priority number one. If you or a loved one had been involved in a car accident involving an airbag failure defect, it costs nothing to contact one of our experienced airbag and auto product liability lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. We are experienced in thinking “out of the box”. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over three decades handling tens of thousands of Pennsylvania car accident cases, I have shared the loss of a child with all too many families after car accidents involving teenage drivers. As an experienced Philadelphia and Pennsylvania car accident attorney, I salute the efforts of Governor Tom Corbett and the state legislature who today signed House Bill 9, also known as Lacey’s Law, which will enable junior drivers to receive more comprehensive training, limit the number of passengers that junior drivers may carry, and make failing to wear a seat belt a primary offense for junior drivers and passengers. The legislation is named in honor of Lacey Gallagher who was age 18 when she was killed in a car crash on April 28, 2007 while she was a passenger in an SUV with six other teenagers. All of the other teenagers in the SUV crash where injured and none were wearing seat belts. As the father of three teenage boys who has litigated many car crashes involving product defects and careless driving by teenagers, I am well aware that the number of car crashes for teens increase incrementally with the number of passengers in the car. As responsible as we hope our children to be, I salute the strengthened restrictions for teenage drivers.

To learn more about young driver safety and Lacey’s Law, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s website at www.dot.state.pa.us.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation to victims and their families who have been involved in significant car accidents where one has suffered a serious personal injury or wrongful death. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

When Bill Brownwell was cruising in a 15 passenger van and suddenly felt a shake in the back of the van and to his right, he became concerned and alarmed and turned around to take a look at what the noise was. Brownwell was driving a 1993 Ford Econoline E350 15-passenger van on a church outing for a spring concert tour in 2004 when he lost control of the 15 passenger van when the right rear tire tread separated. Like most other 15-passenger van operators in a similar situation, he tried to regain control of the vehicle and bring it back to the roadway after which point the 15-passenger van flipped sideways and then rolled over four times ejecting the driver Brownwell and another passenger leaving them both dead on the side of the road. This 15 passenger van rollover case is currently being tried in California with allegations that the Ford Motor Company knew that the 15-passenger econoline van was dangerous and failed to notify its customers about its alleged defects.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney who has witnessed a similar scenario over and over, and unfortunately has dealt with the families of those who have unnecessarily died or have been catastrophically injured due to the alleged defects of the 15-passenger vans, it is important that the manufacturers of these 15-passenger vans be held accountable for their conduct and lack of actions. 15-passenger vans have a high center of gravity and have a high risk of crashes and rollovers in an accident avoidance maneuver or if they are not properly driven or maintained by those who have knowledge of its specific handling characteristics. Many states and school districts have now banned 15-passenger vans. However, they still be the dominant vehicle of choice for church groups, many of whom have limited knowledge of their dangers. The Federal government recently banned the use of 15-passenger vans for school transportation purposes and NHTSA has recently stated that only trained drivers should operate their vehicles and to make sure that the vehicle is properly balanced and loaded.

While NHTSA advises passengers to buckle up for every trip, our experienced 15-passenger van and crashworthiness attorneys have been able to demonstrate even in a van rollover, a weak roof structure, and inadequate and defective design still renders the occupants subject to life altering catastrophic injuries including quadriplegia or paraplegia or death. Many times 15-passenger vans are operated in the South or Southwest where roads have high surface temperatures and tires blow out or delaminate preceding the rollover accident. Many 15-passenger vans still have recalled tires on them, that is, defective tires that are prone to blow out or tread separation. There are currently in excess of 500,000 15-passenger vans on the road, and according to safety and consumer advocate Sean Kane, the 15-passenger van “has a unique position in the world of defective vehicles in the United States”. These vehicles, Kane added, were cobbled together to meet certain needs but were never vetted in terms of safety. There really weren’t any standards applicable to these kind of vehicles.

For over three decades, the experienced vehicle rollover accident and 15-passenger van accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have been successfully investigating and litigating SUV rollover crashes, 15-passenger van rollover crashes, and other product liability claims, including but not limited to defective seat belts, airbags defects, fuel fed fires, roof crush, and crashworthiness. We are committed to consumer and automobile safety and believe that automobile manufacturers must be held accountable and safety rather than profitability must be priority number one.

Since 1979, I have been actively investigating and litigating catastrophic motor vehicle accidents that result in life altering injuries and wrongful death. My original car accident law practice progressed over the years into the area of auto seat back failure, airbags defects, restraint system failure, and crashworthiness, and I have learned that when someone is catastrophically injured in a car accident, there is often more than meets the eye and you must carefully investigate and reconstruct the accident to investigate for product defects. In many car accident cases involving vehicle rollover or severe collisions there will be failures of restraint systems, seat back failures, roof crush, and crashworthiness issues. One of the key issues in a vehicle crash is containment of an occupant within the vehicle, and when a victim is vehicle ejected, often times there is a failure of one of these factors. Car seats must be properly and safely designed with adequate strength so as to avoid deformity and failure in the event of a collision.

A seat belt must protect the victim rather than spool out allowing for ejection from the vehicle. Many seat belts we have found are equipped with inadequate pre-tensioners when there are safer designs with sensors that would activate in the event of a rollover collision. Many times seat belts are not attached properly within the vehicle and windows are not glazed and are inadequate creating a portal for occupant ejection. Obviously, many car accident lawyers do not possess the experience, knowledge, or skills of biomechanics, occupant kinematics, occupant restraint, seat design or accident reconstruction experience necessary to successfully prosecute a serious case.

The experienced automobile defect and car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for over three decades and are not afraid to think outside the box. The resulting injuries from car accidents are not always solely caused by negligent drivers.

Imagine this scene, in a split second you are in a car accident. Without warning, your head and neck are violently thrust about in an acceleration/deceleration type movement also known as whiplash injury. Even without a direct hit to the head, the brain is composed of several pounds of a soft like substance violently thrown about the inside of the skull. The inner surface of the skull is not smooth and contains several ribbed or bony structures, and if the brain is violently thrust in one of these structures, a serious brain injury can occur. Many people will visit the emergency room with a headache or nausea or vomiting and be sent home. They will continue to experience memory loss, irritability, depression, a feeling of malaise, inability to concentrate, and not be able to visualize any objective symptoms. What they may not know is that their brain has been injured. There may be an internal brain bleed , tearing of tissue, or a swelling of the brain against the cranium which could lead to an intracranial hematoma. If the impact with the skull is severe enough, blood vessels inside the brain may break leading to a hemorrhage. Unfortunately many times this situation goes undiagnosed as people proudly claim that there is nothing wrong with them.

As an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer since 1979, I have unfortunately seen the sobering effects resulting in long term disabilities caused by traumatic brain injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Each year in America, more people will sustain a traumatic brain injury then will be struck by heart attacks. Experts claim it is “the silent epidemic” as a traumatic brain injury or closed head injury caused by whiplash or an impact to the head often does not have visible signs yet can cause significant damage. Many people are tempted to just discuss it as a small bump on the head.

If you were involved in a car accident and sustained a violent whiplash injury or strike your head, it is necessary to receive a complete evaluation so that you do not become one of the walking wounded walking around with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury. The experienced closed head trauma and traumatic brain injury and motor vehicle accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are well versed in this arena and always offer a free, no obligation consultation to anyone who has been involved in a significant motor vehicle or car accident. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a client who struck her head in a violent car accident. At the emergency room, she was diagnosed with a mild concussion and despite the fact that she continued to exhibit symptoms a week after the accident including but not limited to vomiting, nausea, loss of memory, and anxiety, she could not get an appointment with a proper neurologist for a month.

The experienced traumatic brain injury and car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily, who have had extensive experience dealing with traumatic brain injury expeditiously scheduled an immediate consult with a neurologist who diagnosed an intracranial hemorrhage just in the nick of time. I find that many emergency rooms discharge patients without the proper care or follow up and in such a situation, the unknowing patient or victim is left in precarious situation. If a diagnosis such as intracranial hemorrhage occurs within the skull, pressure is placed on the brain. Intracranial bleeding normally occurs when a blood vessel within the skull is ruptured due to an impact or trauma. This is a medical condition which is not to be taken lightly because if blood continues to build up within the skull, delicate tissue of the brain can be greatly impacted and lead to a more serious condition or even death.

Typically symptoms include but are not limited to headaches, vomiting, lower level of concentration, spotty vision, ringing in the ears, appearance of lucidity, and seizures. If symptoms persist and you cannot get an appointment immediately with a neurologist, it is important to present to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible. Between 4 and 5 million concussions and more significant brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle crashes every year.

For over three decades, the experienced car accident and traumatic brain injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been researching, investigating, and litigating closed head trauma, traumatic brain injury and car accident cases. We have represented thousands of clients recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On my way home from work, I have the occasion to pass through the intersection of Broad and Vine Streets on a daily basis. On 12:01 on Monday, October 3, 2011, Philadelphia will activate the newest red light cameras at this busy intersection. Philadelphia now has 20 high risk for car accident intersections equipped with devices and cameras to catch red light runners. So far Philadelphia is the only city in the state of Pennsylvania to have these intersectional red light cameras although recent legislation has been introduced to expand the program to other Pennsylvania cities. Red light cameras have been in effect in many other American cities and a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that red light cameras at intersections have caused a major drop in fatal red light running car crashes and other types of intersectional accidents.

If you are injured in an intersectional car accident by another driver who has run a red light, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily has over three decades of experience holding those negligent motorists accountable so that you are fully compensated for your losses, pain and suffering, and medical bills. Our skilled Philadelphia car accident attorneys have been awarded in the hundreds of millions of dollars representing victims and their families catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed as a result of a motor vehicle related accident.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing catastrophically injured victims and their families for over three decades. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

It is not a coincidence that there are more car accidents being recorded In Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties including more accidents involving hit and run drivers who leave the scene of an accident or car accidents involving uninsured or underinsured vehicles. Although over 90% of Americans have jobs, wages adjusted for prices have decreased for the third time in five months, and personal income has dropped for the first time in 2 years. The median household income is at the lowest point in more than a decade and the poverty rate has jumped to 15.1%, a 17 year high.

Obviously many people will put off repairs to vehicles or give a second thought to purchasing a new vehicle because they simply can’t afford it. More and more people are driving vehicles without car insurance or if they have car insurance with the minimum amount of insurance necessary and often do not check to see what the benefits are until it is too late.

As an experienced catastrophic injury and wrongful death car accident lawyer in Philadelphia for over three decades, I am seeing some of the most catastrophic cases of injury and wrongful death without insurance or without sufficient coverage or worse involving a hit and run driver. As an automobile safety stalwart and automobile accident attorney, I am somewhat concerned with the direction this trend is continuing.

With the tightened economy and diminishing budgets, many people jump at the chance to save money on car insurance. I agree that many of the TV commercials touting cost savings of various car insurance products are very appealing. However, as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for over 30 years, one thing is certain you get what you pay for and that chance favors the prepared man. What good is car insurance if it does not fully cover you when you need it most.

Now more than ever, more drivers in Philadelphia are operating uninsured or underinsured vehicles which means that if you are in a car accident and sustain a serious injury resulting in extensive medical bills, loss of wages, and other economic and emotional distress to your family, you may not be covered if you purchased the cheapest policy out there.

With over 30 years of expertise, experience, and understanding car insurance and risk management, I am well aware that many victims of accidents do not recognize that they did not have the proper level of auto insurance coverage until it is too late. We highly recommend full tort coverage for a minimal difference in premium, as well as substantial underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage.

Our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers have represented the rights of victims after car accidents and have fought automobile insurance companies for decades who will constantly attempt to deny, delay, and defend a victim their rights.

We always offer a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your insurance options whether or not we represent you for a car accident or not. We can review your policy to determine whether or not you understood what you purchased and whether or not you have sufficient uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, as well as purchased full tort. For a free, no obligation consultation contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over three decades, I have investigated and prosecuted tens of thousands of car accident cases and Philadelphia car accident lawyer or truck accident lawyer must take all proper measures to preserve evidence and investigate all aspects of the accident in question and to avoid spoliation of the evidence. Extraordinary results for victims of car accidents and truck accidents requires an extraordinary commitment by experienced car accident attorneys who understand how to dutifully retrieve all of the information from a black box in any situation where catastrophic loss or death occurs. In a collision event, the EDR or black box must be examined and downloaded. It is estimated that over 85% of vehicles have EDR's installed and NHTSA has set a timetable to have all vehicles in compliance with the EDR standards.

If you or a loved one has been the unfortunate victim of a car or truck accident and sustained catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, the law firm of Reiff & Bily always offers a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over the past few years as an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer and philadelphia trucking accident attorney, during the discovery phase of several catastrophic car accident and truck accident cases, we were able to note that the offending driver was texting at the time of the accident. Several of these texting “just once” events resulted in fatalities to other innocent and unknowing drivers. Texting while driving is a pet peeve of mine since I am often on the other side of the fence representing victims and families of victims who have lost a loved one due to this potentially deadly multitasking combination performed by a defendant driver. Of course, I will admit I used to do it just as I did other silly things when I was younger, but it can be that “just once” incident that leads to an unforgivable and life changing event. When I am in the car with people who text while driving, and chastise them about it, they are quick to tell me “It’s just this one time. Don’t worry I never do it.” Many people believe that an accident will never happen to them and act irresponsibly when they get behind the wheel of a car whether it be driving while intoxicated, texting, or driving while on a cell phone.

Recently a 53-year old man was recently killed when a 19-year old who was allegedly texting while driving took his pickup truck and in a split second hit it straight on over the center into the man’s sedan. In another case, a texting driver rolled an SUV over amputating one of my client’s arms. Unfortunately many of the texting while driving accidents involve teenagers who pride themselves boasting that they can text quickly and control the vehicle, and in my house we have a rule, if you are going to drive a car you are not allowed to make a cell phone call or text. Almost every child and teenager today carries a cell phone and parents must strongly remind and advise their children of the dangers of driving while texting and if that doesn’t work bring them down to my office and I will show them some pictures of what can happen.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation. For more information contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The National Center for Statistics Analysis indicated that over a quarter of a million children are injured every year in car accidents which means that over 700 are injured every day while traveling on the roadways of America. Thousands of children are killed as a result of their failure to use a seat belt, seat belt malfunction, or the improper installation and usage of a child safety seat. Many times catastrophic injuries and deaths are caused by defectively designed or manufactured child safety seats despite all of the proper precautions being taken by responsible parents. The week of September 24th has been designated as National Child Passenger Safety Week, and many organizations such as AAA and local police and fire departments are offering safety seat and seat belt checkpoints.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer for over 30 years who has also investigated and litigated many seat belt defect and child car seat defect claims, it is important that parents perform due diligence prior to purchasing and using a child safety seat. All children should remain in a child safety seat or booster seat until age 8 or older unless they are 4'9" tall. Statistics indicate that 4 out of 5 children age 6 to 8 who were killed in car crashes were improperly restrained or not belted at all according to a AAA study. In almost all auto seat defect cases, the manufacturers will claim that most parents improperly installed the seat and did not follow the manufacturers instructions. Unfortunately many times, sadly this is the case, and safety must never be an option whether it be by manufacturers of infant seats or by parents who take shortcuts in securing their children. Most car accidents occur 5 minutes from the home and all too often parents don’t give a second thought that their child seat may not be properly installed.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a child seat accident, it pays to have a careful and detailed investigation of the facts to determine who is or may be responsible for resulting catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. The defective child seat and Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily has been litigating car accidents involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths to children and defective child seats for over three decades and has recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Together our skilled auto product liability and defective child seat lawyers have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of thousands of injured victims and their families since 1958. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

With the number of trucking accidents increasing due to truck driver errors, as well as positive testing for drugs and alcohol, one trucking company has decided to screen all new applicants for drugs via hair samples in an attempt to reduce new truck driver accidents within the first crucial months of employment. Many truck drivers are randomly screened with urinalysis and are schooled to understand that there are many products available on the open market which will make a positive test appear negative. Hair testing offers a longer time frame of measurement for drugs or intoxicating substances in the blood system, and is one of the best possible screening tools at this time. Results have indicated that out of 170 applicants screened, 10 tested positive that would have otherwise been hired.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and trucking accident attorney who has handled some of the most catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, I believe that trucking companies owe it to the general public as well as themselves to utilize the newest advances in technology as federal minimum requirements are absolutely not enough. It is essential for all trucking companies, motor carriers, and bus operators to raise the bar on safety and screen for drug use, sleep apnea, as well as ban the use of cell phones while driving.

For over three decades, our experienced Philadelphia trucking accident lawyers have represented catastrophically injured victims and their families and recovered millions of dollars in awards, settlements, and verdicts. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, contact one of our skilled lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an attorney who has represented car accident victims in Pennsylvania since 1979, I am increasingly frustrated that insurance companies and their lobbying efforts continue or attempt to cut benefits to consumers, as well as bury exclusions so deep in policies that the average consumer is not aware of the same until a problem occurs. Additionally, by virtue of joint and several liability, passengers injured in intersectional collisions are faced with a potential reduction and the ability to obtain full compensation. The insurance limits of 15/30 are so antiquated and behind the times that unfortunately many victims who are seriously and catastrophically injured in an accident and do not have sufficient underinsured motorist coverage may pay a price with their health and economic deficiencies for the rest of their life. Now more than ever, I recommend a careful review of your insurance policy to make sure that you are fully protected in the event of a catastrophic car accident.

Philadelphia ranks among one of the highest cities in the United States with uninsured vehicles on the highways and if we consider the uninsured motorist crisis, the results are somewhat alarming. Unfortunately as a long time practitioner of car accident law, I see more and more clients frustrated when they are confronted with a review of the policy when it is too late after the accident and note that they did not have the proper coverage even though their agent told them they had full coverage and never explained exclusions or full tort option. Louis Pasteur once stated that “chance favors the prepared mind”, and for that reason, the law firm of Reiff & Bily always offers a free, no obligation consultation to those involved in a car accident, as well as a free, no obligation review of your car insurance policy.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are committed to consumer and auto safety, and have successfully represented claimants injured in car accidents since 1979. Our skilled auto accident lawyers are some of the most highly rated lawyers in Pennsylvania and the United States and have received top accolades and reviews on behalf of their work for victims and their families that were catastrophically injured or killed in car accidents. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over a year ago, a detached utility trailer caused a crash on Interstate 95 in Anderson, South Carolina that killed the parents of two young children. The trailer was not licensed and the driver kept going and has yet to step forward taking responsibility for causing a multi-vehicle accident car accident as well as multiple wrongful deaths.

Defective trailer accident and consumer advocate Ron Melacon of Virginia has devoted his lifetime to lobbying lawmakers to improve trailer safety and demands accountability from legislators. In South Carolina, as well as many other states, most utility trailers weighing less than 2,500 lbs. do not need to be licensed or registered according to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. In the trailer accident mentioned, a small homemade utility trailer was being towed by a truck when it broke free, came to stop in the middle of the highways whereupon a gray Honda Odyssey struck the trailer and then swerved into the path of an 18 wheeler traveling in the right lane and the force of the collision caused the crumpled minivan to hit a parked SUV that had pulled over to the side of road to make a 911 call about the unattended trailer. The Odyssey’s front seat occupants ages 34 and 35 died at the scene, while their two daughters ages 3 and 6 remained in the rear seat.

Our experienced trailer accident attorneys salute the work of Ron Melacon and understand that tens of thousands of people will continue to die across the United States unless stricter legislation is enacted involving passenger vehicles towing trailers. Every day individuals in the United States will continue to lose their life as the result of an accident with a detached trailer.

The defective trailer accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been investigating and litigating truck accidents, car accidents, and trailer accidents for over three decades and have recently joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm. Together our attorneys have been awarded billions of dollars since 1957 representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families and those who have sustained wrongful deaths. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over the last three decades, I have investigated and litigated many trucking accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries or death. This morning I was cut off the road by a speeding 18 wheeler who had no regard for other traffic. When I observed the driver, he was talking on his cell phone and when I honked the horn he gave me a part of the hand as a response.

Recently, another investigation revealed that an Alabama truck driver using his cell phone during a 2010 truck crash killed 11 people. In that incident, the truck operated by the driver on his cell phone crossed over the median strip and struck a van carrying a Mennonite family and friends to a wedding. It was fiery, exploding crash of the van. A NTSB report indicated that the driver was talking and texting on his phone for hours leading up to the accident.

As one can imagine, truckers normally drive long hours and are often fatigued and talking or texting on a cell phone only further serves as a distraction. Many state and federal authorities have known for a long time that a number of trucking accidents have occurred from various factors including driver fatigue, sleep apnea, as well as utilizing a cell phone while driving. Yet, there is no federal regulation banning the same.

A recent federal investigation revealed that many truck drivers exceed the 11 hour driving limit or 14 hour on duty limit and continue to operate large trucks in violation of state regulations. Simply put, many trucking companies and truck operators put profitability above safety.

As an experienced Philadelphia truck accident and car accident attorney who regularly deals with the tragic outcomes of such incidents and meets with families who have lost children or financial providers, I must state that there must be a federal ban on cell phones while driving. Hopefully federal lawmakers will quickly take action to prevent other deaths and tragedies from occurring by prohibiting the use of handheld and hands free mobile phones while driving on the job. This action should serve as a catalyst for local and state authorities to take appropriate actions with regulations that can be enforced with meaning.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia car accident and truck accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have represented generations of victims and their families who have been catastrophically injured or killed due to the negligence of other drivers and www.reiffandbily.com.

The recent deluge of rain and overflowing creeks and rivers in the Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania area has lead to many car accidents and not so surprisingly has tragically resulted in the drowning of an individual who was trapped in her vehicle and could not safely get out.

Several years ago, a friend of mine who is the Mayor of city in Florida in an area surrounded by waterways gave me a rescue escape tool which is commonly used in Europe. I was not sure why she gave it to me or what to do with it. At first I thought that it was an odd choice as a gift, but have learned to appreciate the thoughtfulness and caring of the gesture. The tool has a flexible pointed hammer and a razor surrounded by plastic used to cut a seat belt. I keep it in my glove compartment and wonder if I will ever have to use it. Hopefully not, but if I do, I am prepared for the worst scenario. As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and drowning accident lawyer, I wish to inform our readers of the following. In Florida which is frequently hit with heavy rains in the Palm Beach County area, motor vehicle crashes which can cause a vehicle to plunge into a roadside canal are the third leading cause of drowning. Over 10,000 vehicles each year go into the water as the result of a car accident with 400 drownings. It only takes 6 inches to 2 feet of water to float a vehicle off its wheels. If a car is submerged in water, the battery will often short out immediately. If a vehicle assumes an angled nose-down position in the water, the water pressure against doors and windows can make it difficult to open. Rescue escape tools do not cost much money and can be bought in many places such as auto stores, hardware stores, as well as on the internet for mostly under $10.00. In times when rivers crest and water overflows the banks flooding roads or bridges sustain weakness and collapse, often split second decisions must be made which will lead to survival. A car accident is frightening enough. Imagine if your vehicle is thrown into water and becomes submerged and you are in the vehicle alone or worse yet with your children who cannot swim.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and drowning accident attorney, I strongly recommend all of our readers to go online and purchase a rescue or car escape tool. I am quite fond of quoting Louis Pasteur who famously said that chance favors the prepared mind.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to automotive and consumer safety and always offers a free, no obligation consultation to victims and their families who are catastrophically injured or sustained a wrongful death as a result of a car or motor vehicle accident. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. Put decades of experience on your side.

In a positive sign for plaintiffs’ lawyers and their clients involved in litigation against Toyota over problems regarding sudden acceleration, a Federal judge in California has tentatively decided not to dismiss the first of hundreds of lawsuits. Over 14 million vehicles were recalled by Toyota due to acceleration problems in several models together with brake defects. Toyota has maintained that the problems were due to driver error, faulty floor mats, and sticky accelerator pedals for the unintended acceleration and this issue is being contentiously fought by many auto defects and plaintiffs’ catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyers deeply committed to consumer and automobile safety.

The Pennsylvania auto product defect and unintended acceleration law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to consumer safety and has successfully represented the interests of catastrophically injured and their families for over three and a half decades. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over 30 years, I have prosecuted claims on behalf of those wrongfully killed and catastrophically injured resulting from unsecured or improperly secured cargo and in fact have been a victim of such an unfortunate truck accident myself.

It consistently amazes me how often I observe trucks and other vehicles improperly loaded with improperly secured or unsecured cargo traveling down the highways at high rates of speed. Over 50,000 reported truck accidents occur every year due to unsecured cargo consisting of tires, steel coils, lumbar, heavy auto parts, construction supplies, and machinery. Additionally, many times trucks can be hauling hazardous materials or flammable materials which are not properly secured and if an accident or malfunction occurs, horrific consequences are often the result.

Owners and operators of trucks are imputed with a duty to inspect and secure a load on every truck on the highway. Specific federal regulations define the securing of freight and proper loading of cargo. The situation with regard to unsecured cargo often is ignored by governmental authorities and is now reaching what some say are epidemic proportions. Many claim they are “freak” accidents.

As an experienced trucking accident and unsecured cargo and falling debris lawyer who has prosecuted some of the most tragic claims over the last 30 years, I can honestly state that these proclaimed “freak” accidents are generally not freak accidents and often cause the most devastating and damaging injuries. Often times an unsecured cargo case involves an improperly maintained truck, truck driver fatigue, negligence, or a product failure and requires competent and careful investigation for the successful prosecution of a claim to recover costs involved with long term medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and other financial losses.

Continue reading "Unsecured Truck Loads Continue to Pose Hazardous Dangers For Pennsylvania Motorists" »

Philadelphia is recently noted as having some of the most accident prone drivers among the 200 largest cities in America according to a recent report issued by All-state Insurance Company. The typical U.S. driver is involved in a car accident approximately once every ten years yet Pennsylvania residents were found to get into collisions at an alarmingly greater rate.

Each year in America, more than 32,000 individuals are killed as a result of car crashes according to the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration, and most accidents are caused by errors in human behavior. Philadelphia residents were determined to be 60.2% more likely to be in an accident than other drivers in America and the average years between collisions was determined to be 6.2%.

For over three decades, the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily has been committed to protecting the interests of those injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others in a car accident or those injured or killed due to automotive product defect. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over three decades as an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run accident lawyer, I have noticed an alarming increase in the number of hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. I have stated many times before that there is never a good reason why someone would not stop after being involved in a car accident.

Recently I met with the family of a young father with an impeccable work record who was struck by a hit and run driver on his way home from work one evening a few weeks ago. The investigation revealed that the offending hit and run driver was an off duty police officer. The victim now lays motionless in a coma in a hospital room while his parents, family, and child express concerns and worries about his and their futures. Medical bills and bills for rehabilitation will likely skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

The day following the accident, the investigation revealed that the police officer turned herself in with extensive damage to the striking vehicle. The obvious question to be answered is Why would an off duty police officer and a responsible individual not call 911 immediately after the accident to inform the police about what happened and offer immediate assistance?

As an experienced hit and run accident lawyer, I have shared the pain of innocent and unknowing victims with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses as result of hit and run accidents caused by drivers who leave the scene generally because they were intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement officials claim that the situation is a growing challenge and I for one can state that our law firm received at least 4 phone calls just this morning from hit and run accident victims.

Continue reading "When A Police Officer Leaves The Scene Of A Hit And Run Accident Which Renders The Victim Unconscious And In A Coma, It’s Time to Wake Up And Recognize That The Hit And Run Epidemic Needs An Immediate And Major Fix" »

On Saturday, August 20th, 8 members of the Mainland varsity and junior varsity football teams of Linwood, New Jersey were traveling to a restaurant in Egg Harbor Township for a traditional annual breakfast with coaches and players after the last football practice of the summer when tragedy struck.

According to news sources, the 2002 Ford Explorer that the eight football players were traveling in lost control and careened off the southbound ramp of Exit 38A on the Garden State Parkway causing the Explorer to overturn several times, ejecting two of the passengers. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, one died at the hospital, and 4 others were injured in this tragic accident. State Police continue to investigate. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims and their families in this tragic accident. As an experienced SUV rollover
and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am aware that these vehicles can be highly unstable and more prone to rollover crashes than many other vehicles due to their higher center of gravity. The families of the victims would be well advised to contact an experienced SUV rollover attorney to investigate this accident. Our skilled team of SUV rollover lawyers has handled many SUV rollover and 15-passenger van accidents and know what to look for and have held major automotive corporations responsible for damages suffered by the drivers and passengers of single vehicle accidents.

Since 1979, our skilled Pennsylvania car accident and single vehicle car accident lawyers have represented generations of Pennsylvanians with a successful track record. Recently, we have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over the last three decades as a Pennsylvania car accident and truck accident lawyer, I have shared the pain with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses or catastrophic injury and wrongful death as a result of a car accident caused by a driver while intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol.

While we often read of high statistics for DUI, statistics are not normally kept for those driving a motor vehicle while high on the intoxicating drugs. Law enforcement officials claim that this situation is a growing challenge and state arrest statistics of drivers charged while operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs have more than doubled since 2004 in Pennsylvania.

Our neighboring state, New Jersey, has approved a bill legalizing medical marijuana and the rising rate of drug impaired drivers presents a problem in enforcement. Most people can easily recognize a person intoxicated by the effects of alcohol, but not everyone knows what a drug impaired person looks like. Many times our experts and investigators have been able to determine that a driver who killed or catastrophically injured one of our client’s was under the influence of prescription medication or other intoxicating drugs at the time of the accident despite the fact that the initial police investigation never revealed the same. Law enforcement officials require probable cause to obtain blood tests when a driver is suspected of driving drug impaired and there is no breathalyzer or other type of analytic tool that can determine the use of drugs by an impaired driver.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has steadfastly maintained a hard stance against driving while intoxicated, I believe the issue of increased drug impaired drivers needs to be seriously addressed by the legislatures of Pennsylvania and other states in order to prevent senseless deaths and catastrophic injuries to innocent victims of car and other motor vehicle accidents. Laws with strict enforcement and penalty provisions are called for.

Continue reading "The Number of Drug Impaired Vehicle Drivers In Pennsylvania Is Skyrocketing and In Fact Has Doubled Since 2004 - Car Accident Victim’s Lawyer Weighs In" »

This past Saturday evening, I attended a local dinner party and while I was sipping a glass of wine, I heard a shrill chirping or beeping sound. When I asked what it was, I was told that one of the guests had brought a portable breathalyzer. Interestingly enough, I thought that this little device was a great way to give myself and others at the party a little peace of mind by allowing the hosts to rest assured that they were not allowing someone, including myself, to drive when they are legally impaired, as well as allowing individuals attending the party to benchmark themselves.

Interestingly enough a discussion ensued and those who tested at or near the levels of intoxication were requested to turn over their keys and have a designated driver take them home or call a cab. I must confess, I liked this idea and as an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has investigated some of the most tragic cases involving intoxicated drivers, I placed my own order for a portable breathalyzer on Sunday morning. Of course, one must be careful that the portable breathalyzer does not give a false sense of security and I advise anyone who doubts that a person should not be driving and who appears to be impaired to confiscate that individual’s keys regardless of the results of the breathalyzer. Even if the breathalyzer notes that a person is not intoxicated, if someone is stumbling, slurring words, or otherwise acting incapable of driving, confiscate their keys because even if a police breathalyzer test shows you are not at the legal limit, you can still be arrested and charged with impaired driving if you exhibit the above symptoms.

Surprisingly the prices for these devices online range anywhere from $38 to less than $150 for a professional model. In fact, many might state that this is cheaper than a good bottle of wine or dinner for two at a restaurant. I urge all of our readers to consider purchasing a portable breathalyzer as "chance favors the prepared mind".

Continue reading "Portable Breathalyzer A Big Hit At A Dinner Party - Experienced Car Accident Attorney Thinks It’s A Great Idea For All Guests To Test Themselves Before Getting Behind The Wheel Of A Car" »

As many municipalities are in a tightened and deficit state, crash taxes and accident response fees seem to be sweeping the country. Thankfully as a Philadelphia and Pennsylvania accident attorney, I am glad to reassure Pennsylvania citizens that Pennsylvania and 12 other states have outlawed accident fees and taxes preventing cities from billing victims of motor vehicle accidents for fire and police response services. In some states, a car accident with injuries is billed at $490 to the driver. If there is a fire without injuries, bills are in the amount of $415, and in an accident without injuries, motorists are assessed a $365. The thought process was to shift the burden from the tax payers to those responsible for the accident. Of course, this begs the question as to how do we determine who was responsible on the spot?

It is my understanding that insurance companies are often refusing to pay these taxes when the consumers try to pass them on which leaves the motorist in the position that not only have they been the victim of a car accident, but they must now foot the bill or litigate over the matter just to even pay the tax. When you are involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to think about is being taxed.

In Philadelphia many times the police are not even responding to car accidents due to budget cutbacks, and it is important that you secure information from all of the individuals involved in the car accident. If you are injured, it is best to contact an experienced Philadelphia or Pennsylvania car accident attorney who will work with skilled investigators to fully investigate your claim. Of course, the best Philadelphia car accident attorneys never charge for an initial consultation and will always handle your case on a percentage basis meaning that if you win, you will be charged a fee and if you do not win you will not be charged anything at all including the costs of investigation.

Continue reading "It’s Bad Enough You Are A Victim In A Car Accident But Some States Now Want To Tax You With A “Crash Tax”" »

What initially appeared to be a multi-car rear end collision with so low an impact that it was hard to see any damage on plaintiff’s vehicle grew into a $7.2 million dollar settlement for a plaintiff. The plaintiff described as a 35-year old athletic and healthy man visited a chiropractor after his collision and within six months was described as regressing to the point where he was losing his ability to walk without assistance. The plaintiff’s attorney made a demand to settle for $100,000 policy limits; however, the defendant’s insurance carrier Liberty Mutual denied. The original trial attorney demanded $100,000, the limits of the policy about a year after the accident, and in his demand informed the carrier that he thought the value of the case was in excess of $300,000. The lawyer worked diligently and as he described, tried to bend over backwards in an attempt to get Liberty Mutual to pay the contracted policy amount of $100,000. The insurance carrier continued to drag its feet requesting more and more information including plaintiff’s work history and medical records for the last five years. The attorney supplied the insurance company with full information and every opportunity to pay. The insurance company argued that the plaintiff’s medical condition was caused by a pre-existing condition rather than the car accident and also argued that another car accident in which the plaintiff had been involved two years earlier caused the damage. The plaintiff’s attorney continued to make new demands and in December 2010 demanded $3.5 million dollars, after which point Liberty Mutual offered their policy limits of $100,000 which was denied at that point. Thereafter in April 2010, another demand was made, this time for $5.5 million dollars. The insurance company again rejected the demand and proposed mediation and plaintiff’s lawyer said no. The insurance company’s attorneys asked for more time to review documents and depose experts.

News sources indicate that the insureds had to hire their own counsel to put pressure on their insurance company Liberty Mutual. Pressure by the insurance company to resolve the case was credited with boosting the settlement value.

Continue reading "$100,000 Policy Limits Turns Into $7.2 Million Dollar Settlement For Client Due To Insurance Carrier’s Foot Dragging During Settlement Negotiations In A Personal Injury Case" »

Over the last few months, the experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have received much more than the normal amount of calls involving people leaving the scene of a car accident after they struck a pedestrian or another vehicle.

Last Saturday night, two people were struck when a car came onto the pavement and struck them from behind as they were walking home after a Saturday evening date. The driver got out of his car and then got back in and took off leaving the injured pedestrians to fend for themselves. Unfortunately none of the victims owned a motor vehicle and had no other health insurance.

Leaving the scene of an accident is commonly referred to as a hit and run accident. The penalties depend on the seriousness of the damage or injuries. Pennsylvania’s motor vehicle code treats accidents involving unattended vehicles, i.e. one’s without drivers or occupants as the least serious. The level of punishment escalates to a more serious offense when the other vehicle is occupied or a pedestrian is hit and injured. A hit and run car accident involving personal injury or death can receive a high level of punishment which may include a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison or if the victim suffers a serious bodily injury, the offender can be charged with a third degree felony carrying a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 90 days and a maximum sentence of up to 7 years and a minimum fine of $2,500. If the victim dies, the offense may still be classified as a third degree felony but the mandatory minimum sentence would be one year. It is also important to know that conviction for any of these offenses could result in suspension of a driver’s license.

Continue reading "There Seems To Be An Epidemic In Philadelphia Of People Leaving The Scene Of A Car Accident - Experienced Car Accident Attorney Weighs In" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I was surprised to review data findings of a Philadelphia based automotive safety research project which concluded that children were half as likely to be injured in a car accident with their grandparents rather than their parents were driving.

As one who spends quite a bit of time on the highways and streets and has been a practicing car accident attorney for over 30 years in Philadelphia, after considering the results of the study and evaluating the results, I thought to myself that many more of the car accidents that I have litigated have involved younger people as well. The study concluded that there were several possible explanations for the better car accident safety record of grandparents versus parents driving. Grandparents have more time on their hands, are not as rushed, and not as stressed. Grandparents may not be multitasking rushing between work, dinner, and child activities. Grandparents do not speak on cell phones or text as much as younger drivers. Grandparents transporting grandchildren were less likely to be involved in an accident on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or higher. Of particular consideration is the average age of the grandparents in the study was only 58. According to statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration, there are more than 38 million American drivers beyond age 65 and overall this group of drivers has the greatest likelihood of being involved in an auto accident making the study findings even more surprising. The study also revealed that grandparents were also less likely to use child safety seats than were parents and more than a quarter of the grandparents used less than optimal child restraints, while 2% failed to use any at all.

The Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily are committed to auto safety and have represented generations of Pennsylvanians since 1979. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

Last week I investigated one of the saddest cases of my three decade car career as a Philadelphia vehicle product defectand Philadelphia car accident lawyer. The case involved a head on collision caused by another driver who was texting at the time of the accident causing the texting driver to swerve into the opposite lane of travel hitting another vehicle head on killing the young woman driver. Upon my investigation of the vehicles involved, I was surprised to see that although the vehicles were the same size, one of the vehicles had extensive crush and dashboard intrusion, and it also appeared that the driver’s seat came off of its track and was forced into the dashboard with the resulting impact forces. The other vehicle’s damage from the accident forces was minimal in comparison.

As an auto product safety lawyer who has successfully handled many vehicle product liability claims, one thing for certain is that there is a big difference in the safety of vehicle occupants depending on the type and manufacture of the vehicle. A simple recall history and investigation of the vehicle deemed non-crashworthy indicated that occupants of similar vehicles had sustained almost identical injuries to the driver and evidence indicated that the vehicle’s poor structural resistance and inability to perform well in crash testing. As our investigation continues, it is readily apparent that we will be pursuing a claim against the offending driver as well as against the automobile manufacturer for  design and manufacturing defects.

In my experience I have found that many attorneys handling car accident cases never look further than the obvious third party defendant or wrongdoer and fail to explore other options such as product liability and crashworthiness theories. The experienced Philadelphia car accident and auto product liability defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to form the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Since 1958, our skilled product liability and car accident lawyers have been awarded billions on behalf of those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed. We always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation to those involved in car accidents. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to a story published on July 13, 2011, recent research conducted by an independent company in the United States uncovered a number of car owners who claim that their sports cars were being used for farm use in order to save money for car insurance. Investigators revealed that owners of sports cars such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Audi registered their vehicles as farm vehicles and were benefiting from discounts up to 20% on car insurance policies. The insurance industry claims to have lost approximately $159.00 a year and has called for outside investigations to start verifying data supplied by policyholders. Obviously if the policyholder represents the car is being used as a farm vehicle, the insurance company would think there is less of a risk and that it was statistically less likely to be stolen or involved in a road traffic accident.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for over three decades, I can say without question that insurance companies will look for any and all excuses to avoid paying claims in a delay, deny, and defend manner. I am currently involved in prosecuting a claim against an insurance company who is refusing to pay benefits due to the fact that a vehicle was registered for corporate purposes and being driven for personal business. Insurance companies continue to increasingly stonewall and low ball car accident claims and instigate fraud investigations at the drop of a hat. The advice of this experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer is to always tell the truth and make accurate representations to your insurance company when insuring your vehicle if you want to get paid if your vehicle is in a car accident.

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As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney many times the facts reported by the police, parties, or witnesses are not always as they appear to be. A complex automobile or motor vehicle accident where one has sustained a catastrophic injury or wrongful deathcalls for careful accident reconstruction and forensic analysis. Many portable navigation devices such as Garmin, Magellan, and iPhone are capable of recording geo referenced data such as trip routes, waypoints, destinations, times, and speed.

An experienced car accident attorney will work with forensic experts to access and analyze data stored in these devices. Additionally, an experienced car accident or motor vehicle accident attorney will want to forensically retrieve and review data recorders in passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. The best car accident attorneys will never assume the accuracy of facts as indicated by the opposition or on the police report and will perform their own independent analysis to assure the accuracy of the investigation.

The experienced car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily know very well that many times police reports are incomplete and inaccurate and that defendants and independent witnesses have skewed perceptions of the events leading up to the crash. The best Philadelphia car accident attorneys always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For over three decades the skilled and experienced accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have represented generations of Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians and have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Together our attorneys have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Any Philadelphia dram shop lawyer will tell you that drunk driving in Pennsylvania is one of the most dangerous things a person can do. It not only puts their own life at risk, but also the lives of anyone in their car and others on the road. It is shocking to learn that almost 30 individuals are killed every day in car crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that approximately every 48 minutes, one person will die because another chose to drink and drive. What is also staggering is that these entirely preventable fatalities and accidents amount to over $51 billion in costs each year.

It only takes one person driving while drunk to ruin the lives of many. The 4th of July weekend unfortunately brings with it alcohol consumption that often takes to the road when a person decides that they don’t really value their own life enough to call a friend to pick them up or call a taxi. But this type of recklessness has far-reaching effects. Approximately half of the 181 child passengers aged 14 and younger who were killed in alcohol-impaired driving accidents were actually riding in a vehicle with the alcohol-impaired driver.

The dangers of drunk driving aren’t myths. There are real risks involved. Almost one-third of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States in 2009 were caused by alcohol-impaired driving with 10,839 people being killed.

Do your part by not drinking and driving over the 4th of July weekend or at any time! Also, talk to your friends and family about it to make sure that they stay safe as well. Have a safe holiday everyone!

Most of us, even Philadelphia car accident lawyers, remember taking our driver’s test, palms sweating around the steering wheel and our undivided attention focusing on making sure we did everything right so that we could get the green light to be a licensed driver. While some would argue that new drivers are not as experienced as more seasoned motorists and may be more prone to being involved in an accident, the same can be said about older drivers losing touch with traffic laws and becoming more careless, or even daring, when operating a vehicle.

An annual National Drivers Test organized by GMAC Insurance determined that one in five U.S. drivers don’t meet the basic requirements that are necessary to get a driver’s license. According to the survey, about 36.9 million drivers, roughly 18 percent, in our nation wouldn’t pass the written drivers test if they were to take it right now. This makes anyone wonder, “Would I pass?”

All in all, Kansas came out on top with the best ranking, with drivers getting an average score of approximately 82.9 percent. Washington, D.C., had the worst ranking with an average score of 71.8 percent. Any score below 70 was marked as a fail. The results of the driver survey suggest that a significant amount of drivers don’t have the basic driving knowledge necessary to reflect safe driving habits. Without a firm understanding of how to drive safely and abide by traffic laws, numerous motorists are at a heightened risk of being injured or even killed in a motor vehicle accident in Pennsylvania.

About 5,130 licensed drivers between the ages of 16 and 65, from all 50 states in the nation as well as the District of Columbia participated in the survey. Driver knowledge was calculated through 20 questions from Department of Motor Vehicles exams. For instance, when asked to identify the correct action to carry out when approaching a yellow light, 85 percent of motorists surveyed were not able to and only one-fourth of drivers knew the correct safe following distances. On a national level, the average score of all motorists saw an improvement with a rise from 76.2 percent last year to 77.9 percent this year.

With the results of this survey in mind, give your driving knowledge and habits some thought. Are you doing your part?

The Center for Auto Safety Claims that Jeep Cherokee model years 1993 through 2004 have a design defect, notably a defective fuel tank design, that can cause the gas tank to rupture in a crash. Clarence Ditlow, the Director for Auto Safety claims that these Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokees are the most dangerous vehicles on the road and additionally claims that at least 55 people have died in crashes where fire was the most harmful factor. The Center provided to the government crash test results revealing that the gas tanks failed in rear end impacts due to the fact that the fuel tank is located behind the rear axle.

As an experienced fuel fed fire and defective gas tank lawyer, I believe that placing the gas tank behind the rear axle is extraordinarily dangerous due to the fact that upon a rear impact, the tank can rupture and lead to fire and explosion. In crash tests, the fuel hoses pulled off and the tanks ruptured. Chrysler disputes the test results noting that the test impact conditions were three times as severe as the government standard and that the vehicle meets or exceeds federal standards.

As experienced auto defect and Pennsylvania product liability lawyers, we are well aware that many vehicle fires are caused by design defects, notably improper placement of the fuel tank. Highway vehicle fires account for 17% of all reported fires and 12% of all U.S. civilian deaths. The experienced Pennsylvania vehicle defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Pennsylvania product liability lawyers of the Beasley Firm and jointly have been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of victims and their families who have sustained catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of defective products, auto defects, and other catastrophic injury causes of action. Our lawyers have been litigating cases against automotive manufacturers for alleged design defects for decades. We always offer a free, no obligation confidential consultation and no recovery, zero fee guarantee. For more information contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On Sunday June 12, a story was published concerning a family whose vehicle ran out of gas and was thereafter violently and forcefully rear ended by an oncoming car. As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer, this bad dream is becoming a reality for many individuals who were trying to stretch their dollars in a tightened economy by attempting to fill their tanks at the last possible minute. Many times fuel gauges in cars are not accurate. Today many individuals admit that they keep their gas tank lower than they did in the past and will even “unexpectedly” run out. However, this experienced automotive defect and car accident attorney warns that the highway might be the most dangerous place to be stopped due to running out of gas. Not only are you a sitting duck for a vehicle that might not see you or be unable to stop in time, but I can assure you it will be much more costly to have a service truck come to temporarily refill your car so that you can make it to the next available gas station.

Recently I was driving down the Atlantic City Expressway on a rainy Saturday night when I saw a vehicle stopped on the side of the road with a man waving on the shoulder. Cars were “whizzing by” at unbelievable speeds and I was afraid for this individual and the victims in his car. I am fond of quoting Louis Pasteur who stated that “chance favors the prepared mind”, and please always keep your gas tank full and do not allow yourself to become a sitting duck for a violent collision.

Continue reading "Experienced Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney Warns That You Are A Sitting Duck For a Catastrophic Accident If You Run Out Of Gas On A Highway" »

As an experienced Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorney , I always lose a part of my heart and soul representing innocent victims and their families who were catastrophically injured or killed as a result of a 15-passenger church van rollover accident. Recently this past weekend yet another single van rollover catastrophically injured and took the lives of church members after returning from an amusement park outing. Members of the church group state that there was a tire failure causing the driver to lose control whereupon the vehicle rolled over. A 19-year old recent high school graduate died in the accident. Eight other children or teenage passengers were ejected from the van with many remaining in critical condition.

I have written many articles and spoken to church groups and school groups about the dangers of 15-passenger vans and the epidemic of rollovers that continue to take the lives of unknowing and innocent individuals. There is not a week that goes by without news of another catastrophic 15-passenger van rollover.

The experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have known for a long time what manufacturers have also known, simply that the 15-passenger van is one of the most unsafe and unforgiving vehicles on the road as they suffer from a multitude of design defects. Most times the 15-passenger van rollover crash occurs due to a defective tire coupled with an inexperienced and untrained driver. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when it is fully loaded due to the fact that it has a high center of gravity and the known design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver. Extensive research performed by the lawyers of Reiff & Bily together with some of the finest experts in the world has revealed that many manufacturers knew about these van defects which was evidenced in internal and testing documents. Yet they continue to sell them due to high profit margins despite minimal expenditures to fix even though their own test drivers were being injured during testing procedures.

Continue reading "Its Summertime and Experienced 15-Passenger Van Lawyer Not Surprised To Learn More Tragic News About Catastrophic Injuries and Fatalities In Church Van Rollover Accidents" »

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a client who sustained catastrophic injuriesincluding but not limited to multiple fractured vertebrae and a crushed legs. The facts of the accident were simple, the gentleman was crossing the street at the corner when a vehicle pulled from behind a stopped truck and struck the pedestrian. Unbelievably the striking vehicles insurance company is attempting to deny the claim.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney with over three decades of experience, I am not sure what “Kool Aid” the insurance adjuster is drinking or is this just part of the continuous deny, delay, and defend policy implemented by many of the automobile insurance companies in tough economic times. Accidents like this just don't happen and are generally caused by inattentive or over aggressive drivers. It is well known that pedestrians have the right of way when crossing in crosswalks. However in many residential areas, crosswalks are often not marked. The positioning of my client at the intersection where a crosswalk should have been painted indicates that the injured victim was acting in accordance with the law and that other vehicles should have been prepared to stop as was the as the truck that was in front of the vehicle that aggressively swung around the stopped vehicle.

All Pennsylvania automobile drivers have an obligation to drive at safe speeds and pay attention to their surroundings, and if you are not paying attention or driving aggressively and hit a pedestrian then there is no way that an insurance company should rightfully deny a claim. Perhaps the posture of the insurance company in this case by denying the claim is why people are forced into unnecessary litigation.

If you find yourself in a situation where an insurance company wrongfully denies payment of your claim in an automobile accident, I strongly advise that you contact an experienced Pennsylvania car accident for help. The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have over three decades of experience representing generations of Pennsylvanians who have suffered catastrophic injuries and wrongful death as a result of Pennsylvania car accidents.

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

As an experienced van rollover attorney, one of the first things I almost always observe after a van accident is that the driver is blamed and cited for unsafe driving. As an experienced van rollover lawyer for over three decades, I can state honestly that van and rollover cases gets in your blood, heart, and head because these vans are probably the most unsafe vehicles on the road and have even proven to be unsafe when operated by skilled test drivers for the manufacturers but yet innocent and unknowing drivers and victims are often blamed for the disaster.

According to news sources, the van accident occurred in the southbound lanes of I-95 in the Churchmans Marsh area at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in New Castle County, Delaware. Paramedics took 16 people to the hospital for treatment. Thankfully none of the injuries were life threatening. The van rolled over several times on the highway before coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway. The driver claimed he lost control due to something mechanical. Although the driver was cited for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, proof of insurance, or registration, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation, one thing is for certain, the epidemic of large van rollovers will continue as attorneys and consumer safety groups continue to tackle the manufacturers of these knowingly unsafe death machines. Almost weekly in the summertime, I can predict that we will receive news of another catastrophic van rollover accident that will catastrophically injure and kill innocent and unknowing victims, often church groups or young children. Independent research performed by noted safety investigators, auto defect attorneys, as well as auto safety stalwarts note that there are significant risks in rollovers, death, and catastrophic injuries involving large passenger vans when they are fully loaded. Many times 15-passenger van rollover crashes occur due to defective tires and inexperienced and untrained drivers unfamiliar with the stability and handling characteristics of these vehicles.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this unfortunate van rollover accident and we would advise that they should immediately contact an experienced van rollover accident attorney to fully investigate this accident and immediately preserve the evidence. It is essential that there be no spoilation of the van or any evidence. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when loaded because they have a high center of gravity and such design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver. If a tire problem occurs and the unknowing driver tries to avoid a road or traffic hazard or accident, the chances of a van rollover is more likely than not when the van is loaded.

Continue reading "Individuals Injured In Van Rollover On I-95 In Delaware With Unlicensed Driver - Experienced Van Rollover Lawyer States It Is Probably Not The Driver’s Fault" »

As the economy tightens and insurance companies seem to be getting hit with an unusual string of bad weather, more claims, and a tightened economy, they appear to be short staffed with agents and adjusters and unable to handle claims in a timely and efficient manner. Additionally many of the insurance carriers continue to express their deny, delay, and defend claims policies placing otherwise responsible and honest individuals in a position where they have to compromise their claim or hire an attorney.

To add insult to injury, I have recently learned that many policyholders are being hit with triple digit increases in the last few weeks ranging from 19% to as high as 64%. In one case, I read of a 280% increase.

As an experienced Pennsylvania insurance claim and catastrophic injury attorney, when I speak to many insurance adjusters and insurance company principles who I have gotten to know fairly well over the last three decades, they tell me that many decisions are being made by corporate individuals who do not understand how important it is to treat the policyholders fairly, and frankly state that they have had enough and am getting out of the claims adjustment business. I have witnessed much wide spread, unconscionable, stonewalling, and low balling claims by insurance companies who increasingly fail to live up to their contractual commitments. Repeatedly the insurance companies are failing to give innocent and honest individuals what they deserve when tragedy strikes.

The Pennsylvania catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm of Reiff & Bily has been committed to representing the interests of consumers for over three decades and has aggressively represented those catastrophically injured or sustained losses against insurance carriers with a successful track record. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595. If we decide to take your case, we will only charge a small percentage of the recovery.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and vehicle defect lawyer for over three decades, I have investigated tens of thousands of car accident cases with many involving a single vehicle. Unfortunately single vehicle crashes tend to occur when there is a product defect or an unpredictable car handling characteristic in an accident avoidance maneuver. It may surprise some to learn that over 60% of all fatalities across the nation in car accidents involved only one vehicle.

In 2009 there were almost 60,000 crashes in Pennsylvania involving one vehicle which was less than the national average of 61% at 47%. A single vehicle car accident can be caused by a highway defect, mechanical failure, product defect, tire blowout or tire defect, stability and handling issues, seat belt failure, airbag defect, faulty or defective brake systems, roof crush, defective parts, or debris such as a tree which falls from another's property onto the road. Many times a single vehicle accident can be caused due to poor highway design, poor highway drainage, or an intoxicated driver who has been served by a restaurant or bar in violation of the Pennsylvania Dram Shop laws.

As statistics indicate, a single vehicle accident generally results in catastrophic injuries and death. As an experienced SUV and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am aware that these vehicles are highly unstable and more prone to rollover crashes than any other vehicle due to their higher center of gravity.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a single vehicle car accident, do not assume it was your fault. It pays to contact a Pennsylvania car accident and auto defect lawyer familiar with automotive design and system failures. Our skilled team of experts and investigators know what to look for and have held major automotive corporations responsible to pay compensation for damages suffered by drivers and passengers of single vehicle accidents. Since 1979, our skilled Pennsylvania car accident and single vehicle car accident lawyers have represented generations of Pennsylvanians with a successful track record. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Since 2003, motorcycle riders 21-years of age or older could go helmetless in Pennsylvania if they had been licensed to operate a motor vehicle for more than two years or completed a Pennsylvania motorcycle safety course. Unfortunately the helmetless law resulted in many motorcycle accident related deaths and closed head injuries resulting in permanent dysfunction. According to findings head injury deaths from motorcycle accidents increased 66% and motorcycle-related head injury hospitalization increased 78%.

As an experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle rider and motorcycle accident lawyer for over three decades, I agree that despite the freedom of riding without a helmet. Chance favors the prepared man and helmets definitely have their place as they save lives and prevent brain injuries. Studies indicate that three times as many lives would be saved by repeal of the non-helmet law. Recently, I spoke to a family of a young man who had never had a motorcycle accident but lost his life due to the fact that he was not wearing a helmet and died of massive head trauma. Interestingly enough, the victim was an experienced rider with an unblemished safety record for over 15 years.

The new motorcycle safety bills introduced would require additional insurance for motorcycle riders who chose not to wear a helmet and provide special motorcycle license plates for riders younger than 21.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident, put three decades of experience on your side by contacting one of the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers (who also happens to be a motorcyclist) at Reiff & Bily. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for over three decades, I have evaluated tens of thousands of car accident cases and there is probably one event that most people never think about. As the price of gasoline reaches limits that put a strain on almost all of our wallets, many people choose not to fill up until the last moment trying to stretch their tank of gas. Unfortunately what many of these individuals do not realize is that if your car stalls or runs out of gas on a busy highway, you are a sitting duck for a potentially dangerous car accident. What many vehicle operators never think about is getting stranded or stopped in the middle of a busy highway or a deserted road where you can potentially be the victim of a vehicle that does not see you. Many also end up stranded in the "middle of nowhere" to be held hostage by road recovery or repair crews. Many times gas gauges are inaccurate or deceiving and you think you can make it to the next gas station when in fact the perception of the fuel indicator does not match the actuality of the circumstances.

Recently a state law enforcement officer was sitting in a stopped vehicle when another vehicle who did not see the vehicle slammed into him at full speed causing his car to burst into flames with the individual trapped inside.

In another case scenario, the occupant of a vehicle whose car had stopped due to a lack of fuel exited the vehicle in the evening and was struck by a passing vehicle whose driver claimed they did not see him. Simply put these tragic car accidents resulted from human error.

Continue reading "Will The High Price Of Gasoline Cause You To Be Involved In An Accident?" »

As a conversion van accident and van rollover lawyer, I understand that safety is a priority particularly when dealing with individuals suffering from handicaps. Many times vans are modified or converted to facilitate an active life style for individuals that are wheel chair bound. Many vans are pone to roll over without modification and therefore, it is important that the conversion complies with all safety standards regarding construction and design. One considering conversion of a van or other vehicle should look into whether or not crash testing was conducted on similar vans that were converted and that the van passed the necessary safety hurdles. Many companies advertise that their handicap van conversions are strong, safe, and reliable and make promises that unfortunately prove to be untrue in a catastrophic accident.

The experienced Pennsylvania conversion van and 15-passenger van accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily are aware of and have investigated many van design and manufacturing defects and understand that vans are susceptible to rolling over in an accident avoidance or over-steering maneuver. Many times modifications made by van conversion companies result in a loss of safety and quality concerns resulting in weaknesses in roof structure and ejection portals. If you are going to purchase a handicap conversion van, please fully investigate the manufacturer and do independent homework as to the safety and testing results of the vehicle in question.

The Philadelphia van accident and van rollover attorneys of Reiff & Bily are committed to consumer and automotive safety and we believe that safety should never trump profitability when it comes to vehicle design and usage.

If you are parents of a teenage driver, it is probably cheaper not to add a third car as insurance companies typically believe that the teenager will drive less without his/her own car and thereby offer you a lower insurance premium. Typically car insurance premiums go up 55% to 60% when a teenager is added according to a recent insurance.com survey. Beware that many insurance companies charge if you own luxury cars and many insurance companies may charge you as if your child is driving the fanciest car in the house. Therefore, it may pay to shop around or in the alternative in that situation it may pay to get a clunker for the teenager without collision coverage and then perhaps place an umbrella on top of the same.

This tip is offered by the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily. Umbrella insurance coverage is the key if you are interested in protecting assets. In a tightened economy many individuals chose to reduce their insurance premiums and insurance coverage. If you have any assets to protect, I wholly recommend purchasing an umbrella or excess insurance policy to kick in where liability coverage leaves off. Recent jury verdict analysis indicates that approximately 15% of personal injury liability cases result in awards in excess of $1 million dollars and if you have teenagers driving or may be at high risk situations or in a litigious area, consider increasing your umbrella. The more insurance you purchase on the umbrella, the cheaper it is. Many insurance companies do not like to sell umbrella coverage and you will find that if you insist, it should cost about $125 to $250 a year for an actual $1 million dollars of coverage.

Continue reading "A Smart Way To Cut Your Car Insurance Premium May Be Not To Buy Your Teenager His Or Her Own Car" »

In Pennsylvania it is unlawful for a bar or any establishment to serve alcohol to any individuals under the age of 21. Additionally, under the Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop law any business or individual who serves alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person is also legally responsible for any damage that person might cause.

Recently a Philadelphia jury award $1.6 million dollars to the estate of a young victim who was allegedly served at least 8 or 9 drinks at a night club and then was involved in a fatal collision on the way home. The victim’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was .224, almost three times the legal limit.

A bar and its employees are obligated to recognize and prevent the service of alcohol to those intoxicated or those under the legal age of drinking in Pennsylvania. Thousands of people die every year in Pennsylvania as a result of alcohol-related injuries due to the negligence of bartenders, night clubs, and restaurants who fail to act responsibly by putting an emphasis on profitability rather than on adherence to Pennsylvania Dram Shop laws. Our skilled Dram Shop and intoxicated and alcohol-related accident lawyers are aware that many restaurant owners and bar owners do not promote policies of alcohol awareness. We believe that those individuals must be held financially responsible for resulting injuries and fatalities. Pennsylvania law is clear that it is illegal to sell alcohol to either a minor or person who is obviously intoxicated.

The skilled Dram Shop and alcohol-related accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are all too familiar with the catastrophic injuries and fatalities that result from violation of the Pennsylvania Dram Shop laws and believe that the wrongdoers must be held accountable. We always offer a free, no obligation and confidential consultation. Contact us at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently learned that a prominent defense attorney told a jury at the conclusion of a personal injury case that pain and suffering is just a way of life in his particular county. As an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer for over three decades, I am fairly certain that pain and suffering is not a normal way of life for most of us.

In Pennsylvania a claimant can claim monetary damages for pain and suffering for a non-inclusive list of factors, including but not limited to physical pain, mental pain, embarrassment, fright, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, mortification, shock, humiliation, indignities, apprehension, disfigurement, loss of life’s pleasures, deformity, and basically the loss of life’s hopes and dreams. Since we cannot change the facts of life and fully restore one’s physical and mental condition to the exact state that existed prior to the event which gave rise to their legal claim, the goal of compensatory damages is to financially make a plaintiff whole by setting an amount of money that will hopefully compensate the injured person. The claimant may also recover for mental anguish resulting from an accident as mental anguish can be a result of physical pain and suffering.

I am curious whether the defense attorney who argued that pain and suffering is a way of life in his jurisdiction recognizes this when he goes home to his expensive home, pays for his kids in private school, or goes to play golf at an elite golf or country club?

The skilled catastrophic injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily know that when you are in an accident, you are entitled to the maximum amount of compensatory damages that can be proven and argued to a jury and that pain and suffering is not just a way of life for most of us. You have one bite at the apple and we do not believe, as do many insurance adjusters and defense attorneys, that pain and suffering should be and is a way of life.

I recently received a telephone call from a client who was in a vehicle that rolled over causing catastrophic injuries to herself and brain damage to her young daughter. Another lawyer sat with the case for a year and then informed her that there was no liability and there was no case.

Thankfully the unfortunate victim did not stop there and sought the opinion of another attorney who referred the matter to the auto product liability of the Reiff & Bily law firm. In many situations where other attorneys do not explore all aspects of a claim or are unfamiliar with automotive product defect and product liability claims, we are able to determine by the use of accident reconstruction and expert witnesses that many single car accidents and rollovers are caused by a defect in the vehicle or one of its components. Many times auto product defects will include but not be limited to a tire defect, an airbag defect, an instability or crashworthiness issue, or defective seat belt.

The skilled Pennsylvania car accident and vehicle defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily have prosecuted thousands of car accident claims for many decades taking on some of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers litigating auto defect and product liability claims that other lawyers may have missed.

If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injury or killed as a result of a single vehicle automobile accident, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania car accident and auto defect lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. If we decide to accept your case, we will only charge a fee if we make a recovery for you. Please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.

How times do you get into your car after someone else has been driving and you see that the gas tank is on empty and it is left to you to fill up the tank. What most people do not realize is that by operating a car with an empty gas tank, you expose yourself to danger. Many people assume they have enough gas to get to the next gas station. However, when you are traveling on a highway and people are traveling at high rates of speed and you run out of gas, the following situations may occur - you may lose power steering or power brakes and run out of gas on a highway and you will be unable to pull off to a safe place and can be a sitting duck for a car accident if another vehicle is not fully paying attention.

If your vehicle starts to stutter and run out of gas, you should pull your car off to the side of the road as soon as possible, turn on the flashers, and call AAA or a service truck and get out of the car and wait behind it on the shoulder. Additionally, there is a danger to the car’s engine when you run your car on empty as dirt can get into the fuel system and the fuel pump can overheat and permanent damage the vehicle.

The Philadelphia auto accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are dedicated to automotive safety. For over three decades our skilled and experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers have represented catastrophically injured victims and their families as a result of Pennsylvania motor vehicle accidents. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Motorcycle season is in full swing in Pennsylvania and as and experienced motorcyclist and motorcycle accident lawyer for over three decades, I am aware that many non-motorcyclists in other vehicles have a prejudice against motorcyclists and do not exercise proper and due care when the less protected motorcycle enters their domain. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, together with the Alliance of Bikers aimed towards education, is urging motorists to beware of the increased presence of motorcycles on the highways.

For many decades we have investigated and prosecuted many motorcycle accidents against defending car and truck drivers. Many defendants claim as part of their case they did not see the motorcyclist. I always believe that it is important for bikers to be noticed by other vehicles on the open road and that the minimal lighting that most motorcycles come with is not enough. I always recommend that a motorcyclist keep their headlights on and wear reflective and bright clothing so that you are easily visible to others sharing the same roadways. This includes jackets, riding pants, and helmet as well. Many times accessories can be added to the bike that are brightly colored and make the rider and motorcycle stand out. It pays to be a conspicuous rider. It is also not a bad idea to place reflective tape on saddle bags and accessories and some motorcycle shops offer "stealth tapes" which are designed to be invisible during the day yet appear to glow at night when hit by headlights. When driving on the road, stay out of blind spots and make sure there is plenty of room between you and other vehicles when you pass or make turns. One should always assume that vehicles pulling out of side streets do not see you and that they might pull out in front of you. If you have not already done so, I highly recommend taking the Pennsylvania motorcycle safety course.

The experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are also motorcyclists committed to motorcycle safety. We understand motorcycles and motorcycle law inside out. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please feel free to contact us for a free, no obligation consultation online at www.reiffandbily.com. The Pennsylvania motorcycle lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our lawyers have been awarded over $2 billion dollars representing the interests of catastrophically injured victims and their families since 1958.

As a father of three boys, two of whom have passed their teenage years, I am all too familiar with the midnight phone call from my children or friends of my children after they have been in a car accident. Frankly, it is every parents nightmare. According to the insurance industry, at least one teenager dies every other day from car accidents in Pennsylvania.

For many years, other states have imposed restrictions on teenage driver’s licenses and there has been talk but very little action in Pennsylvania about restricting a teenage driver’s license. Thankfully, this week the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives proposed teen driving legislation which would provide more training for young drivers and would limit the number of passengers for drivers under the age of 16 ½ and 17. Drivers under the age of 18 would also be required to complete 15 or more hours of inclement weather and night time driving. The bill would also limit drivers under the age of 18 from having more than one non-family member as a passenger and stated that teen drivers may currently have as many passengers as there are seat belts in the vehicle. Seat belt laws are also made more rigorous in the proposed law and would allow police to ticket any teen driver with a passenger under age 18 who is not properly secured and also addresses texting and speaking on a cell phone while driving. The House of Representatives legislation was approved on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 and will go to the Pennsylvania State Senate for consideration and hopeful approval.
Public surveys indicate that more than 3/4 of those polled approved of imposing passenger limits on teen drivers and increasing training for driving at night and in bad weather.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney attorney who often deals with the most catastrophic injuries and wrongful death scenarios, we applaud the efforts of Pennsylvania State legislators who have taken the proper steps to strengthen the state’s graduated teen licensing. Coincidentally, both New Jersey and Delaware have already imposed passenger limits on teens.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney Salutes Legislative Proposals For New Teenage Driver Limitations" »

Did you ever get in a taxi cab and take the ride from hell leaving you wondering in the back seat as you are being thrown around where did this guy get his driver’s license. Due to the recent upsurge of catastrophic bus accidents in New York and New Jersey this past year, a crackdown was initiated to improve bus and taxi cab safety.

On Monday, May 9, 2011, 46 commercial drivers were arrested due to the fact they possessed a high number of unanswered traffic tickets, felony warrants, deportation detainers from immigration and customs departments, possessing false instruments, falsifying business records, and being unlicensed operators of vehicles, buses, and taxi cabs. Transportation officials conducted almost 2,000 surprise roadside inspections resulting in the removal of 143 vehicles and 173 additional drivers. In the last few months, there were a number of fatal bus crashes in the Bronx which killed 15 passengers, and another one on the New Jersey Turnpike on a bus bound from New York to Philadelphia which killed two people and injured 41 others. The U.S. Department of Transportation suspended the operation of the tour bus company in the New Jersey Turnpike crash and federal authorities and lawmakers continue to investigate. Congress is now calling for the passage of bus safety bills requiring seat belts in buses, anti-ejection glazing on windows, and stronger roofs to withstand rollovers, and reduce flammability of bus interiors.

The experienced Philadelphia bus and taxi cab accidents attorneys at Reiff & Bily are representing victims of the New Jersey Turnpike crash and salute the efforts of law enforcement officials in their efforts to promote highway safety and protect innocent consumers.

If you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury as a result of bus accident or taxi cab accident, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania bus accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily for a free, no obligation consultation online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com.

A 1991 Ford F-150 was towing a 1998 Midway trailer when the connection between the pickup and trailer was broken causing the unit to cross over the center line and strike an oncoming vehicle driven by a 47-year old woman. Run away trailers are an all too common occurrence and can often lead to catastrophic consequences for victims and their families. The majority of run away trailer accidents involve light and medium sized trailers used by individuals and small businesses such as gardeners.

The experienced run away trailer lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958 representing the interests of injured victims including but limited to bicyclists and pedestrians and vehicle occupants who have been seriously injured and killed by run away trailers.

Failure to properly secure the trailer to its guiding source, usually a ball and hitch, or design defect, or product failure appears to be the cause of run away accidents. Additionally, many people will connect a trailer without any safety chains or basic construction. Unfortunately, there is very little regulation of non-commercial trailers and there is no rule in any of our 50 states requiring a small to medium trailer to have any instruction or permit. Manufacturers and rental companies have a very strong lobby and have fought against reasonable safety proposals and guidelines.

Our experienced car accident and truck accident lawyers have over 50 years experience investigating run away trailer accidents. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

This morning I had the chance to visit the office of a prominent neuropsychiatrist in consultation regarding a young client who was complaining of behavioral disturbances and had been diagnosed with ADHD. Many experts have suggested that brain injury in school age children causes ADHD but the same has not been conclusively confirmed. Many defense psychiatrists will argue that individuals who have ADHD are more likely to sustain head trauma due to riskier behavior patterns. ADHD is a condition affecting behavioral aspects of inattentiveness, impulse, and hyperactivity and has been attributed to several factors including closed head trauma. It has also been linked to individuals who sustain a catastrophic accident involving a lack of oxygen to the brain. Many studies performed have indicated there may be a relationship between individuals suffering from ADHD and traumatic brain injuries generally suffered in childhood.

As a practicing attorney for over 30 yeas dealing with many cases of traumatic brain injuries resulting from car accidents, truck accidents, and vehicle rollovers, I am fairly certain that traumatic brain injury is often missed in the ADHD diagnosis. Psychiatrists have found that TBI medication treatment can significantly improve ADHD problems and often needs to be augmented with stimulant medications.

Continue reading "ADHD May Be Caused By A Closed Head Injury Or Brain Trauma" »

It is rather obvious that when you take your vehicle to a repair shop or car dealer for repairs, it is supposed to come out in a better or safer condition than it was prior to its visit. A car repair dealer owes a duty to the customer and public to use ordinary care in making repairs.

Each year thousands of people will die in the United States in car accidents due to faulty repairs. When you take a vehicle to a shop for repairs after an accident, it is critical that repairs are made according to factory tolerances to insure the current driver and passenger and future owners are afforded the same level of vehicle safety after the repairs have been made as they had been before the vehicle was in an accident.

Any repairs should reduce the risk of injury or death to a passenger when a crash occurs and some lawyers have even argued that when you take your vehicle back to a dealership, the dealership has an extra duty to inspect the vehicle for safety defects including the condition of the tires and spare tire. A car dealer repair shop has the duty to discover and repair any obvious defects which would present a risk to the safety of the occupants. If there has been a motor vehicle defect and you take the car back to the dealership, the dealer is charged with responding to the recall and correcting the defective situation or component in the vehicle.

Since 1958, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have been representing catastrophically injured victims and their families and those who have sustained wrongful death due to automotive defects. The Pennsylvania vehicle defect lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group are experienced in handling all types of car accidents and motor vehicle defect cases for the citizens of Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an auto tire defect, airbag defect, SUV rollover, or the failure of a repair facility to properly repair your vehicle, contact one of our lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

As an experienced Pennsylvania crashworthiness and SUV rollover lawyer, I salute the efforts of automakers making dramatic gains in automotive safety.

Just last week, a new client demonstrated the parking abilities of her brand new Ford Explorer and I was spellbound. In the last decade, the major automobile manufacturers have significantly advanced automotive safety by the introduction of factors such as electronic stability control (ESC), use of ABS brakes, improvement of sensor and data measuring with regard to airbag deployment and seat belt tension, sensors which measure steering wheel angle, yaw rate, acceleration, and turning force when combined with software alga rhythms which interpret data and determine whether the vehicle is traveling in a proper fashion and if not, automatically activate the brakes or throttle slightly to bring the vehicle back in line. As the electronic sensors and software improvements become more sophisticated and less costly, it is my hope that technology will continue to improve and be implemented consistent with lower, wider, and safer vehicle designs to create a vehicle so sophisticated with anticipatory design features that it will actively prevent crash scenarios which would most likely lead to catastrophic injury or death.

The experienced Pennsylvania vehicle rollover and car accident firm of Reiff & Bily salutes the efforts of auto defect and product liability lawyers across the United States and worldwide and consumer safety groups who have fought the battle against automakers for decades serving as a force to create safer automobiles.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for the past 32 years and as the father of a teenager and two young adults, I am reminded of how anxious young teenagers are to get the car keys in their hand while many times failing to understand that a motor vehicle has the potential to be a weapon of death and catastrophic injury in certain circumstances. Not so surprisingly, kids killed in cars is up to four times greater than adults. My own personal experience or bias leads me to believe that it takes at least a year or two to become an educated and safe driver. A recent study of fatal teen crashes revealed that among the most common driving errors leading to fatal accidents or death are caused by the lack of experience. Over one percent of all teenage accidents are caused by the failure to scan the traffic ahead. Not so surprisingly, another major cause of teenage accidents was distraction, either from something inside or outside the car, which contributed to 20% of serious teen auto crashes. Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention, concluded that aggression, cold weather, and drowsiness were not primary factors in most teen collisions.

Recently a case was brought to my attention where a young teenage driver suffered a violent collision the day he received his driver’s license. When he was questioned about what happened, he stated he turned to look at his girlfriend not realizing that when he turned the wheel turned with him, and he steered right into another vehicle totaling both cars.

When I went to high school, driver’s education was mandatory and today I think parents owe an obligation to their children, as well as other motorists on the road, to promote safe driving skills by enrolling their teenagers in a proper driver education program. Full scanning of the road ahead and on the side and use of the mirrors takes time to fully appreciate and understand. This experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney salutes New Jersey’s 10 year old graduated driver’s license law which requires young probationary driver’s to carry no more than one teenage passenger in a vehicle unless there is an adult also accompanying them. A red bumper decal must be placed on the vehicle identifying drivers who have not yet completed the GDL training phase. Not so surprisingly, there was a decline in teen traffic deaths in New Jersey by more than 50% since the law went into effect.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers Weigh In On Study That Claims That Teenage Drivers Are More Likely Than Any Other Age Group To Be Involved In A Fatal Car Accident" »

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney and consumer safety advocate, I salute the steps taken by a Missouri school board addressing safety concerns regarding the use of 15-passenger vans to transport students. In October, NHTSA urged users of passenger vans to take steps to keep occupants safe following two fatal crashes involving 15-passenger vans that rolled over and resulted in 10 deaths.

Our skilled 15-passenger van accident attorneys, along with government officials and consumer safety advocates, have known for many years that 15-passenger vans might just be the most unsafe vehicle ever made and have a higher rate of roll over than likely loaded vans. When a 15-passenger van is loaded to capacity or near capacity, the gross vehicle weight moves the center of gravity rearward and upward affecting the stability and handling of the van according to an NTSB report. Unfortunately our experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident lawyers have represented victims and their families of all too many school children and churchgoers who sustained tragic and catastrophic results while riding in the 15-passenger van. 15-passenger vans are one of the most popular vehicles for transporting pre-schoolers, school age, and college church groups, and are involved in more rollover crashes than any other vehicle. As a matter of fact, the danger of 15-passenger vans is so great that many states and municipalities, as well as the military, have outlawed them as a means for transportation.

Continue reading "Another Jurisdiction Updates Policies On The Use Of 15-Passenger Vans For Transporting Students - Thank You!" »

A catastrophic injury and fatality is 36 times the norm in a vehicle rollover accident. Victims of roll over accidents are most likely to sustain a catastrophic injury or death due to high incidents of occupant ejection. Head injuries, resulting paralysis, brain injury, as well as amputation of limbs are commonly suffered if one is ejected out of the vehicle and land under a vehicle that continues to roll or struck by another vehicle. More weight increases the chance of a truck or vehicle rollover despite a common belief that added weight adds to stability. Most rollovers occur when a driver runs off the road or the vehicle loses traction due to a tire defect or blowout. If the glass in the vehicle is not laminated or glazed, there is a high likelihood that the victim’s body parts will not be contained in the vehicle and that the person will be ejected.

If a fuel tank is ruptured or a fuel line severs during a rollover, there is a good likelihood that a devastating fuel fed fire can ignite which increases the risk of serious injury or death for drivers, passengers, or people nearby. Many times in a rollover crash, a fuel tank is punctured or tears and the filters and fuel lines separate or there is a hydrostatic burst of fuel vapors.

If you or a loved has sustained a catastrophic injury or wrongful death caused in a rollover accident by one of the above listed factors, it is important to preserve the evidence and contact an experienced SUV and vehicle rollover attorney to fully investigate the facts of your case together with renowned experts and investigators.

The SUV rollover and fuel fed fire lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Since 1958, our experienced SUV rollover and fuel fed fire lawyers have investigated thousands of product defect and rollover cases and have been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of catastrophically injured claimants. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyer and citizen of Pennsylvania, I am still amazed how many times I see many drivers running stop signs or traffic lights while still speaking on a cell phone. Just last week, I personally narrowly escaped a car accident when a very young driver operating an SUV ran a stop sign and I noticed she was speaking on a cell phone. She obnoxiously gave me the middle finger as if I had done something wrong after I issued a horn warning.

Just yesterday, a catastrophically injured victim met with me after she was also struck by a teen driver while texting on a cell phone. A new report issued comes as no surprise as it announces that distracted driving is killing more people than ever. It is claimed that at least 5% of all fatality accidents are due to texting and a rapidly growing list of distracted drivers. Such distractions include but are not limited to application of makeup, eating food, ipods, cell phones, and the use of computers and navigation devices inside the vehicle. A bill to ban texting while driving in Pennsylvania is one step closer to becoming law as it won unanimous support from the State House Transportation Committee. The legislation would ban texting by all drivers and prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from using handheld cell phones while behind the wheel.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who has represented the families of loved ones who are killed by a texting driver, I am afraid to say that Pennsylvania has been behind the times and legislators have not attacked this issue in an aggressive enough fashion. While several localities have enacted restrictions in cell phone use, including West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, my experience as a car accident lawyer for the past 32 years has revealed just how dangerous multitasking can be while operating a car and I urge all the Pennsylvania legislatures to unanimously support any texting while driving bans.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers. Recently the law firm of Reiff & Bily has joined forces with the Beasley Firm and together both of our law firms have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958. As always, we offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who has concentrated on automobile product liability and defective automobile components for over 30 years, I am always studying NHTSA statistics as well as fatality investigations concerning automobiles.

Recently I was quite puzzled when I learned that fatalities resulting from car accidents for men aged 51 to 65 were rising dramatically by almost 25% from 2000 to 2009, yet when taking the same fatality factor into consideration FOR ALL MALE DRIVERS, there was a 20% decline in fatalities. Surprisingly studies indicated that the increase in deaths was directly related to the increase in the number of licensed drivers and male licensed drivers in the 59 to 60 age group rose by 33%. The apparent bulge in the population age structure related fatality is related to the naming of the baby boomers.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation shut down the Wilkes-Barre based tour bus company that was involved in the March 14, 2011 deadly bus accident. It was found that the bus driver violated federal insurance requirements.

Ironically, the decision to shut down the tour bus company came on the same day that the Senate subcommittee confronted the department because it was not addressing bus safety quickly enough. Subcommittee Chairman, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), was concerned that the Department of Transportation was not moving quickly enough to make motor coaches or tour buses safer. He also felt that it was unsafe to continue to put unsafe buses and bus operators on the road. Senator Lautenberg was quoted as saying, “Just because bus companies can discount prices doesn’t mean they can discount safety.”

The experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorneys Jeffrey Reiff and Raymond Bily have filed one of the first lawsuits against Super Luxury Tours on behalf of a victim who sustained catastrophic injuries in the March 14, 2011 bus crash, which also claimed the lives of several others.

The experienced auto accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the catastrophic bus accident attorneys of The Beasley Firm and both law firms have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars on behalf of our clients since 1958. We will continue to diligently work on behalf of our clients, as well as with lawmakers, to ensure that the wrongdoers are brought to justice. For more information, contact us online at Beasley Reiff Law Group or toll free at 1-800-588-0130 for a free, no obligation consultation.

As I have written for many months, the rental car market has a hidden danger lurking in it’s system. Namely, that no law exists for preventing cars to be rented without fixes, even after product recalls.

Approximately four months ago, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration first announced that approximately 3 million rental cars were being investigated in that they had been recalled for product defects. However, no action had been taken. It appeared then the rental companies were putting profitability over the safety of its renters and consumers. That initial recall included 29 models from General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Motor Company that had been sold to the rental car companies fleets. Recently General Motors and Chrysler informed NHTSA that tens of thousands of the recalled vehicles still had been unrepaired for months or longer.

Since automobile rental companies are some of the largest purchasers of motor vehicles from automobile manufacturers, news sources have indicated that Ford did not release its data concerning recalls, claiming that the release of their information may have a potential negative impact on its relationship with rental car companies could result in decreased sales of vehicles to those companies.

When you are on vacation you generally have your family and precious cargo of children with you and to think that there is no law currently requiring rental companies to make repairs to recalled vehicles before renting them or selling them to consumers is absolutely frightening and untenable.

As an experienced Pennsylvania automotive product liability, product defects, lawyer and consumer safety advocate, I query with NHTSA that “while dealers have a legal obligation not to sell a new vehicle after they have been notified of the recall by the manufacturer”, NHTSA does not have the legal authority to require consumers, including fleet owners like rental car companies, to have recalled vehicles fixed. In order to prevent the needless deaths of innocent victims unaware of defects on vehicles, I feel that there must be strict regulations with teeth and more pointed laws that address this dangerous practice.

Continue reading "The Car You Rent May Be Dangerous To Your Health And Safety - Experienced Auto Defect Lawyer Weighs In" »

Boss Hoss Motorcycle recently settled a case involving a rear axle fracture. Approximately two months after purchasing a motorcycle, a husband and wife claimed to be traveling on a highway when suddenly without warning the rear axle on the subject motorcycle fractured causing a rear wheel lockup. Traveling at highway speeds, the operator of the motorcycle lost control resulting in the death of the wife passenger and catastrophic injuries to the husband. A metallurgical failure traveling at high speeds on a motorcycle is one of the worst accidents that anyone can imagine. In the immediate case, what is so surprising is that the rear axle fractured only two months after purchase.

Generally an axle failure is due to an engineering defect, metallurgical defect, or improper maintenance. When the weather gets warmer in the northeast and Pennsylvania, avid bikers will be taking there bikes out for the first ride of the season. It is important first to inspect the tires and then inspect the rest of the bike paying special attention to the axles and rear and front wheel bearings. If the bike has been stored or ridden in the rain, many times there is a corrosive effect on the bearings and axles. In some of our motorcycle accidents, we have found that metal utilized in bearings or axles contained latent failures and was too soft for the job it was intended to do which happens over time the metal or bearing wear away allowing water, rust, and corrosion to form eventually causing a seizure and failure with potentially catastrophic results.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a catastrophic Pennsylvania motorcycle accident, the experienced motorcycle accident legal team at the Beasley Reiff Law Group have over 50 years of experience representing motorcyclists and their families. Our avid bikers attorneys have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars on behalf of injured victims and their loved ones. As always, for a free no obligation and confidential consultation, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

On February 13, 2011 Aaron Peru, Melanie Nichols, and her son Justin were involved in a horrific car accident when a trailer broke loose of its hitch and hit their vehicle head on. Tragically, Aaron’s wounds were fatal and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Melanie and Justin were helivaced to a medical center where Melanie suffers from severe head trauma, a broken leg, and numerous other fractures throughout her body, and Justin suffered major and minor lacerations but remains in stable condition. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

As an experienced Pennsylvania defective trailer accident lawyer since 1979, this tragic accident highlights a situation that our detached and defective trailer lawyers have been aggressively fighting for decades. Mainly, the fact that detached trailer accidents happen with much too much frequency due to limited minimal controls and regulations. NHTSA has admitted that no standards exist for trailer hitches. Unfortunately in most states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there is very little regulation addressed to trailers under 3,000 lbs. Many of these trailers are purposefully made to be under the gross weight of 3,000 lbs. so as not to be subject to regulations. Many state laws, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are silent as to any design or construction specifications of these vehicles or trailers, as well as towing chains or hitches. In the many cases that we have investigated, we have found that the tow trailers have obvious safety violations relating to lighting, braking, security, and inspection requirements.

Several factors cause a trailer detachment:

1. They do not need to be inspected.

2. You can build one on your own and use it or sell it.

3. If they are under 3,000 lbs., they fall below federal guidelines and if trailers are
over 3,000 lbs. reflectors only need be placed at the extreme rear of the trailer.

Continue reading "Unhitched Trailer Accident Takes Dad’s Life and Catastrophically Injures Mom and Son" »

Many years ago one of my law partners was killed when his vehicle slid under a tractor trailer illegally parked on the side of I-95 north during late night driving hours. Each year in the United States hundreds of people are killed in car accidents when the car strikes the back of a big truck and slides underneath. Approximately 15 years ago, I received an alarming phone call in the very early morning hours of a summer weekend informing me that one of my law partners had been killed in a catastrophic truck accident.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety has indicated that trailer bumpers are not good enough protection when a car rearends a big truck. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) put rear impact guards to a test by crashing a 2010 Chevy Malibu at 35 mph into the back of a parked trailer. The rear guard, that met U.S. minimum standards, gave way and the car slid right under the trailer crushing the vehicle. Occupants of the vehicle would not have survived the impact.

Since I know first hand from the death of my partner as well as representing the families of other individuals who were killed in truck under ride collisions, these are perhaps one of the most dangerous types of traffic accident. In a typical truck underride accident, the victim is crushed and the roof is sheared off the vehicle killing the occupants. Under ride accident happen frequently at night when a truck pulls across lanes of traffic or is not properly marked or lit and appears to be invisible to drivers of other vehicles. By the time the innocent driver sees the tractor trailer, it is often too late to prevent a catastrophic truck accident. Many older trucks travel without under ride prevention devices; however, newer trucks are equipped with under ride prevention devices that many times do not work properly. Trailers must be marked with adequate lights and conspicuous markings to prevent under ride accidents and the drivers must maintain that all lights are clean and that all reflective markers are present.

Continue reading "The Same Type Of Truck Underride Accident Which Took The Life Of One Of My Best Friends And Law Partner, Namely A Truck Underride Case, Continues To Plague And Kill Innocent Victims" »

Many time each year our Philadelphia car accident and trucking accident law firm is contacted by victims and families of victims of catastrophic trucking accidents. A common scenario seems to exist when a tractor trailer suddenly makes a right hand turn from the left hand lane resulting in a serious collision. In many of the cases, our accident reconstructionists and engineers were able to prove that the actions of the truck operator were not consistent with a commercial driver’s manual and training. Specifically, the commercial driver’s manual states that when a tractor trailer operator moves the tractor to the left prior to turning right, he or she should keep the trailer in the right lane. By doing so, the tractor trailer compensates for the off track trailer unit by blocking the right lane thus preventing a collision. Many times trucking companies and their lawyers will argue that the car tried to squeeze by in the right and the tractor trailer operator was not at fault. Trucking accidents with small cars often result in catastrophic injuries and many times death.

If you are injured by a large 18 wheel truck or semi-truck, you have the legal right to hold the truck drivers and trucking companies responsible for the harm caused by the negligence or non-compliance with safety regulations. The experienced Pennsylvania truck accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have the experience and resources to properly prepare truck accident claims and our track record of success speaks for itself.

The experienced truck accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the legendary Philadelphia Beasley Firm and collectively has recovered billions of dollars since 1958 with an outstanding track record of success. For more information, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595. As always, we offer a no recovery, zero fee guarantee.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting the passenger seat of a car the my wife was driving when she had a major anxiety attack as she entered a “cattle shoot” of a highway construction project on I-476 southbound in Pennsylvania. State and highway traffic engineers had developed a traffic plan, closed traffic lanes, placing cones directing drivers into a “cattle shoot” to travel southbound on I-476 while construction took place on a wet evening in the adjacent lanes. Visibility was poor. My wife, a nervous driver to begin with, was having a panic attack while traveling in this narrow, enclosed lane at a fairly high speed. While she couldn’t stop and get out of the car, she became paralyzed with fear. I am sure that my wife’s reaction is not so dissimilar from many other drivers who enter the strange “cattle shoot-like” closure during road construction projects.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney who has handled many highway defect design cases involving catastrophic injuries and death, I am all too familiar with the catastrophic car accidents that occur within highway construction projects, including but not limited to the “cattle shoot”.

Recently a driver was paralyzed in a crash while following a temporary traffic pattern in such a situation and the case was settled during jury selection for $13.5 million dollars. The 50-year victim suffered injuries resulting in partial quadriplegia requiring 24 hour care. The victim, his wife, and daughter sued the highway contractors, planners, and the city alleging that the traffic pattern, which was signed off by city officials, obscured vision creating a dangerous traffic pattern. Also alleged in the highway defect lawsuit was the fact that the contractor had negligently placed signed and cones in the wrong location and were not large enough.

Continue reading "Who Is At Fault When You Get Into A Car Accident While Driving Through A Highway Construction Site?" »

While working on an auto accident case involving a client who sustained a detached retina as a result of head trauma, I had the opportunity to converse with one of the leading ophthalmologists in the United States. The doctor described that after examining my client and her past medical records that she had sustained a retinal detachment or a separation of the retina. As a result of trauma to the head, a hole or tear formed in the retina. In layman’s terms, the retina is a thin transparent tissue of light sensitive nerve fibers and cells and covers the inside of the eye similar to how wallpaper covers the walls of a room. If there is a severe trauma to the head, a retinal detachment can occur. In a severe head trauma situation, the retina often sustains small tears or holes. Once a retinal tear or hole is present watery fluid may pass through the hole and flow between the retina and the back wall of the eye causing it to detach. The part of the retina that is detached will no longer work properly and it will cause a blind spot in vision. If the situation remains untreated and progressively worsens, there is a chance of blindness. Retinal detachment is a serious eye problem and must be dealt with immediately and any hard blow or trauma to the eye from a car or truck accident can cause a retina to detach.

If you are noticing blind spots or sight problems after a car or truck accident, it is important that you contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to seek treatment closing the retinal tear or detachment. Approximately 80% of all uncomplicated cases can be cured with one operation and an additional 15% will need repeated operations and the remainder will never retach. The prognosis is much worse if it is detached or the detachment is of long duration. Without treatment retinal detachment can become total within six months.

If you or a loved one has sustained a serious eye injury as the result of a car accident or truck accident, please contact one of our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation. Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together have recovered over $2 billion dollars for injured victims. Please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595. As always, we offer a no recovery, zero fee guarantee.

In the last two months, as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have seen an increased volume of head on collisions with the cause being lack of caution on icy and snowy roads whereupon a vehicle traveling carelessly or too fast for the conditions loses control. Many times, the results are catastrophic with permanent injuries or unfortunately wrongful death. The crash dynamics of a head on collision are often unforgiving. Even at relatively low speeds, head on collisions will often leave the accident victim with catastrophic and debilitating injuries and many times death.

Snow and ice on roadways are major contributing factors in fatal car accidents and head on collisions in Pennsylvania. Many times, these accidents are caused by black ice which is sometimes called glare ice or clear ice and is a thin coating of glazed ice on the surface. While not truly black, it is actually transparent. When driving on snowy and icy roadways, please follow the offered tips from the experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily:

1. Make sure your tires have at least a 6/32 deep tread according to The Tire Rack.

2. Make sure your windshield is clear and replace windshield wiper blades with new ones.

3. Apply Rain-X or water shedding material to your window and make sure that your
windshield washer system works.

4. Use your air conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior
windows, gauge your air conditioner and select a fresh air option. It is fine to set the
temperature on hot.

5. Check your headlights to make sure that they are clean and other vehicles will see you.

6. Learn how to stop properly. For a non-ABS vehicle on a mixed surface road, push the
brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling and then immediately release the brake
enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again. Repeat this sequence rapidly.

Continue reading "Snow And Ice Most Likely The Cause Of A Growing Number Of Deadly Pennsylvania Head On Collisions In Recent Weeks" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and truck accident attorney, I am all too familiar with snow and ice missiles that fly off cars or trucks that are not properly cleaned after a snow storm and then travel down the highway at great speeds. On February 22nd, after 4 to 6 inches of snow fell on the southeastern Pennsylvania vicinity, I was traveling on Rt. 476 when a large sheet of compacted and hard snow and ice flew off a semi-truck trailer striking my windshield with such force that it caused me to momentarily lose control of my vehicle. Thank God, I had gone to work late this day and there were no other cars in the adjacent lane which I swerved into in a state of shock.

Many accidents have occurred in Pennsylvania in the last few weeks and the experienced Pennsylvania truck accident law firm of Reiff & Bily had been retained to represent two individuals who were seriously injured in a similar accident on Route 80 just a week ago. Currently Pennsylvania law only prescribes a small fine for drivers and only if the ice or snow causes death or serious injury. The neighboring state of New Jersey has a law in place which punishes drivers who fail to make all reasonable efforts to remove snow or ice.
As an attorney who has seen the tragic side of snow and ice missile accidents, it is imperative that Pennsylvania legislature put more teeth into Pennsylvania’s laws regarding removing snow and ice from vehicles prior to entering the roadways. The safety and prosecution of motorist deaths should always be priority one.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of a car or truck accident, please contact one of the experienced car and truck accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily. Effective January 1, 2011, the Reiff & Bily law firm has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and has collectively been awarded billions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families. For more information, please contact online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

According to news sources, excessive speed by a 17-year old teenage driver may have contributed to a fatal Chester County car accident on Saturday, February 19, 2011. The tragic car accident killed 19-year Jesika Kavanagh of Downingtown, PA. Sources state that the 17-year old male driver was operating a Dodge truck and entered an underpass and veered into the southbound lane where it struck a BMW driven by Ms. Kavanagh. Ms. Kavanagh was trapped in the vehicle and had to be removed by the Downingtown Fire Department and was taken to Brandywine Hospital where she died. The other passengers of the BMW were transported to Paoli Hospital for treatment.

Sadly the number one cause of teenager deaths in Pennsylvania and nationwide is car accidents. Teenager drivers, alcohol, and red light scoff laws are responsible for many of the car accidents in Pennsylvania. Many times teenagers are unable to multi-task and are found eating, drinking coffee, reading, or talking on cell phones, which is a huge distraction to drivers. The major cause of death to teenagers age 16 to 19 is traffic accidents.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Jesika Kavanagh for their devastating loss. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.

Based upon the news report, it appears that the teenage driver of the pickup truck was driving recklessly and perhaps too fast for the circumstances. In such cases, the family of the deceased or injured victims can file wrongful death claims seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship, and other related damages.

Continue reading "Every Parent’s Nightmare - When An Inexperienced And Young Teenage Driver Takes Your Car And Gets Into A Fatal Accident" »

An SUV headed south on Route 130 in Edgewater Park, NJ rearended a Mercedes Benz pushing it into a bus stop. The car struck a person waiting for a bus and then hit a light pole according to the prosecutor’s office. The SUV rolled over on its roof hit hitting at least one other vehicle injuring several children, killing a woman, and injuring others.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the injured victims of this SUV rollover accident, as well as the family of the dead victim. We wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Based upon news sources, it appears that the driver of the SUV swerved in an accident avoidance maneuver and lost control as a result.

According to NHTSA, SUV rollovers are some of the deadliest forms of more motor vehicle crashes accounting for more than 1/3 of fatalities. About 58% of all rollover casualties were to occupants of SUVs.

The experienced SUV rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record in obtaining multiple seven figure wins for clients in auto accident cases and SUV rollovers.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of an SUV rollover, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia SUV rollover and car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily. Effective January 1, 2011, Reiff & Bily has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm. Both product liability law firms have collectively been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of injured clients and their families. For more information, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

Tragically another SUV rollover took the life of a young student in San Antonio, Texas on February 17, 2011. According to news sources, a school teacher, Deborah Holcombe, was driving a Suburban SUV with 6 students to a school event in San Antonio when her car drifted and the driver made an over correction sending the vehicle into a roll. A student was ejected from the SUV an killed and another passenger was taken by helivac to a local hospital.

The experienced Pennsylvania SUV rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have investigated all too many cases involving SUVs which roll over after an accident avoidance maneuver killing innocent and unknowing school children. Our investigators have been able to prove that an alleged manufacturing design defect often results in an unstable vehicle in such an accident avoidance maneuver due to the fact that the SUV maintains an unstable design due to a high center of gravity. In this tragic case, a minor mistake ended with catastrophic and tragic results. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those injured and killed and they would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced SUV rollover attorney who will investigate this claim with knowledge of notable design defects where manufacturers continue to put profitability ahead of consumer safety.

The Philadelphia product liability and SUV rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and in their collective efforts, they have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars on behalf of injured consumers. As always, they offer a no recovery, zero fee guarantee. For more information, contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

Ford Motor Company recalled approximately 365,000 of their F-150 trucks on February 3, 2011.

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the interior door handle housing unit could crack during routine use, resulting in inadequate spring tension to return the door handle back to a tightly closed position. That product defect could cause the truck door to open during a motor vehicle accident, ejecting the driver or passenger from the truck.

Our experienced automotive product liability and auto defect lawyers believe safety should never be an option, and recognizes that automobile manufacturers owe the highest duty of care to their customers and must be held accountable if a driver or loved one is injured in an accident due to their design failure.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia wrongful death and automotive product liability law firm of Reiff & Bily has aggressively represented clients and their families who have been catastrophically injured or killed in automobile accidents or by defective products. Effective January 1, 2011 the Reiff & Bily law firm has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm in Philadelphia who since 1958 has been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of their clients and have hundreds of millions and multi-million dollar verdicts, settlements, and awards to their credit. Please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

Recently I received a call from a middle aged man whose wife was involved in a car accident and since the car accident she has slid downward after being diagnosed with a closed head and traumatic brain injury. Prior to the accident, the victim who is now my client was gainfully employed as an executive. After the accident, her behavior was described by her husband and friends as becoming more detached, unable to remember things, reclusive with slurred speech and extreme depression. In fact, her husband told me that he “lost his wife,” and that she was unrecognizable after the accident.

A careful battery of neurological testing did in fact confirm that this once vibrant and functioning woman was suffering memory loss, sensory loss, diminished cognitive functioning, and communication problems. While it is not known whether these symptoms are permanent due to the length of time they have existed, the prognosis is not favorable. As evidenced by this situation, traumatic brain injuries which result from a car accident or trauma can seriously alter the lives of victims and their families. The victim’s husband has become a caregiver as he must attend to his wife’s basic needs on a daily basis. Her medical bills continue to skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and of course, without a job her family income is cut in half. In effect, this once very well functioning family and couple has had the wind knocked out of their sails in a financial and emotional way.

At the experienced Philadelphia brain injury and car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have over 30 years of experience handling the most catastrophic car accident and brain injury cases, and we have been able to successfully obtain compensation from the parties responsible for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and resident care. If you or a loved one has sustained catastrophic injuries or a wrongful death as the result of a car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia catastrophic injury and traumatic brain injury lawyer since 1979, I have tackled thousands of cases involving serious brain injuries rendering once high powered individuals and executives to an unrecognizable state as compared to their life prior to the accident.

Recently a book “Left Neglected” was authored by neuroscientist, Lisa Genova, which tackles the serious issues of traumatic brain injuries in an intriguing and realistically dramatic manner. Ms. Genova writes compellingly of the story of Sarah, a high powered executive and mother of three, who has a car accident and suffered a catastrophic brain injury. The brain injury is noted to be left neglect syndrome, a disability whereupon one does not recognize anything on the left side even their own hand or leg. While most individuals would find stories such as this gruesome and perhaps boring, this book is one that I would recommend to friends and clients of mine as it is almost impossible to put down as one follows the path of the first person narrator Sarah Nickerson, a 37-year old achieving multi-tasker type A personality with a Harvard MBA and a demanding job with a human relations consulting firm in Boston. The catastrophic car accident leaves Sarah with a traumatic brain injury and explores the struggles that she and her family must go through even when the insurance runs out. Prior to her car accident, Sarah had it all and could do it all - the gorgeous suburban house in the most sought after neighborhood, a vacation home in Vermont, three great children, and a devoted husband. Yet with one car accident, her world was turned upside down when the horrific crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and brain injury lawyer who has handled many catastrophic brain injury and closed head traumas, I have worked with individuals and families who after an accident recognize that life will never be the same, forcing them to reexamine their priorities, relationships, and the necessities of life. As an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer, I am well aware that the extent of a brain injury depends on the areas of the brain that were damaged and persons with traumatic brain injuries exhibit memory loss, paralysis, sensory loss, diminished cognitive functions, and communication problems. Many times these injuries are permanent and many times the brain injury victims and their families may not recognize the extent of the injuries until weeks or months after the accident occurs.

Continue reading "“Left Neglected” A Compelling Read And Sensitive Look At Brain Injury" »

The Philadelphia streets were as slippery as ski slopes on the morning of January 18, 2011, yet many drivers failed to acknowledge the dangerous conditions and were speeding down the highways with rockets of ice and snow flying off their non-cleared roofs and windows into the path of oncoming traffic. Icy roads present a threat to innocent individuals who are at the mercy of people who are driving too fast or carelessly under the conditions whereupon they cause catastrophic Philadelphia car accidents, wrongfully injuring and killing others. Although the Philadelphia weather service reported a 1/4 inch or more of ice accumulation on the roadways, that did not deter many people from speeding and carelessly spinning out into other vehicles. I myself witnessed a crash this morning that was predictable as I saw another vehicle pass me on the right side at a high rate of speed before careening or sliding into another vehicle causing substantial property damage.

Pennsylvania has a subjective and arbitrary traffic rule that can punish drivers for “driving too fast for conditions” even though at the time they may not necessarily be exceeding the posted speed limit.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyer, I believe it is reasonable to expect that drivers should operate at slower speeds and more carefully under adverse and icy conditions. Last year in Pennsylvania there were over 8,000 accidents as a result of aggressive driving on snowy, slushy, or ice covered highways due to motorists tailgating, speeding, or making careless lane changes. As a matter of fact, last winter I was driving down the Atlantic City Expressway during snowy conditions when another vehicle cut me off. I lost control of my car and rolled down a ditch. The other vehicle sped away and I sustained thousands of dollars of damage to my vehicle but was lucky to have suffered no personal injury. It makes sense that getting frustrated and driving aggressively on snow or ice is not likely to save you time, but in fact, will cause problems. If you start to slide on ice, try not to panic and steer the wheel in the direction that you want the front end to go to straighten out the vehicle.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident due to aggressive winter driving or a snow missile flying off another vehicle, it is likely that the other vehicle is traveling too fast for the conditions and a proper cause of negligence and liability may exist. The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation and a no recovery, zero fee guarantee. For more information contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

The Philadelphia car accident and SUV rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily has received a number of calls from operators of SUVs that have rolled over or been involved in serious car accidents as a result of loss of control due to icy roads. Obviously, when roads are icy, the number of vehicle accidents is noticeably higher and normally there is a spike around the first snow fall or icing of the roadways. Afterwards, drivers seem to get used to conditions and adjust accordingly.

Many drivers of SUVs over confidently assume that their vehicles are safer for travel in snowy and icy conditions. However, due to their higher center of gravity, this is simply not the case. While many motorists think that SUVs or other four wheel drive vehicles are the ticket to safety while driving on snow or ice, it turns out that they slip and slide as much if not more than other vehicles. In fact, the operators of many four wheel drive vehicles may be operating their vehicles with a false sense of security and may be over confident on snow or ice which is a dangerous combination. On many snowy roads, there is often an icy undersurface and any breaking, swerving or accident avoidance maneuver can cause the SUV to lose its traction and roll over due to its high center of gravity. The key to staying safe on winter roads isn’t the type of vehicle you drive but using common sense and driving cautiously.

Continue reading "Icy Roads Contribute to Increase In Vehicle Rollover and Automobile Accidents - Winter Driving Safety Tips " »

We recently had the occasion to represent a catastrophically injured woman who was struck by a lawncare and landscaping truck owned by an active Pennsylvania corporation. Believe it or not, the truck had minimal insurance limits of $15,000. The medical bills in this case were more than that in the first week alone. The landscaping and lawn care company that owned the trucks apparently had engaged in a careful asset transfer and after investigation, it was revealed that it was merely a shell corporation owning no property or having any assets. As we researched the background of the company, I noted that there were several lawsuits, liens, and judgments against the company and that the corporate President owned no property and that it was transferred many years ago to other family members for diminimus amounts. It also appeared upon searching UCC records that there were filings against the company and the individual by a credit corporation. Additionally, to add insult to injury, the President of the company had an interesting criminal background. In the tightened economy, our client did not have sufficient underinsured motorist coverage. Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming more and more common in the Philadelphia area with many people driving with no insurance or with "dark ages" minimal car insurance putting the victims of car accidents in a precarious position. It is more important now more than ever to contact your insurance agent and purchase a significant uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to protect you in such a circumstance. Unfortunately in this case after exploring all other avenues for recovery including highway defect and product liability, the client had very limited avenues to follow.

In three separate Philadelphia car accidents on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, three men were killed when they were struck by cars. The first automobile accident and death occurred at Roosevelt Boulevard and Bridge Street in the Summerdale section of Philadelphia when a gentleman crossing the street was hit by a southbound Audi A6 sedan and dragged 100 feet. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide, involuntarily manslaughter, DUI, and other offenses. In the second accident, a 71-year-old man was fatally injured while crossing Cheltenham Avenue near Van Dyke Street in the Wissinoming section of Philadelphia. The third fatal accident occurred at 5:00 p.m. on Cottman Avenue and Dungan Road in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of these 3 separate tragic car accidents.

Earlier the same evening, I left two Christmas parties where many people were drinking to the point of extreme glee and inebriation. Obviously many of these people would get in their cars and drive home on streets that were crowded at 9:00 or 9:30 on a cold Wednesday evening. While many feel that they are safe enough to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having a few cocktails, Pennsylvania law recognizes that it is simply unlawful, stupid, and rightfully subjects one to severe criminal and civil consequences if someone is injured or killed. I urge all of our readers to utilize a designated driver if you are attending a Christmas party and intend to drink or have had a drink. For those other drivers or victims walking or driving on the roadways, be extra careful and drive or walk defensively as you never know who is behind the wheel of a vehicle and chance favors the prepared mind.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Philadelphia car accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. If we decide to take your case, there will be a zero fee unless we make a successful recovery on your behalf. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In another case of overloaded trucks and falling debris, my mother called me hysterically crying the other day and told me she was a victim of an accident where a tire flew off a truck into her path of traffic while she was traveling at least 55 mph on a highway. She lost control of her new car and went off the roadway. Fortunately, she was not severely injured. However, as an experienced Pennsylvania truck and car accident lawyer who has handled many cases involving falling debris, I can state that my mother was one of the lucky ones.

Big rig trucks must follow state and federal regulations regarding maintenance and securing of cargo. Regulations include tie down regulations and red flag rules for regular size cargo in order to keep us safe. When debris falls from a truck due to the fact that it is overloaded or not properly secured or the cargo is oversized and was not marked with a red flag, or if the cargo was not strapped in place resulting in shifting and exiting the vehicle, the injured party has a right to recover against the negligent truck driver or any other person who failed to follow the rules.

This even applies to an amateur driving a U-Haul truck or trailer that did not properly secure the cargo and may apply to the personnel at the rental company for failure to inform or advise how to secure the load which resulted in it coming loose on the highway. In the case at hand, the truck responsible kept going without stopping and if there were serious injuries, a potential cause of action may lie for uninsured motorist benefits. Of course each cause is unique and the facts of each incident or offense must be carefully investigated by an experienced car accident lawyer.

If you or a loved one has crashed on a highway into debris that fell from a truck or the debris caused you to lose control of your car and crash into another vehicle then you should seek the assistance of a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who is experienced in investigating, pursuing, and obtaining compensation as a result of overloading or falling debris from trucks.

For a free no obligation consultation, please contact one of our falling debris or car accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For the second time in two weeks, another church van rolled over in a single vehicle accident after a tire blew out on a Georgia highway killing at least four individuals and injuring another 13 passengers. When the tire blew out, the van lost control striking the median, rolling over several times whereupon many passengers were ejected. The van was the notably troublesome 1987 Dodge Ram 3500 15-passenger van and was from Tabernacle Prayer and Deliverance in Columbus, GA.

We were involved in the prosecution of a similar case and call for the government and responsible automakers to take action to prevent senseless accidents such as these from happening in the future. Obviously the manufacturers continue to emphasize profits over safety and the government is sitting back failing to put into effect strict regulations concerning these death machines. The 15-passenger van in this experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney’s opinion is perhaps the most dangerous vehicle on the roadways today killing innocent children and churchgoers. There is a 15-passenger church van rollover epidemic. In mid-September 2010, another 7 people were killed and 7 catastrophically injured when another church van rolled over.

The experienced 15-passenger van and SUV rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have known for a long time that 15-passenger vans continue to be one of the most unsafe vehicles on the road and suffer from a multitude of design defects that the manufacturers knew about. I have intimately shared the pain and loss of all too many parents, children, and churchgoers who are unknowing about these defects and dangers until the accident happens. Government research and research done by automobile manufacturers indicate there is a significant risk of rollover in 15-passenger vans when fully loaded. Many times, the 15-passenger van rollover crash occurs due to defective tires and inexperienced untrained drivers. The victims and the passengers of this unfortunate and tragic accident would be well advised to contact an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney to fully investigate this accident and recover proper compensation they rightfully deserve because the manufacturer of this van knew of the defects and continued to sell it and did not recall it. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to rollover when fully loaded because they have a high center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in a tire blowout or accident avoidance maneuver. Those injured or wrongfully killed have a legal right to hold the manufacturer responsible for physical and financial injuries and go a step further and make the manufacturer admit in court what they have known all along that these vehicles are not safe. Additionally, it is time for the government to take action as well and enforce regulations prohibiting the transport of church people or students in these vehicles as many other governments around the world have.

Another hit and run car accident tragedy struck in the western suburbs of Philadelphia on the evening of Tuesday, September 28, 2010, when a Villanova student was killed and another critically injured when their car was hit by a stolen Land Rover in Bryn Mawr, PA which thereafter took off a high rate of speed. News sources state that the SUV was racing at approximately 100 mph when it finally slammed into the back of a Volkswagen Jetta carrying two Villanova students from New Jersey. The force of the impact caused the Volkswagen to overturn, trapping the two students inside the mangled wreckage. The victims had to be cut from the wreckage. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other transported by medical helicopter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he remains in critical condition.

Hit and run accidents in southeastern Pennsylvania are out of control and the situation requires immediate attention and action by our lawmakers. As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident and hit and run accident lawyer, I have spoken out many times and written many articles noting that the current Pennsylvania hit and run accident laws actually benefit those who leave the scene of an accident. Obviously no responsible person takes off from an accident scene with a good reason. Most of the time it is due to the fact that they are under the influence, do not possess proper insurance, carrying contraband, or involved with some other type of illegal activity. In the last 4 days, I am aware of a row of at least 4 other hit and run accidents that have killed and catastrophically injured college teens in the prime of their life. It is time for all of us and our legislators to take action to create laws with teeth and severe penalties to punish these irresponsible wrongdoers.

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

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run lawyer, I have long been concerned with the epidemic of hit and runs that seems to be growing in the city of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, another victim was claimed on the evening of Saturday, September 25th when Derrick Martinez, age 2, was fatally struck by a late model silver Mercedes Benz as he and his mother were crossing the intersection at 6th Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia. The Mercedes was described as having tinted windows and chrome wheels. This accident was described by AAA MidAtlantic as being “senseless and preventable”.

On the following evening in Philadelphia, another hit and run car accident claimed the life of yet another victim. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families of the victims and once again, these tragic incidents calls to question what the legislators are doing to close hit and run loopholes that currently exist under Pennsylvania hit and run laws. Currently the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have loopholes that reward hit and run drivers if they were under the influence. Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill an individual approximately every half hour and non-fatally and catastrophically injure someone in America every 10 minutes. Believe it or not, the current Pennsylvania hit and run law actually benefits those who leave the scene of the accident when intoxicated. When someone is intoxicated and kills or catastrophically injures someone in a motor vehicle, that person will have a much different penalty than if they left the scene of the accident and reported it the next day. I have been writing for years that hit and run accidents penalties need to be much tougher and have more teeth. Most people who are intoxicated or under the influence drive irresponsibly and leave the scene of the accident either for this reason or for no other good reason. After all, why would any responsible citizen leave the scene of a hit and run accident when there is no good reason particularly when someone is catastrophically injured or killed. The hit and run epidemic is becoming pandemic in Philadelphia and it is time for our legislators to step to the plate and make strong laws to punish the irresponsible wrongdoers.

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

A study by Allstate Insurance Company concluded that Philadelphia is a city where there is an abundance of car accidents. Allstate Insurance Company released a study indicating that Fort Collins was the safest city in terms of car drivers and accidents and that Philadelphia, although not being the worst, landed in the bottom 10 of 193 cities. The Allstate study was based on the likelihood of drivers experiencing a vehicle crash compared with the national average. Allstate concluded that a driver in Philadelphia is 53.5% more likely to be in a car accident than the national average. The average number of years between car accidents for Philadelphia is 6.5 compared to 10 years nationally. For more information google “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.”

In the event that you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily offer a free no obligation consultation. We always offer a no recovery, no fee guarantee. For further information contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Test results have revealed that people with sleep apnea perform just as poorly or worse on driving performance tests as those that are legally intoxicated. Sleep studies have revealed that people with sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that disrupts sleep, are at least double the risk of being in a car crash. An academic study recently revealed that patients with sleep apnea are 3 to 5 times more likely to be in a serious car accident involving personal injury. Not only is the number of car and truck crashes startling but even more surprising is the severity of the crashes and how many catastrophic injuries and fatalities have occurred.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation Task Force in Pulmonary Disorders noted that untreated obstructive sleep apnea is a preventable cause of numerous car and truck accidents. Many times the condition results in deadly consequences and has risen to epidemic proportions in regard to commercial truck drivers. No one on the roadways is immune. An individual with sleep apnea can fall asleep within minutes in a quiet or monotonous environment such as driving at night and many times during the daytime. The cost of car accidents due to sleep apnea has been estimated to be in the billions each year. In fact, the costs are so high that it would be cheaper to diagnose and treat all drivers with sleep apnea.

Unfortunately very little is being done about this silent epidemic in the trucking industry which has particularly worsened considering that there are over 4.7 million commercial truck drivers on the highways and studies indicates that more than 28% of them have sleep apnea. Such a result implies that over 1.3 million truck drivers are affected. Many trucking companies and drivers knowing the serious risks and dangers posed by sleep apnea still choose to turn a blind eye to this clear and present danger to the motoring public.

The experienced Pennsylvania car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily carefully investigate all of our trucking and car accident cases for the involvement of sleep apnea and other medical or physical conditions which may explain to the insurance company or the jury why our clients have been injured and why we are greedy for justice including punitive damages. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced car accident and truck accident attorneys for a free no obligation consultation. Our record of success since 1979 speaks for itself.

A recent study revealed that what might appear to be a simple whiplash may also cause anatomical changes resulting in brain injury. It has long been known that whiplash can cause injuries to the cervical spine. However, in the July issue of The Journal of Brain Injury coauthored by Ezriel E. Kornel, M.D. FACS and Michael Friedman, Ph.D. it was determined that there was a definitive connection between whiplash and brain injury and examination of MRI scans of 1,200 neck pain patients revealed that those patients suffering from whiplash were more likely to have anatomical changes to the brain resulting in brain injury, specifically herniation of the brain called a “Chiari malformation” where the bottom part of the brain the cerebellum dips through an opening in the base of the skull after whiplash injury. The preliminary findings indicated that brain injury occurred in 23% of whiplash cases studied. This condition can be quite painful and endanger a patient’s health with symptoms including headaches, neck pain, upper extremity numbness, tingling and weakness and in a few cases there can also be lower extremity weakness and brain dysfunction. Dr. Cornell advised that anyone suffering from whiplash to see a physician immediately.

At the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have successfully handled over 20,000 automobile accidents claims since 1979 and are all too familiar with closed head trauma and brain injuries that result from the same. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Pennsylvania rollover lawyer who has investigated all too many accidents involving minivans and 15 passenger vans, I was sorry to learn of another catastrophic accident involving the tragic death of 5-year-old boy killed in yesterday’s horrific crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at milepost 303 in West Nantmeal Township, Pa. shortly after 4 p.m. This accident involved a Chrysler van which has a history of accidents/rollovers due to what we feel is an unstable design caused by a high center of gravity when fully loaded. This alleged design defect often results in an unstable vehicle in an accident avoidance maneuver, or if tire problem occurs. Our extensive research has revealed that the manufacturer knew about such defects. Yet they continue to sell these defective vehicles putting profits over safety, despite a minimal expenditure to fix the defect. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who were injured and died in this easily preventable accident.

If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death due to an SUV or van rollover, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania van rollover attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Quite simply, common sense dictates that summertime is a time for fun and relaxation. People take vacations in their car and with school out of session many times there are more young, inexperienced drivers behind the wheel adding to the risk of car accidents. If we add to the equation unlawful drinking, texting, phoning, and the additional presence of more bicyclists, pedestrians, and highway construction projects, the risk of having a catastrophic car accident is increased substantially. Summertime means road trips.

At the experienced Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have been representing catastrophically injured victims and those unfortunately killed due to the negligence of others as a result of car accidents. Our lawyers and experts have noticed a trend that summer weekends are the deadliest time for car accidents, a finding which is corroborated by research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

AAA has created a top ten driving mistakes list that could lead to a serious or fatal car accident along with tips on how to avoid them.

1. Risk taking – believing that you won’t be involved in a car accident.

2. Overconfidence – thinking you already know how to handle any risky situation.

3. Giving in to peer pressure - failing to speak up about dangerous driving behaviors.

4. Not wearing a seat belt.

5. Speeding.

6. Having too many passengers in the vehicle.

7. Driving distracted by cell phones.

8. Adjusting the radio or CD player especially for new drivers.

9. Late night cruising.

10. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

For more information see the article “Teen Driver Risks In High Gear Over Summer”, USA Today, June 21, 2010.

If you or loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorneys for a free no obligation consultation. Of course, the best Pennsylvania car accident attorneys will always offer a free no obligation consultation and a no recovery, no fee guarantee.

31-year old John Paul Endicott was killed on Wednesday, July 7th when his motor scooter traveling on Broad Street was struck by an SUV making a left hand turn. Mr. Endicott was southbound on Broad Street at approximately 8:35 a.m. when a 29-year old woman behind the wheel of a 1999 Ford SUV made a left turn onto Susquehanna Avenue from the northbound lanes of Broad Street hitting the scooter. The victim was pronounced dead at 9:08 a.m. at Temple University Hospital.

As an experienced Philadelphia motorcycle and car accident lawyer, this case is nearly identical to a case that paralyzed a dear friend of mine almost 30 years ago when I started practicing law. The facts of this case spotlight that vehicles breaking traffic laws often pose the greatest danger and threats to innocent motorcyclists. The law of Pennsylvania states that vehicles making a left hand turn must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles. In this case according to the initial investigation, the 29-year old operator of the 1999 Ford SUV was traveling in the northbound lanes of Broad Street and made a left hand turn onto Susquehanna Avenue by intersecting the southbound lanes, failing to yield the right of way. Although an investigation by the police is underway and no charges have been filed, it appears to this experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle and car accident lawyer that the driver of the vehicle making a left hand turn may have been at fault for failing to yield the right of way and failing to notice the motorcycle. It is not clear why she made the left hand turn into oncoming traffic and I question whether or not she was impaired or distracted. Was she inattentive driving recklessly or negligently? Was there any dangerous condition on the street which may have contributed to this collision? Was she texting or chatting on a cell phone? I trust that city officials and police will be closely examining these and other facts to determine how and why this collision occurred.

The family of the victim would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania car accident and motorcycle accident lawyer to analyze all facets of this crash to insure that the negligent parties are held fully responsible. The best motorcycle accident law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to victims and their families. At the Philadelphia motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we believe that motorists should be “extra conscious” while operating a vehicle particularly in the summer while motorcycles are about on our streets and highways. Please contact us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer since 1979, I think that I probably have handled many types of conceivable car accidents that could occur. It may seem surprising to many readers that although young drivers and teenagers have the highest fatality rate per mile driven (almost 4 times as high as the rate for drivers 30 to 60) driving fatality rates decline steadily until age 25 and stays low until drivers reach age 70. After age 70, fatality rates increase steeply to the point where drivers 80 to 84 are as dangerous if not more dangerous than 18-year olds. From age 80, the fatality rate rises steeply to the point where drivers 85 and above have the highest fatality rate of all, one and a half times as high as 16-year olds. Obviously the fatality rate among the elderly is due to greater susceptibility to injuries rather than a higher propensity to get into accidents and a simple event injury may turn into a complicated event injury-wise for the elderly person.

In the last year, I have had the privilege of representing a few of Pennsylvania’s golden citizens who were catastrophically injured in what would otherwise be a minor impact injury situation due to their frail nature. It is interesting to note that in a few particular cases younger occupants of the vehicle were able to walk away while some elderly occupants had to be helicoptered to nearby hospitals in critical condition and remained in critical condition only to live their golden years out confined to a hospital bed or nursing facility. According to studies, the role of age was revealed in recent Toyota sudden acceleration recalls where the bulk of incidents involved fatalities reported by drivers age 61 to 80.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family Madina Sem, a Fels High School student who had completed her senior project in art therapy to rave reviews and then was tragically struck by an out of control vehicle that ran up on the highway and struck her as she was making her way home from school. Madina Sem, who was one of eight sisters born to Cambodian immigrants, was described as a beautiful young lovely lady. She was a mentor to other teens and helped them all through troubled times. According to news reports, at approximately 4:00 p.m. Ms. Medina got off the bus on Olney Avenue and 2nd Street and had just rounded the corner north on 2nd when she was struck by an out of control car that ran onto the sidewalk. As she lay bleeding on the sidewalk, her sister Melina Sem, 19, ran to the scene and stated that Madina was crying and asked what had happened to her. According to Philadelphia police, Ms. Sem was hit by a car that was struck by another vehicle in a Philadelphia car accident at the intersection suffering multiple fractures and head trauma. She was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center where her family was informed that she needed immediate surgery to reduce brain swelling. However, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the doctors informed the family that she “did not make it”. News sources reveal that the motorists were also taken to Einstein for treatment of minor injuries and no charges have been filed as the police investigation continues.

Continue reading "Popular And Successful Philadelphia High School Teenager Killed By Runaway Car After Receiving Rave Reviews On Her Senior Project" »

In the course of my legal practice as a Pennsylvania catastrophic injury and defective trailer law since 1979, I have met many unsung heroes whose lifetime work has had a significant impact on saving the lives of others. Ron Melancon is one of those individuals. In May of 2003, Ron was driving his minivan and noticed a pickup truck pulling a trailer in front of him. When the truck pulling a trailer stopped, Ron attempted to stop but unfortunately hit the trailer. Unfortunately the trailer was made of a transparent large steel mesh and for a driver behind the trailer, there was nothing to indicate its length or depth. Its brake lights were hard to visualize to the driver behind. Thank goodness no one was hurt and the damage to Ron’s car was minimal. But over and over in his mind, Ron Melancon tried to figure out how he missed seeing the trailer and how he could improve the safety of trailers that accidents such as this and more catastrophic accidents involving trailer did not occur. Ron Melancon then began a crusade to inform the public about the safety factors of trailers. Against the advice of all friends and on his own nickel, Ron decided not to get his van fixed and use the money that he saved by not repairing his van to start a campaign and call the public’s attention to trailer safety. During his initial hours of research Ron Melancon discovered a few details concerning trailers:

1. They do not need to be inspected.

2. You can build one on your own and use it or sell it.

3. If they are under 3,000 lbs., they fall below federal guidelines and if trailers are over 3,000 lbs. reflectors only need be placed at the extreme rear of the trailer.

In the beginning, no one wanted to hear Ron’s story. He was repeatedly told “You hit him in the rear, pay your fine and move on”. Ron took an online safe driving course to avoid a conviction for causing a car accident by following too closely, but he did not stop there. He then spoke to General Assembly delegate John S. Reid, who gave him the opportunity to vent and agreed to sponsor a Bill that would make trailers used to haul landscape equipment more visible. The law passed with 100% of the House of Delegates and the Senate and you would think that would be enough, but a company called Carry On Trailers decided to fight the law. Jackie Robinson once stated that “a life isn’t significant except for its impact on other’s lives.” Somewhere out there there is a unique place for all of us to help others and a unique role for us to fill that only we can fill if we are dedicated. Ron Melancon created a website entitled www.dangeroustrailers.org which I urge all of you to visit and support. Ron works 7 days a week, seemingly 24 hours a day, to make sure that the public is aware of the dangers of trailers and their defects. He has taken his efforts to legislators around the country, trailer manufacturers, as well as the consumers. It is important to add that Ron performs all of his duty and efforts at a significant financial loss to himself without any public or private support. When people such as Ron serve the public, life is no longer meaningless, and while some dubious readers may question Ron’s dedication, I salute Ron Melancon and believe that in helping others, we shall help ourselves. For whatever good we give out will complete the circle of life and come back to us, and that such given of the whole heart and freeful mind is the most beautiful thing that a person can do.

Trailer detachments are becoming more regular occurrences in Pennsylvania and nationwide. This experienced Philadelphia car accident and defective trailer accident lawyer calls for more Pennsylvania Commonwealth and national regulation with teeth. In the latest event which occurred on March 14, 2010, state police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania reported that a trailer came loose from a passing pickup truck, striking an artist who was carving a wooden sculpture. The 46-year old Pennsylvania artist was using a chainsaw and wearing heavy ear protection when the trailer broke free from the passing truck striking him. Pennsylvania police state that the truck hit a divot in the road and the trailer detached hitting the artist. The force of the detached trailer striking the Pennsylvania artist was so great that he was pinned against a building and died of massive injuries later at the hospital. The investigators are attempting to determine if the trailer was properly attached to the truck.

The family of 46-year old John Metzler, the victim, would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced defective trailer and Pennsylvania car accident lawyer to fully investigate the facts of this case to determine who may be liable for his injuries.

Several factors are known to cause trailer accidents - operator behavior, mechanical failure, design defects or limitations, uninspected damages, improper repairs, metallurgical component failures, improper operation, improper training, improper maintenance procedure, lack of safety harnesses and/or chains, failure of safety lock, failure of hitch, improper height or weight restrictions, corrosion of parts, improper assembly, overloading the trailer, abrupt start and stopping, and violation of applicable state codes.

There is no federal law or national agency administrating trailer defect accidents. There are no known general or uniform reporting requirements and the trailer industry is highly unregulated. There are important questions that must be answered and explored demanding a team of experienced defective trailer investigators and experts to determine how and why the accident occurred. It is important to bring wrongdoers to justice and to make sure victims are fully compensated for resulting injuries.

For more information regarding dangerous trailers, please visit consumer advocate Ron Melancon's website www.dangeroustrailers.org.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration fined Toyota with a 16.4 Million Dollar civil penalty which in this experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney’s opinion will bolster legal claims that Toyota committed consumer fraud and racketeering. We believe that this will assist the plaintiffs’ attorneys in obtaining thousands of documents for use in our cases and factually it validates the legitimacy of our allegations that Toyota has been misleading the government and innocent consumers as far as the severity of their problems with their sticky pedals and their whole electronic throttle system.

The experienced car accident and auto product liability lawyers at Reiff & Bily and others believe and will allege that Toyota committed fraud against consumers by hiding problems associated with its accelerator pedals and we would even go so far as to insist that Toyota violated the Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organization Act by conspiring to mislead consumers and the federal government about the extent of its safety problems. Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide because of sudden acceleration problems. The penalty is the largest penalty ever brought against an automobile manufacturer in the United States according to the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood who further went on to state “We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations. Worse yet, they knowingly hide a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take any action to protect millions of drivers and their families.”

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing injured consumers in product liability cases against manufacturers since 1979 with a successful track record. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Toyota accident or any other accident involving an allegedly defective automobile, truck, or other motor vehicle, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation with a no recovery, no fee guarantee at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The human condition dictates that when we seek out the services of a professional, whether it be a doctor or lawyer, we want the best. The reality of defining who is the best Philadelphia lawyer is the other person’s idea of how he thinks affairs should be handled. When one seeks the best attorney, it is with the belief that he or she will achieve a positive outcome relating to the events and circumstances in one’s life. The adverse circumstances of a personal injury claim introduces a man to himself.

In seeking who the best lawyer is to represent their legal interests it is important to select a lawyer who understands and respects the value of hope. The best Philadelphia car accident lawyer should communicate the loss of the plaintiff’s dreams and hopes to insurance companies and ultimately to juries who hear the case. It is important for the best attorney to prove what a catastrophically injured plaintiff was capable of doing prior to the incident and to identify and fully recover all of the compensation necessary for the plaintiff to recognize the fulfillment of his dreams and goals. Hope was personified in Greek mythology as Elpis. When Pandora opened Pandora’s box, she let out all of the evils except one known as hope. Selfishly I say that the best Pennsylvania personal injury and car accident lawyer should be greedy. Greedy for justice.

Continue reading "Who Is The Best Philadelphia Car Accident And Personal Injury Lawyer?" »

As I have been blogging for the past few years, there seems to be an epidemic of hit and run accidents in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, an innocent 17-year girl was killed by a mini van that struck her as she crossed Cheltenham Avenue last night at approximately 10:00 p.m at its intersection with Old Oak Lane Road. Police stated that the 17-year old female was struck by a light colored mini van that fled westbound on Cheltenham Avenue. Police suspect that the vehicle has damage to its front end.

As the economy continues to worsen, the episodes of deadly hit and run accidents in Philadelphia and surrounding communities is growing with geometric magnitude. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the family of this innocent 17-year old victim and once again this tragic incident calls to question what legislators are doing to close the hit and run loopholes that exist under Pennsylvania hit and run laws. For information concerning this topic, please see my previous articles and blogs written at the following site www.reiffandbily.com.

The family of this individual would be well served to seek the service and experience of a Philadelphia car accident and hit and run lawyer to fully investigate this claim and work in conjunction with the police to make sure defendants are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, as well as recover to the maximum amount of civil remedies and compensatory damages available.

When a car accident happens, it often results in catastrophic injuries and many times, unfortunately, in fatalities. It is important when investigating a catastrophic car accident case that the attorney leave no stone unturned. Investigators should check surveillance cameras in the area of the accident, as well as promptly interview any and all witnesses. This experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer will often subpoena the cell phone records of the driver alleged to be at fault to determine whether or not that person was texting or speaking on a cell phone and not paying full attention to the rules of the road.

As noted in regard to a recent high profile school bus crash in Perkiomenville, surveillance videos, as well as videos on the bus depicted multiple traffic violations and the offending fatigued driver blew through ten stop signs before making a sudden and darting left turn in front of another vehicle, killing that car’s passenger with a student-filled bus. A careful background check of a defendant will indicate prior offenses and many times reveal that defendants believe that the rules of the road do not apply to them.

It is also important to note where the defendant driver was prior to the accident. For example, if that person had been in a bar, restaurant or night club drinking, there may be a potential Dram Shop action. A careful examination of the car and a black box download should be made in certain circumstances to determine whether there was an automotive product liability defect which contributed to the accident and the resulting injuries.

The experienced car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have been successfully representing seriously injured victims of car accidents since 1979 with a successful track record. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please feel free to contact us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

A Buick Regal speeding out of control in drag race type fashion slammed into a Toyota Camry westbound on Vine Street at its intersection with N. 16th Street tragically killing two innocent victims. According to police, the crash happened at 5:00 a.m. on March 18, 2010, when the Buick speeding northbound on 16th Street ran a red light and slammed into the Toyota Camry which was westbound on Vine Street. The two men in the Camry were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies remained in the mangled vehicle for hours while police conducted their investigation. The two men in the Buick jumped into a Pontiac which sped away down the nearby ramp to westbound Vine Street Expressway. The police found a hand gun in the Buick which is registered to an undisclosed Philadelphia address.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic incident. We will closely follow this story as police continue to investigate. The families of the innocent deceased victims would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced catastrophic injury and car accident lawyer to fully investigate this claim and to work with the authorities to make sure their interests are properly protected.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has scheduled a news conference to detail vehicular homicide charges, including multiple counts of reckless endangerment, against a school bus driver Frederick Poust III. Poust was at the wheel of a Perkiomen Valley School Bus carrying 45 students on the morning of February 17, 2010 when it collided with an oncoming car killing the passenger in the car and catastrophically injuring the driver.

As I noted in a prior blog, the school bus driver had been behind the wheel in another fatal accident a decade ago. In the previous fatal accident, the school bus driver was dialing his girlfriend on his cell phone when his Ford Explorer blew through a stop sign in Bucks County crashing into another car and killing a two-year old girl.

As it appears to this experienced Philadelphia car accident and school bus accident lawyer, the school bus company nor the responsible individuals did any background check on this driver’s past history. With the easy availability of driver records and a simple background check, perhaps this accident may have been avoided and the tragic loss of lives prevented.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at our firm have been handling automobile accident cases one case at a time. Many of our legal brethren frown down upon what we do with derogatory terms. As they sit in their ivory towers defending insurance companies, automobile manufacturers who make defective products, or representing doctors who knowingly have committed malpractice, they are quick to point their fingers at the car accident attorney many times using the derogatory term “ambulance chaser.” What these ivory tower lawyers and others fail to recognize is that yes accidents do happen, people do get injured most times catastrophically and seriously, and that every time you or a loved one gets in an automobile, there is a plethora of events that may occur which could give rise to a tragic consequence - seat belt failure, airbag failure, sudden acceleration, drunk driver on the road, somebody texting or phoning and not paying attention to the road and in one second one’s life can be instantly and tragically changed.

I find it interesting that many prominent individuals who come to our firm for representation may be embarrassed that their friends should not know that they are pursuing an automobile accident claim even though the law of Pennsylvania provides that they are entitled to recover for compensatory or monetary damages intended to make them whole when considering the extent of the injuries sustained in the accident.

If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured or sustained a wrongful death because of an automotive product liability defect or the negligence of another, you are entitled to be compensated for pain and suffering and recover for the loss of life’s pleasures and the loss of the ability to perform life’s daily duties. You are entitled to recover earnings, medical expenses, funeral expenses, estate administration expenses, and perhaps even punitive damages.

The Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily understands and respects the value of hope and the loss of someone’s dreams when they are involved in an accident. We have been able to successfully communicate plaintiffs’ dreams and hopes to insurance companies and our opponents and ultimately a jury who hear our cases since 1979. It is our job to prove what the plaintiff is capable of doing or was capable of doing prior to an accident and to identify the compensation necessary for the plaintiff to recognize the fulfillment of his dreams and goals. We are proud to be Philadelphia car accident lawyers and are not afraid to ask insurance companies or juries to fully compensate the injured for the loss of their dreams and hopes.

Once again Toyota executives have a bulls eye on their backs as at least 10 new complaints submitted to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration charged the recall fix is not working and the problems with sudden acceleration defect continues. The new post-recall complaints were first noted in a report by Safety Research and Strategies SRS a private research firm located in Rehobath, MA. Among the complaints detailed by SRS was a driver who said that even though her 2009 Toyota Matrix had its brakes and pass pedal service February 10th, the car was so uncontrollable on February 26th. Another 2008 Avalon owner said the car was backing out of a driveway a few days after being serviced when it accelerated on its own and the car did about three loops around the garage area of the home causing damage to the car, benches, branches, trees, lamp post, etc. Another complaint says that 2010 Toyota Camry suddenly surged just 5 days after having recall work done.

Although Toyota executives claim they are confident that their SUA recalls will end when the microphones are put in front of them, some consumers who have taken their recall vehicles in for the fix tell a different story.

The Toyota vehicle defect law firm of Reiff & Bily is continuing to investigate and handle Toyota SUA cases and if you or a loved one has been a victim of this situation, please feel free to contact our office for a free consultation.

Eight people were killed early on Friday morning March 5, 2010 when a passenger bus crashed on an Arizona interstate. The wreck occurred south of Phoenix at milepost 173 on I-10. The Department of Safety reports that there have been multiple fatalities and many catastrophic injures. Our hearts and prayers go out to the friends and families of those who were killed in this most tragic bus accident. We wish all of the injured victims a quick and speedy recovery. Though it is not clear from the initial news reports what caused this Arizona bus accident, one thing is clear bus companies owe their passengers the utmost duty of care which means that they must ensure that their passengers are transported safely.

As an experienced bus accident and common carrier accident lawyer, the victims would be well advised to seek experienced counsel to make sure that their rights are properly protected. They would be well advised not to speak to any insurance adjusters or give any statements.

An experienced bus accident lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine who is at fault and responsible for their injuries. The experienced bus accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily will always do so with no obligation.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have handled thousands of car accident cases involving simple negligence as well as automobile product liability defects. I have dealt with just about every conceivable type of expert there is when it comes to car accidents and the one thing that I have learned over the years is that one should never drive in the rain with your cruise control on. Although you may think that it is cautious and a way to avoid speeding tickets by driving with cruise control on, a common situation is that your car can hydroplane and tires will lose contact with the pavement and the car will accelerate at a high rate of speed making it take off like an airplane.

Last year traveling on a slick Atlantic City Expressway, I made the mistake of traveling with cruise control on and my car hydroplaned and ended up going off the road into a ditch causing extensive property damage and minor injuries. I was very lucky. However, many times others are not so lucky. More importantly, some vehicles will not even allow you to set cruise control when the windshield wipers are on. Although many people claim that it is a hoax that you should not use cruise control in the rain, the National Safety Commission issued an article on March 3, 2009 titled Hazards of Driving in the Rain with Cruise Control. Take it from me as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, the safest thing to do when it rains is to disengage cruise control and lower your speed. Driving in the rain requires heightened awareness and ability to react in a second’s notice.

According to news sources, Joseph J. Owsiak, Sr. was traveling east of Bradford Road on County Line Road when he lost control of his vehicle on the icy highway and slid into the westbound lane colliding with a 2007 Dodge van. Mr. Owsiak was pronounced dead at the scene. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Joseph J. Owsiak, Sr.

According to the news source, several other vehicles on that highway wound up involved in accidents due to icy road conditions. Unfortunately, we see many catastrophic car accidents when roads are slick and when there is black ice on the road that is not apparent to the innocent eye. As a matter of fact, I had my own black ice accident a few weeks ago. It is important to consider that when driving in freezing and below conditions to pay extra caution to roadway conditions and drive a bit slower and more carefully than normal.

If you were involved in a Philadelphia car accident as a result of an icy road, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.

The survey recently issued by Insurance.com claiming that lawyers are the most dangerous drivers would seem to offer a golden opportunity to crack wise about the only profession held in lower esteem than journalists. I am going to resist the temptation to crack wise, however.

Insurance.com's data is based on the numbers of customers requesting a quote from the Web site, hardly a scientific survey. Perhaps these drivers are worse than average and are seeking quotes because their insurance companies are dropping them for being bad drivers. There also is no differentiation between fender benders and more serious accidents involving injury or death.

Insurance.com is trying to gin up publicity by bad mouthing lawyers, long seen as the arch enemy of the insurance companies without having the facts to back up its claims. The company sure does sound sure of itself.

"Attorneys topped the list at No. 1 with 44 percent claiming a prior accident when receiving a car insurance comparison quote from insurance.com. (We bet 44 percent of them talked their way out of a ticket, too.)," Insurance.com says, with tongue firmly in cheek. It insists the study is no joke.

"We looked at quotes from a seven month period (June to December 2009).The number of quotes compiled in the research was in the tens of thousands. In terms of our data, the occupational designation of attorney/judge is the No. 1 accident reported to quote requested occupation," says Tom Tennant, a company spokesman, in an e mail.

Attorneys specializing in accident cases tell me that their fellow members of the bar tend to be careful drivers. Jeffrey Reiff, founding partner of the Philadelphia firm of Reiff & Bily, tells WalletPop that he has never had a case of a lawyer involved in an accident who was multi tasking. Lawyers, he says, probably pay low insurance rates because they tend to be good drivers.

"I have never heard of anything like this," Reiff says of the survey. "I find it astounding."

Insurance.com has no idea why lawyers topped the list.

"... we can make the educated guess that it is for the reasons previously stated: stress, when they are on the road, road conditions, number of distractions, propensity to shop for insurance (request quotes)," Tennant says.

Other professions are also maligned by Insurance.com. For reasons that are baffling, dog groomers were rated as the sixth most dangerous profession, edging out marketing/advertising professionals, barbers/stylists (for humans), coaches and nurses. Why dog groomers would be such a menace on the roads is a mystery. Perhaps they're driving with their clients on their laps.

On February 16, 2010, I wrote a blog addressing the safety issues of school buses on snow and ice covered roads. As a witness to two accidents yesterday, I expressed my concern that even though four wheel drives and SUVs were unable to traverse the highways, school buses were carrying our precious cargo and that transportation officials and school administration officials should be most diligent with regard to the conditions of the roads.

Unfortunately, a 26-year old Pennsylvania man was killed on February 17, 2010 when his vehicle slammed into a school bus at the entrance to the Perkiomen Valley Middle School west of Lower Frederick Township. According to news sources, the fatality was identified as Richard Taylor, 27, of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania. The car’s driver, Fred Carroll, of Perkiomenville had to be cut out of the mangled 1999 Honda Civic and was flown by helicopter to Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating to determine the cause of the accident. Five students were treated for injuries by the school nurse. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Richard Taylor and the others injured in this tragic accident. It is not clear from the news report who or what caused this school bus accident in Pennsylvania.

Bus companies, whether they are private or public carriers, owe their passengers the utmost duty of care which means that they must ensure that all passengers are transported safely. If the driver of the other vehicle was determined to be at fault, then he could be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. In such cases, all of the victims would be well advised to seek the counsel of a reputed Philadelphia catastrophic injury and car accident lawyer who would make sure that their rights are best protected and that they get fair and proper compensation for any injuries and loss. It would also be in the best interest of these accident victims not to talk to any insurance adjusters or attorneys or other parties before they have consulted with their own catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyer.

On the morning of February 16, 2010, I decided the roads were too snowy and ice covered to drive to work in my normal fashion so I decided to take the train which is approximately a mile and a half from my home. On the way to the train station, I noticed two school bus accidents and was curious as to why school openings were not delayed or what the heck the school buses were doing on the snowy roads without chains or their proper traction devices while we were entrusting the safe transportation of our precious cargo to these carriers.

In the last few days, there have been many crashes involving school buses in Pennsylvania as well as throughout the northeastern part of the United States. This morning the snow was falling and the roads were ice covered and the roads were slippery even for a four wheel drive vehicle let alone a vehicle such as a school bus with a high center of gravity and no seat belts. As a matter of fact, just last week an SUV collided with a school bus in the Scranton area of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Police noted that slick roads played a role in the crash. 35 children grades kindergarten through 5th grade were aboard the school bus when it collided with a Ford Explorer. As a concerned parent whose student must travel a number of miles to school, I was concerned today that my child’s school did not have a two hour delay in view of the hazardous and icy road conditions. It would have been much better if school was delayed two hours so my son did not have to board the bus at 7:00 a.m. when our roads were slick and rush hour traffic was beginning to build. It is scary and frustrating for a parent to have to put a child on a school bus in such conditions, and as a parent, I do not like to see delays but also believe that the school districts and school personnel have to err on the side of caution. I attempted to contact the local school bus company. I was referred to the school administration and Superintendent who were unable to be reached for comment. When children are involved, road conditions and weather must be closely monitored which may require the Transportation Director or Superintendent to drive the roads in the district prior to making the important decision of whether or not to issue a delay warning.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and school bus accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily are all too familiar with children and school bus accidents. If your loved one has been injured in such an incident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.

It’s winter time in Pennsylvania and snow missiles and ice can fly off of motor vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed causing serious car accidents and resulting injuries. It is important to help reduce car accidents and protect your assets and prevent accidents from happening by clearing your vehicle of snow and ice. When debris falls or blows off of a vehicle, accidents often occur. Unsecured loads on vehicles and snow missiles account for in excess of 25,000 accidents each year in North America resulting in approximately 80 to 90 fatalities according to the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety. Although your failure to clean your car or secure loose material may be unintentional, not properly securing or clearing your vehicle even when going a short distance can expose you to serious liability.

According to Pennsylvania law, it is against the law to operate a vehicle on the highway if it is improperly covered, constructed, or loaded so that any part of its content or load spills, drops, leaks, blows, shifts, or in any other way escapes or falls off the vehicle. Any vehicle transporting such matters must have the load secured or debris secured to prevent any part of the load or debris from spilling on the highway. Failure to secure materials in your car can result in strong fines going up into the thousands and even result in criminal liability if someone is catastrophically injured or killed. There is nothing more dangerous than a piece of ice flying at a high rate of speed into the windshield of another vehicle.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who represents and has represented some of Philadelphia’s finest, I am not very happy with the state of affairs with the Philadelphia police on accident scenes in Philadelphia these days.

Just this morning on my way to work at approximately 11:00 a.m., I was walking down 11th Street when I saw a truck come by with a load of duct work non-secured and debris was being scattered on the road with a Philadelphia police officer near by when an accident occurred. The police officer drove right by and I was amazed (1) how the truck carrying the debris in a Beverly Hillbilly Jed Clampett style fashion could even be driving on the highways and (2) that the police never stopped to take any information or render assistance. Moreover, in recent weeks, I have had calls from a number of people who have been in car accidents, some of them being very serious, and there have been no police reports filed nor information taken or properly filed.

Now, either the police force is overtaxed and does not have enough police officers on the road, or our city is becoming more and more like the Wild West. Things are different now than they were years ago, and I am not sure what can be done about it but I plead for the Philadelphia police offices on the scene of accidents to try to do a better job and pay more attention to detail as people’s interests are at stake. Without the necessary information, which it is your duty to obtain as well as investigate, it makes everyone’s life more difficult.

In Pennsylvania, a new, young and inexperienced driver can load up a car with as many friends as there are seat belts. In New Jersey, a newly licensed driver can only take one passenger from outside his household for a ride, a provision soon to become even more stringent according to an article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on December 21, 2009. Delaware imposes limits on teen driver passengers as do 42 other states and the District of Columbia.

Many car accidents involving irresponsible teenagers result in fatalities or catastrophic injuries. Recently this was highlighted in a death last month of six Chester and Montgomery County teens. There were sixteen passengers in one car and three in the other car. Obviously these deaths devastated the families of these victims and as anybody who was a teenage driver or parent knows, many times vehicles can become a party land in and or themselves and it is not often uncommon for teens to be smoking pot or driving while intoxicated. As Catherine Rossi, a spokeswoman for MidAtlantic AAA noted, “a vehicle becomes a virtual party barge when you start adding teenage passengers. Pennsylvania is lax when it comes to safety.” According to NTHSA studies, teenage drivers and passengers are also among the least likely to wear seat belts and failure to buckle up should be a primary offense.

In our Philadelphia car accident law practice, we have seen many instances of teenage driving resulting in catastrophic injuries when the teenager was texting while driving even though a ban has recently been enacted. State Rep. Catherine Watson has been pushing for tighter teen driving laws even though her colleagues have derided her as a hysterical mother. Her bill would restrict the junior licensed driver to only one non-household passenger under age 18 and household relatives under 18 would be permitted with parental approval. A study by Children’s Hospital and State Farm have noted that if parents use disciplined and set clear rules, teens are half as likely to crash.

Over twenty years ago, I moved from the city to what I considered to be a country village. At the time, there was less traffic and things just seemed a lot calmer. There were and still are signs indicating horse crossings. However, what I have noticed is that there is now much more traffic, people who don’t pay attention to traffic signals, kids driving fast, busy texting or on their cell phones even though it is against the law. Quite frankly, the roadways are not as sufficient as they were when they were originally designed 75 or more years ago.

It seems to me that traffic control signs and warnings are not adequate. There is a stop sign under a tunnel where seemingly no one seems to stop at. Since I have lived in the area, I have handled a good many car accidents involving friends of mine and their children including a few U-turns or cars hitting trees where the road was not properly illuminated. Over the years I have seen situations where contractors were performing construction and failed to adequately mark the construction site.

Many of our cases, not including those in my neighborhood, have involved fatalities or catastrophic injuries on hazardous stretches of roadways or highways. Quite simply, the road that was designed 50 or 75 years ago was not properly maintained or kept up with the times. Many car accident lawyers or injury lawyers never look beyond the simple car accident and fail to consider whether a highway defect was a contributing factor in a car accident case. These same lawyers may not even look to a product liability claim in what appears to be a simple car accident case. Many times we have seen cases where lawyers were looking for the “easy A” and on the verge of settling an auto case or have settled on an auto case for minimal policy limits without considering whether other entities are liable for the accident.

There is a complex interrelationship between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, contractors, local governments, statutory caps and notice requirements, which requires specialized experience and investigation involving accident reconstructionists, investigators, engineers, human factor engineers, biomechanical engineers, as well as highway and safety design engineers.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, make sure that you don’t leave a stone unturned. Our track record of success for the last 30 years speaks for itself.

The roadways of Philadelphia and the surrounding metropolitan areas have been hazardous and treacherous as ever with the recent 23 plus inch snowfall that fell upon Philadelphia in pre-Christmas 2009. The police indicate that at least seven people died as a result of the storm and others sustained catastrophic injuries. Although roads may look safe and dry, many times this is an illusion and black ice from melting snow will create extremely hazardous driving conditions so all motorists should utilize extreme caution.

On my way to work in the days following the snowfall, I skidded on black ice and hit a fence at the bottom of hill, although the road looked dry and I was proceeding very slowly. Although my car is equipped with ESC and a sophisticated braking system, the car went out of control and spun sideways, partially blocking the highway and making me a prime target for a car accident.

When car accidents occur, the police and emergency response teams are overtaxed. It is important if you are in an accident to take as thorough a history as possible noting the time, date, identification of the other person and make, model and license tag of the other vehicle(s) involved, as well as obtain the names and contact information of any and all witnesses. A good idea would be to contact experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys and ask them to conduct an investigation at their cost to uncover the facts and determine whether a proper cause of action exists so that you are properly compensated for the extent of your injuries. In a second, one’s life can be changed from a catastrophic injury resulting from the negligence of an unpredictable car accident.

The experienced car accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily have represented individuals since 1979 who have suffered fatalities, catastrophic injuries, head and brain trauma, fractures and closed head injuries. Our success record speaks for itself. We never charge a fee unless there is a recovery.

According to news sources, a local Pennsylvania man was struck by a tractor trailer and pinned underneath the truck and pronounced dead on the scene at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2009. Police believe the driver of the truck did not see the victim walking along the road and that rainy weather might have been a factor. The accident occurred on Route 30 West between Lincoln Highway and Old Philadelphia Pike in East Lampeter Township.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim of this tragic accident. The police have indicated that the truck driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with authorities. We ask that you keep the victim and his family in your prayers. This accident is just another reminder to all of us that the highways can be an extremely dangerous place especially in inclement weather.

If it is determined that the truck driver did cause the accident and is at fault, then both he and his employer (the trucking company) could be held liable for the victim’s death. The victim’s family would be well advised to consult with a reputed and experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer who has a successful track record handling Pennsylvania trucking accident cases and has the necessary resources to financially pursue trucking companies on behalf of injured and deceased victims and their families. The victim’s family should remember never to speak to any insurance adjuster or attorney for the trucking company before they have consulted with an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney who will make sure that their rights and best interests are protected.

All new vehicles in the European Union are required to have brake assist systems from February 24, 2011 as part of a new EU regulation that aims to improve pedestrian safety. According to studies published in the EU, up to 1100 fatal accidents involving pedestrians could be prevented in Europe each year if all cars were equipped with equipment braking assistance systems. The industry is already working to develop predictive systems that will be able to detect traffic ahead of a vehicle via additional radar sensors, and in some cases, video sensors.

In the future, emergency braking systems will be able to interpret a traffic situation and offer drivers an intelligent braking support according to Dr. Werner Struth, President of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control Division. In the year 2010, the Bosch system is set to go into serious production for the first time at Audi. Braking assistant systems not only reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians, they will also prevent rear end collisions. Research has shown that in Germany for rear end collisions resulting in injury, a third of the drivers did not hit the brakes at all before the collision and half of them did not use the car’s full braking capacity.

The EU directive seeks to improve protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The aim is to reduce injury from accidents to pedestrians and cyclists, as well as to other motorists, and improving traffic safety is also the aim of another directive which has been in effect in EU since August 2009. Step by step, the EU will make anti-skid ESP systems for braking mandatory for all vehicles by November 2014 and moreover, from November 2015 all commercial vehicles must be equipped with advanced emergency braking systems, as well as lane departure systems.

The Philadelphia car accident and defective product lawyers at Reiff & Bily think that the EU has taken many steps in the right direction with regard to promoting automotive safety. We believe that all U.S. automobile manufacturers should follow suit and hopefully look forward to similar legislation in the U.S. where auto manufacturers still continue to place profitability about the safety of consumers.

A semi-trailer truck hauling steel coils on Highway 37 in Orange County, Indiana rounded a curve and a 44,000 lb. steel coil came loose from the trailer crushing vehicles in its path and killed three people and injured a young girl according to news sources. The Indiana state troopers noted that the improperly secured steel coil struck a pick-up truck driven by 22-year old Zachary Staggs of Bedford, Indiana killing him and 21-year old Shannon Steele of Jasper, as well as injuring their 11-year old daughter Mackenzie Taylor. The coil also hit another car killing the driver, 41-year old Michael Daugherty of Mitchell, Indiana. The semi-trailer driver was given a ticket for having the coil improperly secured.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Zachary Staggs, Shannon Steele and Mackenzie Taylor and Michael Daugherty. Unfortunately in my career as an experienced truck accident and car accident lawyer since 1979, I have dealt with all too many cases involving unsecured loads and drop loads from trucks resulting in catastrophic injury and fatality. Such activity has also attracted consumer advocate Ron Melacon at his website www.dangeroustrailers.org.

I think it might be fair to say that this situation has reached epidemic proportions in the United States with government authorities not paying enough attention or putting enough teeth into regulations concerning these instances. I would be curious to know what the police investigation will reveal in this tragic accident and whether or not criminal prosecution will be in store for the driver whose lack of attention or improper securing took the lives of these innocent individuals. The parties and their families would be well served to seek the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer to fully investigate this case and work with experts to make sure that they are fairly compensated for their loss.

Recently on December 9, 2009, a flatbed truck traveling on I-95 in Delaware became a launching pad for rolls of paper that were not properly secured. The tie down straps, which were to hold the multi-thousand pound rolls of paper, broke and the rolls became air borne striking two northbound vehicles on I-95. The driver was cited by the police for failing to properly secure his cargo. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries in this accident. However, often this is not the case when unsecured debris flies from a truck.

The truck accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have dealt with catastrophic injuries and fatalities involving flying debris that was not properly secured. As a matter of fact this writer was once struck in the front of his vehicle by a tire that flew off of a truck carrying a load of tires. The tire cracked the windshield, causing me to lose control and get involved in a more violent car accident.

Continue reading "A Cargo Missile Flew Off The Car Or Truck In Front Of Me – What Should I Do?" »

According to news sources, 4 people were killed and 9 others were injured in a catastrophic truck and van accident
in Springfield, Ohio on January 7, 2010. The shuttle bus involved in the crash was serving Creative Learning Workshop which provides vocational services to adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a commercial truck traveling westbound on Interstate 70 lost control, crossed the median into the eastbound lanes and hit one vehicle and then crashed into the shuttle bus which was carrying 10 people.

Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to the families of those injured and killed in this terrible truck and van accident. According to the initial investigation, the tanker truck that was responsible for this accident lost control in the westbound lane and traveled into the eastbound lane striking the van according to Lt. Craig Cvetan of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The passengers in the van were being sent home early due to inclement weather as the roads were snowy and icy. Some of the occupants of the van were wearing restraints and others were in wheelchairs.

Based upon the initial news reports, this experienced truck and van accident attorney suspects that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed in view of the weather conditions. However, that is still under investigation. In such a fatality and catastrophic injury case, there will usually be many issues to be considered with regard as to what was the cause of the accident. For example, was the truck driver in compliance with federal and state regulations? Was the trucking equipment in compliance with state and federal regulations? Was the truck driver driving at a high rate of speed in view of the weather conditions? Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction on any of the vehicles involved? There was another vehicle involved which may have cut the truck off or caused the accident.

Of course there are many important questions which need to be addressed and investigated to determine if there was negligence or wrongdoing on the part of any of the vehicles involved. These are important questions to be investigated and in such accidents the catastrophically injured victims and the families of the deceased would be well advised to seek the counsel of a reputable and experienced truck and van accident attorney who has successfully handled a variety of trucking and van accidents.

In a normal car accident, a non-pregnant occupant is traditionally protected by seat belts and airbags in a safe fashion. According to a recent news report, it is estimated that approximately 300 to 1,000 unborn children die in car accidents each year. The fatality rate is more than 4 times the rate for infants and children up to 4 years of age.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer, we have handled many of cases involving pregnant women resulting in injuries to the fetus or potential loss of the fetus. The biggest risk for a pregnant occupant is placenta uterine detachment. If the placenta gets detached, the baby loses oxygen and such detachments account for approximately 80% of fetal losses after a car accident. Additionally, medical treatment for a pregnant woman after a car accident is highly specialized and normal therapeutic measures must be evaluated and many times reformulated or they to can result in the loss or deformation of the fetus. Following a car accident it is important that if a woman believes she is pregnant that she not submit to x-rays and seek the safest possible medical treatment, avoiding aggressive physical therapy and/or manipulation.

If you are a pregnant woman who has been involved in a car accident that is not your fault, it is highly recommended that you seek legal and medical specialists who have experience dealing with these types of injuries. The Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily has extensive experience representing pregnant women injured in car accidents and knows how to fully investigate these claims and maximize the value of the settlement or verdict. Please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On Saturday evening December 12, 2009 a tragic accident occurred when an SUV crowded with teenagers rolled over killing two innocent 9th grade high school students. The single vehicle SUV rollover occurred at 11:50 p.m. on Route 100 near Moyer Road. According to news sources, the driver of the vehicle lost control causing it to flip over and the two girls in the rear seats were ejected from the vehicle. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these individuals. Unfortunately this crash was similar to another crash that occurred on November 23, 2009 when two Pottsgrove High School students were killed in a Honda SUV vehicle that went out of control and crashed.

These recent fatal SUV rollover accidents underscore just how devastating SUV rollover crashes can be. Any of the SUVs are unsafe at any speed and most of the deadly crashes involve accident avoidance maneuvers. There are many questions that need to be answered by the families of the individuals injured and killed in this accident. These accidents will require a careful investigation to pinpoint the exact cause of the accident and a possible product defect and who should be held liable or responsible.

An experienced SUV rollover and car accident lawyer will be able to guide the victims and their families through the complex legal process to insure that their legal rights are protected and that they receive fair and proper compensation for their injuries, damage and loss.

Unfortunately it seems that the episodes of deadly hit and run car accidents in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties is growing with geometric magnitude. At 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2009, Frances Gordon, age 75, was struck by a vehicle at or near the intersection of Church Road near Old York Road in Elkins Park. According to news sources Ms. Gordon had just left the library and was crossing the street when she was hit by a newer model white or light gray work van driven by a white male in his 40's or 50's. Witnesses informed police that the male driver hit the pedestrian, got out of the vehicle, looked at the victim, and then fled eastbound on Church Road. The van reportedly had a ladder on top and two rear tinted windows.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Frances Gordon and once again this tragic incident calls to question what legislators are doing to close the hit and run loophole that exists under Pennsylvania hit and run laws. For more information concerning this topic, please see my previous articles and blogs written at the following site - www.reiffandbily.com.

The family of Frances Gordon would be well served to seek the services of an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run lawyer to fully investigate this claim and work in conjunction with the police to make sure the defendant is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, as well as to recover the maximum amount of civil remedies and compensatory damages that are available.

The experienced Philadelphia hit and run car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily send their hearts and prayers out to three children and their families after they were struck by a vehicle at 12:10 p.m. at Marshall Road at its intersection with Littlecroft in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. According to the police, all three children were 7th graders at Beverly Hills Middle School. At least two of the children who were struck impacted the windshield of the car. Two of the children (Jemel Brunswick and Tyler Lowery) are in stable condition and the third is in critical condition with significant catastrophic injuries at Children’s Hospital stated Mr. Beyene, the child’s father. The police state that the 42-year old female driver of the striking vehicle attempted to leave the scene of the accident but struck several parked cars preventing her getaway. She was thereafter apprehended by the police and transported to Delaware County Memorial Hospital to be evaluated. The children were out of school due to early dismissal.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood stated that the hit and run driver will face charges pending toxicology reports. Certainly her actions were highly irresponsible and rise to criminal and felonious charges as she tried to leave the scene of this horrific accident. According to Chitwood, “She’s locked up right now”.

Unfortunately, as I have noted in my blogs for the past several years, there is an epidemic of hit and runs in the Philadelphia metropolitan area resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities to innocent pedestrians. In this case, three innocent children were impacted by a driver so irresponsible that she attempted to leave the scene. I will be curious to know whether the pending toxicology investigation reveals that she was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

As noted, our law has a loophole that rewards hit and run drivers if they were under the influence and for more information, see my previous articles on this topic. The families of these children would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced hit and run car accident lawyer to fully investigate this case. The hit and run lawyers of Reiff & Bily are strong advocates against this hit and run legal loophole and seek to prosecute offenders of hit and run vehicle claims to the utmost of our abilities while seeking compensation for the unfortunate victims. Please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 for a free no obligation consultation or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney and outspoken critic of the continued use of these vehicles, I find myself reporting on yet another disaster of a 15-passenger van crash. The 15-passenger Ford van was carrying 16 people from New Life Worship Center in Federal Heights and crashed in eastern Oregon this morning killing at least two people and catastrophically injuring several others. Those in the van were aged 18 to 22 years old and studying to be ministers at the Federal Heights church. The van was noted to be a 2002 Ford van and many of the passengers were ejected in the multiple rollovers. These vehicles have an extremely high roll over rate of 85% in a single vehicle crash with 10 to 15 occupants vs. 28% for vans carrying fewer than 5 people. 15-passenger vans are commonly used by church groups and student groups and have a high center of gravity when loaded with passengers. The operation of these vans requires specific knowledge and experience and an accident avoidance maneuver or a sudden driver action often results in a catastrophic loss of control.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the individuals injured and killed as a result of this tragic accident. I recommend that they seek the services of an experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney to fully investigate this claim and recover proper damages that may be due to them as a result of a defective auto product design.

I woke up yesterday morning and turned on my television set only to see the results of a devastatingly tragic car accident that took the life of an innocent victim, 33-year old Joseph Sherlock of Upper Darby, PA. According to a Pennsylvania State Police news report, a police officer saw a red Ford Explorer irresponsibly speeding through a school zone on Route 352 at approximately 7:40 a.m. Other state troopers and officers saw the Explorer speeding on Route 352 but lost sight of it as it approached Dutton Mill Road. At the intersection of Knowltown Road, the speeding Explorer ran a red light and slammed into a black Honda in the intersection. When I saw the story on television, it looked like the front end of the Honda was severed on impact and the car was covered by a tarp. Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the driver of the Honda, Joseph Sherlock, who was trapped inside and pronounced dead on the scene. The 18-year old driver of the Explorer, Jonathan Trueheart of Ambler, PA, was taken into custody and transported to Crozer Chester Medical Center.

Unfortunately this case represents a tragic incident of an irresponsible teenager speeding through a school zone without regard for the safety of innocent children or commuters during the busy rush hour. This experienced car accident attorney recommends that driver of the Explorer, Jonathan Trueheart, be charged with severe criminal penalties including but not limited to homicide. The family of Joseph Sherlock would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced car accident lawyer to fully investigate this claim and protect their legal rights.

For the last two years, I have noticed increasing attention paid by the federal government on sleeping disorders causing automobile, truck, and commercial bus accidents. The NSTB has been investigating sleep apnea, a disorder that causes people to fall asleep while at the wheel of a vehicle making that vehicle a deadly weapon. I have written before about the dangers of sleep apnea and driver fatigue with regard to truck drivers. However other incidents cited in letters to the NSTB Chairman Deborah Hersman indicate the following incidents:

Motorcoach with passengers in January 2008 careened down a mountainside killing 9 people and injuring 43 others

Airline pilots on a flight from Hilo, Hawaii flew past their destination while the pilot was later diagnosed with sleep apnea

A trolley train crash in Newton, Massachusetts was caused most likely because the driver fell asleep from sleep apnea

It is noted that at least seven to ten percent of adults have sleep apnea in some moderate form and many people do not even know they have it. The NSTB said the issue of people falling asleep behind the wheels of vehicles has long been a concern and they are now taking steps to address this issue.

If you or a loved one is aware of a tendency to fall asleep, please seek immediate medical examination so that you too do not present a danger to others on the road. The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily are committed to promoting vehicle safety. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Thank you to Governor John Corzine for signing a law into effect on Tuesday, October 20th placing fines of $25.00 to $75.00 for drivers with “dangerous accumulations” of snow or ice on their cars or trucks. This law is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation and the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily hope that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other states will soon follow due to the fact that we have represented many catastrophically injured people who have lost control of their car and had a car accident as a result of a snow bomb flying off the roof or rear window of another car in front of them or on the side of them obstructing their vision. We are all too familiar with the case of many people being injured or killed due to car accidents caused by ice and snow flying off cars. It is never a comforting sight to have snow or ice fly into your windshield and obstruct your view and shock the daylights out of you.

According to news sources a two vehicle car accident in Chester County claimed the life of a 59-year old Maryland man on Monday, September 28, 2009 at approximately 4:37 p.m. in East Nottingham Township. According to the news sources, a 2004 blue Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Kristia McMichael, 34, of Rising Sun Maryland was traveling westbound on Forge Road approaching its intersection with Hopewell Road which had a stop sign. Terrance Duncan, 43, of East Nottingham Township was traveling westbound on Hopewell Road in a 1994 black Toyota Tacoma. Police noted that as Duncan entered the intersection, McMichael entered directly in front of his Toyota, which struck McMichael’s Chevy on the passenger’s side door. McMichael’s passenger, her father, Larry McMichael was pronounced dead at the scene and Kristia McMichael was taken to Christiana Hospital for moderate injuries. Duncan was uninjured. The investigation is continuing.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic car accident. They would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

The experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been successfully representing catastrophically injured victims of car accidents since 1979. For more information, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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.

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.

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.

A violent two car accident tragically took the life of an 84-year old woman and her 91-year old husband on August 25, 2009 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. According to news reports, Robert Clayton was a passenger in a 2000 Chrysler driven by his wife, Ann, when it was hit by a van at the intersection of Hulmeville and State Roads at 3:15 p.m. on August 25th. Mr. Clayton of Bensalem died of head injuries and his wife passed away the following morning. The initial by the police revealed that a GMC van operated by Russell Dawson, age 42, was traveling south on Hulmeville Road before it attempted to make a left hand turn on Street Road towards I-95. The experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of the Robert and Ann Clayton who died as a result of this tragic accident. We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Robert and Ann.

Based upon the initial report, it appears that the van making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic failed to yield the right of way and was at fault in this tragic Pennsylvania van and car accident. The law of Pennsylvania is clear that a vehicle making a left hand turn owes a duty to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Failing to yield the right-of-way and making an unexpected left turn can often lead to tragic and fatal consequences such as presented in this case.

Since 1979, the experienced car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have recovered significant monetary damages for the unfortunate victims and their families in instances of left hand turn car accidents in Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of Ronald Eaton, 45, and his wife Peggy Eaton, 41, who were pronounced dead at the scene of a catastrophic and fatal motorcycle versus SUV accident in York County, Pennsylvania. On Sunday August 23rd, at 3:30 p.m., according to news sources, the eastbound SUV made a left hand turn in front of the motorcycle and collided with the motorcycle traveling westbound. Corporal William Tucker said that neither husband nor wife was wearing a helmet. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the law clearly states that any vehicle making a left turn must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Ronald and Peggy.

Based upon the newspaper report, it appears that the SUV making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic failed to yield the right-of-way and was at fault in this tragic Pennsylvania SUV and motorcycle accident. It would be highly recommended that the families of these unfortunate victims consult with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury and car accident lawyer specializing in motorcycle and car accidents who could properly advise them about their legal rights and options.

The Philadelphia car accident and motorcycle lawyers at Reiff & Bily have been analyzing car accident and motorcycle cases successfully since 1979. If in fact it is determined that the left hand turn of the SUV into oncoming traffic was the proximate cause of the accident then the owner and/or operator of the SUV could be held liable for the Eatons’ fatal injuries and the survivors of the Eatons would be entitled to collect monetary damages.

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

As an experienced car accident attorney since 1979, I have long written and argued about teenagers, or for that matter any other driver, distracted from the roadway while texting, operating a cell phone or in this unfortunate case of catastrophic injury and wrongful death, fiddling with an iPod. According to news source, Nicole Gallo, age 19, died instantly on Friday, August 14, 2009 and her best friend Christine Bochanski, 20 years, was rendered in extremely critical condition after they were hit from behind by Rachel Jankins. According to news reports, Ms. Jankins struck the two friends while they were walking out of Delaware County Memorial Hospital at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, August 14th, as she was reaching down for her iPod and was not paying attention and lost control of her vehicle. Upper Darby Police Superintendent, Michael J. Chitwood stated that “This was a tragedy that happened because of stupidity and inattentive driving”. This experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney agrees with Police Superintendent Chitwood. A motor vehicle operated by someone not giving their full attention to the road ahead or multitasking can easily become an instrument of tragic consequences.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Christine Bochanski and Nicole Gallo. It is our hope that anyone who learns of this story understands the importance of focusing your full undivided attention on driving and only driving when operating a motor vehicle.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing catastrophically injured victims in Pennsylvania since 1979. If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured or killed in a car accident, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation at www.reiffandbily.com or at 1-800-421-9595.

The experienced car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family of 23-year old Bryan M. Loeffler who was struck and killed while on his motorcycle by a driver traveling in the wrong direction on Route 30 in Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. According to news sources, the State Police at the Beaver Barracks revealed that the crash happened at 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, August 9th. 19-year old Jonathan Hogue was driving west in the eastbound lane of Route 30 just north of Platt Road trying to pass westbound traffic. While in the oncoming lane, Hogue struck the 23-year old motorcycle driver and collided head on with another vehicle driven by 26-year old Nadia Diboun. Hogue then crossed back into the westbound lane of Route 30 causing minor damage to another vehicle.

As an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer and as an experienced motorcycle rider since my young teen years, it is easily preventable and almost unexplainable tragic accidents such as this which create the biggest nightmare for motorcyclists and other drivers. In this instance, the motorcyclist did nothing wrong and was a sitting duck for a driver who apparently had no regard for the safety of others on the highway when he attempted to pass traffic in the wrong lane of oncoming traffic. I am sure that officials are looking into whether or not the driver of the car that struck Bryan Loeffler was driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. I would recommend that the family of Bryan Loeffler be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer to fully investigate this accident.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily would be glad to provide a free comprehensive consultation and evaluation of their claim with no obligation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident or car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

At 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 a driver of a motor vehicle was killed in a collision with a train at a South Jersey train crossing. In the United States there are approximately 10,000 to 15,000 train accidents involving cars annually. The most common cause of a train/car collision are the following: mechanical failure, improperly maintained tracks, malfunctioning lights or safety signals, lack of safety gates, unprotected crossings, train operator inexperience or carelessness or defective train or train parts. Many trains still operate with technology that is more than 50 years old and may not meet today’s safety requirements. The failure to update this technology places many train passengers and car accident victims, as well as pedestrians, at risk of severe injury or death.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the individual who was killed in this accident and we suggest that the family would be well advised to seek the advice of a well experienced train accident and car accident lawyer to investigate this claim.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a car accident or train accident, please contact on of the experienced attorneys at the law firm of Reiff & Bily for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently had an opportunity to meet with a sophisticated client who was involved in a rear end collision with another vehicle almost two years ago. The client sustained what this experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer considers fairly significant injuries and was attempting to represent himself against an insurance company who assured him that they would be making him a fair and proper settlement offer. In fact, the company that proposed to be making a fair offer was recently cited by The American Association of Justice as the worst insurance company in America and stood out above all others in that arena. To quote the American Association for Justice report “the company that publicly touted its ‘good hands’ approach, privately instructed its agents to employ a ‘boxing gloves’ strategy in the settlement of claims.”

When I reviewed the amount that the company was offering the sophisticated individual who initially thought the offer was fair, I was astounded but not really so. In cases like this and countless others, the name of the game in the insurance industry is to deny, delay and defend and in fact, do anything to avoid or minimize paying claims. For many companies there are corporate training manuals explaining how to avoid or minimize payments.

Continue reading "He Who Represents Himself Has A Fool For A Client" »

This past Saturday while exiting the parking lot of a shopping center in Northfield, New Jersey, I observed a young man load a few cases of beer into his truck, put a child in the passenger seat and then he pulled out a beer which he proceeded to drink, got in his car and got on his cell phone and pulled out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell, almost striking another vehicle.

Yes, it’s summertime and everybody is in a party mood, but as I have written before, drinking and driving is a deadly combination, and texting and driving is a deadly combination, yet when all three are involved, nothing but danger lurks. Many cars even have a refrigerator in the console to refresh the driver after a stressful day. I have been criticized by many as being an extreme downer due to the fact that I refuse to drink and drive, and in fact, if I have a drink during dinner or before dinner at a restaurant, I always have a designated driver. It is simply because I have first hand seen tragic consequences, wrongful deaths and catastrophic injuries that stem from any of the above, or a combination of any of the above elements, resulting in a car accident. In fact, I lost my dear law partner, a few years back, as a result of a deadly car accident involving alcohol consumption.

I am always amazed at how many people come into my law office who have been under the influence of alcohol when driving, and when I initially question them they tell me maybe they have had one or maybe two beers, but in fact when the questioning intensifies, it turns out they have really had four, five or six beers and yet are behind the wheel of a car. This is one of my pet peeves, so I urge all of my readers when behind the wheel of a car, take your responsibility seriously, because drinking and driving is no different that riding a bomb and in my mind, the equivalent of a weapon of major destruction.

Jeffrey Reiff is an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who has been representing catastrophically and seriously injured victims since 1979.

At the experienced Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily often we are contacted by clients who are involved in car accidents where there is no or little visible damage to the involved vehicles yet they claim and are objectively found to have significant injuries. Of course, the insurance companies or defense counsel almost always claim that there was insufficient force in the accident to generate the injury causing mechanism and that our client is looking to “wrongfully” enrich their life following the yellow brick road to riches and the courtroom by exaggerating their injuries.

Continue reading "Although There Is Little Or Visible Damage To My Vehicle, I Was Severely Injured" »

According to a news sources, Meghan L. Obendorfer, 18, was exceeding the speed limit on a rain slicked creek road in East Brandywine Township at 4:30 p.m. on April 14th when she failed to negotiate a curve and slid into the path of a school bus in the opposite lane. Obendorfer’s passenger, Nicholette Pomon, 17, of Downingtown, who was 9 months pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene and a certificate of fatal death was issued to her nearly full term baby daughter. The driver of the school bus was treated for injuries. The driver of the vehicle was charged with homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and marijuana possession. Phone records indicated that the driver Obendorfer received 39 messages and calls in the hour preceding the crash and text messages indicated she was en route to deliver marijuana.

I have written many times in the past about the dangers of text messaging and using a cell phone when driving and this is an extreme example of the dangers and resulting catastrophic injuries and wrongful death that can occur.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Nicolette Pomon and the experienced car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily strongly urge Pennsylvania legislators to follow the lead in New Jersey and other states in banning the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.

The family of Nicolette Pomon would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced car accident lawyer who can investigate this matter and protect the rights of Nicolette Pomon and her family. Please contact one of the experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to a recent story I read results from a 2009 GMAC Insurance national driver’s test found that roughly 41,000,0000 licensed American drivers cannot pass a written driver’s test exam if taken today. While Ohio, Idaho and Wisconsin are the most knowledgeable drivers, Pennsylvania scored number 16 on the worst drivers in America. The finding is quite significant and alarming due to the fact that many licensed Americans continue to lack knowledge of the rules of the road, added to the fact that many accidents are occurring involving uninsured motorists/ drivers. Make sure that your automobile insurance policy properly protects you in the event you are a victim of a car accident.

For a free insurance check-up, please contact the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Many innocent victims and families are driving Chrysler and GM cars that have potentially dangerous defects that no one knows about yet. They are “ticking time bombs”. The Chrysler and GM bankruptcy rushes forward in a dangerous fashion to many unsuspecting Americans. The safety of the American public is being compromised by the existence a very dangerous ticking time bomb bankruptcy loophole. The GM and Chrysler bankruptcy plans contain legal loopholes that will shield Chrysler and GM from being held accountable for defective cars and products that are ticking time bombs for families. The bankruptcy plans take away a critical public safety protection that has been used to reduce the number of Americans hurt or killed from defective vehicles. Presently there are 40,000,000 Chrysler and GM cars on the road, some of which tragically will have defects that will injure or kill people. Historical data compiled through the National Highway Safety Administration indicates that 47% of all death and injury claims filed against automobile manufacturers involve Chrysler and GM cars.

In the last five years, research has indicated that these claims involve 3,497 casualties connected to Chrysler cars and 15,284 connected to GM cars. Examples of such casualties include seat belts that fail and strangle children, seat backs that collapse and cause brain injury, unstable vehicles that flip causing roofs to cave in crushing occupants, and cars with gears that “self shift” from park to reverse and end up running people over and gasoline or brake fluid containers that are improperly positioned and catch fire or explode severely burning or killing the occupants.

Continue reading "Experienced Pennsylvania Product Liability Lawyers Claim That Bankruptcy Of GM And Chrysler Severely Compromises Public Safety" »

On May 5, 2009, Arthur Burrus, age 49, tragically lost his life to an intoxicated hit and run driver. According to news sources, Luciano Rios, 30 years old, from Croyden, PA fled the initial scene of the accident, struck a barrier flipping his BMW, struck another car and twice more tried to escape police. Rios was speeding east on Erie Avenue in Philadelphia, PA at 8:30 p.m. when he struck Mr. Burrus who was walking southbound across Erie at 9th Street. Mr. Burrus was struck with such force that he was thrown 173 feet into the air and severed one of his legs, causing the 2007 BMW operated by Mr. Rios to go out of control secondarily striking a Dodge Durango occupied by 6 other people and then turned up right. A search of the criminal docket reveals that on February 19, 2005, Luciano Rios was also previously charged with DUI with a blood alcohol content of .10 to .16 to which he pled guilty.

I am noticing an interesting trend in my practice noting with particular interest that in the last few months we have seen many cases involving repeat DUI offenders with minimal insurance coverage or no insurance at all where innocent victims have been catastrophically injured or killed. In one of our recent cases, a gentleman with a substantial criminal record was traveling northbound on a highway at a high rate of speed while intoxicated and his vehicle flipped over, crossed the highway, killed the driver of the vehicle and placed the passenger in a vegetative coma.

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill an individual approximately every ½ hour and non-fatally but catastrophically injure someone in America every 10 minutes. Individuals driving while intoxicated, otherwise known as DUI, are responsible for more than 1/3 of all traffic deaths in this country. Believe it or not, the current law actually benefits those who leave the scene of an accident when intoxicated.

Continue reading "Hit and Run In Philadelphia - Enough Is Enough! Penalties Need More “Teeth”" »