Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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”" »

Since 2005, more than a dozen pedestrians have been killed on Route 13 in Pennsylvania. Route 13 was deemed by PennDOT as the most dangerous road to walk across in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, this past Monday evening, a woman walking her bicycle across Route 13 in Bristol, Pennsylvania, was killed when she was struck by a vehicle in front STS Tire and Auto Center between Bath Road and Route 213. Ten days ago, another fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Route 13, less than a mile from the scene of Monday’s accident when a 28-year old woman was killed by an SUV as she was attempting to cross Route 13. That accident was hit and run and remains under investigation. The week before that incident, two pedestrians were seriously injured when they were struck by a car on Route 13 within blocks of Monday’s accident.

Unfortunately as I have written in the past, hit and run accidents are becoming epidemic in Philadelphia and many other surrounding suburbs. People drive irresponsibly and often leave the scene of the accident when they are intoxicated, uninsured or for some other no good reason. After all, why would anyone leave the scene of a hit and run accident when there is no good reason.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Jennifer Harley, and the other innocent victims who have been injured or killed as the result of negligent drivers not paying attention on Route 13.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers at the Philadelphia hit and run and uninsured motorist law firm of Reiff and Bily are committed to protecting the rights of car accident victims since 1979. For a free consultation, please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer representing hit and run victims since 1979, it seems that not a day goes by where I am not receiving a phone call or inquiry about a hit and run accident on the streets of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the string of bad news continued when on June 3, 2009 another victim was claimed by a hit and run driver at approximately 12:03 a.m. as she was crossing Roosevelt Boulevard at or near Rising Sun Avenue. Initial reports indicate that the 30-year old victim was hit by a Gold or Silver Pontiac or Oldsmobile as one or both of two vehicles that were apparently racing each other down the Boulevard, struck the innocent victim and fled the scene. Like any other irresponsible hit and run driver, in this case both drivers kept running rather than stopping. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the innocent victim and suggest that this family would be well advised to seek representation from an experienced hit and run lawyer to assist in investigating the situation and properly protecting their legal rights and interests. As stated before, there is never a good reason for not stopping after being involved in a car accident unless you are doing something wrong.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a hit and run accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Typically when we think of summertime, we think of perfect weather, sunshine, , relaxation, gin and tonics, picnics, days at the pool or beach and nothing but smiles. Unfortunately after Memorial Day weekend, the highways are more crowded as people flock to their beaches, picnics and social gatherings which also may be accompanied by increased drinking and other social libations that do not mix well with driving. Additionally with summertime comes bar and drinking season which is in full swing as people let loose after work and on weekends at outdoor cafes, night clubs and other social gatherings as they recover from the months of winter hibernation. Not so surprisingly, summertime is usually the time that sees the highest number of catastrophic injuries and fatalities as a result of car accidents, as well as motorcycle accidents. When driving on the highways in the summer, it is important to note that many asphalt roads and highways have an oil residue on their surface or beneath their surface which rises with increased heat from the sunshine. When it rains and the water contacts this oil residue, a very slippery surface is formed and if it has not rained in a long time, there is more oil on the road for the water to contend with creating a very unsafe oil/water reaction which also leads to hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control.

Continue reading "Summertime In Pennsylvania Brings More Crowded Highways And Also More Accidents" »

In an effort to keep our readers updated, the Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff and Bily wish to call attention to the fact that now may be a better time than ever to purchase automobile insurance in Pennsylvania. An insurance.com, Insurance Rate Watch survey indicated that on average annual automobile insurance rates fell in March by $103 to $1872 a year, a welcome decrease from rates in October. The March Rate Watch data noted that automobile insurance rates dropped in 19 states. This decline represented a continued shift in the insurance cycle. As a casual observer and someone intimately involved in the business of representing car accident victims, I have noticed on television lately that a rate war seems to be existing between many insurance carriers, most notably 21st Century (the named successor to AIG). 21st Century has seemingly taken a very aggressive approach to marketing and selling automobile insurance.

I have also started to notice the presence online, most notably at shopathome.com, for discounts and coupons applicable to the purchase of automobile insurance. The availability of lower rates is causing many consumers to shop for new auto insurance policies forcing the insurance companies to be more competitive. I have found that when you shop for car insurance rather than renew your current policy, it is almost certain that your new rates would be lower on average than the old rates you were quoted by your present carrier.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Jeffrey Reiff Notes That The Economic Downturn Creates A Buying Opportunity For Car Insurance At Decreasing Rates" »

On Friday, May 8, 2009, a woman was killed and four other people were injured in a single vehicle SUV rollover accident. The driver of a Ford Explorer lost control, crossed over the center line, left the roadway whereupon the SUV flipped over multiple times before striking a fence and landing on its side. All of the occupants of the vehicle were ejected during the crash. A female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.

Marketing campaigns indicate that SUVs are safe and family friendly but the experienced SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily will tell you that they are anything but safe. SUVs are highly prone to tipping over, even during normal driving maneuvers because they have heavier bodies and higher centers of gravity. SUVs are the only motor vehicle with a rollover fatality rate higher than any other category of fatality indicated by this unfortunate situation. SUV rollover accidents are catastrophic and most often result in fatalities. Rollovers increase the chances that victims will be ejected from the motor vehicle. When someone is ejected the odds are normally increased that a victim will sustain a head injury or spinal cord injury with permanent catastrophic consequences.

If you have been injured in an SUV rollover or 15-passenger van rollover accident, you are legally entitled to financial costs. The experienced Philadelphia-based SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily represents clients throughout Pennsylvania and the United States in conjunction with other law firms works on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. We have successfully handled thousands of car accident and rollover accidents. Please call us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Nine individuals were hospitalized with injuries after a high speed crash scene involving an SUV went wrong on the set of a film in New York featuring Nicholas Cage. An SUV operated by a well trained ans skilled stunt driver went out of control and smashed into a parked car on the set in Times Square in Manhattan, injuring crew members. This accident calls to note what the Philadelphia SUV rollover and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have known for many years, mainly that SUV’s are more likely than other vehicles to be involved in accidents and rollovers.

SUV’s are more prone to tipping over even during normal driving maneuvers because they have heavier bodies and heavier centers of gravity. They are the only motor vehicle with a rollover fatality rate higher than any other category of fatality. Even with trained stunt drivers operating them, accidents are likely to occur.

SUV accidents normally result in catastrophic injuries and often result in a fatality. Not so surprisingly, SUV rollover victims are two times as likely to die or suffer serious and catastrophic injuries than motor vehicle collision victims involved in normal flat crashes.

Continue reading "Even Stunt Drivers Have Problems Controlling SUVs" »

I learned of a second hit and run car accident death in Philadelphia in just over two days. As an experienced hit and run car accident attorney in Philadelphia practicing since 1979, I believe that the number of hit and run deaths and injuries in Philadelphia is rising to almost epidemic proportions. This time a victim in his mid-20's was struck at about 2:00 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard at 9th Street in Logan. On Tuesday night, another innocent pedestrian was struck and killed on Erie Avenue in the Tioga Nicetown section of the city and was hit so hard by a speeding BMW that one of his legs was ripped off. Thankfully, the police were able to apprehend and charge an allegedly wasted driver identified as Luciano Rios of Croydon, Bucks County, in that fatality.

In Pennsylvania, a ”hit and run” accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. In most instances, the experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily find that drivers may choose not to stop after being involved in a car accident for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the driver may be driving without auto insurance or a driver’s license or there may be an outstanding warrant for the driver’s arrest or that the driver may be so wasted on drugs or other mind-altering substances that if he stopped he would be convicted of a crime. There is never a good reason for not stopping after being involved in a car accident.

Our hearts and prayers go out to these unfortunate victims of hit and run accidents. The Philadelphia hit and run injury law firm of Reiff and Bily has received many accolades from highly regarded organizations and has developed expertise in investigating and representing individuals and victims who have been catastrophically injured or killed in hit and run accidents. The experienced hit and run injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily are the recipients of Martindale Hubble’s prestigious “AV” rating. We work on a contingent fee basis, charging only a small percentage of the recovery.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a hit and run accident, please schedule a free consultation with the experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily by contacting us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The experienced personal injury and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have successfully handled thousands of cases since 1979 and have investigated or queried tens of thousands of potential insurance claim cases.

Reiff and Bily focuses its practice on serious personal injury claims throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and works with other law firms throughout the United States. When cases are presented to our office we provide a free initial consultation to review the merits of each personal injury and wrongful death claim and afterwards our staff thoroughly screens and investigates each potential case to evaluate its merits. We are extraordinarily selective in the cases that we accept so that we can fully dedicate our resources to cases that have the highest probability of achieving a successful outcome.

Lately, an interesting phenomena has started to occur with increasing frequency. I find that the downturn in the economy has resulted in an increase of calls by people whose claims have no merit and who are looking to a personal injury lawyer or the legal system as a quick fix for their economic troubles. Unfortunately, many of these claims are of a frivolous nature and scream of insurance fraud or “little white lies” that cause an increase in premiums for the responsible people who do not bring such claims. When I receive one of these calls, I think to myself “Are you serious?” It is quite unsettling to this writer how unscrupulous and how dishonest many people can be which ends up costing those who do the right thing more money. Even telling a small white lie to an insurance company constitutes fraud in the opinion of this lawyer.

Continue reading "Something Strange But Really Not So Strange In The Current Financial Environment Is Occurring With Regard To Increased Number Of Frivolous and Meritless Insurance Claims Being Filed" »

There have been an increasing number of defective trailer cases in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and nationwide. On May 7, 2009, a wayward trailer slowed traffic after it became unhooked, spun out and flipped over, dumping its contents on the roadway. The trailer was being hauled by a Dodge Durango. Although no other vehicles were involved in this accident, what would have happened if this trailer hit another vehicle or a school bus? Fortunately, this accident occurred at 5:00 a.m. when the roads are normally empty.

Unfortunately, the defective trailer and car accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily have participated in cases where other victims were not so lucky and there were multiple catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a loose trailer, defective trailer, or has sustained catastrophic and serious injuries as a result of a car accident, please feel free to contact the Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to my research, there have been approximately 5,000 cases of drivers leaving the scene of a car accident through May 3, 2009. Last year, there were 14,707 hit and run accidents where drivers left the scene. As an experienced hit and run accident and car accident lawyer since 1979, I can honestly state that I have never been so depressed with the state of affairs surrounding hit and runs as I have been lately. There is nothing more upsetting than when I am contacted by a parent who has lost a child or a family that has lost a father, mother or grandmother. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the loss of a child. A recent hit and run death in Philadelphia took the life of Calvin Wilkerson, an 18-year old, who was run down by a van on 9th Street and Hunting Park Avenue as he walked home last week.

Unfortunately, the current state of affairs with regard to Pennsylvania law encourages somebody to leave the scene of an accident. Under the current Pennsylvania law, the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident is one year in jail. But if the same driver stays at the scene to render assistance and is found to be under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substance, the penalty can be as much as five years. Obviously, a person irresponsible enough to drive under the influence of alcohol is irresponsible enough to leave the scene of an accident and if that person is apprehended after they have sobered up, they would be facing a much lesser penalty. Representative David Reed recently sponsored a piece of legislation raising the minimum sentence for fleeing the scene of an fatal accident from one to five years.

As an experienced car accident lawyer investigating hit and run accidents for over 30 years, I have noticed that many people leave the scene of a hit and run accident for many reasons. Most likely they have outstanding warrants, no car insurance or are drunk and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The applicable motor vehicle statute in Pennsylvania clearly states “the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every instance remain at the scene of the accident so as to fulfill the requirements of Section 3744 of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code relating to the duty to give more information and render aid. Every stop should be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.”

Continue reading "Philadelphia Hit And Run Car Accident Epidemic And The Loopholes That Act As Enablers - Its Now Run Baby Run!" »

As springtime prom season and summer is upon us, more and more teenagers will be driving their vehicles. Many of them will be doing so irresponsibly and unlawfully under the influence of mind-altering substances or alcohol. As we all know, a car or other motor vehicle in the hands of an inexperienced operator brings with it its own set of problems and can be viewed by some as a weapon.

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania and State Farm Insurance Companies commenced a massive effort known as the Keeping Young Drivers Safe project. The conclusion of the project was that most of the crashes involving teenagers are caused by distractions and/or inexperience. One of the biggest distractions to teenage drivers is the presence of other teens in the car and one study found that carrying one teenage passenger almost doubled the fatal crash risk of teen drivers. The risk increased unbelievably to five fold when two or more teenagers were in the car. As for inexperience, 16-year old drivers have crash rates three times higher than 17-year old drivers and 5 times higher than 18-year old drivers as the rate drops with age.

Continue reading "Car Accidents Are The Leading Cause of Death Among Teenagers" »

As noted in my previous blogs, the hit and run epidemic continues to plague innocent pedestrians and motorists on the streets and highways of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Early this week an allegedly drunk driver from Bucks County tried three times to flee authorities after fatally striking a Philadelphia man crossing the street. According to news sources, Luciano Rios, 30 years old, from Neshaminy Road in Croydon, Pennsylvania fled from the initial accident on Tuesday, May 5th flipping his BMW, striking another vehicle, and twice more trying to escape police. Sources reveal that Rios was speeding east on Erie Avenue in Philadelphia at 8:30 p.m when he struck a man who was walking southbound across Erie at 9th Street. The victim was struck with such force that he was thrown 173 feet into the air and one of his legs was severed, after which the 2007 BMW operated by the hit and run driver went out of control secondarily striking a Dodge Durango occupied by six people, and turned upright causing it to stop. Mr. Rios, the operator of the hit and run vehicle, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses according to authorities. Philadelphia police noted that the hit and run driver had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath when apprehended. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Arthur Burrus, age 49, who tragically lost his life to an intoxicated hit and run driver.

I have mentioned in many of my earlier blogs that hit and run accidents are reaching epidemic levels in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Many times people fail to take responsibility for their actions most particularly when driving while intoxicated. We urge the family of Mr. Burrus to consult with an experienced hit and run car accident lawyer to fully investigate his case. There is a good chance that there is an underlying Dram Shop cause of action, as well as an action for third party negligence which would entitle his estate and survivors to receive financial compensation from the negligent party for injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income and other associated damages.

Continue reading "Allegedly Drunk Driver Commits Hit and Run Accident Killing Philadelphia Man Crossing The Street And Tries To Flee Authorities Three Times - Hit And Run Epidemic Continues In Philadelphia" »

The experienced Philadelphia vehicle rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Zachary Stasik, an honor student at Kings College, who tragically lost his life in a single vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 81 in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania. According to news sources, Zachary Stasik and his girlfriend and another friend were on their way for an evening of enjoyment at the Scranton Cultural Center in Pennsylvania. Zachary Stasik, who was a back seat passenger in the car, was ejected when the car began rolling over a grassy median. I hope and pray that the other injured victims and passengers will get through this tough time and make a complete and quick recovery. The family of Mr. Stasik and the other injured victims would be well advised to contact an experienced car accident and rollover attorney who can help determine who was negligent and at fault for this single vehicle accident. It may turn out that there was a defect with this motor vehicle which caused the rollover.

A skilled car accident and rollover attorney will conduct an extensive investigation and accident reconstruction to determine who was at fault and will provide a free no obligation comprehensive consultation to any of the passengers and their families. Single vehicle rollover accidents are not uncommon and often result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. A rollover also increases the chances that a victim such as Zachary Stasik will be ejected from the motor vehicle.

The Philadelphia based lawyers at the law firm of Reiff and Bily represent clients throughout the United States and Pennsylvania and work on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. We do not get paid unless there is a successful recovery. We have handled thousands of automobile accidents since 1979 and multiple rollover cases with significant outcomes and have fought hard against the automobile manufacturers for catastrophic injuries and emotional damages sustained as a result of single vehicle rollovers. Please contact one of our experienced rollover attorneys if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or single vehicle rollover at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

At the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff and Bily, our experienced lawyers have been handling traumatic brain injury cases for almost 30 years. Many times when one is involved in a serious car accident, an impact to the head results in an injury to the brain where it is located opposite to the side of the impact. While many people who sustain a traumatic head or brain injury appear to be fine after their accident, just as the recent case of Natasha Richardson revealed, many of these individuals will rapidly develop a variety of symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, ringing in ears, blurred vision and problems with memory and concentration.

A brain injury can have a life-altering impact and long term consequences if not treated or properly diagnosed. Many times an injured individual is not even aware that he or she has suffered a traumatic brain injury and is often mis-diagnosed at an emergency room or by
a family physician.

Statistics reveal that over 50% of those who sustain a traumatic brain injury are diagnosed improperly which is a most frightening factor. It is stated that in excess of 53% of patients in the emergency room for the first time with a brain injury will fail to be diagnosed properly and may suffer an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage according to a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Many times negligence of the health provider involves a failure to obtain or accurately interpret a diagnostic test which would have revealed a brain injury.

Continue reading "Rising Car Crash Statistics Across The Nation Also Results In Increasing Rate Of Traumatic Brain Injury" »

With the recent and growing economic downturn, many Americans, particularly those in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have taken steps to reduce expenditures and it appears that one of the first areas being cut is automobile insurance. I find that many people have increased their insurance deductibles as well as selected lower coverage points and many motorists have opted not to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage often resulting in disastrous consequences for otherwise innocent and unsuspecting victims.

I had a situation with a client yesterday who sustained catastrophic injuries with the proper estimation of her case valued in excess of $1 million dollars. Unfortunately, the wrongdoer had minimal assets and our client had erroneously selected not to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage which would have paid her the full value of her claim in the appropriate forum. Obviously, this client was unhappy with her insurance agent and her attorney and could not believe that she was in this situation due to her own choice. Unfortunately, we find ourselves dealing with this scenario with increasing frequency.

A recent study has revealed that at least 16% of those with one vehicle households reported canceling or not renewing coverage for a vehicle in response to the economic downturn. Additionally, almost one third of those canceling automobile insurance coverage also reported selling their vehicles as a way to save money and an additional 14% of renters declined insurance coverage.

Continue reading "The Rate of Uninsured Motorists Is Increasing At An Alarming Rate In Philadelphia and Pennsylvania" »