Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over the last year, we have received reports from clients who have been “friended “ on Facebook by individuals that they cannot identify and we always advise all of our clients to never accept “a friend” that they do not know on any social media as more likely than not there is probably not a good purpose to this “meeting”. As a matter of fact, we recommend that any of our clients involved in a catastrophic injury claim suspend any and all messaging and posting on social media websites until the conclusion of their legal case. If someone attempts to “friend” you on Facebook or any other social media, ask yourself what is their motivation? Is that “friend” motivated by the quest for information? A successful and well versed defense lawyer will attempt to leave no stone unturned in determining any information that they may use against a defendant, including but not limited to queries, relationships, hobbies, and activities that people generally post on Facebook. Unfortunately many times people make postings on Facebook or other social sites that contain sensitive information that can be used against them by a well skilled advocate. When you post something on Facebook, it is posted at your own risk and the courts in Pennsylvania have determined that the information is discoverable.
After numerous depositions over the last year where defense counsel has asked my client to provide his or her Facebook user name and password, the courts have claimed that “only the uninitiated or foolish could believe that Facebook is an online lock box of secrets.” The Pennsylvania courts have held that if a party in a civil case posts information on his or her Facebook page and that information appears to contradict statements and discovery testimony, then the party’s Facebook page falls within the scope of discovery. Therefore, a simple lesson following a motto that I practice by is that “chance favors the prepared mind” and this mandates a strict and serious warning that any information posted online can and most likely will be found by opposing parties or their investigators in litigation and will be reachable through the power of a court issued subpoena.
Jeffrey Reiff has been practicing catastrophic injury and wrongful death law in Pennsylvania since 1979 with the experienced catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm of Reiff and Bily. He welcomes inquiries concerning new legal matters and always offers a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer, I salute the Pennsylvania Senate for passing a bill that would make texting while driving a crime. Unfortunately, although I have been a crusader against texting and talking on a cell phone while driving, 17-year old Alexis Summers was killed just hours after the Senate passage of the bill when she crashed into a tree while texting. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Alexis Summer, and as the father of a 17-year old teenage boy, I confess that such activity is one of my biggest fears as a parent.

According to news sources, the 17-year old female driver lost control of her vehicle while texting and then proceeded to go over a grass embankment and slammed sideways on the driver’s side into a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pennsylvania no texting law will go into effect in Pennsylvania 120 days after signed by Governor Corbett.

As deaths among teenager drivers in car accidents rank among the highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, it is my sincerest hope that this legislative action will bring us another step closer to reducing deaths caused by teenagers texting while driving.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to automotive and motorist safety, and have represented tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians since 1979. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation as well as a no recovery, no fee guarantee. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In an important decision for many workers involved in Pennsylvania car accidents with an underinsured party, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed a ruling of the Appellate Court striking down an exclusion on a car insurance policy which claimed that if an individual received workman’s compensation benefits, he was not eligible for underinsured motorist benefits. The facts of the case revealed that a police officer in the course and scope of his employment was injured in an automobile accident with a minimally insured driver and sustained severe injuries. Workers’ compensation paid the plaintiff’s medical expenses and two-thirds of his salary. The injured police officer recovered $25,000 policy limits from the third party insurance carrier, Allstate, (the insurance company responsible for the accident), however, due to the fact that losses and damages far exceeded the liability coverage, the plaintiff pursued an underinsured motorist claim for additional monetary damages and sought underinsured motorist benefits. The underinsured motorist carrier denied plaintiff’s claim for recovery pursuant to a policy exclusion stating that UIM coverage did not apply to anyone eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The Supreme Court disagreed with the insurance carrier and stated “We conclude that the workers’ compensation exclusion in an employer sponsored insurance policy violates public policy and is therefore unenforceable. According, we reverse the Order of the Commonwealth Court.” Moreover, the Court stated that where a third party tortfeasor or offender causes a work related injury, Pennsylvania law dictates that the ultimate burden for payment of benefits must rest upon the tortfeasor or UM/UIM carrier.

As an experienced Philadelphia and Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who specializes in uninsured and underinsured motorist car accident claims, I believe that this decision is significant in enabling those injured in car accident in the course and scope of their employment to receive all benefits available.

It seems that more and more drivers in the City of Philadelphia as well as surrounding counties are morally bankrupt when they drive off from accidents where children and others are catastrophically injured or suffer a wrongful death. For over three and a half decades, I have been representing car accident victims, and unfortunately more and more of these cases that I investigate involves uninsured, underinsured and hit and run type of car accidents.

People leave the scene of a hit and run accident for a good reason, and most likely because they are drunk or under the influence of an intoxicating substance, or worse yet are afraid of the penalties because they are driving a car without insurance. It is a situation that reveals a shameful lack of humanity and morality and the penalties should be them same or stricter to those for aggravated assault or homicide calling for imprisonment. Most people know that there are loopholes that favor hit and run drivers who leave the scene when they are under the influence of alcohol. When I deal with victims and the families of victims whose loved one remains in a coma or has been killed as a result of a hit and run driver, I am astounded that we do not have any mandatory strict minimum laws punishing those who leave accident scenes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The intersection of Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, PA have been listed as two of the top ten most dangerous intersections in the United States according to auto insurance company studies. Just last weekend, another victim was struck on Roosevelt Boulevard which has long been known as Philadelphia’s most dangerous roadway.

When I was in high school, I was invited with four friends of mine to take a trip into the greater northeast and for some reason, my parents refused to let me get in the car with my 17 year friend who was driving. Unfortunately I woke up the following morning to news that my friends and high school classmates were killed in a catastrophic car accident at one of these intersections. Ever since that date, when I travel on Roosevelt Boulevard, I am grimly reminded of the potential for catastrophic injury and wrongful death that lurks on this road. This highway is not just dangerous for drivers but also for pedestrians that must walk across multiple lanes of traffic with only a slight sliver of a median and a number of entry and pull off lanes that are often unwieldy and poorly navigated by drivers attempting to merge.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I am all too familiar with the number of catastrophically incurred deaths and tragedies that have occurred on this highway. I wonder why, despite the number of injuries and deaths that occur, safety continues to be ignored by those who have the power to make a change.

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

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

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

I don’t know how many times people come into our office after a catastrophic car accident or truck accident and tell us that they have purchased full insurance coverage. Now more than ever, insurance companies continued to delay, deny, and defend claims and offer what I consider to be almost worthless insurance policies that were never fully explained to the policyholder at the time of purchase. More and more insurance company business is being conducted over the internet, and unfortunately many of the agents only consider what it takes to sell you a policy, never explaining full benefits or interpretation of various clauses that can be very important in the event of a car accident.

We were able to demonstrate that many agents did not even know the difference between liability or collision coverage or uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage despite the fact that they were selling the same. Many times after an accident when we contacted the agent, the agent was unaware that the client had not purchased uninsured or underinsured coverage. It seems to me that insurance companies don’t do a very good job training the people who deal with the public when it comes time to explaining policy benefits. Not all companies or policies are created equal, and if you have any doubts about whether you are fully covered or not, it is best to have a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney who understands how insurance companies will look to avoid paying claims and what you can do about this unconscionable and widespread behavior. Today more than ever, you need to be smart and savvy and have an experienced advocate on your side when dealing with an insurance company.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident insurance claims lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation to those victims and their families involved in car accidents. We always offer a free review of your car and truck insurance policy. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

We all pay a lot of taxes and when we drive down the roads and streets in our cars with precious cargo on board, we expect that city, state, and federal governments who we pay taxes to will keep the streets safe and free from roadway defects. Many times unfortunately this is not the case and roadway hazards and defect designs puts the safety of drivers and passengers at risk and unfortunately result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Improper signage, negligent construction, worn roadways, and improper highway design jeopardize the safety of all drivers and if any of these situations causes a car accident, truck accident, or rollover accident the municipality may be held liable for negligence.

The experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyers and highway defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily have over 30 years of experience handling car accidents and roadway defects including but not limited to lack of guardrails, lack of signs, construction negligence, potholes, uneven roadway, water pooling, shoulder drop offs, and municipal negligence.

If you have been involved in a car accident due to a defective/improper roadway design, please contact one of our Philadelphia car accident and highway defect attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recently our skilled trucking accident attorneys joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of victims and their families since 1958. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are all too familiar with closed head injuries caused by car accidents that the average person may not recognize. Recently the family of one of our injured clients was noting that their 48-year-old mother was manifesting what they described as strange behavioral patterns. She was becoming extremely anxious, agitated and exhibiting bouts of unrecognizable anger. She was also complaining of memory loss and taking the wrong medication. When I met with this woman she was exhibiting confusion. Not so surprisingly, she struck her head on a pillar inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. She was referred for a neurological and psychological evaluation and it was diagnosed that she sustained a mild brain injury as the result of a closed head trauma.

Continue reading "My Mother Was Involved In A Car Accident And Is Not Making Sense" »

As you may or may not be aware, the insurance companies keep an eye on every claim you have made in the past with regard to homeowners, workmen’s compensation and auto insurance policies. There are two major property claim databases, The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) and The Automated Property Loss Underwriting System (A-PLUS).

Continue reading "Don’t Lie To Your Lawyer About Prior Claims" »

Save money on auto registration in Pennsylvania if retired and receiving Social Security. The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily want you to know that if you are retired and receiving Social Security or other pension and your total annual income from all sources is $19,200.00 or less, you qualify to register your car or light truck at a $10.00 per year fee instead of the annual fee. Under the Pennsylvania plan, you will save $26.00 per year on the annual registration for a car and even more for a truck. For more information, please contact Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 68269, Harrisburg, PA 17106 or contact them at 1-800-932-4600.

Continue reading "PHILADELPHIA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS " »