Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Over the last few years, I have seen the hit and run car accident epidemic in Philadelphia increase to the point where law enforcement officials and legislators really must take a much more aggressive stance to address the situation. Just this morning on the way into my office, I was traveling southbound and was the third car in line stopped at a red light when a vehicle in the lane to the right of me also traveling southbound made a left hand turn from the right lane and clipped off the right front quarter panel of another vehicle and kept going despite the protestations evidenced by the horn blasts of the victim’s vehicle. The victim who was struck by the hit and run vehicle obediently did not move his car through the intersection as he was lawfully stopped for the red traffic signal. Despite the loud and most obvious collision, the striking vehicle kept proceeding eastbound once it made the left hand turn. Infuriated, I sat in my vehicle and imagined how the victim felt. As an experienced Pennsylvania automobile accident lawyer, I have investigated and handled all too many cases involving life altering catastrophic injuries and wrongful death that occurred due to the irresponsibility and negligence of another. Oftentimes drivers who leave the scene of a hit and run car accident in Philadelphia do not have mandatory automobile insurance coverage required under Pennsylvania law.
While the news coverage seems to get more voluminous concerning hit and run car accidents in Philadelphia, I have yet to see a satisfactory response by legislation creating or enforcing laws so that strict penalties are sustained by offenders. In my mind, the streets of Philadelphia have become like the “wild west”. Obviously there is never a good reason for anyone to leave the scene of a car accident, and until strict legislation with meaningful enforcement guidelines is passed, this epidemic will continue, greatly affecting the lives of innocent victims.
If you have been involved in a Philadelphia hit and run car accident, the experienced Philadelphia hit and run car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The economy is tightening and insurance companies seem to think that they can play an even harder game of ball with their insureds in an intimidating and demeaning fashion. As an experienced bad faith insurance claims denial attorney who has handled tens of thousands of cases against many of the nation’s largest insurance companies, I have witnessed an almost unconscionable shift of behavior by insurance company executives and their team of adjusters in a patten which tries to take advantage of customers who lack information and knowledge to properly fight back. I have been on the front line fighting insurance companies since 1979 and yet today even the experienced adjusters are throwing their hands in the air claiming they can’t believe the orders they are getting from the higher ups to minimize claim payments and try to strike the lowest deal possible with the insured.

Bad faith insurance practices seem to be on the rise. Whereas a hand shake use to mean something, now a signed contract between the insurance company and insured has little value if the insured is not prepared to fight back. The insurance company may be determined to be acting in bad faith if they delay, deny, or discount payment without any reasonable basis or if they fail to acknowledge or reply promptly after notification of a covered claim. The insurance company must act in a fiduciary duty to their insured which means they must deal in good faith and promptly and thoroughly investigate claims where there is reasonable liability and damages owed based upon the information presented. An insurance company must act within a reasonable time upon receipt of claim or proof of the loss and must not act to take advantage of the insured by failing to notify the insured of any known arbitration or appeals policies in the claims process in an attempt to settle a claim for less. If an insurance company advises a claimant not to hire an attorney and then attempts to settle the case for a figure well below the proper settlement value, the insurance company may be responsible for unfair or deceptive claims practice damages. Insurance companies should not over burden you with documentation or make you jump through hoops to pay the monies you are rightfully owed.

If you feel that your insurance company is not giving you a fair shake, you should immediately contact an insurance claim and unfair insurance claim practice attorney for a free, no obligation consultation. Insurers have an obligation to live up to and comply with industry standards and be forthcoming in their dealings with their insureds. The unfair insurance claims practice lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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.

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.