Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

In the last two years, I have been entrusted with the representation of several individuals who sustained some of the most unimaginable catastrophic injuries that will dramatically affect them for the rest of their lives as a result of short cuts and corner cutting by low cost bus services which sacrificed safety in the name of profits.

The Double Happiness Bus Company regularly transports passengers on the northeast corridor making stops in Philadelphia, Washington, New York City, and Albany, New York.

In December, the U. S. Department of Transportation declared Double Happiness a “eminent hazard to safety” after federal review found numerous safety violations in hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and controlled substance and alcohol testing. It was interesting to note that in our representation of individuals in some of our cases we had to pursue a complicated web of corporate shells and identities before we were able to discern the appropriate and responsible corporate and individual entities that are operating these buses.

When a passenger boards a bus, he or she has every right to expect that the bus will be properly inspected, operated safely, and not operated by an over-fatigued, alcohol or drug induced intoxicated driver. One has a rightful expectation that the bus will be regularly and safely maintained.

The experienced Pennsylvania bus accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily salute the efforts of federal officials in obtaining a court order against the Chinatown bus company, as well as salute every continual effort that federal and state agencies utilize at their disposal to protect the traveling public and remove unsafe bus companies and commercial carriers from our highways. On a side note, it should be stated that the restraining order against the Double Happiness Bus Company cited four violations of controlled substance and alcohol use, including two drivers who had failed pre-employment drug tests. Additionally the company had filed 49 false driver reports and violated several inspections and maintenance regulations. I have voraciously argued for enforcement of common carrier rules when it comes to the substandard bus companies and believe that one must stand for something.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a common carrier or catastrophic bus accident, our experienced investigators and legal experts are always glad to offer a free, no obligation consultation and a zero recovery, no fee guarantee.

When you think of pulling a U-Haul trailer, one thing you probably never ever consider is that many SUV’s including but not limited to the Ford Explorer may be one of the most unsafe vehicles to hitch a trailer to. U-Haul International, the nation’s largest provider of rental trailers claims to be highly conservative when it comes to safety, however, U-haul has known for several years that there is a potentially unsafe and dangerous situation that existed with a combination of the two.

In 2003, U-Haul banned towing of its trailers with Ford Explorers due to the fact that trailer sway (the leading cause of towing accidents) caused the driver to lose control of the SUV in a tail wagging the dog manner often causing a catastrophic vehicle rollover. Driving downhill, making a sharp turn, or even a gust of wind, can cause the trailer to swing so violently that even the most experienced drivers have problems regaining control and avoiding a catastrophic accident.

Despite U-Haul’s policies, we have discovered that customers are still pulling trailers as heavy or heavier than their own vehicles. Simply stated, this is an accident waiting to happen. Many times these trailers go months without thorough safety inspections which clearly is a violation of the company’s own policies.

Many trailers have problems with brakes and are towed by people who have little if any knowledge about loading or towing trailers. Many renters of trailers are given little or no instructions about loading or towing trailers, and in an accident avoidance maneuver, many drivers pulling a trailer take instinctive and reflexive actions to avoid an accident scenario which can make the swing worse and contribute to the accident. Yet, when an accident occurs, the trailer company almost always blames the customer or driver, noting “driver error”.

It’s conventional wisdom that products, cars, and trailers should be safely designed, and that their operators should receive proper instructions prior to operating them. Too many times trailer towing companies fail to fully explain the necessary safety requirements to the novice and inexperienced trailer renter. It is imperative that when towing a trailer the towing vehicle must significantly outweigh the trailer. The U-Haul trailer rental company is well aware of the risks of a run away trailer rollover accident and has been sued countless times for wrongful death and personal injury. Additionally U-haul has repeatedly failed to properly maintain its fleet of close to 20,000 trailers in a proper and safe condition, and address the weight distribution issue, not adding adequate safety devices to prevent trailer sway

U-Haul still remains one of the only company’s in American that allows customers to rent its trailers and pull them behind an SUV, whereas many of U-Haul’s competitors, recognizing the weight distribution problem, requires customers to pull the trailers with a heavy six wheel vehicle. In fact, U-Haul’s fleet of trailers used to have a decal affixed that stated for use behind six wheel vehicles only. However the company changed the policy seemingly stressing profitability over safety in continuing to rent trailers to customers with SUVs. U-Haul’s only clear policy, that I am aware of, states that customers are prevented from using Ford Explorers to pull their trailers. However, U-Haul trailers are still unsafely being pulled behind many other SUV’s and four wheel vehicles.

Until you have come face to face with the victims and their families of a catastrophic rollover, one cannot understand the devastation that occurs when a company that is aware of dangers continues to stress profitability over safety.

The vehicle rollover and defective trailer accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily understand that one must always stand for something or you will fall for anything, and that safety rather than profits always must be priority number one. If you or a loved one was the unfortunate victim of a vehicle rollover or defective trailer accident, let one of our experienced vehicle rollover and defective trailer attorneys offer a free, no obligation consultation. We are committed to vehicle and consumer safety and always offer a zero recovery, no fee guarantee. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Failing to keep in the lane;

5. Inattentive or distracted drivers.

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

1. Following improperly;

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

3. Drowsy or fatigued driving;

4. Improper lane change.

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

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

Continue reading "An Erratic Lane Change Tends To Lead To A Catastrophic Lane Change Advises Experienced Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney" »

In another move of attempted economic muscle and intimidation, many of the nation’s largest insurance companies have informed their policyholders and customers that they will refuse to insure their automobiles unless they also bundle the coverage with homeowner's insurance coverage. Of course, major car insurance companies claim that this will enable them to deliver better service. However, as an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer familiar with the intimidating tactics of many of the insurance companies, I can assure you of one thing, the most likely and only motive is to improve the profitability of the stockholders bottom line.

Recently, Robert Hunter, a Director of Insurance for The Consumer Federation of America stated that insurance companies were “simply cherry picking more lucrative customers who can bundle their home and auto insurance with the company.” Many attorneys and insurance experts believe this newly appearing activity regarding bundling by the insurance companies may be a violation of state insurance laws and constitute an unfair trade practice in many states. Based on my experience as an insurance claims, Philadelphia catastrophic injury, and car accident lawyer, the average consumer has a very limited idea of the insurance laws, available coverage, and preferred policies and is easy prey for savvy insurance company sales agents. I believe that the only reason a consumer should bundle home and auto coverage would be to save on out-of-pocket premiums and believe that most customers should carefully shop, review, and analyze their alternatives when purchasing insurance. Make sure that you get a couple of quotations on insurance premiums from different insurance companies and don’t just assume that you have to bundle your coverage.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and insurance claims lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation insurance policy checkup, and are always glad to review your policy with you to make sure that you are not taken advantage of by the almighty insurance companies and their sales forces who seemingly exercise concerted efforts to put profits over policyholders’ interests. Make sure that you have purchased the proper car and home insurance coverage so it is available when you need it.

As the CEO of a major insurance company once said “Our obligation is to earn a return for our shareholders.” Unfortunately that dedication to shareholders interest may come at the expense of policyholders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am now 57 years old and have been practicing catastrophic injury and car accident law in Philadelphia since 1979. Over the last three decades, our Philadelphia car accident law firm has had the privilege of successfully representing tens of thousands of victims who were catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed in car accidents due to someone else’s negligence, defective roadway design, or through the fault of a corporate or private entity. In short, many of the victims have had the wind knocked out of their sails financially, emotionally, and physically and will never be the same as they were prior to the accident. A piece of the total pie has been taken away and they have a right to expect that a competent and experienced catastrophic injury lawyer will passionately and diligently represent their legal interests in an attempt to make them whole via compensatory and punitive damages.

When I meet with victims and their families, it still shakes me to the core and imposes a sense of responsibility and diligence to do whatever it takes to make these well deserving clients as whole as possible. I recognize now more than ever that life is fragile and understand that my battles with insurance companies have increasingly become more difficult as they continue to engage in a pattern of delay, deny, and defend: delaying payment on claims, denying claims, and defending their actions against claims that they rightfully owe injured victims and their families. I find myself working harder and more driven than ever with an indescribable passion and demand justice for my clients.

I remain convinced now more than ever that despite the unjust attempts of my opponents and insurance companies, the justice system will always allow the truth to surface. An ancient proverb states that “one hour of justice is worth a hundred of prayer”, and yes that place of justice is a hallowed place that the skilled and experienced catastrophic injury and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily and their staff will continue to work towards.

For over 40 years, I have regularly driven on Roosevelt Boulevard, the major traffic artery running through north and northeast Philadelphia. Just yesterday, I was driving with my son northbound in the middle lane when two vehicles appeared to be racing out of control, weaving in and out of traffic in a dangerous fashion. Police cars were stopped at several locations apparently investigating a number of car accidents. When I was 16 or 17-years old, four of my closest friends were killed in a serious car accident on this highway and since that date, I have investigated and litigated a multitude of other wrongful deaths or life altering catastrophic injuries caused by car accidents on Roosevelt Boulevard. The safety of this well-traveled road raises great concern.

Just this week, I was contacted by a client who has been in intensive care for over two weeks with multiple crush fractures after being hit by a vehicle while crossing Roosevelt Boulevard. The 12 lane highway known as Roosevelt Boulevard contains two of the most dangerous intersections in America, each one and a half miles apart. Many experts and highway design defect experts claim that design highway safety fixes to the dangerous situation are fairly cheap, so why are steps in this direction not being taken? Over 36 million cars travel the Roosevelt Boulevard every year, making it one of the busiest roadways in the country according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials, who also claim that many of the accidents are inevitable.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who has litigated and investigated many Philadelphia and Pennsylvania highway design defect claims which result in catastrophic automobile accidents, I am of the opinion that due to the current volume of traffic on Roosevelt Boulevard, it does not meet roadway design standards and safety equipment standards, even though it may have adequately met them 4 or 5 decades ago. Many traffic engineers, highway design experts, and traffic investigators feel that the roadway and traffic design of Roosevelt Boulevard is inadequate to safely handle the volume of traffic on the highway and the design is frankly out of touch with the times.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or have been a pedestrian struck by a car on Roosevelt Boulevard, the experienced Philadelphia highway design defect and Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation and will inform you with their decades of experience so that those responsible may be held accountable for resulting medical bills, financial damages, loss of emotional security and foundation, as well as the loss of life’s pleasures. In just one split second, a victim’s life can be changed forever. Reiff and Bily always offers 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 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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