Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

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

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

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

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

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.

In 2004, a 15 passenger church van rolled over. The plaintiffs’ lawyers representing the deceased victims argued that the Ford Motor Company knew that the vehicle had faulty tires but refused to do anything about it. Plaintiffs’ attorney stated to the jury “the evidence is uncontested that Ford made a conscious decision to not communicate information to dealerships and they made a conscious decision not to tell their customers.” The facts of the case alleged that a tread separation and tire defect of the van’s rear right tire, manufactured by Goodyear, caused the accident. Plaintiffs’ attorney claimed that Ford (the manufacturer of the 15-passenger 1993 E-350 Ford Econoline van) knew about the recall and was negligent for never informing its dealers or customers. However, not so surprising in this case, is the fact that Ford claims the deaths of the driver and passenger was due to their not wearing seat belts. The case has not yet gone to the jury.

As an experienced Pennsylvania 15 passenger van and SUV rollover attorney who has investigated and litigated many rollover claims involving tire defects over the years, one thing is for certain, that these vans and SUVs have a higher center of gravity and when fully loaded become very unstable if a tire should experience a blowout due to a defect or the driver enters into a sudden accident avoidance maneuver. I trust that the jury will carefully evaluate all of the evidence and render a just verdict in the California courtroom where this case is being tried. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

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.

I just returned back to Philadelphia from the West Coast and observed a fairly familiar scene which was more horrific to me and should be to any of my readers than any Halloween or haunted attraction, namely a rerun of a scene that I have witnessed all too many times.

While traveling down a highway at a high rate of speed, I saw a 15-passenger van loaded with college students on their way to a sporting event. The van approached a curve at what I consider to be too high a speed, and narrowly avoided rolling over which would have surely resulted in catastrophic injuries and potential deaths to the young occupants. The driver was barely able to prevent a van rollover accident.

As an experienced 15 passenger van and rollover accident attorney for many decades, one can not imagine the horror inflicted upon unknowing and innocent occupants of these vehicles during a normal accident avoidance maneuver which results all too many times in a catastrophic 15-passenger van rollover. Unfortunately, many of the occupants of these vehicles are churchgoers following God’s way or school children on their way to a sporting event or class outing. Last year, over 1,000 people were killed or injured in 15-passenger van crashes. Unfortunately, there is still in excess of 500,000 of 15-passenger vans on America’s roadways. The 15-passenger van was a modified design of a van originally meant to carry cargo. As the 15-passenger van becomes fully loaded with occupants and luggage, the rollover rate increases significantly due to its high center of gravity and extended rear section. If this occurrence is coupled with an inexperienced driver, defective tires, or an accident avoidance maneuver, the horror is unimaginable and often results in the loss of innocent and young lives. The automobile manufacturers and their well versed attorneys will tell you that these vehicles are very safe and have passed many stringent safety tests. However, as an experienced 15-passenger van and rollover attorney, I am aware of internal corporate documents possessed by the automobile manufacturers that clearly indicate the dangers of these vehicles. So the question that begs to be answered is why are they still being used by so many daycare centers, senior citizen centers, churches, sports teams, and schools when they are so extremely hazardous and dangerous. Simply put, automobile and 15-passenger van manufacturers continue to emphasize profitability over safety, and all too many people do not know about the dangers of these vehicles until they receive a frantic phone call informing them of an accident.

Continue reading "15-Passenger Vans Are More Horrific Than Anything Else You Will Come Into Contact With During Halloween Season" »

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.

A potential problem including brake light switches on Harley Davidson motorcycles allegedly caused by exposure to too much heat from the exhaust system has lead to a recall of 308,000 Harley Davidson motorcycles. The recall indicates that the problem affects Harley Davidson’s Touring, CVO Touring, and Trike vehicles from 2009 through 2012 model years. Dealers will install a rear brake switch free of charge. Harley Davidson indicates it is aware of one crash from the problem.

If you or a loved has been injured as a result of a motorcycle accident or defective brake light switch, please contact one of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The violent forces that occur as a result of a car accident often leave innocent victims with a traumatic brain injury that will greatly affect their daily abilities to fully function after a car accident. Many times a traumatic brain injury will result in a lifetime of rehabilitative training, extensive medical bills, and loss of a job which can take the wind out of the sails of a victim and their family emotionally and financially.

A traumatic brain injury can range from a mild occurrences such as a concussion which will normally resolve with no long term health consequences to a severe trauma to the brain which often occurs in a sudden acceleration/deceleration injury or the result of a penetrating injury to the head.

As an experienced traumatic brain injury and car accident lawyer for over three decades who has handled tens of thousands of car accident cases, I have observed that many cases are worked up by attorneys or physicians unfamiliar with traumatic brain injury symptoms, and unfortunately it is only after a case is resolved that a proper diagnosis has been made. Too many inexperienced car accident attorneys look for the “Easy A” and quickly settle a case without proper due diligence for health concerns that will impact the victim and their family for a lifetime. TBI is often difficult to recognize and the damage is not readily apparent and requires a thorough evaluation and investigation by trained physicians, neurologists, and attorneys with experience in the field.

Many symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include but are not limited to memory issues, behavioral changes and irritability, speak and language difficulty, nausea, vomiting, headaches, seizures, pupil dilation, ringing in the ears, fractures of the skull, loss of consciousness, depression, loss of life’s enjoyment pleasures and libido, and inability to function in an emotional and mental level as the victim did prior to the accident. TBI is also referred to as a silent, hidden epidemic and often goes undiagnosed.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or truck accident or has suffered a blow to the head as the result of negligence of another or a product defect, it pays to have a free, no obligation consultation with an experienced car accident and traumatic brain injury lawyer.

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.

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.

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.

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 an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who has successfully litigated many airbag defect and vehicle products defect, I am well aware that automotive airbags are supposed to deploy within milliseconds to protect lives and avoid catastrophic injuries in the event of an accident. An airbag is inflated by highly compressed gas commonly known as nitrous oxide and a metallic charger. Many times due to a sensor defect or due to a charger malfunction, the airbag does not deploy properly.

Over the last year, hundreds of thousands of motor vehicles were recalled in the United States for airbag defects including but not limited to low speed deployment, early deployment, late deployment, or non-deployment. The airbag was invented in the 1950's and have been consistently redesigned and developed in the 1970's to the present. Unfortunately as the number of airbags being placed in vehicles has increased, there seems to be a lack of quality in airbag manufacturing and installation as evidenced by the growing number of defect recalls.

With so many different types and manufacture of airbags in vehicles there seems to be an increasing potential of airbag malfunction or airbag failure. Airbags are supposed to prevent drivers and passengers from striking the steering column, dashboard, or windshield and to spread the force of the impact to avoid net trauma, fractures, injuries, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and damage to internal organs or wrongful death.

Our skilled Philadelphia airbag defect and auto defect product liability lawyers have determined that many vehicle and airbag manufacturers are taking cost cutting measures including but not limited to negligent installation, inadequate testing, and defective materials. The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania airbag defect lawyers and automotive product defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily believe that safety should never be an option and must always take priority over manufacturers bottom line and profitability. A catastrophic injury or wrongful death caused by an airbag defect can have a profound effect on the victim or their family. A catastrophic injury often requires lifelong care and rehabilitation and can cost millions of dollars. The experienced auto product liability and airbag defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily understand this complex area of law and have represented generations of Pennsylvanians since 1979. Consumer protection is our priority. 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.

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

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

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

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.

As a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer who has been litigating catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases for over three decades, I am very careful in my case selection process and always attempt to recognize a difficult or unrealistic client at the outset. While many individuals may sustain a catastrophic injury or wrongful death, often personal injury cases involve complex legal issues and liability may not always be what it appeared to be at the initial meeting with the client. Obviously each party has their own bias or prejudice as to their version of the case, and as the case proceeds through discovery, additional facts are uncovered which may benefit one party to the detriment of another.

Plaintiffs and their attorneys have the burden of proof and often clients mistakenly listen to relatives or other non-involved lawyers who unrealistically evaluate a case without the complete knowledge of the facts. Of course, the jurisdiction is an important consideration in case evaluation and although someone may be injured through the fault of someone else or a negligent product, it is not the law’s job to guarantee a retirement check either. Many attorneys make the mistake of providing a client with unrealistic expectations at the outset which is something that I will never do. Many times a client’s email address will reveal something about the client’s character and cause me to decline the client. Such an example would be someone who had the email address something to the tune of “angryattheworld.com”. Whenever the client asks me at the initial meeting how much their case is worth rather than express concern about the recovery from injuries, a red flag goes up. Another red flag is a client who has gone through many lawyers and has something negative to say about each one before calling us. I fully believe that this client will never be happy and will have unrealistic expectations and will be at another lawyer’s office having something negative to say about myself and our staff no matter how hard we try to aggressively represent the client’s interests and keep that client informed and happy.

Continue reading "How The Unrealistic and Difficult Client Can Destroy Their Own Legal Case Opines Pennsylvania Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyer" »

I recently had the occasion to attend a church meeting where the latest church outing and tour was being promoted to congregants. Basically when I learned that tour members from the church would be transported in a 15-passenger van, I became extraordinarily concerned.

The experienced 15-passenger van rollover and catastrophic accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily understand from experience that the 15-passenger van may be one of the most deadly and potentially dangerous and deadly vehicles on our highways as they suffer from a multitude of alleged design defects. Almost every summer, we learn of new catastrophic traffic accidents involving churchgoers, tour groups, and students who are unknowing about these defects and dangers of the 15-passenger vans until it is way too late. Many times, 15-passenger vans are operated by church groups or tour groups and driven by inexperienced and untrained drivers, and due to their design have a significant risk of rollover. 15-passenger vans when loaded have a very high center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in accident avoidance maneuver or if there is a tire failure or blowout.

Extensive research done by the experienced 15-passenger van rollover and van accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily and other prominent 15-passenger van attorneys throughout the United States has indicated that manufacturers knew of defects yet continued to sell vehicles due to high profit margins despite minimal expenditures despite defects. Approximately 30 American states prohibit schools or daycare centers from using 15-passenger vans and I will not let my own children or friends that I care about travel in one of these. As Louis Pasteur once famously was quoted as saying “chance favors the prepared mind”, and being an advocate and stalwart of consumer safety, if you are aware of the dangers of this vehicle, do yourself a favor and take another means of transportation.

Continue reading "Can Tour Groups and Church Groups Prevent Accidents Before They Occur? - Experienced 15-Passenger Van Rollover Attorney Thinks So" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recently NHSTA opened an investigation into rental car companies and the frequency with which they repair rental vehicles that were subject to safety recalls. As the experienced vehicle product liability and vehicle defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily can attest to, many times cars rented from rental agencies have not been repaired due to the fact that rental companies do not wish to take these vehicles off the road sacrificing safety in order to maximize profitability.

In one of our cases, a 15-passenger van was rented from an agency and rolled over due to a known defect on the vehicle. NHSTA has recently asked the major automobile manufacturers to provide recall and repair information for models of vehicles that are popular among rental companies, including but not limited to the Chevy Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, and Ford Fusion. NHSTA, a governmental agency, is attempting to investigate how long it has taken rental companies to take their vehicles in for service once there is a recall. Consumer advocates and attorneys have known and claimed that rental companies do not immediately remove their vehicles out of service and wait until it is “convenient” to have the vehicles repaired. Of course the rental companies deny this and claimed that vehicles subject to recalls and put consumer safety at risk are put on hold until they are repaired.

As an experienced auto defect and product liability lawyer, we are all too familiar with circumstances where this is not the case. As chance favors the prepared mind, we believe that safety should not be an option and that rental agencies owe the highest duty of care to their customers and should be held accountable if the renter is injured in an accident due to their failing to repair a known defect.

A California jury awarded $15 million dollars to the parents of daughters who died in a fiery 2004 automotive crash in a vehicle that had been recalled for safety reasons but not repaired by the car rental company. On October 7, 2004, a Chrysler PT Cruiser was rented at an Enterprise agency. One month prior to the car rental, Daimler Chrysler sent out a safety recall notice for 435,000 PT Cruisers from 2002 through 2005 with a notice stating that the power steering hose could leak resulting in a vehicle fire.

The vehicle occupied by the deceased victims had been rented four times since the recall. Enterprise manager, Mark Matias stated that before the accident, he was not aware that the PT Cruiser was recalled and furthermore stated that the Enterprise corporate philosophy was “You’ve got to keep booking because you don’t know when you are going to get the car back. But then of course, you run short on vehicles and if all you have are recalled vehicles on the lot, you rent them out. It was given, the whole company did it.” The expert retained by the plaintiffs concluded that the deceased lost steering due to a power steering fluid leak. Not so surprisingly, Enterprise argued that the crash was due to the victims’ driving.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has successfully handled other automotive product liability claims involving manufacturing defects, we believe that it is extraordinarily important that car rental companies be held accountable for the consequences of their actions. When one rents a car from a car rental company, you have every right to expect that the company has complied with all safety and recall conditions and that the vehicle you are renting is safe to be driven without risk of harm or damages.

If you or a loved one has been involved in serious Pennsylvania car accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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

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

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

Recently General Motors and the United States Treasury were forced to agree that all claims arising out of incidents that occurred prior to the emergence of the “new GM” would be liabilities assumed by the “new GM.” This hard fought victory means that as many as 70 million vehicles for which there was intended to be no tort or product liability are now the responsibility of the “new GM.”

In the past, Chrysler did not assume the same accountability or liability. It now seems impossible that Chrysler can stand as the only car company which will not take responsibility for deaths and injuries caused by product defects in the 10 million or more Chrysler vehicles now on the road.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily are committed to representing the rights of catastrophically injured individuals as well as individuals who sustained fatalities as a result of being involved in a car accident with a defectively designed motor vehicle.

Under pressure from multiple consumer advocate groups, as well as State Attorneys General, General Motors Corporation agreed to assume legal responsibility for injuries drivers suffered from product liability and vehicle defects after General Motors emerges from bankruptcy protection. As it presently stands, consumers who are injured in car accidents after General Motors emerges from bankruptcy protection will be able to bring product liability claims against the government owned auto maker. Originally, General Motors had planned to eradicate all liabilities for defective product liability claims.

Curiously, the Chrysler Group, LLC which recently emerged from bankruptcy is not responsible for such product liability claims after the bankruptcy judge dismissed objections to its plan.

Currently there are alleged to be more than 300 people with personal injury claims against GM with a value exceeding $1.25 billion dollars. Under the original plan proposed by General Motors, personal injury or car accident victims who believe that faulty manufacturing or defective products caused by faulty GM manufacturing and vehicle design defects would be unable to sue the new GM. They would have been treated as unsecured creditors. Under the new plan, GM has agreed to take responsibility for future product liability claims.

Continue reading "Consumer Advocate Groups Score A Victory In GM Bankruptcy" »

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

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

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