Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

When I purchased a new automobile a few years ago, I wondered about the reasoning that went behind the smart key ignition system and grew very accustomed to simply using and enjoying the simple convenience.

Recently, as an experienced automotive product liability lawyer in Philadelphia who earns a living tracking advances and problematic situations in automotive technology, I learned that many of these new electronic ignition systems are introducing hazards that are killing and injuring consumers.

Last week, a couple in Florida was believed to have been overcome by a buildup of carbon monoxide emanating from a Mercedes with a keyless ignition system in their attached garage. Recent deaths have implicated Toyota smart key ignition systems, as well as ignition systems in Lexus vehicles. In fact, I hate to admit that my own car was inadvertently left running in the parking lot of my law office one day when in fact I thought it has been completely turned off. Luckily no harm was suffered but for the financial pain of burning through a tank of gas.

The NHTSA and various automotive manufacturers are now investigating potential hazards with new electronic ignition systems and the keys and electronic codes of the electronic systems that control the vehicle’s ignition module.

The Pennsylvania auto product liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily are continuing to study and investigate problems with smart keys and electronic ignition. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury as a result of an electronic ignition or keyless ignition system, please contact our office so that we may add this information to our other similar incident database, which may prove helpful in preventing catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths to other consumers. We are committed to automotive and consumer safety and always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at (800) 421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Toyota is having a rough week - make that, month. One of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers is taking major heat for recalls and a leaked document that CNN’s Anderson Cooper got his hands on. As a Philadelphia auto defects lawyer, I have handled many cases involving defective airbags, defective tires, and steering column defects.

Toyota has recently announced that nearly 700,000 vehicles will need to be recalled. The recall was triggered because of a trace of silicone grease and a steering-wheel flutter found in several Toyota models. The recall is affecting 187,000 Toyota Camrys from 2009, and Toyota Venzas from 2009-2011. Toyota found that a stray daub of silicone grease might contaminate the stop-lamp switch, potentially causing a series of mechanical troubles. Some of the most dangerous problems caused are failure of the brake light, failure to start the vehicle, and an inability to shift from park to automatic. For the 495,000 Tacoma pickups that are being recalled from 2005-09, it is reported that there is a risk that the driver’s air bag may not deploy in a crash. Toyota learned about these problems from their own internal investigations and from many car owners who contacted the company with problems that they had to pay out of pocket because their warranties were up.

On the Toyota Tacoma, the wheel flutter that exists may cause friction on a cable that is required for an air-bag to deploy properly. If this is left untreated, the friction can wear down the circuit and you could be left in a crash without protection. While some Toyota owners have already figured this out and paid out of pocket for the repairs, Toyota has not announced any repayment plan.

In the midst of this, Toyota is also taking heat from CNN. It was reported that in 2006, a confidential document was produced by the company showing that a pre-production vehicle in Japan experienced unintended acceleration. While the model was not released in the U.S., the report did show that a “fail-safe overhaul” would be needed for the Tundra, which is in U.S. consumption. Toyota tried to fight this by saying that the document was misinterpreted because of its translation from Japanese to English. So CNN paid another translator to look at it, producing a very similar translation. Toyota had to bite the bullet on this one, although they did fight CNN hard not to leak the information.

The Philadelphia auto product liability lawyers at Reiff and Bily realize how important it is to get this information out there and keep you safe on the road and in your car. If you think you were at fault for an accident that actually was the fault of an automobile manufacturer, call Reiff and Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I love the rear-view camera in my vehicle, and in fact, I’m not ashamed to admit that it may have prevented a few injuries to innocent pedestrians. For years, I have been driving a car with a rear-view camera, which has easily enabled me to see what is behind me. Recently, I rented a car in California that was not provided with a rear-view camera and when I was parking, someone darted from the sidewalk between my car and into the street and I almost struck that person only to be alarmed by a banging on the trunk. It is amazing how I have become so accustomed to my rear-view camera and how it has probably prevented other similar accidents, and I wonder why in fact, a rear-view camera is not required for all passenger vehicles.

As I began to research my query, I was pleased to learn that federal regulators plan to announce that all automakers will be required to put rear-view cameras on all passenger vehicles by 2014 to help drivers see what is behind them and prevent accidents. I further learned that on average, two children die and 50 others are injured each week when someone accidentally backs over them in a vehicle, according to kidsincars.org, a non-profit group that pushed the government to begin tracking and investigating such tragedies.

As an experienced Philadelphia defective vehicle lawyer who has been litigating against major automobile manufacturers for over three decades, I believe that safety should never be an option. If automakers and consumers are aware of a problem, then the industry has a duty to take all steps necessary to improve safety, particularly when the cost is so little. Over the years, due to the work of consumer and leg advocates who also practice automotive product liability work, cars have been increasingly more safely manufactured with the inclusion of airbags, third brake lights, and better seat belts and seat design. The inclusion of the rear-view camera as a requirement is a “no brainer”.

If you or a loved one had been a victim of a car accident due to defective automotive product design, please contact one of our experienced auto safety attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation 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.

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" »

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.

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

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

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 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.

It is rather obvious that when you take your vehicle to a repair shop or car dealer for repairs, it is supposed to come out in a better or safer condition than it was prior to its visit. A car repair dealer owes a duty to the customer and public to use ordinary care in making repairs.

Each year thousands of people will die in the United States in car accidents due to faulty repairs. When you take a vehicle to a shop for repairs after an accident, it is critical that repairs are made according to factory tolerances to insure the current driver and passenger and future owners are afforded the same level of vehicle safety after the repairs have been made as they had been before the vehicle was in an accident.

Any repairs should reduce the risk of injury or death to a passenger when a crash occurs and some lawyers have even argued that when you take your vehicle back to a dealership, the dealership has an extra duty to inspect the vehicle for safety defects including the condition of the tires and spare tire. A car dealer repair shop has the duty to discover and repair any obvious defects which would present a risk to the safety of the occupants. If there has been a motor vehicle defect and you take the car back to the dealership, the dealer is charged with responding to the recall and correcting the defective situation or component in the vehicle.

Since 1958, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have been representing catastrophically injured victims and their families and those who have sustained wrongful death due to automotive defects. The Pennsylvania vehicle defect lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group are experienced in handling all types of car accidents and motor vehicle defect cases for the citizens of Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an auto tire defect, airbag defect, SUV rollover, or the failure of a repair facility to properly repair your vehicle, contact one of our lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

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.

As an experienced Pennsylvania vehicle defect lawyer who has handled a multitude of automobile defect and auto product liability claims since 1979, a phenomenon that I have regularly witnessed is that even in the most clear cut case of product defect or negligence, the manufacturers always attempt to point the finger at driver error. As is the case in the recent Toyota motor vehicle unintended acceleration litigation, Toyota has repeatedly maintained their position that driver error and not sudden unintended acceleration is the cause of the majority of the accidents involving the Toyota vehicles.

In 15-passenger van rollover cases or SUV rollover cases where it was proven that the manufacturers knew of handling defects and concealed the same from the public, driver error was also claimed to be the culprit by the manufacturers who knew otherwise. Most safety advocates and experienced vehicle defect lawyers know where to look and can point to the defective analysis placing blame on the driver.

If you have been involved in a car accident due to a vehicle’s defect, whether it be stability handling, fuel tank, tire delamination, or seat belt, don’t let the manufacturers point the finger at you. You owe yourself the right and obligation to contact an experienced vehicle defect lawyer with the experience and resources necessary to take on the manufacturers and prove their analysis wrong.