Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As an experienced Pennsylvania rollover lawyer who has investigated all too many accidents involving minivans and 15 passenger vans, I was sorry to learn of another catastrophic accident involving the tragic death of 5-year-old boy killed in yesterday’s horrific crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at milepost 303 in West Nantmeal Township, Pa. shortly after 4 p.m. This accident involved a Chrysler van which has a history of accidents/rollovers due to what we feel is an unstable design caused by a high center of gravity when fully loaded. This alleged design defect often results in an unstable vehicle in an accident avoidance maneuver, or if tire problem occurs. Our extensive research has revealed that the manufacturer knew about such defects. Yet they continue to sell these defective vehicles putting profits over safety, despite a minimal expenditure to fix the defect. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who were injured and died in this easily preventable accident.

If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death due to an SUV or van rollover, please contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania van rollover attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

A crowded van full of children suffered a tire blowout causing it to lose control, rollover killing five people, and critically injuring another ten. According to news sources, a tire on the van’s driver’s side blew causing the driver to overcorrect and lose control. In just one second the lives of all the occupants have been changed forever. A minor mistake ended up with catastrophic and tragic results according to the sheriff on location. The vehicle flipped three or four times with kids ejected everywhere. The driver was killed instantly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. The families would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced van rollover attorney who will investigate this claim as many of the vans have notable design defects where manufacturers put profitability ahead of consumer safety.

On Saturday evening December 12, 2009 a tragic accident occurred when an SUV crowded with teenagers rolled over killing two innocent 9th grade high school students. The single vehicle SUV rollover occurred at 11:50 p.m. on Route 100 near Moyer Road. According to news sources, the driver of the vehicle lost control causing it to flip over and the two girls in the rear seats were ejected from the vehicle. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these individuals. Unfortunately this crash was similar to another crash that occurred on November 23, 2009 when two Pottsgrove High School students were killed in a Honda SUV vehicle that went out of control and crashed.

These recent fatal SUV rollover accidents underscore just how devastating SUV rollover crashes can be. Any of the SUVs are unsafe at any speed and most of the deadly crashes involve accident avoidance maneuvers. There are many questions that need to be answered by the families of the individuals injured and killed in this accident. These accidents will require a careful investigation to pinpoint the exact cause of the accident and a possible product defect and who should be held liable or responsible.

An experienced SUV rollover and car accident lawyer will be able to guide the victims and their families through the complex legal process to insure that their legal rights are protected and that they receive fair and proper compensation for their injuries, damage and loss.

Ford has already paid more than $30 million in compensatory damages, interest and costs. Ford argued that they and other manufacturers “are routinely exposed to massive punitive damage awards without regard to whether they had sufficient notice to allow them to comply with the law and avoid punishment.” Plaintiff’s lawyers in the case argued that the Ford Explorer design made it prone to rolling over during common evasive or accident avoidance maneuvers and the vehicle’s roof was too weak to withstand a rollover. Lawyers for Buell-Wilson told the Supreme Court that a California jury and Court of Appeals noted that Ford has knowingly sold a dangerous and defective vehicle but it could have been made safe for a modest amount.

The original jury award against Buell-Wilson and her husband in California was in the amount of $368 Million Dollars, the largest award ever assessed against Ford Motor Company. The trial judge and Appeals Court later reduced the award.

On January 19, 2002, Benetta Buell-Wilson of San Diego, California was driving her 1997 Ford Explorer on an interstate highway when she swerved to avoid a metal object in the road and the SUV went out of control. The vehicle skidded across the highway and rolled more than 42 times before the Explorer came to rest on its roof. The accident left the 49-year-old woman crushed and paralyzed. A California jury awarded Buell-Wilson and her husband $369 million, including $246 million in punitive damages. The state courts of California reduced the amount of the verdict. However, the California Court of Appeals approved an $82.6 million dollar settlement, including $55 million in punitive damages.

The experienced motor vehicle accident and Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Reiff and Bily have been handling SUV Explorer rollover and 15-passenger van rollover cases in Pennsylvania and other states in the nation with a successful track record. The Explorer and other SUVs are flawed because they have a high center of gravity and are prone to rollover. Also, research indicates that the Explorer roofs are inadequate to protect occupants in a rollover accident and Ford was aware of knowledge of these designs flaws but failed to fix them. Ford has consistently argued that the verdicts against them are unjust because the design of the vehicles meets minimal federal safety standards.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania SUV Rollover Lawyer Weighs in on Design Defects Inherent to SUVs and 15-Passenger Vans in Pennsylvania and Throughout the United States" »

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of Ronald Eaton, 45, and his wife Peggy Eaton, 41, who were pronounced dead at the scene of a catastrophic and fatal motorcycle versus SUV accident in York County, Pennsylvania. On Sunday August 23rd, at 3:30 p.m., according to news sources, the eastbound SUV made a left hand turn in front of the motorcycle and collided with the motorcycle traveling westbound. Corporal William Tucker said that neither husband nor wife was wearing a helmet. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the law clearly states that any vehicle making a left turn must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Ronald and Peggy.

Based upon the newspaper report, it appears that the SUV making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic failed to yield the right-of-way and was at fault in this tragic Pennsylvania SUV and motorcycle accident. It would be highly recommended that the families of these unfortunate victims consult with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury and car accident lawyer specializing in motorcycle and car accidents who could properly advise them about their legal rights and options.

The Philadelphia car accident and motorcycle lawyers at Reiff and Bily have been analyzing car accident and motorcycle cases successfully since 1979. If in fact it is determined that the left hand turn of the SUV into oncoming traffic was the proximate cause of the accident then the owner and/or operator of the SUV could be held liable for the Eatons’ fatal injuries and the survivors of the Eatons would be entitled to collect monetary damages.

If you or a loved one has been injures as the result of a car accident or motorcycle accident, please contact one of our experienced car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to the families of individuals who were catastrophically injured and killed as a result of a single vehicle15-passenger van rollover. According to news sources, the 15-passenger van rolled over several times and came to rest on its top in a ditch on the south side of I-70 in Columbia, MO. According to news sources, Evonne Manner-Wilson, 49, of Sanford, Florida was killed in the crash. Ms. Wilson was allegedly a passenger in the vehicle, seated in the third row on the passenger side. She was still inside the vehicle when it came to rest. The vehicle was a 2001 Dodge Ram van and the driver was identified as Kevin Leeks of Leesburg, Florida. He was inside the van as well and had to be extricated from the van by fire personnel. There were a total of 13 occupants in the van at the time of the crash and 7 of the occupants were transported to the hospital. The 15-passenger van was part of a caravan traveling from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota back to Florida. News sources state there was no indication that the driver was impaired by alcohol or any other substance.

For many years, the experienced 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily have been representing passengers who have been catastrophically injured or killed by traveling in a 15-passenger van that is perhaps the most unsafe vehicle on the roadway today. The rollover risk proposed by the 15-passenger van, including those predominantly used by church groups, school groups and other unsuspecting groups, makes it beyond question one of the most dangerous vehicles out on our roadways.

Continue reading "Another 15-Passenger Van Rollover Claims The Life Of An Occupant And Catastrophically Injures Others - Experienced Rollover Attorney Weighs In" »

On Friday, May 8, 2009, a woman was killed and four other people were injured in a single vehicle SUV rollover accident. The driver of a Ford Explorer lost control, crossed over the center line, left the roadway whereupon the SUV flipped over multiple times before striking a fence and landing on its side. All of the occupants of the vehicle were ejected during the crash. A female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.

Marketing campaigns indicate that SUVs are safe and family friendly but the experienced SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily will tell you that they are anything but safe. SUVs are highly prone to tipping over, even during normal driving maneuvers because they have heavier bodies and higher centers of gravity. SUVs are the only motor vehicle with a rollover fatality rate higher than any other category of fatality indicated by this unfortunate situation. SUV rollover accidents are catastrophic and most often result in fatalities. Rollovers increase the chances that victims will be ejected from the motor vehicle. When someone is ejected the odds are normally increased that a victim will sustain a head injury or spinal cord injury with permanent catastrophic consequences.

If you have been injured in an SUV rollover or 15-passenger van rollover accident, you are legally entitled to financial costs. The experienced Philadelphia-based SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily represents clients throughout Pennsylvania and the United States in conjunction with other law firms works on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. We have successfully handled thousands of car accident and rollover accidents. Please call us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Nine individuals were hospitalized with injuries after a high speed crash scene involving an SUV went wrong on the set of a film in New York featuring Nicholas Cage. An SUV operated by a well trained ans skilled stunt driver went out of control and smashed into a parked car on the set in Times Square in Manhattan, injuring crew members. This accident calls to note what the Philadelphia SUV rollover and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have known for many years, mainly that SUV’s are more likely than other vehicles to be involved in accidents and rollovers.

SUV’s are more prone to tipping over even during normal driving maneuvers because they have heavier bodies and heavier centers of gravity. They are the only motor vehicle with a rollover fatality rate higher than any other category of fatality. Even with trained stunt drivers operating them, accidents are likely to occur.

SUV accidents normally result in catastrophic injuries and often result in a fatality. Not so surprisingly, SUV rollover victims are two times as likely to die or suffer serious and catastrophic injuries than motor vehicle collision victims involved in normal flat crashes.

Continue reading "Even Stunt Drivers Have Problems Controlling SUVs" »

The experienced Philadelphia vehicle rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Zachary Stasik, an honor student at Kings College, who tragically lost his life in a single vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 81 in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania. According to news sources, Zachary Stasik and his girlfriend and another friend were on their way for an evening of enjoyment at the Scranton Cultural Center in Pennsylvania. Zachary Stasik, who was a back seat passenger in the car, was ejected when the car began rolling over a grassy median. I hope and pray that the other injured victims and passengers will get through this tough time and make a complete and quick recovery. The family of Mr. Stasik and the other injured victims would be well advised to contact an experienced car accident and rollover attorney who can help determine who was negligent and at fault for this single vehicle accident. It may turn out that there was a defect with this motor vehicle which caused the rollover.

A skilled car accident and rollover attorney will conduct an extensive investigation and accident reconstruction to determine who was at fault and will provide a free no obligation comprehensive consultation to any of the passengers and their families. Single vehicle rollover accidents are not uncommon and often result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. A rollover also increases the chances that a victim such as Zachary Stasik will be ejected from the motor vehicle.

The Philadelphia based lawyers at the law firm of Reiff and Bily represent clients throughout the United States and Pennsylvania and work on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. We do not get paid unless there is a successful recovery. We have handled thousands of automobile accidents since 1979 and multiple rollover cases with significant outcomes and have fought hard against the automobile manufacturers for catastrophic injuries and emotional damages sustained as a result of single vehicle rollovers. Please contact one of our experienced rollover attorneys if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or single vehicle rollover at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Over the next few weeks, many colleges, high schools and universities will have numerous students traveling on the roadways for spring break holidays. Roads will be more congested and there will also be more usage of 15-passenger van and SUV, the vehicle of choice for many.

Unfortunately, another single vehicle van rollover accident occurred last week. A Toyota Sienna passenger vehicle enroute to California for vacation with a driver and four of his college friends attempted to change lanes and in the process there was a car in his blind spot. The operator of the vehicle swerved back to the right lane and overcorrected back to the left and went rolling through the median in a typical single vehicle van rollover situation. The impact from the collision caused severe injuries to the passengers in the van.

What many students and drivers fail to recognize is that many of the SUVs and 15-passenger vans on the road today are unsafe in an accident avoidance and over-correction situation. When operating these vans, you must pay close attention to dangerous handling characteristics and make sure that before changing lanes you have a clear passageway and make adjustments before they escalate into catastrophic problems.

Most rollover accidents seem to be catastrophic. Rollover victims are more than twice as likely to die or suffer catastrophic injuries than typical motor vehicle collision victims involved in flat crashes.

Philadelphia based SUV rollover and 15-passenger van rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily represent clients throughout Pennsylvania and the United States and are committed to holding the manufacturers of these vehicles responsible for physical injuries and associated financial costs that could have easily been prevented.

If you have been injured in an SUV or 15-passenger van rollover, please call us for a free no obligation evaluation of your case at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced rollover attorney, I have noted on my blog in the past that all utility terrain vehicles are extraordinarily dangerous and improper usage often results in catastrophic and disabling injuries including amputations and death.

Recently a report entitled “Citizen Report On UTV Vehicle Hazards ”(report) was submitted by victims of UTV rollovers including the parents of children who were injured or killed in automobile accidents, as well as adult victims to The Trauma Foundation and The Center For Auto Safety.

In our opinion, the Yamaha Rhino is one of the most unsafe of the UTVs and reports have been sent to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Consumer Products Safety Commission and to key members of Congress, as well as The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association which represents UTV manufacturers. Many lawsuits have been filed against Yamaha, the manufacturer of the Rhino, claiming that it is rollover prone with numerous safety defects. Yamaha was aware of problems and risk of injury and offered to install half doors free of charge for all 2004 to 2007 Rhinos. Yamaha never issued a recall of the vehicle and as a result, it is estimated that there are many Rhinos being operated with a design inadequate to prevent many injuries that Yamaha knows occurs when these vehicles rollover. Yamaha rollover accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries. These injuries are life altering and can leave the victim unable to work, making costly medical bills even more of a financial burden.

If you have been injured in a Yamaha Rhino rollover, SUV rollover or 15-passenger van rollover, you are legally entitled to hold the manufacturer responsible for your physical injuries and associated costs. Reiff and Bily has achieved an excellent reputation in the area of product liability and rollover accidents and in recognition of their accomplishments both Jeffrey Reiff and Raymond Bily have been named Superlawyers for seven consecutive years by Law and Politics Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine. If you have any questions regarding a Yamaha Rhino rollover, you can reach an experienced rollover attorney at Reiff and Bily by calling us at 1-800-21-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The Philadelphia SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily have been handling and researching single vehicle SUV rollover cases for many years and written about their inherent dangers in previous articles. On March 8, 2009, four teenagers, ages 16 to 19, were critically and catastrophically injured when the SUV they were driving spun out of control and flipped over in Southwest Philadelphia. Two female passengers were found ejected and the two male passengers were found inside the overturned vehicle. Police state that the cause of the accident was unknown.

Thousands of deaths occur each year in the United States due to SUV rollovers. My heart and prayers go out to the four teenagers and their families. I constantly monitor single SUV and 15-passenger van rollovers when compiling “other similar incidents” for our SUV rollover research and SUV rollover legal practice. I am astounded that these vehicles are notorious for the tendency to rollover and cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities and continue to be so prevalently used. The families of these injured teenagers would be well advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Pennsylvania auto product defect and SUV rollover lawyer who will have an expert examine the vehicle for product defects (well noted and documented) in SUV rollovers. A knowledgeable Philadelphia car accident attorney would also advise the owner of this vehicle to preserve it in its current crash condition so that it can be examined for mechanical malfunction, product defects and other evidence.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an SUV rollover accident, please contact the SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.