Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Last night, Tuesday, February 26, 2013, a 15-passenger van rolled over on a Pennsylvania highway, striking a tree. Initial police reports indicate that the vehicle was carrying fifteen occupants, and crashed just after 8:00 p.m. on Interstate 380 North. Driving conditions were said to have turned treacherous, with the onset of freezing rain. At least one occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead, and others were transported to the nearby Geisinger Medical Center. Our hearts and prayers are extended to the victims and their families, and we ask that anyone who has further information report it to us.

While many will attempt to point the finger at the driver, this accident was likely caused by deadly, but not uncommon, combination: a vehicle with serious design flaws and hazardous road conditions. Indeed, the 15-passenger van may be one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road, when fully loaded. Design defects on these vans include a high center of gravity, which has long been known to increase the possibility of rollover, and stadium seating, in which seats are placed at graduated heights. The rear of the vehicle extends up to four feet beyond the rear wheels , a feature that increases the possibility of ‘fishtailing,’ or sliding from side to side, if the van loses traction on an icy road surface.

The National Transportation Safety Board is fully aware that vans overturn more than 50 percent of the time when involved in single vehicle crashes. Indeed, 81% of all fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes occur in single vehicle crash rollovers. A 15-passenger van carrying 15 people and overloaded with cargo has a 70% greater chance of being involved in a rollover accident than any another vehicle on the road.

The 15-passenger van has been deemed so unsafe that many churches, schools—in addition to the military— have totally banned them as a means for transportation. There are currently in excess of a half million 15-passenger vans registered in the United States. 85% are listed as Ford Econoline Club E-350 and Dodge B-350/3500.

NHTSA has gone so far as to recommend that the drivers of these vans need a commercial driver’s license. A fully loaded 15-passenger van requires special driving skills and, unless an individual has been properly trained in how to drive them safely under various road conditions, and learned special accident avoidance maneuvers, an accident can likely occur in such conditions.

We have investigated and prosecuted cases where dozens of victims have been killed or catastrophically injured in 15-passenger and SUV rollover crashes. We understand how and why life-altering injuries and deaths can occur as a result of design defects—drastically altering the hopes and dreams of innocent victims and their families.

Victims and their families involved in a 15-passenger van accident should contact an experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyer with a track record of beating automobile manufacturers in court. The successful prosecution of 15-passenger van accident cases requires experience, skillful investigation, and immediate action, to avoid non-spoliation of evidence. 15-passenger van rollover cases are high-stakes, complicated cases to litigate, and require special expertise.

The 15-passenger van rollover and SUV rollover attorneys of Reiff and Bily have been recognized by their peers as having the highest possible rating in both legal abilities and ethical standards, and are consistently recognized as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and are members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Attorneys. Our skilled 15-passenger van and SUV rollover always offer a free, no obligation consultation.

Every year, over 100,000 children under the age of 14 years will sustain serious injuries as a result of a motor vehicle crash. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children aged 5 to 14 years and remain the second leading cause of death of unintentional injury deaths for children less than 4 years of age.

Most of the injuries occur due to failure to properly protect children and other occupants in motor vehicles. Obviously children have different tolerances to impact and resulting injury and many automobile and component manufacturers are not as focused as they should be on child injury prevention in automotive crashes. Unfortunately, many children are killed due to improper child seat design, seat belt design, and deficiencies with vehicle restraint systems.

In just a split second when an accident occurs, a child’s and family’s life can be forever impacted. Many of these tragic car accidents result not only from the negligence of other drivers but also as a result of defectively designed and manufactured products failing to take into account proper safety considerations despite knowledge of deficiencies.

Continue reading "Car and Other Motor Vehicle Accidents Remain a Major Public Health Concern for Children in America" »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over the last year, we have received reports from clients who have been “friended “ on Facebook by individuals that they cannot identify and we always advise all of our clients to never accept “a friend” that they do not know on any social media as more likely than not there is probably not a good purpose to this “meeting”. As a matter of fact, we recommend that any of our clients involved in a catastrophic injury claim suspend any and all messaging and posting on social media websites until the conclusion of their legal case. If someone attempts to “friend” you on Facebook or any other social media, ask yourself what is their motivation? Is that “friend” motivated by the quest for information? A successful and well versed defense lawyer will attempt to leave no stone unturned in determining any information that they may use against a defendant, including but not limited to queries, relationships, hobbies, and activities that people generally post on Facebook. Unfortunately many times people make postings on Facebook or other social sites that contain sensitive information that can be used against them by a well skilled advocate. When you post something on Facebook, it is posted at your own risk and the courts in Pennsylvania have determined that the information is discoverable.
After numerous depositions over the last year where defense counsel has asked my client to provide his or her Facebook user name and password, the courts have claimed that “only the uninitiated or foolish could believe that Facebook is an online lock box of secrets.” The Pennsylvania courts have held that if a party in a civil case posts information on his or her Facebook page and that information appears to contradict statements and discovery testimony, then the party’s Facebook page falls within the scope of discovery. Therefore, a simple lesson following a motto that I practice by is that “chance favors the prepared mind” and this mandates a strict and serious warning that any information posted online can and most likely will be found by opposing parties or their investigators in litigation and will be reachable through the power of a court issued subpoena.
Jeffrey Reiff has been practicing catastrophic injury and wrongful death law in Pennsylvania since 1979 with the experienced catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm of Reiff and Bily. He welcomes inquiries concerning new legal matters and always offers a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Believe it or not, a recent survey indicated that over 78% of all drivers are improperly seat belted in their vehicle with improper shoulder belt position which means that in the event of an accident, the seat restraint systems will not perform as they were designed to prevent injury or death. When I first started to drive, I very rarely used a seat belt and as I have been practicing catastrophic motor vehicle accident law and automotive defect law with a concentration on airbag defects and seat back defects, I have learned that it is extremely important to always use a seat belt, as well as properly determine that the seat belt is properly positioned. Many people may not be aware of proper seat belt positioning and may not understand the likelihood of serious and permanent injuries that result from an improper seat belt fit. In many seat belt defect cases that we are called upon to investigate, manufacturers will initially try to state that the victim was not wearing a seat belt and then thereafter, if we can prove that a seat belt was worn, that they will many times try to argue that the seat belt was improperly positioned and the resulting injuries were due to a fault of none other than the victim. Even worse yet, if a child is injured, many defense attorneys will point the finger at the parents, claiming that the parents allowed the child to ride with a belt behind their back or under their arm or against their face and this situation naturally caused the injury.

A properly positioned seat belt is one that should be snugly fitted against the strongest areas of the body. Position seat belts low enough across the hips and pelvis and never across your stomach, particularly if you are pregnant. Position shoulder belts across the chest and across the hips and pelvis and never against the front of the neck or face or under the arms. Allow no more than one inch of slack in shoulder belts and always sit erect with the seat back straight as safety belts cannot work and cause injury in a crash if the seat back is reclined, if your back is away from the seat or if your legs are curled beneath you. It is important to have specially designed child safety seats to protect small children and infants.

The experienced seat belt defect, airbag defect, and Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to automobile and motorist safety. For more information, 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.

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.

As I write this, a 1-year old boy remains in critical condition in a Philadelphia hospital after he fell from a moving vehicle and was run over by another car. According to news sources, the unrestrained 1-year child was sitting in the rear seat when the back door somehow opened causing the infant to fall out of the moving SUV, after which point the baby was run over by another vehicle behind the SUV. While it remains unclear how the baby fell from the vehicle, what is clear, according to a spokesperson, is that the 1-year old had not been in a restraint.

As an experienced Philadelphia motor vehicle accident and faulty automobile restraint system lawyer who is also a dedicated consumer advocate for child and automotive safety, this unfortunate and tragic incident clearly exemplifies just how important it is to never take shortcuts and properly secure all infants and small children when they are riding in a motor vehicle. Pennsylvania state law requires that all children under the age of 4 ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat whenever they are in a vehicle. Failure to comply with these laws could cause drivers to be fined, and in certain cases, sentenced to jail time. We all have an obligation to protect children. More catastrophic injuries and deaths are caused to small children by car accidents than any other cause.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and safety restraint lawyer, I strongly suggest that all children under 4 ride secured in a government approved infant seat and the back seat, and one must make sure that the seat is properly installed and affixed. Any child over the age of 8 and under 18 must be restrained using seat belts. As this unfortunate accident indicates, proper safety precautions should never be left to chance.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the infant and family members and we hope and pray for a speedy and healthy recovery.

It seems that more and more drivers in the City of Philadelphia as well as surrounding counties are morally bankrupt when they drive off from accidents where children and others are catastrophically injured or suffer a wrongful death. For over three and a half decades, I have been representing car accident victims, and unfortunately more and more of these cases that I investigate involves uninsured, underinsured and hit and run type of car accidents.

People leave the scene of a hit and run accident for a good reason, and most likely because they are drunk or under the influence of an intoxicating substance, or worse yet are afraid of the penalties because they are driving a car without insurance. It is a situation that reveals a shameful lack of humanity and morality and the penalties should be them same or stricter to those for aggravated assault or homicide calling for imprisonment. Most people know that there are loopholes that favor hit and run drivers who leave the scene when they are under the influence of alcohol. When I deal with victims and the families of victims whose loved one remains in a coma or has been killed as a result of a hit and run driver, I am astounded that we do not have any mandatory strict minimum laws punishing those who leave accident scenes.

On my way home from work, I have the occasion to pass through the intersection of Broad and Vine Streets on a daily basis. On 12:01 on Monday, October 3, 2011, Philadelphia will activate the newest red light cameras at this busy intersection. Philadelphia now has 20 high risk for car accident intersections equipped with devices and cameras to catch red light runners. So far Philadelphia is the only city in the state of Pennsylvania to have these intersectional red light cameras although recent legislation has been introduced to expand the program to other Pennsylvania cities. Red light cameras have been in effect in many other American cities and a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that red light cameras at intersections have caused a major drop in fatal red light running car crashes and other types of intersectional accidents.

If you are injured in an intersectional car accident by another driver who has run a red light, the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily has over three decades of experience holding those negligent motorists accountable so that you are fully compensated for your losses, pain and suffering, and medical bills. Our skilled Philadelphia car accident attorneys have been awarded in the hundreds of millions of dollars representing victims and their families catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed as a result of a motor vehicle related accident.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing catastrophically injured victims and their families for over three decades. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The intersection of Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, PA have been listed as two of the top ten most dangerous intersections in the United States according to auto insurance company studies. Just last weekend, another victim was struck on Roosevelt Boulevard which has long been known as Philadelphia’s most dangerous roadway.

When I was in high school, I was invited with four friends of mine to take a trip into the greater northeast and for some reason, my parents refused to let me get in the car with my 17 year friend who was driving. Unfortunately I woke up the following morning to news that my friends and high school classmates were killed in a catastrophic car accident at one of these intersections. Ever since that date, when I travel on Roosevelt Boulevard, I am grimly reminded of the potential for catastrophic injury and wrongful death that lurks on this road. This highway is not just dangerous for drivers but also for pedestrians that must walk across multiple lanes of traffic with only a slight sliver of a median and a number of entry and pull off lanes that are often unwieldy and poorly navigated by drivers attempting to merge.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I am all too familiar with the number of catastrophically incurred deaths and tragedies that have occurred on this highway. I wonder why, despite the number of injuries and deaths that occur, safety continues to be ignored by those who have the power to make a change.

It is not a coincidence that there are more car accidents being recorded In Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties including more accidents involving hit and run drivers who leave the scene of an accident or car accidents involving uninsured or underinsured vehicles. Although over 90% of Americans have jobs, wages adjusted for prices have decreased for the third time in five months, and personal income has dropped for the first time in 2 years. The median household income is at the lowest point in more than a decade and the poverty rate has jumped to 15.1%, a 17 year high.

Obviously many people will put off repairs to vehicles or give a second thought to purchasing a new vehicle because they simply can’t afford it. More and more people are driving vehicles without car insurance or if they have car insurance with the minimum amount of insurance necessary and often do not check to see what the benefits are until it is too late.

As an experienced catastrophic injury and wrongful death car accident lawyer in Philadelphia for over three decades, I am seeing some of the most catastrophic cases of injury and wrongful death without insurance or without sufficient coverage or worse involving a hit and run driver. As an automobile safety stalwart and automobile accident attorney, I am somewhat concerned with the direction this trend is continuing.

I don’t know how many times people come into our office after a catastrophic car accident or truck accident and tell us that they have purchased full insurance coverage. Now more than ever, insurance companies continued to delay, deny, and defend claims and offer what I consider to be almost worthless insurance policies that were never fully explained to the policyholder at the time of purchase. More and more insurance company business is being conducted over the internet, and unfortunately many of the agents only consider what it takes to sell you a policy, never explaining full benefits or interpretation of various clauses that can be very important in the event of a car accident.

We were able to demonstrate that many agents did not even know the difference between liability or collision coverage or uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage despite the fact that they were selling the same. Many times after an accident when we contacted the agent, the agent was unaware that the client had not purchased uninsured or underinsured coverage. It seems to me that insurance companies don’t do a very good job training the people who deal with the public when it comes time to explaining policy benefits. Not all companies or policies are created equal, and if you have any doubts about whether you are fully covered or not, it is best to have a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney who understands how insurance companies will look to avoid paying claims and what you can do about this unconscionable and widespread behavior. Today more than ever, you need to be smart and savvy and have an experienced advocate on your side when dealing with an insurance company.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident insurance claims lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation to those victims and their families involved in car accidents. We always offer a free review of your car and truck insurance policy. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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.

Over the past few years as an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer and philadelphia trucking accident attorney, during the discovery phase of several catastrophic car accident and truck accident cases, we were able to note that the offending driver was texting at the time of the accident. Several of these texting “just once” events resulted in fatalities to other innocent and unknowing drivers. Texting while driving is a pet peeve of mine since I am often on the other side of the fence representing victims and families of victims who have lost a loved one due to this potentially deadly multitasking combination performed by a defendant driver. Of course, I will admit I used to do it just as I did other silly things when I was younger, but it can be that “just once” incident that leads to an unforgivable and life changing event. When I am in the car with people who text while driving, and chastise them about it, they are quick to tell me “It’s just this one time. Don’t worry I never do it.” Many people believe that an accident will never happen to them and act irresponsibly when they get behind the wheel of a car whether it be driving while intoxicated, texting, or driving while on a cell phone.

Recently a 53-year old man was recently killed when a 19-year old who was allegedly texting while driving took his pickup truck and in a split second hit it straight on over the center into the man’s sedan. In another case, a texting driver rolled an SUV over amputating one of my client’s arms. Unfortunately many of the texting while driving accidents involve teenagers who pride themselves boasting that they can text quickly and control the vehicle, and in my house we have a rule, if you are going to drive a car you are not allowed to make a cell phone call or text. Almost every child and teenager today carries a cell phone and parents must strongly remind and advise their children of the dangers of driving while texting and if that doesn’t work bring them down to my office and I will show them some pictures of what can happen.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation. For more information contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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.

With the number of trucking accidents increasing due to truck driver errors, as well as positive testing for drugs and alcohol, one trucking company has decided to screen all new applicants for drugs via hair samples in an attempt to reduce new truck driver accidents within the first crucial months of employment. Many truck drivers are randomly screened with urinalysis and are schooled to understand that there are many products available on the open market which will make a positive test appear negative. Hair testing offers a longer time frame of measurement for drugs or intoxicating substances in the blood system, and is one of the best possible screening tools at this time. Results have indicated that out of 170 applicants screened, 10 tested positive that would have otherwise been hired.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and trucking accident attorney who has handled some of the most catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, I believe that trucking companies owe it to the general public as well as themselves to utilize the newest advances in technology as federal minimum requirements are absolutely not enough. It is essential for all trucking companies, motor carriers, and bus operators to raise the bar on safety and screen for drug use, sleep apnea, as well as ban the use of cell phones while driving.

For over three decades, our experienced Philadelphia trucking accident lawyers have represented catastrophically injured victims and their families and recovered millions of dollars in awards, settlements, and verdicts. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, contact one of our skilled lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an attorney who has represented car accident victims in Pennsylvania since 1979, I am increasingly frustrated that insurance companies and their lobbying efforts continue or attempt to cut benefits to consumers, as well as bury exclusions so deep in policies that the average consumer is not aware of the same until a problem occurs. Additionally, by virtue of joint and several liability, passengers injured in intersectional collisions are faced with a potential reduction and the ability to obtain full compensation. The insurance limits of 15/30 are so antiquated and behind the times that unfortunately many victims who are seriously and catastrophically injured in an accident and do not have sufficient underinsured motorist coverage may pay a price with their health and economic deficiencies for the rest of their life. Now more than ever, I recommend a careful review of your insurance policy to make sure that you are fully protected in the event of a catastrophic car accident.

Philadelphia ranks among one of the highest cities in the United States with uninsured vehicles on the highways and if we consider the uninsured motorist crisis, the results are somewhat alarming. Unfortunately as a long time practitioner of car accident law, I see more and more clients frustrated when they are confronted with a review of the policy when it is too late after the accident and note that they did not have the proper coverage even though their agent told them they had full coverage and never explained exclusions or full tort option. Louis Pasteur once stated that “chance favors the prepared mind”, and for that reason, the law firm of Reiff & Bily always offers a free, no obligation consultation to those involved in a car accident, as well as a free, no obligation review of your car insurance policy.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are committed to consumer and auto safety, and have successfully represented claimants injured in car accidents since 1979. Our skilled auto accident lawyers are some of the most highly rated lawyers in Pennsylvania and the United States and have received top accolades and reviews on behalf of their work for victims and their families that were catastrophically injured or killed in car accidents. 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.

For over the last three decades, I have investigated and litigated many trucking accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries or death. This morning I was cut off the road by a speeding 18 wheeler who had no regard for other traffic. When I observed the driver, he was talking on his cell phone and when I honked the horn he gave me a part of the hand as a response.

Recently, another investigation revealed that an Alabama truck driver using his cell phone during a 2010 truck crash killed 11 people. In that incident, the truck operated by the driver on his cell phone crossed over the median strip and struck a van carrying a Mennonite family and friends to a wedding. It was fiery, exploding crash of the van. A NTSB report indicated that the driver was talking and texting on his phone for hours leading up to the accident.

As one can imagine, truckers normally drive long hours and are often fatigued and talking or texting on a cell phone only further serves as a distraction. Many state and federal authorities have known for a long time that a number of trucking accidents have occurred from various factors including driver fatigue, sleep apnea, as well as utilizing a cell phone while driving. Yet, there is no federal regulation banning the same.

A recent federal investigation revealed that many truck drivers exceed the 11 hour driving limit or 14 hour on duty limit and continue to operate large trucks in violation of state regulations. Simply put, many trucking companies and truck operators put profitability above safety.

As an experienced Philadelphia truck accident and car accident attorney who regularly deals with the tragic outcomes of such incidents and meets with families who have lost children or financial providers, I must state that there must be a federal ban on cell phones while driving. Hopefully federal lawmakers will quickly take action to prevent other deaths and tragedies from occurring by prohibiting the use of handheld and hands free mobile phones while driving on the job. This action should serve as a catalyst for local and state authorities to take appropriate actions with regulations that can be enforced with meaning.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia car accident and truck accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have represented generations of victims and their families who have been catastrophically injured or killed due to the negligence of other drivers and automotive defects.

Recently our skilled trucking accident attorneys joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and together our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of 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.

The recent deluge of rain and overflowing creeks and rivers in the Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania area has lead to many car accidents and not so surprisingly has tragically resulted in the drowning of an individual who was trapped in her vehicle and could not safely get out.

Several years ago, a friend of mine who is the Mayor of city in Florida in an area surrounded by waterways gave me a rescue escape tool which is commonly used in Europe. I was not sure why she gave it to me or what to do with it. At first I thought that it was an odd choice as a gift, but have learned to appreciate the thoughtfulness and caring of the gesture. The tool has a flexible pointed hammer and a razor surrounded by plastic used to cut a seat belt. I keep it in my glove compartment and wonder if I will ever have to use it. Hopefully not, but if I do, I am prepared for the worst scenario. As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and drowning accident lawyer, I wish to inform our readers of the following. In Florida which is frequently hit with heavy rains in the Palm Beach County area, motor vehicle crashes which can cause a vehicle to plunge into a roadside canal are the third leading cause of drowning. Over 10,000 vehicles each year go into the water as the result of a car accident with 400 drownings. It only takes 6 inches to 2 feet of water to float a vehicle off its wheels. If a car is submerged in water, the battery will often short out immediately. If a vehicle assumes an angled nose-down position in the water, the water pressure against doors and windows can make it difficult to open. Rescue escape tools do not cost much money and can be bought in many places such as auto stores, hardware stores, as well as on the internet for mostly under $10.00. In times when rivers crest and water overflows the banks flooding roads or bridges sustain weakness and collapse, often split second decisions must be made which will lead to survival. A car accident is frightening enough. Imagine if your vehicle is thrown into water and becomes submerged and you are in the vehicle alone or worse yet with your children who cannot swim.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and drowning accident attorney, I strongly recommend all of our readers to go online and purchase a rescue or car escape tool. I am quite fond of quoting Louis Pasteur who famously said that chance favors the prepared mind.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to automotive and consumer safety and always offers a free, no obligation consultation to victims and their families who are catastrophically injured or sustained a wrongful death as a result of a car or motor vehicle accident. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. Put decades of experience on your side.

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.

For over 30 years, I have prosecuted claims on behalf of those wrongfully killed and catastrophically injured resulting from unsecured or improperly secured cargo and in fact have been a victim of such an unfortunate truck accident myself.

It consistently amazes me how often I observe trucks and other vehicles improperly loaded with improperly secured or unsecured cargo traveling down the highways at high rates of speed. Over 50,000 reported truck accidents occur every year due to unsecured cargo consisting of tires, steel coils, lumbar, heavy auto parts, construction supplies, and machinery. Additionally, many times trucks can be hauling hazardous materials or flammable materials which are not properly secured and if an accident or malfunction occurs, horrific consequences are often the result.

Owners and operators of trucks are imputed with a duty to inspect and secure a load on every truck on the highway. Specific federal regulations define the securing of freight and proper loading of cargo. The situation with regard to unsecured cargo often is ignored by governmental authorities and is now reaching what some say are epidemic proportions. Many claim they are “freak” accidents.

As an experienced trucking accident and unsecured cargo and falling debris lawyer who has prosecuted some of the most tragic claims over the last 30 years, I can honestly state that these proclaimed “freak” accidents are generally not freak accidents and often cause the most devastating and damaging injuries. Often times an unsecured cargo case involves an improperly maintained truck, truck driver fatigue, negligence, or a product failure and requires competent and careful investigation for the successful prosecution of a claim to recover costs involved with long term medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and other financial losses.

Continue reading "Unsecured Truck Loads Continue to Pose Hazardous Dangers For Pennsylvania Motorists" »

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.

For over three decades as an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run accident lawyer, I have noticed an alarming increase in the number of hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. I have stated many times before that there is never a good reason why someone would not stop after being involved in a car accident.

Recently I met with the family of a young father with an impeccable work record who was struck by a hit and run driver on his way home from work one evening a few weeks ago. The investigation revealed that the offending hit and run driver was an off duty police officer. The victim now lays motionless in a coma in a hospital room while his parents, family, and child express concerns and worries about his and their futures. Medical bills and bills for rehabilitation will likely skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

The day following the accident, the investigation revealed that the police officer turned herself in with extensive damage to the striking vehicle. The obvious question to be answered is Why would an off duty police officer and a responsible individual not call 911 immediately after the accident to inform the police about what happened and offer immediate assistance?

As an experienced hit and run accident lawyer, I have shared the pain of innocent and unknowing victims with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses as result of hit and run accidents caused by drivers who leave the scene generally because they were intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement officials claim that the situation is a growing challenge and I for one can state that our law firm received at least 4 phone calls just this morning from hit and run accident victims.

Continue reading "When A Police Officer Leaves The Scene Of A Hit And Run Accident Which Renders The Victim Unconscious And In A Coma, It’s Time to Wake Up And Recognize That The Hit And Run Epidemic Needs An Immediate And Major Fix" »

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.

Over the last three decades as a Pennsylvania car accident and truck accident lawyer, I have shared the pain with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses or catastrophic injury and wrongful death as a result of a car accident caused by a driver while intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol.

While we often read of high statistics for DUI, statistics are not normally kept for those driving a motor vehicle while high on the intoxicating drugs. Law enforcement officials claim that this situation is a growing challenge and state arrest statistics of drivers charged while operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs have more than doubled since 2004 in Pennsylvania.

Our neighboring state, New Jersey, has approved a bill legalizing medical marijuana and the rising rate of drug impaired drivers presents a problem in enforcement. Most people can easily recognize a person intoxicated by the effects of alcohol, but not everyone knows what a drug impaired person looks like. Many times our experts and investigators have been able to determine that a driver who killed or catastrophically injured one of our client’s was under the influence of prescription medication or other intoxicating drugs at the time of the accident despite the fact that the initial police investigation never revealed the same. Law enforcement officials require probable cause to obtain blood tests when a driver is suspected of driving drug impaired and there is no breathalyzer or other type of analytic tool that can determine the use of drugs by an impaired driver.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has steadfastly maintained a hard stance against driving while intoxicated, I believe the issue of increased drug impaired drivers needs to be seriously addressed by the legislatures of Pennsylvania and other states in order to prevent senseless deaths and catastrophic injuries to innocent victims of car and other motor vehicle accidents. Laws with strict enforcement and penalty provisions are called for.

Continue reading "The Number of Drug Impaired Vehicle Drivers In Pennsylvania Is Skyrocketing and In Fact Has Doubled Since 2004 - Car Accident Victim’s Lawyer Weighs In" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for over three decades, as well as a licensed driver for over 40 years, there is one thing I am certain, of marijuana, alcohol, and other substances that impair one’s thinking do not mix well with the operation of a motor vehicle.

Statistics indicate that people who drive after using medical marijuana are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a car accident. Although studies indicate that marijuana usage increases the risk of fatal accidents, it is much lower than those attributed to alcohol. Researchers note that even low doses of marijuana significantly increase the risk of fatal car accidents. Twice as many drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for marijuana. As marijuana continues to be legalized in many states, most recently New Jersey, it is my fear that we will see more car crashes resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities on Pennsylvania and New Jersey roads along with other states passing such legislation.

According to NHTSA, 16.3% of all night time drivers in America were found to be on a drug, whether legal or illegal, and more than half of these cases involved marijuana. On many counts, I recognize the medical benefits of marijuana, I have no doubt that the increased marijuana usage will not mix well for driving and as a top philadelphia car accident attorney who unfortunately deals with some of the most tragic car accidents that one can imagine, I am a strong advocate of keeping the nation’s motorists as safe as possible.

This past Saturday evening, I attended a local dinner party and while I was sipping a glass of wine, I heard a shrill chirping or beeping sound. When I asked what it was, I was told that one of the guests had brought a portable breathalyzer. Interestingly enough, I thought that this little device was a great way to give myself and others at the party a little peace of mind by allowing the hosts to rest assured that they were not allowing someone, including myself, to drive when they are legally impaired, as well as allowing individuals attending the party to benchmark themselves.

Interestingly enough a discussion ensued and those who tested at or near the levels of intoxication were requested to turn over their keys and have a designated driver take them home or call a cab. I must confess, I liked this idea and as an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has investigated some of the most tragic cases involving intoxicated drivers, I placed my own order for a portable breathalyzer on Sunday morning. Of course, one must be careful that the portable breathalyzer does not give a false sense of security and I advise anyone who doubts that a person should not be driving and who appears to be impaired to confiscate that individual’s keys regardless of the results of the breathalyzer. Even if the breathalyzer notes that a person is not intoxicated, if someone is stumbling, slurring words, or otherwise acting incapable of driving, confiscate their keys because even if a police breathalyzer test shows you are not at the legal limit, you can still be arrested and charged with impaired driving if you exhibit the above symptoms.

Surprisingly the prices for these devices online range anywhere from $38 to less than $150 for a professional model. In fact, many might state that this is cheaper than a good bottle of wine or dinner for two at a restaurant. I urge all of our readers to consider purchasing a portable breathalyzer as "chance favors the prepared mind".

Continue reading "Portable Breathalyzer A Big Hit At A Dinner Party - Experienced Car Accident Attorney Thinks It’s A Great Idea For All Guests To Test Themselves Before Getting Behind The Wheel Of A Car" »

As many municipalities are in a tightened and deficit state, crash taxes and accident response fees seem to be sweeping the country. Thankfully as a Philadelphia and Pennsylvania accident attorney, I am glad to reassure Pennsylvania citizens that Pennsylvania and 12 other states have outlawed accident fees and taxes preventing cities from billing victims of motor vehicle accidents for fire and police response services. In some states, a car accident with injuries is billed at $490 to the driver. If there is a fire without injuries, bills are in the amount of $415, and in an accident without injuries, motorists are assessed a $365. The thought process was to shift the burden from the tax payers to those responsible for the accident. Of course, this begs the question as to how do we determine who was responsible on the spot?

It is my understanding that insurance companies are often refusing to pay these taxes when the consumers try to pass them on which leaves the motorist in the position that not only have they been the victim of a car accident, but they must now foot the bill or litigate over the matter just to even pay the tax. When you are involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to think about is being taxed.

In Philadelphia many times the police are not even responding to car accidents due to budget cutbacks, and it is important that you secure information from all of the individuals involved in the car accident. If you are injured, it is best to contact an experienced Philadelphia or Pennsylvania car accident attorney who will work with skilled investigators to fully investigate your claim. Of course, the best Philadelphia car accident attorneys never charge for an initial consultation and will always handle your case on a percentage basis meaning that if you win, you will be charged a fee and if you do not win you will not be charged anything at all including the costs of investigation.

Continue reading "It’s Bad Enough You Are A Victim In A Car Accident But Some States Now Want To Tax You With A “Crash Tax”" »

2011 is shaping up to be a banner year in the annals of tour bus accidents and resulting deaths and injuries. That is more than the total of 2010 when there were 30 fatalities, 272 injuries, and 28 tour bus crashes. In the wake of tour bus accidents, investigations have been commenced by various state and national authorities. However our experienced bus accident attorneys and investigators understand that many tour bus companies and discount bus operators continue to stress profitability rather than safety and seem to be taking all too many short cuts in a tightened economy.

For years, bus safety advocates and bus accident lawyers called for legislation with teeth that would strengthen bus driver safety and driving training. In our independent analysis of many bus companies and their drivers, we have found abysmal safe records. In one case, the tour bus drivers were cited for over 46 safety violations including speeding and fatigue. Many drivers were found to have deportation detainers from immigration and customs departments, as well as felony warrants. In one of our cases, one of the bus companies claimed to have an office in a premise that was totally non-existent. Amazingly the bus company still continues to operate despite fatalities in alleged ongoing investigations.

Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey was concerned that the Department of Transportation was not moving quickly enough to make motor coaches or buses safer and was quoted as saying “Just because bus companies can discount prices, doesn’t mean they can discount safety”. Unbelievably in one of our cases, the insurance company claims that the bus did not have insurance as stated on their certificate. Until lawmakers take proper steps, bus owners and operators will continue to skirt the system and unfortunately more and more lives will be lost and other innocent and unknowing victims injured. We recommend that buses be equipped with black box recorders similar to those installed in airplanes.

Continue reading "In The First Six Months Of 2011, 17 Tour Bus Accidents Result In 323 Serious Injuries And 32 Fatalities - A Disturbing Trend Opines Bus Accident Law Firm Who Has Repeatedly Called On Legislators For Tighter Safety Legislation" »

What initially appeared to be a multi-car rear end collision with so low an impact that it was hard to see any damage on plaintiff’s vehicle grew into a $7.2 million dollar settlement for a plaintiff. The plaintiff described as a 35-year old athletic and healthy man visited a chiropractor after his collision and within six months was described as regressing to the point where he was losing his ability to walk without assistance. The plaintiff’s attorney made a demand to settle for $100,000 policy limits; however, the defendant’s insurance carrier Liberty Mutual denied. The original trial attorney demanded $100,000, the limits of the policy about a year after the accident, and in his demand informed the carrier that he thought the value of the case was in excess of $300,000. The lawyer worked diligently and as he described, tried to bend over backwards in an attempt to get Liberty Mutual to pay the contracted policy amount of $100,000. The insurance carrier continued to drag its feet requesting more and more information including plaintiff’s work history and medical records for the last five years. The attorney supplied the insurance company with full information and every opportunity to pay. The insurance company argued that the plaintiff’s medical condition was caused by a pre-existing condition rather than the car accident and also argued that another car accident in which the plaintiff had been involved two years earlier caused the damage. The plaintiff’s attorney continued to make new demands and in December 2010 demanded $3.5 million dollars, after which point Liberty Mutual offered their policy limits of $100,000 which was denied at that point. Thereafter in April 2010, another demand was made, this time for $5.5 million dollars. The insurance company again rejected the demand and proposed mediation and plaintiff’s lawyer said no. The insurance company’s attorneys asked for more time to review documents and depose experts.

News sources indicate that the insureds had to hire their own counsel to put pressure on their insurance company Liberty Mutual. Pressure by the insurance company to resolve the case was credited with boosting the settlement value.

Continue reading "$100,000 Policy Limits Turns Into $7.2 Million Dollar Settlement For Client Due To Insurance Carrier’s Foot Dragging During Settlement Negotiations In A Personal Injury Case" »

Over the last few months, the experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have received much more than the normal amount of calls involving people leaving the scene of a car accident after they struck a pedestrian or another vehicle.

Last Saturday night, two people were struck when a car came onto the pavement and struck them from behind as they were walking home after a Saturday evening date. The driver got out of his car and then got back in and took off leaving the injured pedestrians to fend for themselves. Unfortunately none of the victims owned a motor vehicle and had no other health insurance.

Leaving the scene of an accident is commonly referred to as a hit and run accident. The penalties depend on the seriousness of the damage or injuries. Pennsylvania’s motor vehicle code treats accidents involving unattended vehicles, i.e. one’s without drivers or occupants as the least serious. The level of punishment escalates to a more serious offense when the other vehicle is occupied or a pedestrian is hit and injured. A hit and run car accident involving personal injury or death can receive a high level of punishment which may include a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison or if the victim suffers a serious bodily injury, the offender can be charged with a third degree felony carrying a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 90 days and a maximum sentence of up to 7 years and a minimum fine of $2,500. If the victim dies, the offense may still be classified as a third degree felony but the mandatory minimum sentence would be one year. It is also important to know that conviction for any of these offenses could result in suspension of a driver’s license.

Continue reading "There Seems To Be An Epidemic In Philadelphia Of People Leaving The Scene Of A Car Accident - Experienced Car Accident Attorney Weighs In" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I was surprised to review data findings of a Philadelphia based automotive safety research project which concluded that children were half as likely to be injured in a car accident with their grandparents rather than their parents were driving.

As one who spends quite a bit of time on the highways and streets and has been a practicing car accident attorney for over 30 years in Philadelphia, after considering the results of the study and evaluating the results, I thought to myself that many more of the car accidents that I have litigated have involved younger people as well. The study concluded that there were several possible explanations for the better car accident safety record of grandparents versus parents driving. Grandparents have more time on their hands, are not as rushed, and not as stressed. Grandparents may not be multitasking rushing between work, dinner, and child activities. Grandparents do not speak on cell phones or text as much as younger drivers. Grandparents transporting grandchildren were less likely to be involved in an accident on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or higher. Of particular consideration is the average age of the grandparents in the study was only 58. According to statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration, there are more than 38 million American drivers beyond age 65 and overall this group of drivers has the greatest likelihood of being involved in an auto accident making the study findings even more surprising. The study also revealed that grandparents were also less likely to use child safety seats than were parents and more than a quarter of the grandparents used less than optimal child restraints, while 2% failed to use any at all.

The Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily are committed to auto safety and have represented generations of Pennsylvanians since 1979. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

Unfortunately another deadly bus accident has occurred in New York taking the lives of several innocent and unknowing victims. Over the last six months, there have been a series of bus crashes and near crashes involving the discount tour bus industry which has killed almost 20 individuals and catastrophically injured many others.

The experienced bus accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are representing individuals and their families in one of the earlier fatal bus crashes and our investigative efforts have revealed a plethora of bus safety and driver training issues and problems. To reiterate the words of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer who is pushing for legislation to strengthen bus safety and driver training, “There isn’t a moment to spare when keeping bus passengers and drivers safe and informed”. As a bus accident and catastrophic injury attorney who deals with the almost incomprehensible tragedies that occur in the lives of otherwise innocent victims, it is evident that the bus industry is incapable of regulating itself when it comes to safety. The bus industry continues to emphasize profitability over safety and the growing epidemic of crashes over the last few months reenforces the need for strict legislation with teeth to address this terrible epidemic. We wholeheartedly appreciate the efforts of Senator Schumer and others committed in their fight to improve tour bus safety.

Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group and together we have recovered over $2 billion dollars in verdicts, settlement, and awards for catastrophically injured victims and their families. 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

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 an experienced biker and Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney since 1979, I understand that warm weather brings motorcyclists to our roadways, but unfortunately this is often coupled with catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths in motorcycle accidents. Over the last month, over a dozen people were injured or killed on Pennsylvania highways in motorcycle accidents.

I started building and riding motorcycles in my early teens and had never taken a motorcycle safety course until I was in my late 40's as I thought I knew it all. Frankly, I hate to admit it but I thought the course was way beneath my skills and would be elementary and boring. However, I was pleasantly surprised regarding how much I learned regarding motorcycle operation and safety. Pennsylvania motorcycle safety program is sponsored fees paid when obtaining, renewing, or replacing a motorcycle permit license and many insurance companies will give you a substantial discount if you prove that you have completed the course. Courses will be offered from July 21st to July 24th, and July 28 to July 31st. Many of my clients and friends have told me that they have avoided many accidents with the skills they learned in the Pennsylvania motorcycle safety course.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to motorcycle safety and always offers a free, no obligation confidential consultation to those who are injured in a motorcycle accident. For more information, please 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" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney many times the facts reported by the police, parties, or witnesses are not always as they appear to be. A complex automobile or motor vehicle accident where one has sustained a catastrophic injury or wrongful deathcalls for careful accident reconstruction and forensic analysis. Many portable navigation devices such as Garmin, Magellan, and iPhone are capable of recording geo referenced data such as trip routes, waypoints, destinations, times, and speed.

An experienced car accident attorney will work with forensic experts to access and analyze data stored in these devices. Additionally, an experienced car accident or motor vehicle accident attorney will want to forensically retrieve and review data recorders in passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. The best car accident attorneys will never assume the accuracy of facts as indicated by the opposition or on the police report and will perform their own independent analysis to assure the accuracy of the investigation.

The experienced car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily know very well that many times police reports are incomplete and inaccurate and that defendants and independent witnesses have skewed perceptions of the events leading up to the crash. The best Philadelphia car accident attorneys always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For over three decades the skilled and experienced accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have represented generations of Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians and have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Together our attorneys have been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958. For more information, please 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 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" »

Over the last six months, there have been a multitude of fatal bus accidents mostly involving discount bus operations. After each accident, there is a news story alleging highlight of safety concerns and woes with investigations noting many times that the bus operators involved had multiple safety violations yet continue their operations.

Enough is enough! How many more victims must be catastrophically injured or killed before real action is taken by government authorities?

As an experienced bus accident who is representing several catastrophically injured victims involved in discount bus accidents, talk is cheap and there should be absolutely no tolerance for passenger bus companies that put passengers at risk. Unfortunately, according to news sources, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration allowed Charlotte-based SkyExpress Inc. to keep operating despite numerous safety violations in four previous accidents. Finally, the unsafe practices caught up with the company when a fatigued driver ran into an embankment, rolled over, and killed 4 and injured another 54.

The experienced bus accident legal team of the Beasley Reiff Law Group ask what would it take for the National Transportation Safety Board and various state regulators to shut down common carriers and bus companies with horrendous safety records which put passenger safety at risk. We believe that had the Charlotte-based SkyExpress been shut down due to knowledge of its abysmal safety record an accident may have been prevented and to quote Louis Pasteur, "chance favors the prepared mind". Astoundingly federal inspection records indicate that SkyExpress drivers were cited for 46 safety violations over 2 years including speeding and fatigue. Drivers performed worse than 86.2% of all drivers in fatigued driving and drive too many hours without rest. What is clear, as evidenced from the rash of discount bus accidents, is that the current model does not work. It is time for government regulators and state officials, as well as the public, to demand zero tolerance for cost cutting compromises to safety!

Continue reading "After Every Fatal Bus Accident Many Stories Appear Alleging That "This" Accident Highlights Bus Safety Concerns - Experienced Bus Accident Lawyers Tired of Deja Vu Experience And Weigh In" »

Our experienced bus crash and rollover lawyers and investigators have been busy the last few months investigating various tour bus accidents which catastrophically injured many and killed many individuals. Most of the tour bus operators involved in the fatal accidents were discount bus services. Many had unsatisfactory ratings and were found to be in violation of multiple federal safety regulations.

In this recent bus crash disaster, the New York City bound bus hit an embankment and overturned in Virginia and the driver was later charged with reckless driving and he claimed fatigue was a factor in the crash. Federal documents revealed that this particular bus company had a particularly poor safety record. News sources indicate that over the last two years the small bus company involved in this fatal and catastrophic accident had been involved in several accidents with 46 violations of fatigued drivers over the same time period. Although the bus company offered a relatively inexpensive fare between New York City and North Carolina ($30), our experienced bus accident attorneys and the federal government recognize that safety should always be the number one priority and that carriers such as this, whether they are discounted or not, owe the highest obligation of care and safety to unsuspecting fare paying passengers.

While the bus industry has been a booming business for discounters, a string of fatal accidents has prompted calls for federal regulations. As an outspoken critic of the bus and common carrier industry, I have been writing for years on this very topic. In one of our cases, our investigators were unable to even locate an existing office for one of the discount bus companies despite information provided to federal and state authorities. While the bus industry claims that these problems are limited to a small number of rogue operators, the experienced bus accident attorneys of the Beasley Reiff Law Group understand that until tougher government regulations and enforcement of the regulations are put into effect with strict penalties this situation will continue in epidemic proportion and that many innocent people will put their lives at risk.

Continue reading "Feds Shut Down Another Tour Bus Line After Virginia Bus Crash Kills Four - Pennsylvania Tour Bus Accident Lawyers Wonder Why It Took So Long" »

Dozens were injured and 4 people were killed and yet another tour bus rolled over in a catastrophic bus accident. According to news sources, the bus was traveling from Greensboro, North Carolina to New York when it hit an embankment in Virginia and rolled over onto its roof on I-95 on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. The bus was carrying 58 passengers and its Chinatown office in New York was empty of workers on the date of the accident. Police blamed the bus accident on driver fatigue and investigators said that charges were pending.

As an experienced tour bus accident lawyer, it seems that the epidemic of driver fatigue and bus accidents continues to increase at an alarming rate and must be curtailed by stricter regulations, guidelines, driver health, and background checks.

The law office of Reiff & Bily in conjunction with the Beasley Firm joined forces to create the Beasley Reiff Law group and are currently representing victims of another bus crash that occurred just a few months ago when a bus traveling to Chinatown from New York to Philadelphia crashed killing and catastrophically injuring other individuals.

Since 1958, the lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have recovered over $2 billion dollars on behalf of catastrophically injured victims and their families. If you or a loved on has sustained catastrophic injuries or suffered a wrongful death as a result of a tour bus accident, please contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

As an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney and consumer safety advocate, I salute the steps taken by a Missouri school board addressing safety concerns regarding the use of 15-passenger vans to transport students. In October, NHTSA urged users of passenger vans to take steps to keep occupants safe following two fatal crashes involving 15-passenger vans that rolled over and resulted in 10 deaths.

Our skilled 15-passenger van accident attorneys, along with government officials and consumer safety advocates, have known for many years that 15-passenger vans might just be the most unsafe vehicle ever made and have a higher rate of roll over than likely loaded vans. When a 15-passenger van is loaded to capacity or near capacity, the gross vehicle weight moves the center of gravity rearward and upward affecting the stability and handling of the van according to an NTSB report. Unfortunately our experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident lawyers have represented victims and their families of all too many school children and churchgoers who sustained tragic and catastrophic results while riding in the 15-passenger van. 15-passenger vans are one of the most popular vehicles for transporting pre-schoolers, school age, and college church groups, and are involved in more rollover crashes than any other vehicle. As a matter of fact, the danger of 15-passenger vans is so great that many states and municipalities, as well as the military, have outlawed them as a means for transportation.

Continue reading "Another Jurisdiction Updates Policies On The Use Of 15-Passenger Vans For Transporting Students - Thank You!" »

A catastrophic injury and fatality is 36 times the norm in a vehicle rollover accident. Victims of roll over accidents are most likely to sustain a catastrophic injury or death due to high incidents of occupant ejection. Head injuries, resulting paralysis, brain injury, as well as amputation of limbs are commonly suffered if one is ejected out of the vehicle and land under a vehicle that continues to roll or struck by another vehicle. More weight increases the chance of a truck or vehicle rollover despite a common belief that added weight adds to stability. Most rollovers occur when a driver runs off the road or the vehicle loses traction due to a tire defect or blowout. If the glass in the vehicle is not laminated or glazed, there is a high likelihood that the victim’s body parts will not be contained in the vehicle and that the person will be ejected.

If a fuel tank is ruptured or a fuel line severs during a rollover, there is a good likelihood that a devastating fuel fed fire can ignite which increases the risk of serious injury or death for drivers, passengers, or people nearby. Many times in a rollover crash, a fuel tank is punctured or tears and the filters and fuel lines separate or there is a hydrostatic burst of fuel vapors.

If you or a loved has sustained a catastrophic injury or wrongful death caused in a rollover accident by one of the above listed factors, it is important to preserve the evidence and contact an experienced SUV and vehicle rollover attorney to fully investigate the facts of your case together with renowned experts and investigators.

The SUV rollover and fuel fed fire lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Since 1958, our experienced SUV rollover and fuel fed fire lawyers have investigated thousands of product defect and rollover cases and have been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of catastrophically injured claimants. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130.

As an experienced bus accident attorney for the last 32 years, this winter brought to light just how dangerous bus travel can be. Our office is representing the interests of several catastrophically injured people who were involved in a New Jersey Turnpike accident last month which also killed a 21-year old Montgomery County, Pennsylvania man. State and Federal regulators have placed bus safety square in their spotlights. The Feds have shut down Super Luxury Tours of Wilkes Barre, PA. Our investigators have incurred a spider webs of confusion and misrepresentations on behalf of the many tour bus operators. As I have noted before, one generally assumes that bus travel is one of the safest means of transportation, but unfortunately, this is not the case when operators take short cuts on safety and maintenance. The U.S. Department of Transportation claims it is committed to improving tour bus safety records requiring higher standards of safety and controls for coaches and buses. The Greyhound Line, the nation’s largest intercity operator, recently announced that it would begin installing lap and shoulder seat belts on all its new buses.

Recently a federal court in Sacramento, California ruled that Greyhound could be held liable for failing to put seat belts on its buses. The case where 8 passengers traveling on a Greyhound bus were injured in a rollover accident on the I-5 freeway. Greyhound’s action to equip their new buses with seat belts represent a safety breakthrough, and we salute the concern for safety as the federal government does not yet require seat belts on large buses.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who has concentrated on automobile product liability and defective automobile components for over 30 years, I am always studying NHTSA statistics as well as fatality investigations concerning automobiles.

Recently I was quite puzzled when I learned that fatalities resulting from car accidents for men aged 51 to 65 were rising dramatically by almost 25% from 2000 to 2009, yet when taking the same fatality factor into consideration FOR ALL MALE DRIVERS, there was a 20% decline in fatalities. Surprisingly studies indicated that the increase in deaths was directly related to the increase in the number of licensed drivers and male licensed drivers in the 59 to 60 age group rose by 33%. The apparent bulge in the population age structure related fatality is related to the naming of the baby boomers.

I never had a second thought about using one of the cut rate bus services or even putting my children on one of the buses from Philadelphia to New York or Washington. After all, I thought to myself, what could really go wrong. One would normally think that buses provide one the safest means of transportation and should most certainly be safer than an airplane.

As news events of the past few months has indicated, many deadly tour bus crashes have occurred as a result of numerous safety and maintenance violations by many bus operators. Just last week a surprise New York bus inspection removed 124 drivers and 100 buses from the road following the deadly New York bus crash a month ago. A tour bus crashed on March 12, 2011 on a Bronx highway returning to the city from a casino in Connecticut killing 15 people. Our experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorneys have been retained to represent victims of another tour bus crash in New Jersey a few days later, and the results of our investigation are very concerning and somewhat horrifying. We filed a lawsuit on behalf of a catastrophically injured victim only to be stonewalled by false information, addresses, and what appears to be misrepresentation of corporate identities and parties.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has recently implemented facial recognition technology to arrest 31 drivers with commercial licenses for using aliases to fraudulently obtain multiple licenses with 50 more cases being reviewed. Federal transportation officials reported 2,800 spot checks of passenger buses from March 28 to April 6 resulting in 289 drivers of buses being removed from the road. Also, this followed 300 buses being removed from service after 3,000 inspections after 17 days of earlier spot checks.

Recently the Philadelphia bus accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm to form the Beasley Reiff Law Group and together have recovered over $2 billion dollars for injured victims. If you or a loved one has sustained catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of being involved in a tour bus or other bus accident, please contact us online at www.beasleyreifflawgroup.com or toll free at 1-800-588-0130 for a free, no obligation consultation.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation shut down the Wilkes-Barre based tour bus company that was involved in the March 14, 2011 deadly bus accident. It was found that the bus driver violated federal insurance requirements.

Ironically, the decision to shut down the tour bus company came on the same day that the Senate subcommittee confronted the department because it was not addressing bus safety quickly enough. Subcommittee Chairman, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), was concerned that the Department of Transportation was not moving quickly enough to make motor coaches or tour buses safer. He also felt that it was unsafe to continue to put unsafe buses and bus operators on the road. Senator Lautenberg was quoted as saying, “Just because bus companies can discount prices doesn’t mean they can discount safety.”

The experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorneys Jeffrey Reiff and Raymond Bily have filed one of the first lawsuits against Super Luxury Tours on behalf of a victim who sustained catastrophic injuries in the March 14, 2011 bus crash, which also claimed the lives of several others.

The experienced auto accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the catastrophic bus accident attorneys of The Beasley Firm and both law firms have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars on behalf of our clients since 1958. We will continue to diligently work on behalf of our clients, as well as with lawmakers, to ensure that the wrongdoers are brought to justice. For more information, contact us online at Beasley Reiff Law Group or toll free at 1-800-588-0130 for a free, no obligation consultation.

Experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorneys Jeffrey Reiff and Raymond Bily have filed one of the first lawsuits against Super Luxury Tours on behalf of a victim who sustained catastrophic injuries in the March 14, 2011 bus crash, which also claimed the lives of several others.

The bus company involved in the fatal and catastrophic accident reported that it had offices in Wilkes-Barre, PA. However, the locations listed on paperwork filed with the Department of State are not occupied by anyone affiliated with the tour group or the bus company. Our investigators have determined that the company has had multiple accidents and multiple safety violations on its records over the past two years. According to state reports, Super Luxury Tours lists 115 N. Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA as its address. However the building is a multi-unit apartment building owned by James A. and Helena K. Davis of Hanover Township. The building is a duplex with both units rented out. The landlord claims of no knowledge of the bus company operating out of the building.

Another address listed by Super Luxury Tours was identified to be a vacant space located at 17 E. Market Street across the street from City Hall in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Super Luxury Tours is identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as having a higher than average number of violations for unsafe driving, including 9 tickets in the past two years for speeding, improper passing, and failure to obey traffic controls. They have also been repeatedly cited for having drivers who do not speak English. To add insult to injury, the passengers who were catastrophically injured or killed as a result of this accident are being denied benefits for payment of financial losses for themselves and their families.

As an experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorney, I am horrified that buses entrusted with the safety of transporting innocent passengers away from the stresses of everyday life operate in a system lacking proper safety regulations and concern for the safety of innocent passengers. The legal team of Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the catastrophic bus accident attorneys of the Beasley Firm and both law firms have been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars on behalf of our clients since 1958. We will continue to diligently work on behalf of our clients, as well as with lawmakers, to ensure that the wrongdoers are brought to justice. For more information, contact us online at Beasley Reiff Law Group or toll free at 1-800-588-0130 for a free, no obligation consultation.

As an experienced Pennsylvania catastropic bus accident and car accident attorney since 1979, I salute New York State transportation investigators whose sting operation, weeks after a horrific bus crash, ordered 14 buses off the road. New York State investigators reported 9 major safety issues with drivers including lack of updated log books which indicates how long a driver has been behind the wheel, as well as 10 major vehicle issues and 40 minor infractions.

On March 9, 2011, 15 people were killed in the Bronx borough of New York when a bus returning to New York from Connecticut overturned and split in two by a side support pole. The experienced Pennsylvania bus accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been contacted to represent the interests of several individuals on the bus. Our own investigation has indicated concern regarding various violations against the driver and safety issues of that particular bus. As a result of the New York sting, 54 criminal summons were issued Friday, March 18, 2011 and 8 of the buses were towed away due to safety violations. Other buses ordered out of service were safe enough to be driven by qualified drivers but evidentally not safe enough for passengers.

The bus involved in the New Jersey Turnpike crash had “one of the worst rankings for unsafe driving”. The Pennsylvania bus accident, car accident, and product safety lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the legendary bus accident lawyers of the Beasley Firm and we have been calling for a crackdown on unsafe buses for decades. I have always believed that you get what you pay for. However, safety should always be a priority and always triumphs over profitability.

The Super Luxury Tours bus involved in the New Jersey Turnpike accident had a score of 99.6% for unsafe driving, meaning it scored worse that all but 0.04% of all bus carriers in the nation.

If you or a loved one has sustained catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of a tour bus or casino bus accident, put decades of experience on your side. The Pennsylvania bus accident and car accident lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group have been awarded billions on behalf of their clients and have hundreds of settlements, verdicts, and awards in excess of $1 million dollars. Please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 800-421-9595.

In the last few weeks and months, many innocent victims have been killed and catastrophically injured as a result of being involved in bus accidents operated by cut rate bus companies.

A New York bus crash that killed 15 people on their way home from a casino focused attention on problems federal and safety investigators have warned about for years, namely driver fatigue and failure to perform proper background checks. The driver of the bus had a past history notable for past offenses and driving on a suspended license and should not have been behind the wheel. There is an old saying “you get what you pay for”, and whereas a normal trip to New York on a Greyhound bus might sell for $50, a Bolt bus and some of the other cut rate buses charge anywhere for $1 to $12 for a trip to New York. However, one thing is for certain, the safety of passengers should not be compromised no matter what the cost.

As an experienced Pennsylvania catastrophic bus accident lawyer, I am well aware of short cuts taken by bus operators in order to maximize profitability. Beside the negligence to the bus operator and driver, the initial analysis of this case recognizes that perhaps the bus had product defect or design defect issues such as failure to use laminated windows which would prevent ejection of the passengers and allow for containment – one of the key safety factors in a rollover accident. Also, there may be a roof crush or crashworthiness issue. The victims and their families would be well served to seek the services of an experienced bus accident attorney with a background in automotive product liability to fully evaluate this claim and work with a team of accident reconstructionists and biomechanical engineers in order to make a proper financial recovery. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families who lost their loved ones and we pray for a speedy recovery for those catastrophically injured.

The experienced Pennsylvania car accident, bus accident and automotive defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily currently joined forces with the Beasley Firm and together both firms have been awarded over $2 billion dollars representing the rights of injured victims and their families since the mid-1950’s. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

It is that time of the year and many motorcyclists are taking their bikes out of winter storage and getting ready for the first motorcycle ride of the season. As an experienced motorcyclists for over 40 years and as an experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney, the first thing that you ought to do is check your tires. I was about to get on a bike and take it for a ride and had a close look at the tire and saw signs of microscopic cracks. I have handled enough catastrophic motorcycle accidents and deaths resulting from tire failures that I am aware that it is time to get rid of those tires and replace them with new tires. Cracks and dry rot on tires is probably the most dangerous issue that occurs with winter motorcycle storage. There is no repair but to replace the tires. Winter storage is the main culprit of cracks and dry rot, if you are storing the bike in a non-heated garage or not on a piece of carpet. Motorcycle riders should check the tires on their motorcycles for tire pressure, dry rot, and cracking. Hairline cracks and dry rot on motorcycle tires may appear harmless, however, they are indicative of a serious problem when a sudden loss of air pressure in a motorcycle tire can cause a sudden loss of control and a catastrophic injury or death. The best way to avoid cracks and tire deterioration is to ride your motorcycle frequently. Riding a bike will warm the rubber which will help the anti-aging materials in the tire compounds to work properly. If you have ridden your bike on salt coated highways that are wet, always wash your tires.

The experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are committed to motorcycle safety. We have recently joined forces with The Beasley Firm and many of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers are experienced riders. If you or a loved one has sustained a motorcycle accident resulting in catastrophic injury or wrongful death, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation. You may also follow our motorcycle accident blog online.

In the last month, a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania car dealer took a potential customer for a test drive and his alleged reckless driving is being blamed for the death of that potential customer. The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office charged the salesman with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person and other crimes. Shortly after the accident, the salesman admitted to police that he consumed alcohol, more specifically, Bacardi Rum, prior to driving. In addition, news sources report that he had tested positive for marijuana as well. As an ex-prosecutor and experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I am well aware that the level of alcohol in his blood stream would have caused diminished faculties associated with the safe operation of a motor vehicle, including alertness, judgment, perception, coordination, response time and a sense of care and caution.

In a separate test drive accident which took the life of an individual, a teenager went to test drive a motorcycle when he lost control and hit a tree. In that particular case, law authorities stated that the test rider was likely speeding when he lost control of the motorcycle on a tree lined road. Independent witnesses informed investigators that they heard the operator revving the motorcycle engine just before the crash.

In another case, a 27-year old saleswoman took a Corvette out for a test drive and wrapped the car around a tree killing her. Although that case did not involve alcohol, it did involve speed and recklessness.

As a car buff, I have been amazed by just how many times I have gone to car dealers to test drive the latest exotic car only to be given a pair of keys and be seated next to a salesman telling me to let the car fly and to take a turn at a high rate of speed. Obviously for one not familiar with the vehicle, this can sometimes lead to catastrophic consequences.

Continue reading "Who Is Responsible If A Death Occurs During A Test Drive Of A Vehicle?" »

Many years ago one of my law partners was killed when his vehicle slid under a tractor trailer illegally parked on the side of I-95 north during late night driving hours. Each year in the United States hundreds of people are killed in car accidents when the car strikes the back of a big truck and slides underneath. Approximately 15 years ago, I received an alarming phone call in the very early morning hours of a summer weekend informing me that one of my law partners had been killed in a catastrophic truck accident.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety has indicated that trailer bumpers are not good enough protection when a car rearends a big truck. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) put rear impact guards to a test by crashing a 2010 Chevy Malibu at 35 mph into the back of a parked trailer. The rear guard, that met U.S. minimum standards, gave way and the car slid right under the trailer crushing the vehicle. Occupants of the vehicle would not have survived the impact.

Since I know first hand from the death of my partner as well as representing the families of other individuals who were killed in truck under ride collisions, these are perhaps one of the most dangerous types of traffic accident. In a typical truck underride accident, the victim is crushed and the roof is sheared off the vehicle killing the occupants. Under ride accident happen frequently at night when a truck pulls across lanes of traffic or is not properly marked or lit and appears to be invisible to drivers of other vehicles. By the time the innocent driver sees the tractor trailer, it is often too late to prevent a catastrophic truck accident. Many older trucks travel without under ride prevention devices; however, newer trucks are equipped with under ride prevention devices that many times do not work properly. Trailers must be marked with adequate lights and conspicuous markings to prevent under ride accidents and the drivers must maintain that all lights are clean and that all reflective markers are present.

Continue reading "The Same Type Of Truck Underride Accident Which Took The Life Of One Of My Best Friends And Law Partner, Namely A Truck Underride Case, Continues To Plague And Kill Innocent Victims" »

A few weeks ago, I was sitting the passenger seat of a car the my wife was driving when she had a major anxiety attack as she entered a “cattle shoot” of a highway construction project on I-476 southbound in Pennsylvania. State and highway traffic engineers had developed a traffic plan, closed traffic lanes, placing cones directing drivers into a “cattle shoot” to travel southbound on I-476 while construction took place on a wet evening in the adjacent lanes. Visibility was poor. My wife, a nervous driver to begin with, was having a panic attack while traveling in this narrow, enclosed lane at a fairly high speed. While she couldn’t stop and get out of the car, she became paralyzed with fear. I am sure that my wife’s reaction is not so dissimilar from many other drivers who enter the strange “cattle shoot-like” closure during road construction projects.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney who has handled many highway defect design cases involving catastrophic injuries and death, I am all too familiar with the catastrophic car accidents that occur within highway construction projects, including but not limited to the “cattle shoot”.

Recently a driver was paralyzed in a crash while following a temporary traffic pattern in such a situation and the case was settled during jury selection for $13.5 million dollars. The 50-year victim suffered injuries resulting in partial quadriplegia requiring 24 hour care. The victim, his wife, and daughter sued the highway contractors, planners, and the city alleging that the traffic pattern, which was signed off by city officials, obscured vision creating a dangerous traffic pattern. Also alleged in the highway defect lawsuit was the fact that the contractor had negligently placed signed and cones in the wrong location and were not large enough.

Continue reading "Who Is At Fault When You Get Into A Car Accident While Driving Through A Highway Construction Site?" »

In the last two months, as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have seen an increased volume of head on collisions with the cause being lack of caution on icy and snowy roads whereupon a vehicle traveling carelessly or too fast for the conditions loses control. Many times, the results are catastrophic with permanent injuries or unfortunately wrongful death. The crash dynamics of a head on collision are often unforgiving. Even at relatively low speeds, head on collisions will often leave the accident victim with catastrophic and debilitating injuries and many times death.

Snow and ice on roadways are major contributing factors in fatal car accidents and head on collisions in Pennsylvania. Many times, these accidents are caused by black ice which is sometimes called glare ice or clear ice and is a thin coating of glazed ice on the surface. While not truly black, it is actually transparent. When driving on snowy and icy roadways, please follow the offered tips from the experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily:

1. Make sure your tires have at least a 6/32 deep tread according to The Tire Rack.

2. Make sure your windshield is clear and replace windshield wiper blades with new ones.

3. Apply Rain-X or water shedding material to your window and make sure that your
windshield washer system works.

4. Use your air conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior
windows, gauge your air conditioner and select a fresh air option. It is fine to set the
temperature on hot.

5. Check your headlights to make sure that they are clean and other vehicles will see you.

6. Learn how to stop properly. For a non-ABS vehicle on a mixed surface road, push the
brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling and then immediately release the brake
enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again. Repeat this sequence rapidly.

Continue reading "Snow And Ice Most Likely The Cause Of A Growing Number Of Deadly Pennsylvania Head On Collisions In Recent Weeks" »

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and truck accident attorney, I am all too familiar with snow and ice missiles that fly off cars or trucks that are not properly cleaned after a snow storm and then travel down the highway at great speeds. On February 22nd, after 4 to 6 inches of snow fell on the southeastern Pennsylvania vicinity, I was traveling on Rt. 476 when a large sheet of compacted and hard snow and ice flew off a semi-truck trailer striking my windshield with such force that it caused me to momentarily lose control of my vehicle. Thank God, I had gone to work late this day and there were no other cars in the adjacent lane which I swerved into in a state of shock.

Many accidents have occurred in Pennsylvania in the last few weeks and the experienced Pennsylvania truck accident law firm of Reiff & Bily had been retained to represent two individuals who were seriously injured in a similar accident on Route 80 just a week ago. Currently Pennsylvania law only prescribes a small fine for drivers and only if the ice or snow causes death or serious injury. The neighboring state of New Jersey has a law in place which punishes drivers who fail to make all reasonable efforts to remove snow or ice.
As an attorney who has seen the tragic side of snow and ice missile accidents, it is imperative that Pennsylvania legislature put more teeth into Pennsylvania’s laws regarding removing snow and ice from vehicles prior to entering the roadways. The safety and prosecution of motorist deaths should always be priority one.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result of a car or truck accident, please contact one of the experienced car and truck accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily. Effective January 1, 2011, the Reiff & Bily law firm has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm and has collectively been awarded billions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families. For more information, please contact online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

According to news sources, excessive speed by a 17-year old teenage driver may have contributed to a fatal Chester County car accident on Saturday, February 19, 2011. The tragic car accident killed 19-year Jesika Kavanagh of Downingtown, PA. Sources state that the 17-year old male driver was operating a Dodge truck and entered an underpass and veered into the southbound lane where it struck a BMW driven by Ms. Kavanagh. Ms. Kavanagh was trapped in the vehicle and had to be removed by the Downingtown Fire Department and was taken to Brandywine Hospital where she died. The other passengers of the BMW were transported to Paoli Hospital for treatment.

Sadly the number one cause of teenager deaths in Pennsylvania and nationwide is car accidents. Teenager drivers, alcohol, and red light scoff laws are responsible for many of the car accidents in Pennsylvania. Many times teenagers are unable to multi-task and are found eating, drinking coffee, reading, or talking on cell phones, which is a huge distraction to drivers. The major cause of death to teenagers age 16 to 19 is traffic accidents.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Jesika Kavanagh for their devastating loss. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.

Based upon the news report, it appears that the teenage driver of the pickup truck was driving recklessly and perhaps too fast for the circumstances. In such cases, the family of the deceased or injured victims can file wrongful death claims seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship, and other related damages.

Continue reading "Every Parent’s Nightmare - When An Inexperienced And Young Teenage Driver Takes Your Car And Gets Into A Fatal Accident" »

An SUV headed south on Route 130 in Edgewater Park, NJ rearended a Mercedes Benz pushing it into a bus stop. The car struck a person waiting for a bus and then hit a light pole according to the prosecutor’s office. The SUV rolled over on its roof hit hitting at least one other vehicle injuring several children, killing a woman, and injuring others.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the injured victims of this SUV rollover accident, as well as the family of the dead victim. We wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Based upon news sources, it appears that the driver of the SUV swerved in an accident avoidance maneuver and lost control as a result.

According to NHTSA, SUV rollovers are some of the deadliest forms of more motor vehicle crashes accounting for more than 1/3 of fatalities. About 58% of all rollover casualties were to occupants of SUVs.

The experienced SUV rollover law firm of Reiff & Bily has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record in obtaining multiple seven figure wins for clients in auto accident cases and SUV rollovers.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of an SUV rollover, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia SUV rollover and car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily. Effective January 1, 2011, Reiff & Bily has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm. Both product liability law firms have collectively been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of injured clients and their families. For more information, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

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 I received a call from a middle aged man whose wife was involved in a car accident and since the car accident she has slid downward after being diagnosed with a closed head and traumatic brain injury. Prior to the accident, the victim who is now my client was gainfully employed as an executive. After the accident, her behavior was described by her husband and friends as becoming more detached, unable to remember things, reclusive with slurred speech and extreme depression. In fact, her husband told me that he “lost his wife,” and that she was unrecognizable after the accident.

A careful battery of neurological testing did in fact confirm that this once vibrant and functioning woman was suffering memory loss, sensory loss, diminished cognitive functioning, and communication problems. While it is not known whether these symptoms are permanent due to the length of time they have existed, the prognosis is not favorable. As evidenced by this situation, traumatic brain injuries which result from a car accident or trauma can seriously alter the lives of victims and their families. The victim’s husband has become a caregiver as he must attend to his wife’s basic needs on a daily basis. Her medical bills continue to skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and of course, without a job her family income is cut in half. In effect, this once very well functioning family and couple has had the wind knocked out of their sails in a financial and emotional way.

At the experienced Philadelphia brain injury and car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have over 30 years of experience handling the most catastrophic car accident and brain injury cases, and we have been able to successfully obtain compensation from the parties responsible for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and resident care. If you or a loved one has sustained catastrophic injuries or a wrongful death as the result of a car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For the second time in two weeks, another church van rolled over in a single vehicle accident after a tire blew out on a Georgia highway killing at least four individuals and injuring another 13 passengers. When the tire blew out, the van lost control striking the median, rolling over several times whereupon many passengers were ejected. The van was the notably troublesome 1987 Dodge Ram 3500 15-passenger van and was from Tabernacle Prayer and Deliverance in Columbus, GA.

We were involved in the prosecution of a similar case and call for the government and responsible automakers to take action to prevent senseless accidents such as these from happening in the future. Obviously the manufacturers continue to emphasize profits over safety and the government is sitting back failing to put into effect strict regulations concerning these death machines. The 15-passenger van in this experienced 15-passenger van rollover attorney’s opinion is perhaps the most dangerous vehicle on the roadways today killing innocent children and churchgoers. There is a 15-passenger church van rollover epidemic. In mid-September 2010, another 7 people were killed and 7 catastrophically injured when another church van rolled over.

The experienced 15-passenger van and SUV rollover lawyers of Reiff & Bily have known for a long time that 15-passenger vans continue to be one of the most unsafe vehicles on the road and suffer from a multitude of design defects that the manufacturers knew about. I have intimately shared the pain and loss of all too many parents, children, and churchgoers who are unknowing about these defects and dangers until the accident happens. Government research and research done by automobile manufacturers indicate there is a significant risk of rollover in 15-passenger vans when fully loaded. Many times, the 15-passenger van rollover crash occurs due to defective tires and inexperienced untrained drivers. The victims and the passengers of this unfortunate and tragic accident would be well advised to contact an experienced 15-passenger van rollover accident attorney to fully investigate this accident and recover proper compensation they rightfully deserve because the manufacturer of this van knew of the defects and continued to sell it and did not recall it. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to rollover when fully loaded because they have a high center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in a tire blowout or accident avoidance maneuver. Those injured or wrongfully killed have a legal right to hold the manufacturer responsible for physical and financial injuries and go a step further and make the manufacturer admit in court what they have known all along that these vehicles are not safe. Additionally, it is time for the government to take action as well and enforce regulations prohibiting the transport of church people or students in these vehicles as many other governments around the world have.

Seven people were killed and at least 7 other church members are catastrophically injured after a tire blew out on a 15-passenger church van resulting in a loss of control sending passengers tumbling and ejected out of the vehicle. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and it saddens me as an experienced 15-passenger van rollover and accident lawyer every time I learn of another accident involving what I consider to be the most dangerous vehicle on the roadways of America today.

The experienced 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily have known for a long time simply that 15-passenger vans are one of the most unsafe vehicles on the road and suffer from a multitude of design defects.

We successfully handled a case almost completely identical to this accident involving another church group, and it is not surprising that the facts are almost identical. We have shared the pain and loss of all too many parents, children, and church-goers who are unknowing about these defects and dangers of the 15-passenger van until it is too late. Government research and research done by the automotive manufacturers indicates that there is significant risk of rollovers in 15-passenger vans when they are fully loaded. Most times, 15-passenger van rollover crashes occur due to defective tires and inexperienced and untrained drivers. The victims and their families of this unfortunate and tragic accident would be well advised to contact an experienced 15-passenger van accident and rollover attorney to fully investigate this accident and get them the proper compensation they rightfully deserve from the manufacturer of this van. The 15-passenger van is extraordinarily easy to roll over when loaded because they have a higher center of gravity and design defects create unsafe conditions and instability in an accident avoidance maneuver if a tire problem occurs such as news sources indicate existed here.

Our extensive research has revealed that manufacturers knew about these defects which was evidenced on internal documents. Yet, they continue to sell these defective vehicles due to high profit margin despite a minimal expenditure to fix the defect that they knew about even when their own test drivers and experts were being injured during testing procedures. Because these vehicles carry a large number of people and weight and the drivers are not required to have a special commercial driver’s license, they were generally a smart choice for transporting millions of school children and churchgoers across the United States until reports of rollover deaths in 15-passenger vans began rolling in. Those injured or wrongfully killed have the legal right to hold the manufacturers responsible for physical and financial injuries and go a step further and make the manufacturers admit in court what they have known all along, that these vehicles are simply not safe.

If you or a loved one has been injured or wrongfully killed in a 15-passenger van or rollover accident, please contact the experienced 15-passenger van rollover lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free, no obligation consultation. We can provide references and free legal consultation. Our record of success speaks for itself. Please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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.

Five Killed In Motorcycle Accident! These are headlines, that have every motorcycle enthusiast observing a moment of thought, prayer, compassion, and sorrow for the victims and the families involved in yesterdays Penn Township, Pennsylvania tragedy. Sunday’s accident on Route 72 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania involved a van and 6 motorcyclists, 5 of whom were killed.

In Pennsylvania, summer is upon us and so is the increase of motorcycle ridership on our streets and highways. Every week, the experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff & Bily receives phone calls from motorcyclists who are catastrophically injured and unfortunately, from the families of individuals who were killed as a result of a motorcycle accident. According to news sources, so far this year Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has recorded 27 motorcycle deaths alone. That is an average of 2 deaths per week since the beginning of spring, and that is in just one of the states 67 counties.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to protecting the rights of motorcyclists. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact one of our experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation to fully evaluate your rights and options at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family Madina Sem, a Fels High School student who had completed her senior project in art therapy to rave reviews and then was tragically struck by an out of control vehicle that ran up on the highway and struck her as she was making her way home from school. Madina Sem, who was one of eight sisters born to Cambodian immigrants, was described as a beautiful young lovely lady. She was a mentor to other teens and helped them all through troubled times. According to news reports, at approximately 4:00 p.m. Ms. Medina got off the bus on Olney Avenue and 2nd Street and had just rounded the corner north on 2nd when she was struck by an out of control car that ran onto the sidewalk. As she lay bleeding on the sidewalk, her sister Melina Sem, 19, ran to the scene and stated that Madina was crying and asked what had happened to her. According to Philadelphia police, Ms. Sem was hit by a car that was struck by another vehicle in a Philadelphia car accident at the intersection suffering multiple fractures and head trauma. She was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center where her family was informed that she needed immediate surgery to reduce brain swelling. However, at approximately 10:00 p.m., the doctors informed the family that she “did not make it”. News sources reveal that the motorists were also taken to Einstein for treatment of minor injuries and no charges have been filed as the police investigation continues.

Continue reading "Popular And Successful Philadelphia High School Teenager Killed By Runaway Car After Receiving Rave Reviews On Her Senior Project" »

Trailer detachments are becoming more regular occurrences in Pennsylvania and nationwide. This experienced Philadelphia car accident and defective trailer accident lawyer calls for more Pennsylvania Commonwealth and national regulation with teeth. In the latest event which occurred on March 14, 2010, state police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania reported that a trailer came loose from a passing pickup truck, striking an artist who was carving a wooden sculpture. The 46-year old Pennsylvania artist was using a chainsaw and wearing heavy ear protection when the trailer broke free from the passing truck striking him. Pennsylvania police state that the truck hit a divot in the road and the trailer detached hitting the artist. The force of the detached trailer striking the Pennsylvania artist was so great that he was pinned against a building and died of massive injuries later at the hospital. The investigators are attempting to determine if the trailer was properly attached to the truck.

The family of 46-year old John Metzler, the victim, would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced defective trailer and Pennsylvania car accident lawyer to fully investigate the facts of this case to determine who may be liable for his injuries.

Several factors are known to cause trailer accidents - operator behavior, mechanical failure, design defects or limitations, uninspected damages, improper repairs, metallurgical component failures, improper operation, improper training, improper maintenance procedure, lack of safety harnesses and/or chains, failure of safety lock, failure of hitch, improper height or weight restrictions, corrosion of parts, improper assembly, overloading the trailer, abrupt start and stopping, and violation of applicable state codes.

There is no federal law or national agency administrating trailer defect accidents. There are no known general or uniform reporting requirements and the trailer industry is highly unregulated. There are important questions that must be answered and explored demanding a team of experienced defective trailer investigators and experts to determine how and why the accident occurred. It is important to bring wrongdoers to justice and to make sure victims are fully compensated for resulting injuries.

For more information regarding dangerous trailers, please visit consumer advocate Ron Melancon's website www.dangeroustrailers.org.

As I have been blogging for the past few years, there seems to be an epidemic of hit and run accidents in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, an innocent 17-year girl was killed by a mini van that struck her as she crossed Cheltenham Avenue last night at approximately 10:00 p.m at its intersection with Old Oak Lane Road. Police stated that the 17-year old female was struck by a light colored mini van that fled westbound on Cheltenham Avenue. Police suspect that the vehicle has damage to its front end.

As the economy continues to worsen, the episodes of deadly hit and run accidents in Philadelphia and surrounding communities is growing with geometric magnitude. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the family of this innocent 17-year old victim and once again this tragic incident calls to question what legislators are doing to close the hit and run loopholes that exist under Pennsylvania hit and run laws. For information concerning this topic, please see my previous articles and blogs written at the following site www.reiffandbily.com.

The family of this individual would be well served to seek the service and experience of a Philadelphia car accident and hit and run lawyer to fully investigate this claim and work in conjunction with the police to make sure defendants are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, as well as recover to the maximum amount of civil remedies and compensatory damages available.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has scheduled a news conference to detail vehicular homicide charges, including multiple counts of reckless endangerment, against a school bus driver Frederick Poust III. Poust was at the wheel of a Perkiomen Valley School Bus carrying 45 students on the morning of February 17, 2010 when it collided with an oncoming car killing the passenger in the car and catastrophically injuring the driver.

As I noted in a prior blog, the school bus driver had been behind the wheel in another fatal accident a decade ago. In the previous fatal accident, the school bus driver was dialing his girlfriend on his cell phone when his Ford Explorer blew through a stop sign in Bucks County crashing into another car and killing a two-year old girl.

As it appears to this experienced Philadelphia car accident and school bus accident lawyer, the school bus company nor the responsible individuals did any background check on this driver’s past history. With the easy availability of driver records and a simple background check, perhaps this accident may have been avoided and the tragic loss of lives prevented.

According to news sources, a local Pennsylvania man was struck by a tractor trailer and pinned underneath the truck and pronounced dead on the scene at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2009. Police believe the driver of the truck did not see the victim walking along the road and that rainy weather might have been a factor. The accident occurred on Route 30 West between Lincoln Highway and Old Philadelphia Pike in East Lampeter Township.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim of this tragic accident. The police have indicated that the truck driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with authorities. We ask that you keep the victim and his family in your prayers. This accident is just another reminder to all of us that the highways can be an extremely dangerous place especially in inclement weather.

If it is determined that the truck driver did cause the accident and is at fault, then both he and his employer (the trucking company) could be held liable for the victim’s death. The victim’s family would be well advised to consult with a reputed and experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer who has a successful track record handling Pennsylvania trucking accident cases and has the necessary resources to financially pursue trucking companies on behalf of injured and deceased victims and their families. The victim’s family should remember never to speak to any insurance adjuster or attorney for the trucking company before they have consulted with an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney who will make sure that their rights and best interests are protected.

According to news sources a woman in her forties riding a bicycle in center city was critically injured by a suspected drunk driver on Saturday evening at approximately 7:30 p.m. at 22nd and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA. The operator of the truck continued after the impact but was flagged down and stopped by SEPTA police at 22nd and the Parkway. The victim was transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and reported in non-stabled condition with severe trauma. The driver of the truck, a 79-year old man, was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence.

I have been writing now for many years that the hit and run car accident situation is out of control in Philadelphia and enough is enough. Penalties are needed with more teeth in them. For the last year, we have noticed an interesting upward trend whereupon many cases of hit and run occur involving repeat DUI offenders with minimal insurance coverage or no coverage at all where innocent victims have been catastrophically injuried or killed. Believe it or not, the current law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania actually benefits those who leave the scene of an accident when intoxicated. DUI punishments and hit and run penalties need to be much harsher in Pennsylvania as DUI and hit and run accidents tear families apart. Pennsylvania has a significant loophole that actually rewards people who leave the scene of an accident while intoxicated.

The experienced hit and run car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily feel strongly that with the rate of hit and runs and recidivism on the rise, minimal prison sentences and fines are not enough. The hit and run car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily feel that anyone operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is no different than a man carrying a gun who kills someone where the penalty is much higher.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit and run or car accident, please contact one of the experienced Philadelphia hit and run and car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to news sources a two vehicle car accident in Chester County claimed the life of a 59-year old Maryland man on Monday, September 28, 2009 at approximately 4:37 p.m. in East Nottingham Township. According to the news sources, a 2004 blue Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Kristia McMichael, 34, of Rising Sun Maryland was traveling westbound on Forge Road approaching its intersection with Hopewell Road which had a stop sign. Terrance Duncan, 43, of East Nottingham Township was traveling westbound on Hopewell Road in a 1994 black Toyota Tacoma. Police noted that as Duncan entered the intersection, McMichael entered directly in front of his Toyota, which struck McMichael’s Chevy on the passenger’s side door. McMichael’s passenger, her father, Larry McMichael was pronounced dead at the scene and Kristia McMichael was taken to Christiana Hospital for moderate injuries. Duncan was uninjured. The investigation is continuing.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic car accident. They would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

The experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been successfully representing catastrophically injured victims of car accidents since 1979. For more information, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to news sources, a Philadelphia man, Russell Dawson 44-years old, was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of a 91-year old man and his 84-year old wife in a September 21st crash in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Police said that the investigation determined that “Dawson was the direct and substantial cause of the crash that fatally injured the couple on their way home." Police stated that the couple were headed north on Street Road when their car was struck by Dawson’s vehicle as he tried to make a left hand turn from Hulmeville Road.

This experienced Philadelphia car accident sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of Robert and Ann Clayton who were enjoying the golden years of their life until this tragic accident. The law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is clear that a vehicle making a left hand turn must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

The families and survivors of the Claytons would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced car accident attorney to investigate this claim in greater detail to determine the rights and remedies available to them under law.

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

A violent two car accident tragically took the life of an 84-year old woman and her 91-year old husband on August 25, 2009 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. According to news reports, Robert Clayton was a passenger in a 2000 Chrysler driven by his wife, Ann, when it was hit by a van at the intersection of Hulmeville and State Roads at 3:15 p.m. on August 25th. Mr. Clayton of Bensalem died of head injuries and his wife passed away the following morning. The initial by the police revealed that a GMC van operated by Russell Dawson, age 42, was traveling south on Hulmeville Road before it attempted to make a left hand turn on Street Road towards I-95. The experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of the Robert and Ann Clayton who died as a result of this tragic accident. We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Robert and Ann.

Based upon the initial report, it appears that the van making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic failed to yield the right of way and was at fault in this tragic Pennsylvania van and car accident. The law of Pennsylvania is clear that a vehicle making a left hand turn owes a duty to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Failing to yield the right-of-way and making an unexpected left turn can often lead to tragic and fatal consequences such as presented in this case.

Since 1979, the experienced car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have recovered significant monetary damages for the unfortunate victims and their families in instances of left hand turn car accidents in Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff & 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 & 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.

As an experienced car accident attorney since 1979, I have long written and argued about teenagers, or for that matter any other driver, distracted from the roadway while texting, operating a cell phone or in this unfortunate case of catastrophic injury and wrongful death, fiddling with an iPod. According to news source, Nicole Gallo, age 19, died instantly on Friday, August 14, 2009 and her best friend Christine Bochanski, 20 years, was rendered in extremely critical condition after they were hit from behind by Rachel Jankins. According to news reports, Ms. Jankins struck the two friends while they were walking out of Delaware County Memorial Hospital at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, August 14th, as she was reaching down for her iPod and was not paying attention and lost control of her vehicle. Upper Darby Police Superintendent, Michael J. Chitwood stated that “This was a tragedy that happened because of stupidity and inattentive driving”. This experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney agrees with Police Superintendent Chitwood. A motor vehicle operated by someone not giving their full attention to the road ahead or multitasking can easily become an instrument of tragic consequences.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Christine Bochanski and Nicole Gallo. It is our hope that anyone who learns of this story understands the importance of focusing your full undivided attention on driving and only driving when operating a motor vehicle.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been representing catastrophically injured victims in Pennsylvania since 1979. If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured or killed in a car accident, please contact us for a free no obligation consultation at www.reiffandbily.com or at 1-800-421-9595.

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 & 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" »

The experienced car accident and motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family of 23-year old Bryan M. Loeffler who was struck and killed while on his motorcycle by a driver traveling in the wrong direction on Route 30 in Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. According to news sources, the State Police at the Beaver Barracks revealed that the crash happened at 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, August 9th. 19-year old Jonathan Hogue was driving west in the eastbound lane of Route 30 just north of Platt Road trying to pass westbound traffic. While in the oncoming lane, Hogue struck the 23-year old motorcycle driver and collided head on with another vehicle driven by 26-year old Nadia Diboun. Hogue then crossed back into the westbound lane of Route 30 causing minor damage to another vehicle.

As an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer and as an experienced motorcycle rider since my young teen years, it is easily preventable and almost unexplainable tragic accidents such as this which create the biggest nightmare for motorcyclists and other drivers. In this instance, the motorcyclist did nothing wrong and was a sitting duck for a driver who apparently had no regard for the safety of others on the highway when he attempted to pass traffic in the wrong lane of oncoming traffic. I am sure that officials are looking into whether or not the driver of the car that struck Bryan Loeffler was driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. I would recommend that the family of Bryan Loeffler be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyer to fully investigate this accident.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily would be glad to provide a free comprehensive consultation and evaluation of their claim with no obligation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident or car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Donald E. Johnston, 38, who was pronounced dead as a result of being involved in a motorcycle accident in Hempfield Township, PA on Saturday, August 1, 2009 when a Volvo operated by Elizabeth Floro, age 50, turned into him. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Donald Johnston for their tragic and heartbreaking loss and we ask that you please keep them in your prayers.

Regardless of who had the right of way in this fatal Pennsylvania motorcycle accident, it was the rider Donald Johnston who paid the ultimate price. I have been a motorcycle rider since I was a young lad and I am always concerned for myself and other motorcycle riders that we are highly visible while on the highway. All motorcyclists must be constantly aware that often car and truck drivers, for numerous reasons, are distracted or do not see them on the road and will often make quick and darting turns in front of them. In fact, I had to once lay my bike down due to the fact that an oncoming vehicle make a quick and darting left hand turn in front of me. Fortunately, I did not sustain serious injuries. However, many times in our office, we are faced with other motorcycle drivers who have sustained catastrophic injuries and many time fatalities.

In this case, the most likely scenario is that the driver of the Volvo will be held civilly liable for Donald Johnston’s death. The family of Mr. Johnston would be well advised to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney who will investigate the claim and fight for his rights and determine whether or not negligence or reckless driving can be attributed to the driver of the car that caused this tragic motorcycle collision. The Philadelphia motorcycle and car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily always offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to injured victims and their families in cases where the negligence of the wrongdoers is involved. Families of deceased victims may also be eligible to file wrongful death claims to properly compensate the victim’s family for medical or funeral expenses, lost wages and other related expenses.

If you or a loved has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact one of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to a news sources, Meghan L. Obendorfer, 18, was exceeding the speed limit on a rain slicked creek road in East Brandywine Township at 4:30 p.m. on April 14th when she failed to negotiate a curve and slid into the path of a school bus in the opposite lane. Obendorfer’s passenger, Nicholette Pomon, 17, of Downingtown, who was 9 months pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene and a certificate of fatal death was issued to her nearly full term baby daughter. The driver of the school bus was treated for injuries. The driver of the vehicle was charged with homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and marijuana possession. Phone records indicated that the driver Obendorfer received 39 messages and calls in the hour preceding the crash and text messages indicated she was en route to deliver marijuana.

I have written many times in the past about the dangers of text messaging and using a cell phone when driving and this is an extreme example of the dangers and resulting catastrophic injuries and wrongful death that can occur.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Nicolette Pomon and the experienced car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily strongly urge Pennsylvania legislators to follow the lead in New Jersey and other states in banning the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.

The family of Nicolette Pomon would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced car accident lawyer who can investigate this matter and protect the rights of Nicolette Pomon and her family. Please contact one of the experienced car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

According to a recent story I read results from a 2009 GMAC Insurance national driver’s test found that roughly 41,000,0000 licensed American drivers cannot pass a written driver’s test exam if taken today. While Ohio, Idaho and Wisconsin are the most knowledgeable drivers, Pennsylvania scored number 16 on the worst drivers in America. The finding is quite significant and alarming due to the fact that many licensed Americans continue to lack knowledge of the rules of the road, added to the fact that many accidents are occurring involving uninsured motorists/ drivers. Make sure that your automobile insurance policy properly protects you in the event you are a victim of a car accident.

For a free insurance check-up, please contact the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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" »

On May 5, 2009, Arthur Burrus, age 49, tragically lost his life to an intoxicated hit and run driver. According to news sources, Luciano Rios, 30 years old, from Croyden, PA fled the initial scene of the accident, struck a barrier flipping his BMW, struck another car and twice more tried to escape police. Rios was speeding east on Erie Avenue in Philadelphia, PA at 8:30 p.m. when he struck Mr. Burrus who was walking southbound across Erie at 9th Street. Mr. Burrus was struck with such force that he was thrown 173 feet into the air and severed one of his legs, causing the 2007 BMW operated by Mr. Rios to go out of control secondarily striking a Dodge Durango occupied by 6 other people and then turned up right. A search of the criminal docket reveals that on February 19, 2005, Luciano Rios was also previously charged with DUI with a blood alcohol content of .10 to .16 to which he pled guilty.

I am noticing an interesting trend in my practice noting with particular interest that in the last few months we have seen many cases involving repeat DUI offenders with minimal insurance coverage or no insurance at all where innocent victims have been catastrophically injured or killed. In one of our recent cases, a gentleman with a substantial criminal record was traveling northbound on a highway at a high rate of speed while intoxicated and his vehicle flipped over, crossed the highway, killed the driver of the vehicle and placed the passenger in a vegetative coma.

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill an individual approximately every ½ hour and non-fatally but catastrophically injure someone in America every 10 minutes. Individuals driving while intoxicated, otherwise known as DUI, are responsible for more than 1/3 of all traffic deaths in this country. Believe it or not, the current law actually benefits those who leave the scene of an accident when intoxicated.

Continue reading "Hit and Run In Philadelphia - Enough Is Enough! Penalties Need More “Teeth”" »

Since 2005, more than a dozen pedestrians have been killed on Route 13 in Pennsylvania. Route 13 was deemed by PennDOT as the most dangerous road to walk across in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, this past Monday evening, a woman walking her bicycle across Route 13 in Bristol, Pennsylvania, was killed when she was struck by a vehicle in front STS Tire and Auto Center between Bath Road and Route 213. Ten days ago, another fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Route 13, less than a mile from the scene of Monday’s accident when a 28-year old woman was killed by an SUV as she was attempting to cross Route 13. That accident was hit and run and remains under investigation. The week before that incident, two pedestrians were seriously injured when they were struck by a car on Route 13 within blocks of Monday’s accident.

Unfortunately as I have written in the past, hit and run accidents are becoming epidemic in Philadelphia and many other surrounding suburbs. People drive irresponsibly and often leave the scene of the accident when they are intoxicated, uninsured or for some other no good reason. After all, why would anyone leave the scene of a hit and run accident when there is no good reason.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Jennifer Harley, and the other innocent victims who have been injured or killed as the result of negligent drivers not paying attention on Route 13.

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers at the Philadelphia hit and run and uninsured motorist law firm of Reiff & Bily are committed to protecting the rights of car accident victims since 1979. For a free consultation, please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer representing hit and run victims since 1979, it seems that not a day goes by where I am not receiving a phone call or inquiry about a hit and run accident on the streets of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the string of bad news continued when on June 3, 2009 another victim was claimed by a hit and run driver at approximately 12:03 a.m. as she was crossing Roosevelt Boulevard at or near Rising Sun Avenue. Initial reports indicate that the 30-year old victim was hit by a Gold or Silver Pontiac or Oldsmobile as one or both of two vehicles that were apparently racing each other down the Boulevard, struck the innocent victim and fled the scene. Like any other irresponsible hit and run driver, in this case both drivers kept running rather than stopping. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the innocent victim and suggest that this family would be well advised to seek representation from an experienced hit and run lawyer to assist in investigating the situation and properly protecting their legal rights and interests. As stated before, there is never a good reason for not stopping after being involved in a car accident unless you are doing something wrong.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a hit and run accident, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Typically when we think of summertime, we think of perfect weather, sunshine, , relaxation, gin and tonics, picnics, days at the pool or beach and nothing but smiles. Unfortunately after Memorial Day weekend, the highways are more crowded as people flock to their beaches, picnics and social gatherings which also may be accompanied by increased drinking and other social libations that do not mix well with driving. Additionally with summertime comes bar and drinking season which is in full swing as people let loose after work and on weekends at outdoor cafes, night clubs and other social gatherings as they recover from the months of winter hibernation. Not so surprisingly, summertime is usually the time that sees the highest number of catastrophic injuries and fatalities as a result of car accidents, as well as motorcycle accidents. When driving on the highways in the summer, it is important to note that many asphalt roads and highways have an oil residue on their surface or beneath their surface which rises with increased heat from the sunshine. When it rains and the water contacts this oil residue, a very slippery surface is formed and if it has not rained in a long time, there is more oil on the road for the water to contend with creating a very unsafe oil/water reaction which also leads to hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control.

Continue reading "Summertime In Pennsylvania Brings More Crowded Highways And Also More Accidents" »

In an effort to keep our readers updated, the Philadelphia car accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily wish to call attention to the fact that now may be a better time than ever to purchase automobile insurance in Pennsylvania. An insurance.com, Insurance Rate Watch survey indicated that on average annual automobile insurance rates fell in March by $103 to $1872 a year, a welcome decrease from rates in October. The March Rate Watch data noted that automobile insurance rates dropped in 19 states. This decline represented a continued shift in the insurance cycle. As a casual observer and someone intimately involved in the business of representing car accident victims, I have noticed on television lately that a rate war seems to be existing between many insurance carriers, most notably 21st Century (the named successor to AIG). 21st Century has seemingly taken a very aggressive approach to marketing and selling automobile insurance.

I have also started to notice the presence online, most notably at shopathome.com, for discounts and coupons applicable to the purchase of automobile insurance. The availability of lower rates is causing many consumers to shop for new auto insurance policies forcing the insurance companies to be more competitive. I have found that when you shop for car insurance rather than renew your current policy, it is almost certain that your new rates would be lower on average than the old rates you were quoted by your present carrier.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Jeffrey Reiff Notes That The Economic Downturn Creates A Buying Opportunity For Car Insurance At Decreasing Rates" »

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 & 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 & 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 & 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" »

I learned of a second hit and run car accident death in Philadelphia in just over two days. As an experienced hit and run car accident attorney in Philadelphia practicing since 1979, I believe that the number of hit and run deaths and injuries in Philadelphia is rising to almost epidemic proportions. This time a victim in his mid-20's was struck at about 2:00 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard at 9th Street in Logan. On Tuesday night, another innocent pedestrian was struck and killed on Erie Avenue in the Tioga Nicetown section of the city and was hit so hard by a speeding BMW that one of his legs was ripped off. Thankfully, the police were able to apprehend and charge an allegedly wasted driver identified as Luciano Rios of Croydon, Bucks County, in that fatality.

In Pennsylvania, a ”hit and run” accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. In most instances, the experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily find that drivers may choose not to stop after being involved in a car accident for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the driver may be driving without auto insurance or a driver’s license or there may be an outstanding warrant for the driver’s arrest or that the driver may be so wasted on drugs or other mind-altering substances that if he stopped he would be convicted of a crime. There is never a good reason for not stopping after being involved in a car accident.

Our hearts and prayers go out to these unfortunate victims of hit and run accidents. The Philadelphia hit and run injury law firm of Reiff & Bily has received many accolades from highly regarded organizations and has developed expertise in investigating and representing individuals and victims who have been catastrophically injured or killed in hit and run accidents. The experienced hit and run injury lawyers at Reiff & Bily are the recipients of Martindale Hubble’s prestigious “AV” rating. We work on a contingent fee basis, charging only a small percentage of the recovery.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a hit and run accident, please schedule a free consultation with the experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily by contacting us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The experienced personal injury and car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have successfully handled thousands of cases since 1979 and have investigated or queried tens of thousands of potential insurance claim cases.

Reiff & Bily focuses its practice on serious personal injury claims throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and works with other law firms throughout the United States. When cases are presented to our office we provide a free initial consultation to review the merits of each personal injury and wrongful death claim and afterwards our staff thoroughly screens and investigates each potential case to evaluate its merits. We are extraordinarily selective in the cases that we accept so that we can fully dedicate our resources to cases that have the highest probability of achieving a successful outcome.

Lately, an interesting phenomena has started to occur with increasing frequency. I find that the downturn in the economy has resulted in an increase of calls by people whose claims have no merit and who are looking to a personal injury lawyer or the legal system as a quick fix for their economic troubles. Unfortunately, many of these claims are of a frivolous nature and scream of insurance fraud or “little white lies” that cause an increase in premiums for the responsible people who do not bring such claims. When I receive one of these calls, I think to myself “Are you serious?” It is quite unsettling to this writer how unscrupulous and how dishonest many people can be which ends up costing those who do the right thing more money. Even telling a small white lie to an insurance company constitutes fraud in the opinion of this lawyer.

Continue reading "Something Strange But Really Not So Strange In The Current Financial Environment Is Occurring With Regard To Increased Number Of Frivolous and Meritless Insurance Claims Being Filed" »

There have been an increasing number of defective trailer cases in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and nationwide. On May 7, 2009, a wayward trailer slowed traffic after it became unhooked, spun out and flipped over, dumping its contents on the roadway. The trailer was being hauled by a Dodge Durango. Although no other vehicles were involved in this accident, what would have happened if this trailer hit another vehicle or a school bus? Fortunately, this accident occurred at 5:00 a.m. when the roads are normally empty.

Unfortunately, the defective trailer and car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have participated in cases where other victims were not so lucky and there were multiple catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a loose trailer, defective trailer, or has sustained catastrophic and serious injuries as a result of a car accident, please feel free to contact the Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Michelle Kott of North Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania died after the car she was driving was hit by a trailer which came loose from a pickup truck and crossed over a median on Route 19. An investigation by the police revealed that the trailer became dislodged from the truck as the driver of the pickup truck applied his brakes causing the trailer to rotate around the driver side of the vehicle, causing it to break free of the truck and cross over a cement median. The truck went up over the hood of the Kott vehicle and through the windshield. The young mother sustained massive head fractures, eye and ankle injuries, and an abdominal blood clot. The driver of the pickup truck, Ryan Bier, told investigators in North Strabane that he “felt the trailer pulling hard on the side and then heard a loud pop”. Our hearts go out to the family of Michelle Kott and the passengers in her vehicle.

The experience defective trailer lawyers at the Philadelphia defective trailer law firm of Reiff & Bily have had extensive experience representing victims that have been injured or killed as a result of trailer accidents.

Continue reading "Trailer Breaks Free From Pickup Truck And Kills Woman After Going Through Her Windshield" »

According to my research, there have been approximately 5,000 cases of drivers leaving the scene of a car accident through May 3, 2009. Last year, there were 14,707 hit and run accidents where drivers left the scene. As an experienced hit and run accident and car accident lawyer since 1979, I can honestly state that I have never been so depressed with the state of affairs surrounding hit and runs as I have been lately. There is nothing more upsetting than when I am contacted by a parent who has lost a child or a family that has lost a father, mother or grandmother. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the loss of a child. A recent hit and run death in Philadelphia took the life of Calvin Wilkerson, an 18-year old, who was run down by a van on 9th Street and Hunting Park Avenue as he walked home last week.

Unfortunately, the current state of affairs with regard to Pennsylvania law encourages somebody to leave the scene of an accident. Under the current Pennsylvania law, the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident is one year in jail. But if the same driver stays at the scene to render assistance and is found to be under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substance, the penalty can be as much as five years. Obviously, a person irresponsible enough to drive under the influence of alcohol is irresponsible enough to leave the scene of an accident and if that person is apprehended after they have sobered up, they would be facing a much lesser penalty. Representative David Reed recently sponsored a piece of legislation raising the minimum sentence for fleeing the scene of an fatal accident from one to five years.

As an experienced car accident lawyer investigating hit and run accidents for over 30 years, I have noticed that many people leave the scene of a hit and run accident for many reasons. Most likely they have outstanding warrants, no car insurance or are drunk and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The applicable motor vehicle statute in Pennsylvania clearly states “the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every instance remain at the scene of the accident so as to fulfill the requirements of Section 3744 of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code relating to the duty to give more information and render aid. Every stop should be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.”

Continue reading "Philadelphia Hit And Run Car Accident Epidemic And The Loopholes That Act As Enablers - Its Now Run Baby Run!" »

As springtime prom season and summer is upon us, more and more teenagers will be driving their vehicles. Many of them will be doing so irresponsibly and unlawfully under the influence of mind-altering substances or alcohol. As we all know, a car or other motor vehicle in the hands of an inexperienced operator brings with it its own set of problems and can be viewed by some as a weapon.

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania and State Farm Insurance Companies commenced a massive effort known as the Keeping Young Drivers Safe project. The conclusion of the project was that most of the crashes involving teenagers are caused by distractions and/or inexperience. One of the biggest distractions to teenage drivers is the presence of other teens in the car and one study found that carrying one teenage passenger almost doubled the fatal crash risk of teen drivers. The risk increased unbelievably to five fold when two or more teenagers were in the car. As for inexperience, 16-year old drivers have crash rates three times higher than 17-year old drivers and 5 times higher than 18-year old drivers as the rate drops with age.

Continue reading "Car Accidents Are The Leading Cause of Death Among Teenagers" »

As noted in my previous blogs, the hit and run epidemic continues to plague innocent pedestrians and motorists on the streets and highways of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Early this week an allegedly drunk driver from Bucks County tried three times to flee authorities after fatally striking a Philadelphia man crossing the street. According to news sources, Luciano Rios, 30 years old, from Neshaminy Road in Croydon, Pennsylvania fled from the initial accident on Tuesday, May 5th flipping his BMW, striking another vehicle, and twice more trying to escape police. Sources reveal that Rios was speeding east on Erie Avenue in Philadelphia at 8:30 p.m when he struck a man who was walking southbound across Erie at 9th Street. The victim was struck with such force that he was thrown 173 feet into the air and one of his legs was severed, after which the 2007 BMW operated by the hit and run driver went out of control secondarily striking a Dodge Durango occupied by six people, and turned upright causing it to stop. Mr. Rios, the operator of the hit and run vehicle, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses according to authorities. Philadelphia police noted that the hit and run driver had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath when apprehended. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Arthur Burrus, age 49, who tragically lost his life to an intoxicated hit and run driver.

I have mentioned in many of my earlier blogs that hit and run accidents are reaching epidemic levels in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Many times people fail to take responsibility for their actions most particularly when driving while intoxicated. We urge the family of Mr. Burrus to consult with an experienced hit and run car accident lawyer to fully investigate his case. There is a good chance that there is an underlying Dram Shop cause of action, as well as an action for third party negligence which would entitle his estate and survivors to receive financial compensation from the negligent party for injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income and other associated damages.

Continue reading "Allegedly Drunk Driver Commits Hit and Run Accident Killing Philadelphia Man Crossing The Street And Tries To Flee Authorities Three Times - Hit And Run Epidemic Continues In Philadelphia" »

The experienced Philadelphia vehicle rollover lawyers at Reiff & 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 & 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.

At the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, our experienced lawyers have been handling traumatic brain injury cases for almost 30 years. Many times when one is involved in a serious car accident, an impact to the head results in an injury to the brain where it is located opposite to the side of the impact. While many people who sustain a traumatic head or brain injury appear to be fine after their accident, just as the recent case of Natasha Richardson revealed, many of these individuals will rapidly develop a variety of symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, ringing in ears, blurred vision and problems with memory and concentration.

A brain injury can have a life-altering impact and long term consequences if not treated or properly diagnosed. Many times an injured individual is not even aware that he or she has suffered a traumatic brain injury and is often mis-diagnosed at an emergency room or by
a family physician.

Statistics reveal that over 50% of those who sustain a traumatic brain injury are diagnosed improperly which is a most frightening factor. It is stated that in excess of 53% of patients in the emergency room for the first time with a brain injury will fail to be diagnosed properly and may suffer an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage according to a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Many times negligence of the health provider involves a failure to obtain or accurately interpret a diagnostic test which would have revealed a brain injury.

Continue reading "Rising Car Crash Statistics Across The Nation Also Results In Increasing Rate Of Traumatic Brain Injury" »

With the recent and growing economic downturn, many Americans, particularly those in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have taken steps to reduce expenditures and it appears that one of the first areas being cut is automobile insurance. I find that many people have increased their insurance deductibles as well as selected lower coverage points and many motorists have opted not to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage often resulting in disastrous consequences for otherwise innocent and unsuspecting victims.

I had a situation with a client yesterday who sustained catastrophic injuries with the proper estimation of her case valued in excess of $1 million dollars. Unfortunately, the wrongdoer had minimal assets and our client had erroneously selected not to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage which would have paid her the full value of her claim in the appropriate forum. Obviously, this client was unhappy with her insurance agent and her attorney and could not believe that she was in this situation due to her own choice. Unfortunately, we find ourselves dealing with this scenario with increasing frequency.

A recent study has revealed that at least 16% of those with one vehicle households reported canceling or not renewing coverage for a vehicle in response to the economic downturn. Additionally, almost one third of those canceling automobile insurance coverage also reported selling their vehicles as a way to save money and an additional 14% of renters declined insurance coverage.

Continue reading "The Rate of Uninsured Motorists Is Increasing At An Alarming Rate In Philadelphia and Pennsylvania" »

For many years, the experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily have been representing catastrophically injuried individuals, as well as wrongful death cases resulting from people driving a vehicle while on a cell phone and not paying attention to the rules of the road.

Last week, the legislators of Pennsylvania, for some reason which I cannot comprehend, voted to add a $50 fine for drivers who are caught using a cell phone while driving carelessly. This experienced car accident attorney would have preferred to have seen a law with more teeth in it.

I salute the efforts of Republican Josh Shapiro, a Montgomery County Democrat, who stressed that he wanted to enable police to give a driver a $50 ticket if they were caught chatting on a hand cell phone or sending text messages while driving. However, a majority of his colleagues did not agree. As Representative Shapiro is aware, there have been thousands of accidents that have occurred on Pennsylvania roads due to cell phone usage since 2002. As I have previously blogged studies such as The New England Journal of Medicine has noted that being on the phone while driving makes people four times as likely to crash as those who are simply driving.

I am personally involved in a case at the moment where a gentleman has lost his arm due to the fact that he was a passenger in a vehicle where the driver was sending a text message while operating his vehicle, causing the vehicle to roll over and eject the passenger. Any person can understand that usage of a cell phone while driving causes a cognitive distraction significant enough to degrade the driver’s performance.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Strongly Disagrees With Pennsylvania Legislature’s Choice Not To Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving" »

The catastrophic personal injury lawyers at the Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff & Bily call attention to a story posted in The New York Times on March 31, 2009 in an investigative article entitled ”Exams of Injured Workers Feed Mutual Mistrust” detailing the abuse of such exams in the New York Workers’ Compensation system.

Since 1979, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Reiff & Bily have been zealously protecting their clients’ rights by fighting against insurance companies. When one purchases insurance coverage, it is expected that the claimant will be paid when the need arises. Unfortunately, according to another study published by the American Association for Justice this past summer, insurance companies continue to emphasize profits over policyholders’ interests and the name of the game is deny, delay, defend - do anything in fact to avoid paying claims.

The New York Times article revealed clear bias on the so-called “independent” medical exam. At our law firm, we do not refer to these medical examinations as “independent” but consider them company or defense examinations. Some of the highlights of The New York Times article are:

1. Quote from an IME doctor who was videotaped in an exam making positive findings directly contradictory to the report he later submitted. “If you did a purely poor report, you would be out on your ear and the insurers wouldn’t pay for it. You have to give them what they want, or you are in Florida. That’s the game, baby.”

2. “You go in and sit there for a few minutes, and up comes a six page detailed exam they never did.”

3. “There are some noble things you can do in medicine without treating. This ain’t one of them.”

4. “Physicians have regrettably moved away from being neutral observers. They have moved toward one camp or the other.”

5. Often IME doctors are hired by brokers that then have clerical staff prepare reports based on dictation or checklists completed by the doctors who often do not read reports before signing them. This article gives examples of doctors signing reports and exams they never performed.

6. The best protection against this sort of thing is to record or videotape an IME.

Continue reading "Independent Medical Exams By Insurance Carriers Are Really Not So Independent At All - Many Times A “Sham”" »

The Philadelphia Bulletin published an article on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 noting that police related auto accidents have claimed many victims on Philadelphia streets. So the Police Academy is boosting efforts to curb the number of crashes and save lives.

At the experienced Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we are all too familiar with car accidents caused by careless police chases or other police car involvement. According to the statistics released, last year there were 731 police vehicle accidents compared to 710 in 2007 and 625 in 2006.

Recently the experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily undertook representation of the estate of an innocent uninvolved driver killed during a high speed police chase. Our unsuspecting decedent exercised the right-of-way to enter an intersection when she was broadsided by the vehicle being chased by police. The “jaws of life” were required to extract this beloved grandmother from her vehicle. As a direct rsult of the horrific collision caused by the police initiated high-speed chase, our decedent sustained catastrophic injuries which ultimately resulted in her untimely wrongful death.

Catastrophic and fatal accidents can raise questions about the propriety of the underlying chase and conformity to the applicable law. We salute the efforts of the Philadelphia Police for initiating the Advanced Mobile Operations Simulator (AMOS) training program in recognition of the increasing problem of police vehicle related accidents and we hope that similar preventable accidents will be avoided in the future.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a car accident, please contact the experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Reiff & Bily for a free no obligation evaluation of your case at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com. We have successfully handled thousands of personal injury cases since 1979.

Philadelphia car accident and uninsured/underinsured motorist accident lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff & Bily have consistently watched as the tight economy fuels a surge in the amount of uninsured and underinsured drivers. Statistics now reveal that odds are increasing nationally that a driver involved in a catastrophic car accident is uninsured. David Corum, Vice President of the Insurance Research Council, (IRC) states that company and state officials are expecting an increase of uninsured and underinsured motorists in the next year. Mr. Corum stated “As unemployment rates go up, you have to expect more drivers to take that risk”. Nationally, the 2007 estimated percentage of uninsured motorist drivers was 13.8% and is projected to reach 16.1% this year. The number of uninsured drivers in Pennsylvania is expected to climb even higher.

Unfortunately, as the economy tightens, people look to save and want to believe that they are never going to be in an accident. In the list of priorities, they would rather keep the house and lose the car and since many of these people are already “under water” with debt to equity ratio of their homes, it really doesn’t matter in their minds if they get in an accident because they are already buried in debt and what difference will it make?

Statistics show that there are an ever growing number of drivers who are unable to show financial responsibility and more concerning do not even have the money to pay to have their driver’s license reinstated after suspension or revocation. Many insurance agents I speak to regarding the situation have noted that many of their clients are calling in to see what they can do to save money and most of the time, in this attorney’s opinion, are erroneously taking cheaper coverage, asking for limited tort instead of full tort, as well as dropping collision and comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and if it is an older vehicle, they are just taking the risk. We have even noted that many insurance agents are advocating and selling deficient insurance products that do not fully protect their clients and are recouping higher commissions. Unfortunately, this is not discovered by the injured client until it is too late.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Uninsured Motorist Crisis Continues To Worsen - Don’t Always Listen to Your Insurance Agent" »

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 & 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 & 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 & Bily by calling us at 1-800-21-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

It is now becoming commonplace in my law practice to review cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities that involve the operator of a motor vehicle sending a text message while driving. Unfortunately, too many bad things happen to good people that could have been easily prevented and although text messaging while driving is dangerous, it is legal in all too many states and jurisdictions.

Last week Mississippi lawmakers passed a Senate bill with an amendment that bans text messaging while driving for those with intermediate licenses and temporary learning and driving permits. I feel that the ban on text messaging should apply to all motor vehicle operators. Any critics of the ban on texting while driving state that it is an example of over government regulation. However, when you sit in the shoes of this experienced car accident attorney, there is a lot to learn when you see cases involving amputations, wrongful deaths and traumatic brain injury due to the fact that the operator of the vehicle was not paying attention. A motor vehicle operated by someone who is not paying complete attention to the rules of the road is just as dangerous as a gun or any other weapon. Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege and not a right and there should be certain rules and regulations passed that insure that one safely complies with this privilege.

If you or a loved has been injured as the result of a car accident, please contact the Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have written in the past noting that the holidays, particularly St. Patrick’s Day is an invitation for drunk drivers to take to the road. Periods following the holidays are often busy times in our office consulting with innocent victims who have been injured due to an automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver. Thankfully, PennDOT has announced that they will be stepping up drunk driving enforcement efforts in many of the Pennsylvania counties. There may be sobriety check points, roving DUI patrols and undercover police in bars and speed and seat belt enforcement according to PennDOT. Quite simply, I need not repeat myself that drinking and driving do not go together.

Sadly in Pennsylvania many wrongful deaths and catastrophic injuries occur during holidays, particularly St. Patrick’s Day, which should be a time of enjoyment not resulting in emergency room trips or fatalities. In Pennsylvania, people who are harmed by drunk drivers may file lawsuits against irresponsible and reckless bar owners, as well as intoxicated drinkers.

Pennsylvania Dram Shop and alcohol related injury lawyers at the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily have fought against drunk driving and resulting catastrophic injuries and fatalities since 1979. It is important that people who irresponsibly sell alcohol to individuals on St. Patty’s Day or any other day for that matter can be held financially responsible for resulting injuries and fatalities for selling alcohol to an intoxicated individual.

The experienced Dram Shop and Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily have the knowledge and personal experience necessary to investigate drunk driving accidents and hold owners of bars, restaurants, hotels, social hosts and individuals responsible for the injuries or deaths caused by drunk drivers.

If you or a loved one has been killed or injured as a result of a drunk driving accident, please feel free to contact us for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Philadelphia car accident lawyer, Jeffrey Reiff, wants to emphasize that the percentage of uninsured motorists operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as around the country, is increasing at an epidemic rate. According to a recent study conducted by an independent property casualty insurance group, the nation’s recession is triggering an increase in the amount of uninsured motorists.

The Malvern, Pennsylvania based insurance research council conducted the study and found that the economic downturn may push the percentage of uninsured drivers to an all time high in 2010. The study projects that the rate of uninsured motorists will climb drastically over the next year.

The lawyers at the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily join Virginia Chichester, Manger of AAA MidAtlantic Insurance Company and highly recommend that automobile operators and owners immediately get coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorist to protect their families in the event of a catastrophic injury or fatality. This would cover you in the event of a hit and run accident or if you are involved in an accident and the other person does not have the insurance to cover your loss. At least if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you protect yourself. Proper insurance will reduce the financial impact of an unpredicted accident and as Louis Pasteur once said, “chance favors the prepared mind.” Based on unemployment projections, the study concluded that the percentage of uninsured motorists will rise 2.3% from 2007 to 2010. The study examined data from 9 insurers representing half of the nation’s auto insurance market.

Continue reading "Uninsured Drivers Reaching Epidemic Levels" »

Automobile accidents can be devastating, destroying the lives on many innocent victims. Crashes can have a large impact on both physical health and mental health. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports vehicle traffic accidents. More deaths were caused by motor vehicle traffic accidents than homicide, suicide, and heart disease. The Pennsylvania auto accident lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff & Bily have been researching and handling thousands of automobile accidents cases since 1979.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports that in 2005, there were 100,381 injuries and 1,616 crash related deaths in Pennsylvania. There was an estimated total of $5.298 billion in economic loss due to automotive deaths.

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The Philadelphia 15-passenger van rollover attorneys at Reiff & Bily salute the State Department of Health and Human Resources of West Virginia which now requires daycare centers to make sure all vehicles used to transport large numbers of children meet the same safety requirements as school buses.

Even though this mandate does not go into effect until September 1, 2012, the State of West Virginia has recognized the hazards of 15-passenger vans. Upgrading to the new standards will make sure that the vehicles transporting our precious cargo (children) are less prone to rollovers. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollovers are reported in 63% of all fatal accidents involving 15-passenger van occupants between 1997 and 2006. NHTSA data revealed a significant increase of rollovers when the vans were fully loaded. Most of those killed in 15-passenger van rollovers were not properly restrained. Other factors contributing to rollover incidents include improperly inflated tires, poor tire condition and inexperienced drivers.

Continue reading "Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Rollover Lawyer Applauds West Virginia Law Requiring Daycare Centers To Replace Or Upgrade Passenger Vans" »