Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Blog

Philadelphia can be a great city for a night out, but sadly, Philadelphia bars and night clubs have become known for bar fights and rowdiness in recent years. Several Philadelphia bar patrons have suffered severe personal injuries while trying to enjoy a fun night out.

Just a few years ago, in Fall of 2008, victim Dean Bowser became severely injured while attending a Halloween party at the Field House Bar and Restaurant in Philadelphia. Just a day after the Phillies World Series parade, and around Halloween, the night that Mr. Bowser set out to enjoy was a crowded one in Philadelphia.

For some time that evening, Dean Bowser sat with his brother and friends at the bar. When it became time to pay his bar tab that night, the Field House bartender had a problem working the credit card machine. Dean Bowser offered to pay cash and reached for the credit card that the bartender was handing back to him. While doing so, Dean was grabbed by bouncers from behind while the bartender jumped over the bar attacking Mr. Bowser.

Mr. Bowser was punched and kicked during the attack and suffered from a broken arm after he was rushed through the door, his arm striking a plate glass window pane located in the door as he was violently pushed through.

The way in which the Philadelphia bar employees handled Mr. Bowser was found to be reckless. Their actions were found to be the direct cause of Bowser’s personal injuries.
Bowser went out with his brother and friends that night to enjoy some food, drinks, and the company of good friends and other bar patrons. Instead, what he got was an injury so severe it would send him to the emergency room.

If you have suffered a personal injury, it is important to find a Philadelphia injury lawyer like Edith Pearce who is has understanding, experience, and expertise.

A Market-Frankford Night Owl bus traveling northbound on Kensington Avenue in Kensington hit a car turning off of Tioga Street on to Kensington Avenue at about 3:15 A.M. Witnesses report the bus ran a red light when it hit the front passenger side of a Honda coupe. Seven passengers were taken to area hospitals by Philadelphia Fire Department medics. Five of the passengers were removed by stretcher. The injuries were not believed to be life threatening. A passenger in the Honda coupe was evaluated for injuries by medics on the scene but didn't want further medical attention.

Due to the bus accident the intersection was closed for almost two hours, disrupting Market-Frankford Owl bus service. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Philadelphia police are investigating the accident.

Another SEPTA bus accident occurred in the middle of April of this year. A postal worker was seriously injured in Philadelphia by a SEPTA bus. She was crossing the intersection of 48th and Woodcrest while delivering mail. As the bus turned the corner she waved her hand to the bus driver, however the bus did not stop. Witnesses reported there was no way the bus driver couldn't have seen her in the road. She was hit and dragged by the SEPTA bus for a short distance but miraculously she was not killed. She was transported to the hospital at the University of Pennsylvania with facial lacerations and fractured ribs.

If you've been involved in a bus accident in the Philadelphia area as a passenger on a bus or in a collision with a bus whether as a pedestrian or as a motorist you'll want to hire a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer experienced with bus accident claims and bus accident litigation. Bus accident claims involve more complicated issues than car accidents.

Ryan Dunn, who is known as an MTV co-star and for having starred in the comedy film “Haggard: The Movie,” passed away in a deadly sports car crash while driving in Pennsylvania last Monday afternoon. Dunn’s car careened off a highway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before bursting into flames, police told reporters.

West Goshen Township Police found Dunn’s 2007 Porsche “fully engulfed in flames” as soon as they arrived at the scene near a wooded area. Dunn and an unknown passenger both died in the accident. Fortunately, no other motorists or pedestrians are thought to have been injured in Dunn’s crash.

Originally from Ohio, Dunn, who starred in MTV produced movies as a “daredevil” character, resided in nearby Westchester, Pennsylvania, police said. According to reports, Dunn posted a photo on his twitter account that showed him drinking with friends. It is unknown if the picture was taken shortly before the accident, although Dunn has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in the past. In fact, Dunn entered Pennsylvania’s “First Offender’s Program” that allowed him to clear his record after a certain period of good behavior, said Patrick Carmody, Assistant District Attorney in Chester County.

There were 444 alcohol-related deaths in Pennsylvania car accidents in 2010, an increase from the previous year. People who drink and drive put others in danger and can cause enormous physical and emotional damage to other individuals and families. If you or a family member has been hurt in a drunk driving accident or another type of tragic car accident, you’ll need a Philadelphia injury lawyer you can trust. Edith Pearce, Esquire uses her expert knowledge from inside the industry to help you recover expenses, replace income and make sure that your losses, your suffering, your property damage, and your injuries are adequately compensated.

A one-year-old young girl suffered life-threatening injuries to her head and neck after being attacked by a dog just a few weeks ago. Not only was the victim, Eden Baily of Oregon, injured during the attack, reports say her mother Kari Wallace was also injured while saving her daughter from the dog as well. Leading Philadelphia dog bite lawyer Edith Pearce says this story is a warning to parents.

No one seems to have witnessed the initial attack or what may have caused it, but those who tuned into the scene later; say it appears that the dog continued to try to attack Eden Baily even after her mother was able to pry her away. These type of attacks can lead to serious injuries to children according to Edith Pearce, a leading accident attorney in Philadelphia.

The dog that attacked Eden was a pet to the owners of the home where Wallace and Eden recently began renting. The owners were not home during the attack and the 3-year old dog was euthanized. Results of rabies testing are awaited although the disease is not suspected. Authorities say the dog was found to be current in its licensing and vaccinations and the Animal Services investigation into the attack found that no previous attacks by the dog have been reported.

The victim and her mother were taken to the Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport immediately. Authorities say that Eden will be taken out of the area for more specialized care that she will need in the future. Both Eden and her mother are currently in stable condition and Eden continues to be treated for the neck injuries she suffered during the attack.

These sorts of attacks are tragic and could occur in the Philadelphia area as well as anywhere in the world. Victim’s families should seek the expert help of an understanding Philadelphia injury lawyer like Edith A. Pearce, Esquire. who has experience receiving timely settlements for those with neck injuries.

Several crane accidents have occurred near the Philadelphia area over the last decade. This often deadly type of construction accident can affect construction workers working at a job site as well as bystanders around a construction job site.

Modern cranes lift heavy materials at construction sites and are often a necessary part of a construction job, but the recent lack of safety measures taken during crane use have caused this tragic type of construction accident to make front page news all too often.

In 2009, a tall construction lift toppled over and struck a downtown Philadelphia apartment building. The construction accident killed one New Jersey construction worker who fell 125 feet after the crane went down. Three people in cars driving close to the scene were hit by heavy falling debris, causing one seventy year old woman to be treated for a broken arm and two other passengers to be treated for minor injuries.

In another recent accident, an inexperienced crane operator failed to understand the length of his crawler crane's boom, or arm. As he was off-loading a 20-ton steel slab, the load shifted, causing the boom to twist and collapse killing two construction workers standing 30 feet away.

Crane accidents often involve tipping cranes that have been loaded beyond their weight limit. Cranes that aren’t inspected properly for mechanical issues as well as proper load weight before use can be extremely dangerous. Cranes should always be equipped with the proper devices to secure workers should the crane tip. Cranes can also hurt workers as they accidentally snag power lines or nearby buildings causing construction workers to become injured or even killed by falling debris or by way of electrocution.

If you have been affected by a construction accident in Pennsylvania, contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyer who understands your legal rights, Edith Pearce.

When it comes to Sepsis what you don’t know could really hurt you. Sepsis is a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria. It is caused by a bacterial infection that can begin anywhere in the body. Since common sites of infection include intravenous lines, surgical wounds, surgical drains, and decubitus ulcers (sites of skin break downs commonly referred to as bedsores), hospital stays can put patients at risk of contracting Sepsis. Sepsis contracted in hospitals is usually considered a form of medical malpractice.

If you or a loved one has a condition that causes them frequent hospital stays, you need to be aware of the symptoms of Sepsis. Contaminated equipment, hospital negligence, and poor sanitation procedures in hospitals and medical offices put patients at risk of this life threatening infection.

A sepsis victim’s blood pressure drops so low that they usually go into shock. Major organs and body systems are affected and stop working properly. These systems can include the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system. Symptoms to look out for are chills, confusion and delirium, increased urine output, fever or abnormally low body temperature, hyperventilation, lightheadedness due to low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, skin rash, or warm skin.

If Sepsis is suspected, a blood test should be performed immediately to try to confirm the condition. Other tests done may include blood gases, kidney function tests, platelet count, white blood cell count, blood differential, fibrin degradation, and peripheral smear.

If Sepsis is confirmed, a patient is usually given antibiotics intravenously right away, usually in an intensive care unit. When left untreated this condition is life threatening and therefore if caused by a hospital or not treated properly, could be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Consult a lawyer if you feel your love one may have been a victim.

The Daily Record characterized a pretty typical Pennsylvanian man in a recent report on the new York bike lanes. Brandon Baldwin, who lives on the 800 block of East Philadelphia Street is a hard working locksmith who is employed a few blocks away from his home at Klepper’s Key Shop.

Technically, one could assume Baldwin, who does own a bike, is the perfect candidate for going green and healthy and biking to work. With the new bike lanes that are being installed in his Pennsylvania town some people might guess that he’d be enthusiastic, but instead Baldwin is concerned about safety.

Although bike lanes have recently been installed on East Philadelphia Street and East King Street, the two streets Brad would need to ride down to make his way to work, Brad reported that he is not likely to utilize the bike lanes in the future. Although he is not “against the idea,” he is concerned, as many Pennsylvanians might be, about the possible injuries that come along with biking on busy roads.

As streets get busier and busier and seemingly more crowded with cars and trucks every year, on road becomes more and more dangerous. As Baldwin stated in the article, “People can be impatient. They often don’t pay attention.” He even reported that he has witnessed drivers drive into the bike lanes causing potential accidents since they were put in.

Although Baldwin may be weary of driving his bike on road, biking to work is popular with many Pennsylvanians including those in York and those in more urbanized areas like Philadelphia. Many on-road accidents involving cars crashing into bikers occur in Pennsylvania and across the country each year. Bikers are often injured due to lack of a protection, while drivers often remain uninjured. It sometimes takes extensive investigation to find out who is at fault for the crash or for the bikers injuries. A Philadelphia lawyer can help. If you have been involved in a bike accident contact a Philadelphia accident lawyer or a Philadelphia injury lawyer right away.

An extremely tragic possible case of wrongful death occurred last week near Philadelphia. An 11 year old girl fell to her death while riding the Ferris Wheel at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey.

The victim has been identified as 11 year old Abiah Jones of Pleasantville, New Jersey. She was a student at the PleasnTech Academy Charter School and was attending a school class trip to the pier for their annual educational extravaganza during the day of the accident. Jones attended the trip with several other students, teachers, and chaperones.

Police say Abiah Jones fell from the upper half of the ride from about 100 feet in the air at about 12:30 p.m. She was apparently alone in one of the ride's passenger gondolas before falling. The ride is secured by a double latch door which opens inward, designed to make it hard to climb out during the ride.

Emergency responders and Morey’s staff tried to administer first and called a Medivac helicopter immediately to take the victim to the nearest trauma center. The helicopter ended up being recalled due to the severity of Abiah’s injuries. She was instead rushed by ambulance to Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May Court House where she was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m. according to reports.

Although preliminary investigations found that the accident did not seem to be caused by a mechanical problem with the ride, there was obviously something wrong that tragically killed Abiah Jones. An investigation is ongoing to determine what exactly caused the Child’s injuries. Police are still trying to get more witnesses to learn more about this extremely tragic incident and the ride that is likely to have caused the wrongful death of such a young child.

Community Affairs Head Hollie Gilroy said the ride opened in 1985 and was last inspected on March 17 and passed. Similar rides are only inspected once per year. Police are still trying to get more witnesses to learn more about this extremely tragic incident and the ride that is likely to have caused the wrongful death of such a young child.

Out of respect for the victim’s family the president of Morey’s Piers reduced the pier's hours throughout the weekend.

If you ever need an attorney who is experience in wrongful death law suits, we encourage you to contact Edith Pearce for a free consulation.

In January 2011, one Philadelphia area man was injured and another was killed in a deadly construction accident. The two men were working at a job site in Allentown Pennsylvania early on January morning.

Subcontractors Michael Wilson, 20, and his best friend Otis Smothers, 21 were installing electrical conduit into the Linden Street Bridge between Fourth Street and American Parkway during what was supposed to be just another day of usual construction work.

The tragic construction accident occurred around 8:40 a.m. according to reports when a part of the trench that the two men were working inside suddenly gave way causing chunks of concrete and gavel to fall and partially bury them. Initially, authorities weren’t sure what caused the collapse.

Michael Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene after being pinned under heavy concrete debris for hours. Allentown, Pennsylvania police, firefighters, and emergency workers worked as quickly as they could to try save him to no avail.

Authorities were able to rescue Otis Smothers around 10 a.m., just a few hours after the initial accident. Smothers was taken to nearby Lehigh Valle Hospital-Cedar Crest for severe personal injuries. He was treated for severe cuts and damage to his shoulder and was listed in serious but stable condition upon his arrival.

The top Philadelphia injury lawyers note that thousands of construction workers are either killed or injured each year. Construction workers or their families may be entitled to compensation for hospital and medical expenses, past and future lost earning, past and future permanent physical disability, emotional distress, loss of love and companionship, damage or destruction of property, physical pain and suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life.