Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Blog

One remarkable Philadelphia area teen may have very well saved the life of a about a dozen of her classmates on Tuesday afternoon. Graceann Rumer, a 17-year-old senior at the Calvary Christian Academy in Northeast Philadelphia grabbed the wheel of her school bus and pulled her fellow students to safety after her bus driver collapsed from a heart attack.

“I just realized that there’s no one driving this bus… I need to do something,” Rumer told reporters. Her bus driver Charles Duncan, a 51-year-old Philadelphia area man tragically collapsed and died from the heart attack while behind the wheel of his bus around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. With Duncan unconscious and obstructing the brake pedal, Rumer, who had only had her driver’s license for about two weeks before the incident, quickly grabbed the wheel of the moving bus and slowly made a U-turn to change direction and eventually bring it to a steady halt.

Graceann was able to get control of the bus even though Duncan was obstructing the brake pedal. Thinking quickly, she was able to grab the parking lever in order to put the bus in park to fully stop it. Alarmingly, the bus was headed straight for oncoming traffic before Graceann took the wheel to turn it around and would have caused a serious accident.

Not only may Grace have saved her fellow students, but she may have also saved pedestrians and several other motorists who were on the road at the time from suffering debilitating injury as well.

Graceann, who usually drives her own car to and from school for practice these days, has stated that she was simply the licensed driver closest to the front of the bus at the time. Nonetheless, Graceann’s chance decision to take the bus home from school on Tuesday and her quick actions may have been a miracle for many as she undoubtedly prevented what could have been a terrible accident.

From “black ice” on roadways, to icy pavements lining many streets, winter can be a particularly dangerous time of year in Philadelphia as well as anywhere in the world. After a snow fall or ice storm, it’s important for properties owners to shovel snow, salt sidewalks, and do whatever it takes to make their property as safe as possible and to prevent slip and fall injuries. Business owners, in particular, have a responsibility to make sure that their premises are reasonably safe for their patrons.

Unfortunately, sometimes negligent mistakes are made. Business owners sometimes fail to sufficiently shovel ice and snow from walkways, parking lots, and other parts of their property while landlords and home owner associations may fail to sufficiently shovel and salt walkways, porches, doorsteps and parking lots.

Sometimes, in haste, some property owners simply blow snow into piles without shoveling it. Not only can these piles leave dangerous patches of ice beneath them, but they can also eventually start to melt and refreeze, pooling water to create more dangerous patches of ice.

Throughout the years, victims of all ages have suffered injury and sometimes even death due to unfortunate slip and fall accidents. While some slip and fall accidents seem to only cause minor injuries at first, even small cuts, scrapes, and bruises should be reported. Internal injury and the long term injury, spinal, and joint issues that could occur as a result of a slip and fall should be of concern.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should seek medical attention right away, document ground conditions and location of the incident using a cell phone camera, etc.), and contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible.

The death toll is now at least 11 in the Costa Concordia Cruise Ship tragedy and Prosecutors and the cruise line that owns the Concordia are now saying Capt. Francesco Schettino is to blame for the tragic injuries and losses sustained during the crash. What Carnival Cruises is calling a “highly unusual incident,” is the worst cruise liner accident the world has seen in a long time.

The ship went down after Capt. Francesco Schettino crashed the boat into what he has stated was an uncharted rock. The incident ripped a hole in the Concordia’s hull causing the ship to quickly lean heavily to its starboard side. Reportedly, Schettino immediately boarded a lifeboat without following protocol and working to account for and make an effort to rescue all 4,200 passengers.

Passengers experienced the terrifying drop as the ship quickly shifted and the flat ground they were standing and sitting on suddenly angled to near 180 degrees. Furniture and fixtures of all kinds tumbled alongside them creating further risk of injury.

Although there were fortunately many survivors, 24 passengers still remain missing and unaccounted for. Authorities hope whole-heartedly that they simply fled the scene without alerting anyone. Other passengers who were aboard the ship undoubtedly suffered both physical and emotional injury.

At least two Americans, Gerald and Barbara Heil of Minnesota, are among those who are still known to be missing. Two Philadelphia area newlyweds, Rob and Megan Mauri of Lancaster, who survived the accident and noted that they had to wait nearly 90 minutes before they were allowed to board life boats and by that time, the ship had angled itself so far to one side that many of the life boats were inaccessible.

Last weekend was unfortunately one of grieving for the families of many Philadelphia area residents. Several teens who ranged from the young ages of 16 through 19 in age were killed after their vehicle was hit by a Buick that police say was traveling north on American street at around 11 p.m. Saturday evening while they were headed south on American Street near Cecil B. Moore. The accident proved fatal for all but three passengers in the teens’ vehicle. The victims, who have been identified as Louis Figueroa, 17, of the Community Academy Charter School on Erie Avenue near J Street, Esteban Santiago, 19, or Hartville Street near Indiana Avenue, and Wilfredo Trevina, were well loved young people who were active in the community and in their schools. The three other passengers who were in the teens’ vehicle at the time of the accident were taken to the hospital and remain with injuries but remain in stable condition.

Another tragic car crash claimed the lives of two Philadelphia women late Sunday evening and caused serious injury to a third woman. The victims have not yet been identified but police say the three women were driving on Kelly Drive which runs along the Schuylkill River near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge when the collision occurred.

According to reports, the car crossed the center line of the road and collided head-on with an oncoming minivan as it was heading north along the scenic Schuylkill around 3 p.m. Sadly, two of the women in the vehicle are thought to have died on impact and were pronounced dead at the scene, the extent of the third woman’s injury is not yet known. Police say the driver of the minivan was taken a Philadelphia area hospital with injuries and is in critical but stable condition. Kelly Drive remained closed for some time following the crash.

People all over the world like to ring in the new year with fireworks every January 1st. Although this tradition might be enjoyable to some, it’s important to remember that it’s often harmful to many. While injuries occur as a result of homespun New Year’s fireworks everywhere each year, a particularly large number of individuals in the Philippines suffered injury as a result of this year’s festivities.

In following Chinese tradition, some Filipinos believe that noisy New Year’s fireworks ward off evil and misfortune in the year ahead, it is common to set off powerful types of explosives to ring it in. As a result, many started 2012 off in the hospital instead. Hundreds were injured in fireworks accidents, including many children. According to Philippines news reports, hospital emergency rooms throughout the small country were packed full of people injured by fireworks explosions in the early morning hours of December 31st.

Breaking down injury types, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that 545 were injured from firecracker blasts and tragically 18 were injured by stray bullets that were fired into the air around the time the clock struck midnight. Believe it or not, Secretary Ona added, the numbers are down from last year. During last month’s celebration, the skies were so flooded with the light of fireworks and their blinding smoggy aftermath that many incoming and outgoing flights from Manila’s main airport had to be delayed.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo says that he is willing to consider a proposal for a total ban on firecrackers, just as many states in the US do. Although some types of powerful firecracker are already banned, many Filipinos were arrested for setting them off illegally this year.

As many who live in those states know, bans do not necessarily eradicate holiday firework use, but they may, perhaps lessen the number of injuries caused. Using fireworks illegally, especially in crowded areas like Philadelphia, can cause injury not only to parties directly involved, but to innocent bystanders as well.

A tragic deadly hit and run accident took place just minutes away from Center City Philadelphia yesterday in the neighboring city of Wilmington, Delaware. In a strange twist of fate, it turned out the victim had been struck in a hit and run before years ago when she was 33 years of age. During that accident, she lost a leg.

This time victim Edith McFarland was struck not only by one but three vehicles who kept on driving after the accident. Ms. McFarland was just attempting to cross U.S. 13 with some groceries, crossing the highway to the Fairview Inn 1051 S. Market St when the first vehicle struck. She was bringing the groceries home for herself and her granddaughter who lived in a modest motel room across the street. Ms. McFarland, who became very disabled due to the severe injury she sustained in her last accident, was forced to move onto the busy road when the economy took a downturn.

Her destroyed wheelchair made it obvious that Ms. McFarland's wheelchair was struck by a vehicle that was traveling at a fast speed. She was thrown out of the wheelchair and almost instantly killed at the scene. Two other motorists hit Ms. McFarland and her wheelchair again and sadly decided to keep on going. "It's unthinkable to have one vehicle strike this lady in this wheelchair and leave," Shavack said. "But it's almost unconscionable to have three vehicles know that they hit something because of the debris field that was in the roadway and then continue on."

Police are still looking for the drivers of three vehicles that hit Ms. Edith McFarland during the accident around 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone with information can call 302-834-2620, ext. 278. If you or your loved one has suffered through a tragic accident, call a Philadelphia injury lawyer immediately.

Driver distraction has been a problem since cars first graced public roadways in the early 19th century. While roadside distractions like billboards and eating behind the wheel have always been an issue, cell phones have added an entirely new level of danger to drivers. Smartphones, which continue to become more and more sophisticated, now offer more and more ways for drivers to become distracted. Frighteningly, many drivers participate in gaming, texting, and social networking on their smartphones while driving.

Many drivers think "hands-free" systems completely eliminate their chances of being in an accident due to cell phone use, however, drivers can still become auditorily and visually distracted even while keeping their hands on the wheel. Even though many are now using such devices, an alarming new study published in 2011 revealed that smartphones may account for roughly 15-25% of all traffic accidents. The GHSA is therefore urging states to create and enforce laws pertaining to cell phone use while driving

This issue is not limited to teenagers and those who use cell phones for personal and recreational use, but studies also show that many commercial drivers and business employees are forced to constantly use their cell phones for communication in order to fulfill their job responsibilities in today’s demanding and often fast paced work environment.

The GHSA is urging states to create and enforce laws pertaining to cell phone use while driving. Putting new laws in place and enforcing them could help to prevent serious accidents. If you have been injured in a car accident in the Philadelphia area or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey at the hands of a careless or distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible for a consultation regarding your case.

A Philadelphia police officer suffered from injury last week after facilitating the arrest of two alleged criminals in Sanatoga, Pennsylvania. Sanatoga officer James McCue suffered the injury while attempting to make the arrest of Skaeya Dodd, 22, of Sanatoga, and Gregg N. McElveen, 20, of Philadelphia.

McCue had to respond responded to a domestic disturbance call from the Rolling Hills apartments in the early morning hours of December 23rd. The female suspect, Dodd, had been cited for public drunkenness and was also reported to have sustained a facial injury after a drunken fall.

McElveen, Dodd’s male counterpart, who was observed urinating on the side of an unoccupied police cruiser during the incident, had to be detained after he struggled to break free of McCue’s grasp striking him several times with his fists and injuring McCue before fleeing the scene on foot.

McCue eventually caught McElveen and was forced to discharge his Taser, a nonlethal weapon, to prevent further injury. Officer McCue was taken to Pottstown Memorial hospital after sustaining injury on Friday December 23rd, 2011. He was treated and released and is fortunately expected to make a full recovery according to his department Sgt. Timothy Walters.

McElveen was allegedly found to possess seven individually packaged bags of marijuana, three small plastic containers, and four blue pills at the time of his arrest. He has been charged with open lewdness, simple assault, disorderly conduct, possession of drugs, public lewdness, among several other charges and is schedule to be arraigned Friday in magisterial court in Lower Pottsgrove. Dodd has been charged with criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct along with public drunkenness.

According to a poll of several Pennsylvania adults, about 17 percent of Pennsylvanians know someone who was suffered injury while opening gifts during a past holiday season. This amazing finding was reported in the 2009 December 5th edition of popular website Science News Daily. The Poll was conducted by the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society in July of 2009

Several adults in the state of Pennsylvania aged 21 and older were asked “Have you or someone you know ever been injured (such as receiving a cut that required medical attention) while opening the packaging (not gift wrap) of a holiday or birthday gift? When a whopping 17% said yes, researchers were stunned and came to define the phenomena as “wrap rage.”

“Wrap rage” is a term used to describe the rage and frustration involved in opening a tightly and sophisticatedly sealed product package. While consumers, especially gift recipients are often excited and anxious to unleash the product inside the package, they sometimes use rash, unsafe methods of trying to quickly open the product’s box.

Researchers note that the surprisingly common phenomenon isn’t reserved for just Pennsylvanian’s. In fact, 2001 census data suggested that people throughout the United States are twice as likely to suffer from injury from packaging as opposed to a skateboarding or swimming accident.

It is important to remember that, while it is understandable the holiday gifts can be exciting for people of all ages, it’s important to stay calm and play it safe when opening packaging. In other words, avoid “wrap rage.” Try to avoid the use of sharp objects to open packaging, but when they are necessary, be sure to cut away from your body and refrain from using your legs to keep the product stable. Always avoid opening tough-to-open packages around children or in a crowded area, and to play it extra safe, wear protective gloves.

It’s no secret that the holidays can be the most dangerous time of year. Aside from the commonly known reason for this, the increased number of car accidents, there are many other injury types that occur in the Philadelphia area and around the country during the months of November and December. It’s important to try to prevent the following household accidents and injuries as much as possible.

Poisoning by Seasonal Plants - Mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem Cherries, and amaryllis are all poisonous when consumed by both humans and their pets. Keep these plants away from pets and children. If you do have them, keep them on a high shelf or another place safe from your little ones who may be tempted to chew on the leaves. When in doubt, keep them out of your household.

Electrocution - Injury by way of electrocution is unfortunately very common around the holiday season. During this time, many inexperienced homeowners tinker around with electrical sockets and extension cords when putting up indoor or outdoor lights. Try to prevent such injuries by using a ground fault interrupter, and when in doubt, hire a professional. Remember that you should never attach more than three strands of lights into an extension cord.

Sledding Accidents – Winter and the holiday season can be a fun time to play outdoors in the snow, but it is so important for both children and adults to take precautions to avoid unnecessary injury. This is true especially participating in sledding activities. Thousands of sledding accidents are reported in the U.S. annually. Never sled too close to somebody else, avoid hills with trees, and always inspect terrain before sledding.

Unfortunately injuries that are inflicted due to the negligence or fault of others can be hard to prevent. Fortunately, Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Edith A. Pearce is on your side if you do become injured. She will help you see that justice is had and that you get the compensation you deserve.

You’ve probably heard the age old rumor that drivers drive more dangerously around the Holiday season which is generally marked by the time period between the week leading up to Thanksgiving though New Years, but do the statistics prove it to be true? Of course accidents statistics vary from state to state and from year to year, but in Pennsylvania the number of accidents during the 2010 combined holiday season (November through December) was indeed higher than during other months of the year, and the reported reason for the majority of those accidents may shock you.

Taking a look at the statistics shows that in 2010, a total of 55 people died in a car accident during the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shockingly, this time period in and of itself had the highest rate of crashes compared to other weekends during the year. A whopping 535 were found to have been alcohol related. In fact more than half of all accidents that occur during the holiday season are found to be alcohol related. This means that while the age old rumor tells us that people drive recklessly around the holiday season due to overwhelming holiday to-do lists, that may not necessarily be true.

While some holiday season accidents may involve reckless driving due to extra crowded and chaotic roads during the holiday shopping rush, many more are caused by holiday “celebrating,” in other words, alcohol consumption. This problem is so alarming during the holiday season that 22 percent of the total number of crashes involving alcohol in 2010 occurred immediately before and after Thanksgiving day.

Remember to refrain from drinking and driving this holiday season as well as always. You will likely save your own life and the lives of others. If you have been injured in an accident involving an intoxicated driver in the Philadelphia area or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact the experts at The Pearce Law Firm.

Every 48 minutes one American dies in an alcohol-related traffic accident. One in three U.S. residents will have his life irrevocably changed by a person driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys warn. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 11,000 people, 14% of them under the age of 14, died in alcohol-related traffic accidents in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. In a significant number of cases, drivers involved in DUI fatalities are repeat offenders and are eight times more likely than sober drivers to have at least one prior DUI conviction.

Nearly a third of all Pennsylvania auto accident fatalities are caused by drunken drivers. According to statistics posted on the MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Driving) website, there were 406 DUI fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2011, 32% of the state’s total traffic accident death toll. Among the 52 states, Pennsylvania ranks 30th in number of DUI fatalities with drunk drivers costing the state $2.19 billion a year.

Currently, sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlocks are the only two options available to keep drunk drivers off the road. A new invention has the potential to be a game-changer in the battle against drunk drivers. In partnership with the U.S. auto industry and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, QinetiQ North America is developing a built-in breathalyzer that could become standard equipment on U.S. vehicles within the next 5 years. If installed in all vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that the device could save 9,000 lives a year. Scheduled for on-road tests in 2013, the breathalyzer uses breath and touch sensors to automatically measure the driver’s blood alcohol content. If it’s over the legal limit, the car will start but not move.

If you are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, contact a Philadelphia lawyer to protect your rights.

Penn State has been the subject of much tragedy recently. Now, one young person was killed and four others injured after a motor vehicle accident in the Philadelphia area last Friday evening. The Penn State community has been deeply saddened by such a loss.

The accident was the first accident of its magnitude in Penn State history to happen during the canning weekend although Penn State student Kevin Steinberg also lost his life in 1978 in an accident that occurred while he was on his way to deliver money collected that year.

Everyone involved in the tragic accident was a young person from Penn State en route during a canning trip (in which they were working to drop off money raised for charitable causes). The students were traveling with Penn State’s Interfraternity Council Pan-Hellenic Dance marathon according to Penn State Spokeswoman Lisa Powers. During the trip passenger and Penn State freshman Courtney O’Bryan, 18, of Huntington, N.Y. lost her life after the car she was riding in hit a patch of black ice and flipped over.

The students’ vehicle, which was driven by 20-year-old John Edwards, hit the patch while passing through McKean County in Bradford Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Police rushed to the scene to respond to the Friday night incident.

Names of other students in the vehicle at the time of the accident include Chris Toner, 21 who was in the passenger seat and Jena Pardhan, 18, and Lauren Bronstein, 19 according to State Police Cpl. Tim Lencer. Each suffered some degree of injury and was taken to a Philadelphia area hospital after the crash.

The accident is still under investigation and it is not yet known at what speed the vehicle was traveling, but police say drugs and alcohol were not involved in the crash.

This summer a strange series of incidents involving gunshots and Septa bus drivers took place. Just this week another gunshot was fired through the window of a septa bus, seemingly targeting the driver.

During yesterday’s incident which occurred around 7 p.m., a shot was fired but fortunately no one was reportedly injured. The gun man is still unidentified. The gunman’s bullet went through the window as the Septa bus was traveling from the Route 17 in the Point Breeze section of Philadelphia. The bullet landed behind the driver’s side of the window, just missing the driver after it sped through the window and just missed the driver of the bus. The bus was reportedly headed south on 19th street near Whatron and police say it does seem that the bullet was intended for the driver specifically.

The previous streak of violent acts against Septa drivers occurred during the late summer and included two incidents that injured one 22-year-old man as well as a female Septa driver to the hospital. In a September 14th incident, the two people hurt included a SEPTA bus driver waiting to start his route as well as the unidentified 22-year-old male passerby. Police found at least 12 bullet casings marked after the scene. In the prior attack in late August, driver Bernetta Rembert was shot in the arm while sitting on her bus alone.

Police are still investigating the series of attacks and so far there has been no word on possible motives in the shootings. Although four victims have now suffered moderate physcial and undoubtedly emotional injury from bullet wounds in the tragic shootings, fortunately, all are expected to survive their injuries.

Black Friday has been known for being a day of pure chaos for decades now. Tens of thousands if not more flock to stores during the early morning hours of the day after Thanksgiving in an effort to score the best deals on the best products before they’re gone. Dangerous stampedes of people and altercations are often common as customers compete for products and potential holiday gifts that are in limited supply. The “Shopping Holiday” is seen by many as a spirited one in which one can begin their joyous holiday season by shopping for the perfect gifts, however, in recent years the day was become a dark one as several violent and careless shoppers have caused injury and to fellow shoppers.

Black Friday 2011 was a particularly deadly one. Dozens of people in the Philadelphia area and across the country suffered injury and some even lost their lives during the day’s events. About 20 customers including children suffered minor injuries at a Los Angeles Walmart after they were pepper sprayed by a fellow shopper. Police are still searching for the sprayer who was vying for a discounted X-Box and video games and attempting to deter other shoppers away. In Arizona a man was reportedly pushed around and injured by police after putting video games into his belt loop. Police thought Newman was attempting to steal the video games, but it was later discovered that he was just trying to free his hands so that he could lift his young grandson above the stampeding crowd.

The above are just a few of the many injuries that that occurred around the country and during this year’s Black Friday events. During the last decade, hundreds of store customers have suffered severe injuries during the holiday. If you or a loved one has been injured in the Philadelphia area or anywhere in New Jersey, we advise you to contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer today.

As highlighted in a recent MSNBC report, Boston based watchdog group World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H) has just released its annual report on the ten most dangerous children’s toys in an effort to protect Philadelphia children and children around the world this holiday season. The group has been publishing the list each year since 1973 and has also been instrumental in eventually getting several dangerous children’s products removed from store shelves.

The toys on the current list are all still available on retailer shelves throughout the country and can be found in both national chains and independent shops alike. Parents should beware of these products and any dangerous products while holiday shopping, since, although the toys on the list have not yet been recalled, they could still be potentially harmful.

W.A.T.C.H. places toys on the list that stood out when it came to hazards for choking, electrocution, and puncture wounds. Some of the toys on the this year's list pose obvious hazards, such as the Z Curve bow and arrow set which can actually be used as a weapon, while the dangers others present are more elusive. For instance, parents may not even realize that the Schylling mini school bus featured on the “watch list” could be harmful until they bring it home to find that the small wheels can easily come off presenting a choking hazard.

Consumer products safety commission reports that in 09 about 250,000 toy related injuries were treated in US hospital emergency rooms and there have been at least 28 toy recalls representing 3.8 million units in the United States in the past year alone according to Joan Siff, president of Watch. If your child has been harmed by a dangerous product or toy, contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible in order to ensure that his or her rights are protected.

Another cast member of the seemingly ill-fated Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, has been injured in an accident that occurred while he was acting in the production. The accident marks the sixth report of an injury since the production began rehearsals just a little over a year ago. It has become all too common for actors in the 65 million dollar musical to suffer from slip and fall injuries as well as other types of injury and some say this means the most expensive production in Broadway history is also shaping up to be the most dangerous.

Authorities reported last week’s incident to have been a freak accident involving Matthew James Thomas, who plays Spiderman himself during Wednesday and Saturday matinees. Thomas was injured while waiting backstage to go back out for a scene on November 9th at The Foxwoods Theater. Details on the type of injury Thomas sustained and exactly what caused the injury have not yet been released but it is known that the actor was rushed to the hospital where he received several stitches.

The large number of accident reports during the productions relatively short run time has many authorities questioning the safety of the show’s premises. The department of Labor is currently investigating the production and the six accidents that caused its cast members to be rushed to hospitals with severe injury.

Hard working people are injured at their place of work all too often whether they work on the stage of a Broadway show like Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, on a construction site, or elsewhere. To protect your legal rights following a work related or slip and fall accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, it is wise to consult a personal injury law firm with experience in these matters as soon as possible.

According to researcher Rianne Ravensbergen, a PhD. candidate supervised by Dr. Victoria Claydon in the Cardiovascular Physiology Lab at Simon Fraser University, spinal cord injuries are key predictors of cardiovascular risk due to the possible damage they may cause to the autonomic nervous system. Ravensbergen recently presented her findings to the Canadian cardiovascular Congress 2011 which was co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, further explaining that heart disease is actually the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with spinal cord injuries.

Although people with decreased mobility are often are less active than much of the population, she explains that lack of exercise alone is not the issue. Instead, abnormal control of the heart and blood vessels can be caused simply because the autonomic nerves are damaged. Findings have shown that people with spinal cord injury who are still able to maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle still suffer from many cardiovascular conditions.

Ravensbergen’s study assessed 20 people with spinal cord injuries and 12 able bodied controls to determine risk. Glucose tolerance, body mass index, body fat, and abdominal fat were all treated as risk factors. Those with spinal cord injuries were shown to have decreased glucose tolerance as well as increased total and abdominal fat. Spinal cord injury patients also had more problems with blood sugar. Many were in what Ravensbergen calls a pre-diabetic state, further elevating their risk of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for 30 percent of all deaths in Canada and accounts for a high number of deaths in the United States and Philadelphia as well. The recent studies indicate that there is a value in screening the autonomic system of spinal cord patients. Researchers will need to do further studies to determine the role specific autonomic nerves play and how to improve function to ultimately prevent heart disease in SCI patients.

Two deadly accidents involving public transportation took place in the Philadelphia area recently. The accidents claimed the lives of two Philadelphia area victims who were each struck by commuter trains. Each of the men lost their life after stumbling and falling on a train station platform.

The most recent incident involved a man who was struck and killed in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia. The victim, who has not yet been identified, died immediately upon impact after falling onto tracks while trying to get to the Amtrak Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg train. Authorities say the man slipped and fell right into the path of the train at approximately 4 p.m. last Tuesday. Witnesses believe the victim to have been between 40 and 60 years old.

Tuesday’s accident did disrupt Septa service, forcing service on the Paoli-Thorndale Regional Rail line to be suspended for four hours, reopen for a few hours, and then to shut down again due to a related power outage. Service on the line was back to normal by early Wednesday morning. The accident is still under investigation and it is not yet known whether dangerous premises may have played a role in the victim’s fall.

Just a few days before Tuesday’s accident, another victim was killed near Trenton, New Jersey while attempting to exit a train platform. Another victim, who also remains unidentified, was struck by a Riverline car that was traveling northbound from Camden to Trenton at about 10:50 a.m. on October 28th. The Riverline struck the male passenger on the tracks at the Cass Street station according to NJT spokesman John Durso Jr. Riverline service from the Hamilton Avenue Station to the Bordentown station had to be shut down for a few hours following the accident.

Fortunately, no injuries to passengers who were riding on the train at the times of either accident were reported. Train accidents and other accidents on high risk premises are often deadly. If you're loved one has been injured on dangerous premises or in any other kind of accident, contact the experts at The Pearce Law Firm today.

Another victim has died after suffering severe injuries in a single car crash near the Philadelphia region this week. This time the victim was a 65-year-old man. Although the name of the man has not yet been released, authorities are certain about many of the details surrounding the accident.

The victim lost control of his 1970 Plymouth Barracuda on Del. 896 also known as Summit Bridge Road in Glasgow Delaware late Saturday afternoon. Sgt. Paul Savack told reporters that the crash occurred around 4:39 pm, about 400 feet north of Sweet Hollow Road. Police say the Barracuda rotated 90 degrees and veered off the right side of the road before eventually slamming into the pole.

The accident scene was a horrific one with the vehicle having split into three pieces and the engine block flying as much as 100 feet from the impact site. Both the vehicle and the utility pole were destroyed, and after being eventually thrown from the vehicle, the man was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.

The car accident occurred on a clear, seemingly ordinary day, just minutes after the victim’s family refueled his car and sent him off onto the road after he had run out of gas. The victim should have been safely on his way, but instead took off traveling at the high and dangerous speed that likely caused the accident. Although crashes like these often involve other innocent drivers, fortunately no other people were hurt.

Howell School Road near the area of the accident site was closed for three hours on Saturday while the crash was investigated and debris wear cleared. Please remember to drive safely and defensively, and if you or a loved one has been the victim of a car accident or the negligence of a reckless driver, contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer like Edith A. Pearce to get the compensation you deserve.

Another car crash occurred just hours away from the city of Philadelphia this week. Tragically, the crash proved to be a fatal one as its aftermath eventually claimed the life of the young driver involved. That driver died early Wednesday morning of the severe injuries he sustained in the late night accident.

The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Keith Baldwin of Laurel. Baldwin was driving his 1996 Chevrolet Blazer south on Gordy road near Whitesville road when the car accident occurred around 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning. According to police Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale, Baldwin’s vehicle veered out of control after his passenger side tires left the edge of the road.

Keith Baldwin attempted to gain control of the vehicle but failed, resulting in an overcorrection that caused his vehicle to violently spin across Gorgy road. The blazer eventually hit a ditch and continued into a field where it flipped over and rolled several times. The traumatic motion jarred Baldwin from his seat and throughout the vehicle. Baldwin was also eventually thrown from the vehicle, resulting in the severe injuries that would eventually claim his life. Authorities say Baldwin was not wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred.

Although Baldwin was rushed to Peninsula regional Medical Center, he was pronounced dead at 1:40 am on Wednesday. The medical examiner’s office has stated that they will do an autopsy to see whether drugs, alcohol, or another unknown issue may have played a role in the Tuesday night crash.

Professional legal help is the best protection for the family of or the victim of a severe auto accident. Having worked for years for an automobile insurance company and for an accident defense firm, Edith A. Pearce uses her expert knowledge from inside the industry to win victims any compensation they deserve.

The sudden nature of the 50-year-old Michael Jackson’s passing on June 25th, 2009 left his family as well as many fans wondering whether his death was the result of natural causes or instead, medical error. Since the formal court case began, the prosecution has worked to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, was criminally negligent while caring for the star. This week, after questioning a total of 33 witnesses, the prosecution has rested its case.

Dr. Shafer, who works as a professor of anesthesiology at Columbia University, was called as the prosecution’s final witness. An autopsy found Jackson’s cause of death to be an overdose of the anesthetic Propofol. According to Dr. Shafer’s testimony, the only way Jackson could have had such a high amount of Propofol in his body at the time of his death was through an intravenous drip that would have been administered by Dr. Murray.

Despite Dr. Shafer’s expert testimony, Dr. Murray’s defense continues to put up an ardent fight. After launching a preemptive strike upon re-direct examination, his attorneys are expected to continue to make the case that Jackson administered the Propofol himself by self injection. Michael Jackson would have had to inject the large dose of the powerful anesthetic himself while at home in his Los Angeles mansion.

In order to win the case, prosecutors will need to prove that Dr. Murray’s actions involved “a high risk of death or great bodily harm” under California’s involuntary manslaughter statute and that his “actions were committed without due caution.” Dr. Murray’s medical license has been suspended pending the medical malpractice trial’s outcome.

If you are in Philadelphia or New Jersey and suspect that you too have a family member who has suffered wrongful death, The Pearce Law Firm will work diligently on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.

As the fall and winter seasons approach and icy roads and potentially dangerous driving conditions are upon us, we are reminded of the need for motor vehicle drivers to use utmost caution when driving Philadelphia area roads. Thousands of car and truck accidents occur throughout Pennsylvania each year.

In 2009, a truck driver caused a serious truck accident when he plowed his rig into an Infiniti on the Schuylkill Expressway. The accident killed a Fort Washington man when the 77,000-pound rig completely crushed his vehicle, causing him chest injuries that were too severe to survive.

Police stated that this accident could have been prevented. Federal prosecutors found that truck driver Valerijs Nikoaevich Belovs of Northeast Philadelphia, who was 57 years of age at the time, lied about breaks he was supposed to take on the road. Authorities also say that Belovs falsified his daily logbooks between December 20, 2008 and January 23, 2009 the day of the accident, to conceal the fact that he was driving more consecutive hours than legally allowed without a required test.

An indictment suggested that this tragic 2009 truck accident could have been prevented if Belovs had been truthful and accurate in his logbooks. Truckers who drive too many consecutive hours and without proper licensing pose a great threat as they are often not as alert or skillful on the road as they should be. The U.S. Department of Transportation inspects all trucker log books to ensure motorists’ safety, but may not be aware when a logbook is falsified.

Belovs pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and reckless driving and related offenses in this case and was sentenced to three to 23 months in jail by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. If you or a loved one has suffered injury due to a truck accident, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer immediately.

With Halloween just a week away, we are about to kick off the holiday and gift giving season. Give your children the gift of safety by staying informed and acting as an educated consumer. Make sure to look out for defective and unsafe toys and steer clear of them while shopping.

As a parent, you cannot trust toy stores to do all the work for you. Did you know that even though many dangerous toys get recalled or banned, many retailers keep those same toys on shelves? These retailers are either taking their chances hoping they won’t get caught, or somehow uninformed about a particular recall.

With so much responsibility lying on their shoulders, many parents may be wondering what could potentially be a defective toy. A toy does not have to have been recalled to be potentially dangerous. Any toy that is a choking hazard may be dangerous. Toys that include balloons and small parts have the potential to cause choking.

A toy can also be dangerous due to its containment of hazardous chemicals or metals such as lead. Both inhalation and ingestion of small amounts of lead have been shown to cause brain damage in children. Now, there is even some research showing that lead may cause cancer.

Risk of entanglement and respiratory concerns are two other reasons parents should avoid a toy. Entanglement can be caused by toys containing mosquito nets or ropes and respiratory dangers may be caused by items like furry children’s blankets and certain stuffed animals. While these toys may be okay for some, children with asthma might be at risk.

Always remember to shop appropriately for your child’s age, look out for the hazards discussed above, and keep an eye out for news reports about the latest recalls. If your child has been injured by a defective toy, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer right away.

Police are still investigating a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred near Philadelphia this week. The tragic accident killed one man, but no other injuries have been reported. The victim has been identified as 25 year old Daniel Manela of the 9000 block or Cargill Lane in Philadelphia.

Manela was pronounced dead at the scene on October 16th at approximately 5 p.m. after he lost control and was thrown from his motorcycle. A police investigation found that he was traveling on Route 1 towards Philadelphia when he attempted to change lanes before losing control of his 2009 Harley Davidson. Police also reported that they did not believe Manela to be wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and that drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash.

The Bensalem police department responded to the accident on southbound Route 1 at the Pennsylvania Turnpike exchange. The police department has asked any witnesses with more information to call the Bensalem Accident Investigation Division, Cpl. Oliverio at 215-633-3719.

The accident is one of the most tragic in the Philadelphia area since August. In the August motorcycle accident, a woman who was riding on her motorcycle with a child near York Pennsylvania was killed when a car hit motorcycle. Seemingly miraculously, the child was not injured in the crash.

Motorcycles are generally the smallest vehicles on the road, and drivers in cars, trucks, buses, and SUVs oten fail to realize that a motorcycle in the lane next to them. In addition, motorcycle crashes often cause serious if not fatal injuries due to the fact that riders are surrounded by little protection. Riders are always urged to use caution and wear protective gear while riding. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, call a Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.

A Phildelphia area potential harassment case that began more than six years ago is a little closer to a resolution today. The Supreme Court is now hearing the case of Burlington County man Albert Florence, who was strip-searched fterbeing arrested at a traffic search in 2005.

After being stopped at a motor vehicle stop by police in Burlington County New Jersey, Florence was taken into custody, and asked to repeatedly strip competely naked in front of officers in order to be examined for contraband. Florence was asked to do so twice in county jail in Mount Holly and then again more intrusively in Essex County jail.

Mr. Florence was arrested during the stop and detained due to an unrelated contempt-of-court warrant which was later discovered to be already satisfied. As a married father of four who works as a finance manager at an auto dealership, Florence reported feeling humiliated after the repeated strip-search and felt that his rights were violated. The feeling of humiliation that Florence describes is similar to that which a victim mght describe in a sexual harassment case.

Although the high court decided correcions officers could conduct body cavity inspections of inmates who had contact with visitors in a 1979 ruling, Florence may have been searched on shaky grounds. Some federal courts have ruled that strip searches should only take place with "reasonable suspicion" or after inmates have been charged with a serious crime.

The Albert W. Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington Supreme Court case is reportedly expected to bring uniformity throughout the country when it comes to regulations pertaining to the strip-search of inmates in order to prevent contraband, weapons, and protect workers and other inmates from injuries.

Since some county courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, have ruled that jails may strip search inmates under any circumstances, it is uncertain whether or note Florence will win the case.

There is a great deal of construction going on around the country, especially on the east coast and near Philadelphia as workers are striving to rebuild after the recent heavy flooding. This fact, as well as the fact that several construction workers rebuilding after the floods are volunteers, may be responsible for the recent spike in construction accidents in the news.

Two men were hurt in a construction accident this week in Webster Township, Michigan. The two Michigan men were injured while working on a shed in Washtenaw County, just ten miles north of Ann Arbor. AnnArbor.com reported that the accident occurred around noon on Saturday. Police told reporters that one of the construction workers was pouring concrete when a shed fell and pinned him underneath. A coworker was also hurt in the collapse, but the specifics of either of the men’s sustained injuries were not reported.

Lee Root, a firefighter of the Dexter Area Fire Department said that neither of the worker’s injuries was life-threatening fortunately. Both men were taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center for treatment after the accident.

Just a few weeks earlier, another construction worker sustained severe injuries while working with cement. The man, who was working on a private contracting job in Durham, Connecticut, suffered a severe injury when his leg got stuck in the auger of a dry cement mixing truck. An area hospital response team who specializes in extrication rescues had to help to get the man’s leg out of the machine.

The lawyers at The Pearce Law Firm have several years experience handling construction accident cases. If you are a construction worker who has become injured on the job, contacting the experts at The Pearce Law Firm will ensure that your rights are protected.

A Philadelphia car accident involving a minor unlicensed driver sadly occurred this past week. The accident sent a 9-year-old boy the hospital in critical condition after he took his parents car without them knowing and crashed the vehicle into a tree.

The boy, who police have identified as having mental disabilities, got behind the wheel of his parent’s Chevy Malibu on Sunday morning. The parents were reportedly unaware that the child took the car out for a joyride.

The boy actually headed north on busy Roosevelt Boulevard and eventually lost control of the car and hit a tree around 9:30 in morning. The car flipped several times before coming to a stop. James Gallman, a witness who also took photos of the aftermath of the crash, stated that “It’s the windshield, the tires off, like the whole front car is basically ripped apart.” Gallman also noted that the other surrounding witnesses of the accident simply thought “Oh my God, It’s a 9-year-old kid that got hurt.’ Many were hoping and saying prayers for the boy in hopes that he would survive his injuries.

The name of the child driving the vehicle has not been released, and at this time police are still investigating how the child was able to get behind the wheel of the car or how far he drove before the tragic crash.

The boy’s actions sadly put himself,and several other Philadelphia drivers and pedestrians in great danger. Accidents involving uninsured motorists in which minors are behind the wheel can be extremely complicated for those involved or victims who become injured as a result. Victims may not be able to obtain compensation directly from the driver, but may still be able to recover from his or her parents or their auto insurance company. Only an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer will be able to advise on each individual accident case.

The Pennsylvania legislature has just passed a series of new laws designed to prevent car accidents and injury. Lawmakers are finally cracking down on many things known to cause unsafe driving among teenagers.

James Clair, founder of the Ultimate Defensive Driving School told reporters “When you hear about an accident with young people on the road, it’s never just one young person; it’s always a group of kids in the car.” That’s why Pennsylvania’s new teen safe driving law will ban carpooling among teens. The new law will go into effect once signed by Governor Tom Corbett and states that teenagers will only be able to have one passenger during the first six months that they are licensed drivers.

This law is not only to prevent several injuries from occurring when a teen gets into an accident, but also to prevent the accidents themselves by preventing the teen driver from becoming too distracted by several people in a vehicle.

Some think the new law, which does not include bans on things like texting and using cell phones while driving, is a good first step to keeping Pennsylvania’s roads free of accidents. Similar laws that were recently passed in the neighboring state of New Jersey, have been well received and may have already saved many lives. Researchers are still compiling information on the possible positive effects.

The new Pennsylvania teen driving laws aren’t being quite as well received by all teenagers and young people, however. One teen told reporters “I think if you focus on the road, you can have more than one passenger,” noting that she finds the proposed law “unfair” and “stupid.”

While all legislation is usually met with mixed reviews, many Pennsylvanians think the new law will be a good thing for both teenagers and drivers of all ages on the roads. Thousands of car accidents, often deadly, occur throughout the Philadelphia area and Pennsylvania each day. Hopefully, new legislations will help to protect Pennsylvania drivers.

It is not surprising that injuries and accidents happen throughout Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area every day. When injuries that could have been prevented are sustained, however, it is always time to give policies and practices a second look. This week in Philadelphia makes it clear that city and state officials are giving and have given that second look to some of the things that are going on in the area.

In the wake of a report that a woman broke both her skull and collarbone while attending a concert in the area, some area lawmakers are looking at the dangerous practice of stage diving at concerts. Philadelphia is a city filled with great culture, music, and concerts, but is important for such activities to be safe for visitors and residents. Unfortunately, while attending a concert by the band Fishbone, victim Kimberly Myers sustained the above mentioned severe injuries after the band’s lead singer Angelo “Dr. Madd Vibe” Moore, jumped off of the stage and into the crowd.

Myers is suing Moore, as well as the band’s manager and the World Café Live concert venue and will see her day in court October 24th. According to reports, this is not the first time the band’s stage diving practices have injured an audience member and it certainly is not the first time stage diving has caused injuries to Philadelphia concert goers.

Lawmakers have also looked at another age old, yet dangerous practice this week – reckless teen driving. According to Amy Worden of the Philadelphia Inquirer, “When it comes to carloads of passengers and unbuckled seat belts, Pennsylvania is finally enacting laws that most states already have for new teenage drivers. Soon, teen drivers from Pennsylvania will face limits on the numbers of passengers they can carry at a time and be ticketed for not wearing seatbelts. Unfortunately, nothing in the state law yet bars teens from texting while driving.

It was almost one year ago that a terrifying school bus accident left one young Pennsylvania boy injured. On October 27th, 2010, police were called to the scene in Nazareth, Pennsylvania after a 16-year-old student was struck by a school bus in the quiet eastern Pennsylvania town.

Officers from the Colonial Regional police department identified the victim as Bradley Smith and say that the boy was thrown about 30 feet when he was hit by a school bus around 7:45 a.m. on that October morning. The accident occurred right out front of Smith’s home in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County.

Although Smith was conscious when emergency workers arrived, he sustained injuries so serious that he was rushed by ambulance to a hospital for treatment, Deputy Chief DePalma told The Express-Times of Easton.

School officials, other students, and town residents immediately began asking questions about how such an accident occurred, saddened at the boy’s injury and alarmed that something similar could happen to one of their loved ones or school aged children.

Police officers began to reconstruct the bus crash in order to learn more about what may have caused it. No charges were pressed immediately. Nazareth schools superintendent Victor Lesky simply offered a statement that Smith was hit by a bus that was carrying students at the time. The students were loaded on to another bus and continued to school.

According to reports, the bus was headed to the Sacred Heart School, but it was unclear whether Smith attended the school or was heading out to board the bus. Sadly, bus accidents occur many times per year throughout the country. Cases are often complex and victims will need the assistance of an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer to ensure their fair share of coverage and compensation to aid in their recovery.

Sexual assault charges were filed against a Philadelphia area high school basketball coach just this past Tuesday. Coach Louis Spadiccini, who worked at the Neumann-Goretti High School in Philadelphia, was taken into police custody on Tuesday afternoon at around 9:45 according to a source with the District Attorney’s office.

Spadiccini, 37, is facing serious assault charges including involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, reap, indecent assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor and other related offenses. These charges all surround three separate incidents involving a teenage boy who was a student at the school at which Spadiccini was employed.

He is facing additional assault charges on an alleged assault victim. Authorities say that the high school coach supplied liquor and Xanax to the other minor of just 14-years-of age. According to Fox 29 Philadelphia reports, a third teen may also come forward with accusations. Original accusations against Spadiccini were not of sexual nature, but all of the allegations are currently under investigation.

The District Attorney’s office is urging any teens or victims that feel they were sexually harassed, assaulted, or who have suffered emotional or physical injury due to the actions of former Coach Louis Spadiccini to come forward. Those with concerns or more information are asked to call the Philadelphia police department at 215-685-3251.

If you or a loved one are the victim of sexual harassment or assault either in the workplace, at a school, or at any other institution you need to be sure to stand up for your rights. Speak with an experienced sexual harassment attorney as soon as possible as there are time limits for reporting violations.

Construction in crowded cities and urban outskirts is never with risks. Scaffolding accidents are one of the most common types of construction accidents that occur around Philadelphia and across the country. These types of accidents have injured hundreds of people and can even be deadly.

Just a few days ago a large scaffolding collapse closed one of the busiest border crossing areas in the country. The accident was so large scale that it caused 24 vehicle lanes that served as roadways for U.S. bound traffic for hours. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol recently reopened 13 of the closed lanes but did not say when the remaining 11 lanes would reopen.

The scaffolding collapsed occurred at California’s San Ysidro port of entry around 11 a.m. last Thursday September 15th. Authorities immediately reported that the dangerous construction accident injured 11 people. Officials were then forced to shut down all northbound lanes at the busy border immediately.

Complete details surrounding the accident have not yet been released, but officials say that a covered area of the port was undergoing demolition as a part of an expansion. Scaffolding was built as a part of the project and all was expected to go safely and according to plan. Unfortunately, when the scaffolding collapsed unexpectedly, heavy debris intended to fall on the scaffolding instead of the cars and motorists below, began to directly fall onto victims. Debris from the scaffolding collapse itself covered one car that was near the exit of the scaffolding canopy that was designed to protect cars and border inspection booths.

The cause of last week’s construction accident is under investigation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident in Philadelphia Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer right away.

Around the holidays or any time of year, parents and caretakers should always bear in mind that not all children’s toys are created equal, or safe for that matter. In fact, some toys can be extremely dangerous for children. Throughout the years several toys have been allowed for sale and were later proven to cause injury or harm to children. The following is just a small sample of such toys.

Hasbro’s Easy Bake Oven

Although Hasbro has recently changed the make-up of their latest Easy Bake Oven Model, the company received several reports of burnt and injured hands and fingers as a result of the toy between 2005 and 2006. The model with the dangerous hot light bulb is no longer sold.

The Kite Tube

This toy was actually a ten foot round water tube that was indented to be dragged behind a boat allowing light riders to become airborne during a fast boat ride. This dangerous toy also easily jerked around and smashed victim’s face first into the water. After 29 reports of injury surrounding this toy, it has been recalled.

Aquadots

It’s hard to believe this dangerous was sold just a few years ago in 2007. It was recalled after the date rape drug GHB was found inside the product. Doctors of children who put small parts from this toy inside their mouth reported slow breathing, heart rate, and injury.

If you have any of these dangerous recalled toys in your home, it is important for you to discard them immediately to prevent future injury. If your child has become injured by a defective or dangerous toy, or has become the victim of an accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you should consult with an experienced injury attorney as soon as possible.

Just a few years ago, five members of the Philadelphia area and Indian-American community were killed in a car crash in Erie County Pennsylvania. The friends were headed north to visit Niagara Falls in New York when a tragic car crash occurred.

A minivan riding along the same roadway spun out of control in West Springfield, Ohio, just above the Pennsylvania-Ohio border on the Saturday morning of the crash. According to reports, the minivan collided into the car of the victims after flipping over and crashing into another car coming from the opposite direction.

The driver of the minivan, Kaushik Deb, 26, a resident of Troy, Michigan, was killed immediately on impact. Five of the six passengers who were en route to Niagara Falls from the Philadelphia area were also killed immediately in the car crash.

Police identified the young Philadelphia area victims as Manoj Jharia, 35; Mili Jharia, 28; Nitin Agarwal, 29; Swati Agarwal, 25 and Shubham Choudory, 24. The lone survivor of the crash, Nitin Gupta, 28, was miraculously uninjured in the wreck other than minor cuts and scrapes. The driver and on passenger from the third car involved in the crash, Gupta and Melanie Cesnick, both 25, were transported to a Northeast Pennsylvania area hospital and released.

Sadly, all of those injured and killed in the tragic crash were traveling alongside each other in what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. A friend of the victims later told reporters that a group of 13 was caravanning on a trip to the popular tourist destination to see the falls. Members of the Indian community as well as Philadelphia area neighbors of the young people killed were stunned and saddened, demanding an investigation into accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, it is important to investigate and to contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer find out whether you may be entitled to compensation.

Last week, during the last weeks in August 2011, hurricane Irene pummeled the east coast with high wind speeds and heavy rain. The city of Philadelphia saw street, residential, and business flooding like they had not seen in several years. Although some flood water related deaths occurred along the east coast last week, fortunately Philadelphia residents seemed to be mostly spared, left with only the inconvenience and financial woes of clean up.

This week, Tropical Storm Lee took Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York residents by surprise, continuing to drench the region in rain. Just as the flood waters caused by the aftermath of hurricane Irene began to subside, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee are beginning to re-flood several areas.

Several Philadelphia and Pennsylvania residents are being closely monitored to ensure evacuations are made when necessary, but an evacuation has obviously come too late for one Philadelphia area resident. An elderly man from central Pennsylvania has died after becoming trapped in a building collapse.

Derry Township Police Chief Patrick O’Rourke told reporters that a man in his 70s died Wednesday afternoon when the walls of his basement collapsed while he was trying to bail water from his flooding home. The wall collapse is presumed to have occurred due to the pressures of flood waters at this time.

The man’s death is sadly not the only that has been caused by dangerous flood waters in the last several hours near Philadelphia. Evacuees from a flooded Pennsylvania trailer park who were leaving by boat were overturned and forced to cling to trees while a second boat arrived. The extent of injuries to the evacuees is unknown at this time.

As flood waters continue to rise near Philadelphia, the Schuylkill Expressway and several other main arteries are now closed. A declaration of disaster has been called in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia area residents are asked to use their best judgment and to evacuate when necessary to avoid further injury and disaster.

With the holiday gift buying season soon approaching, it is important for Philadelphia residents and parents across the country to remember to practice safe and informed gift giving. Remember that toys with small ingestible parts should never be given when the child’s ability to play with the toy properly is in question.

Reading the labels on packaging can help, but since all children develop at their own rates, it is important to use personal judgment when buying toys as gifts. Sadly, some toy companies even fail to label or market a toy responsibly.

A few years ago several parents became all too familiar with the dangers of defective or unsafe toys. One Seattle mom told her story in an interview with Komonews.com. She bought a Magnetix toy for her son Marcell, then four-years-old, and wound up agonizing in the emergency operating room for 90 minutes.

Marcell had ingested small, almost candy shaped, magnets that were part of the toy. Although Marcell knew it was wrong to eat magnets, according to his mother, the magnets included in the toy looked and felt so much like candy that Marcell could not resist. After ingesting the magnets he become violently ill, had excruciating stomach pain, and vomited repeatedly. His mom, Angela, prayed the symptoms were simply from stomach flu but was forced to rush Marcell to the emergency room where doctors discovered three magnets has punctured eight tiny holes into Marcell’s intestines.

Fortunately Marcell survived the incident due to his emergency care, but another young child whose parents purchased the defective toy was not so fortunate. A 19-month-old died just a few months later after ingesting the same small magnetic toy parts.

If you suspect you’re child or loved one has been injured by an unsafe toy, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible. Please remember to use caution when buying gifts for children, friends, and family this holiday season.

A Philadelphia area construction worker was injured last month in an accident involving scaffolding. According to police the worker suffered serious injuries after falling at least 15 feet.

The construction injury victim has been identified as a 30 year old Moorestown resident but his name has not yet been released to the public. The victim was working on new construction near Paul Robeson Place near Palmer Square in Princeton, New Jersey when he fell at around 2:15 p.m. on Monday July 11th. He suffered serious injuries to his torso, head, and neck, but is expected to survive the fall.

Police told reporters the worker was on scaffolding 15 to 16 feet above the ground when, according to a witness, he slipped and fell. Fortunately, the worker was alive and conscious when police arrived at the scene of the accident. The victim was taken to Capital health Regional Medical Center trauma unit for treatment for his injuries.

Scaffolding injuries are one of the most common causes of construction accident law suits. Other common construction site accidents include defective machinery, defective or unsafe tools, exposed power or electrical lines, faulty power or electrical lines, supervision errors, and busy, unsafe sites that are unsupervised or poorly coordinated.

If you or a loved one has also been a victim of a construction accident of any kind, including accidents involving scaffolding, it is advised that you contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer who has years of experience dealing with such cases. Construction injury cases are not at all easy to navigate alone. Construction accident cases are made complex by the wide variety of party types and insurance policy details involved.

Edith A. Pearce, Esq. spent over ten years working as a lawyer for an insurance company and defense firm before deciding to represent injured people. She knows all the “tricks of the trade” from the other side of the fence and knows exactly how to navigate the complexities of construction accident lawsuits. Contact Edith a. Pearce, Esq. if you want to get full and fair compensation for your injuries.

A little girl was injured on a carnival ride two summers ago during the Scottdale Firemen’s Fair. Now, her family is suing the operator of the amusement ride, claiming it was unsafe from the start.

Brittany Mongell, who was 11-years-old at the time of the accident, suffered an electrical shock for 10 seconds when she put her hand on a rail bordering the ride. This statement was taken from a Pennsylvania lawsuit filed last week in Westmoreland County common Pleas Court.

The only defendant named in the lawsuit so fair is Ned Nakles Jr. of Riverview Florida was was an employee of Tropical Amusement Inc. of Riverview Florida. The Mongell family is saying that Nakles was a negligent ride operator.

A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture who oversees the fair, Nicole Bucher, told reporters that most accidents that happen with carnival rides and amusements can be attributed to ride error.

Unfortunately Mongell was shocked while standing in water and touching the “umbrella ride fence,” according to an incident report filed with the state during the 2009 fair. Mongell’s accident is one of nearly 270 amusement ride injuries that were filed with the state of Pennsylvania last year. A whopping 240 of those 270 were considered “very serious.”

Mongell's injuries are thought to have occurred due to damaged wiring that the amusement company allowed to sit exposed to an environment of water just near metal railings.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a premises liability accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, call an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer right away.

Five people were injured last weekend on a ride at a New Jersey beach front Amusement park. The accident occurred just ten weeks after Abiah Jones, an 11-year-old girl from Philadelphia, was killed after falling from the Giant Wheel at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, NJ.

Police were called to Mariner’s Landing in response to a “partial ride collapse” at around 9:15 p.m. on Friday August 19th. Police arrived to an eerie scene. The entire center mast of the Sea Dragon ride had snapped while the ride was in motion.

It was extremely fortunate, that although five passengers suffered injuries, no one was killed by the amusement ride malfunction. One 13-year-old boy’s injuries were so severe that he had to be transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for treatment while the other four injured passengers were able to be treated by fire and rescue teams at the scene.

Shirley Taylor, a Philadelphia resident, who was spending her last moments of her summer vacation at the seaside resort, told reporters “It’s a bad tragedy; an accident… [The Sea Dragon is] one of my favorite rides,”

Morey’s Pier offered an official statement saying that “…a section of steel scenery became detached from the Sea Dragon attraction on Mariner’s Landing and struck at least one rider…” Local and state authorities are continuing an investigation into the accident.

Another tragic bus accident has occurred in the Philadelphia area. A Greyhound bus overturned on a central Pennsylvania highway causing 14 people severe injuries.

An investigation into the last weekend’s crash appears to reveal that the crash was caused by driver error. The accident happened around 6 a.m. last Saturday near the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Lebanon-Lancaster exit. There were eighteen passengers aboard the bus at the time. Fortunately, the fourteen passengers who were injured were treated for their injuries and have now all been released from area hospitals.

Police say driver Kareem Edward Farmer, 24 of Pennsylvania, lost control while traveling in the passing lane. The front end of the bus struck a concrete barrier and the left rear side of the bus rode up against the barrier. The bus crossed over lanes eventually striking an embankment and traveling up it before flipping onto its left side.

Farmer has been cited with two summary offenses including not staying in his lane and causing a commercial vehicle to overturn. The accident is one of many that have occurred in the Philadelphia area this past year. He has been working with Greyhound since March and has only had positive reviews up until this incident.

Greyhound corporate offices, which are based in Dallas, have begun investigation into the accident and are working on determining what may have contributed to causing the crash. The company is interviewing Farmer and Passengers and looking at readings from the vehicle’s GPS system. Greyhound also plans to do a thorough inspection of the bus.

As Philadelphia Injury Lawyer, Edith A. Pearce, Esq. notes, bus accident claims cause more complex issues than car accidents. There are often questions about the condition of the bus, federal safety standards, and about the driver’s proper licensing to operate the vehicle, and more. If you have been injured in a bus accident, you should contact an attorney to get answers to your questions right away.

Two tragic slip and fall accidents occurred throughout the country last week. In Bushkill, PA an unidentified victim fell from a steep embankment in a Pocono Mountain nature park.

According to police reports, the victim and a friend were walking off the marked trails at Bushkill falls when the victim lost his footing and fell into the falls at around 2:30 p.m. last Saturday. Sadly, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Bushkill Falls, just 80 miles north of Philadelphia, is one of the favorite natural tourist attractions in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The park features a series of eight waterfalls accessible by a network of trails and bridges, which are beautiful, but can be quite dangerous for hikers who leave the designated walking trails.

In another trip and fall incident, a 15-year-old girl suffered severe injuries while hiking in the Cascade Mountains in Granite Falls Washington.

Police say the girl was hiking with a Marysvile church group in the Robe Canyon area off Mountain Loop Highway. The victim’s father told reporters that she lost her footing and slide down a steep embankment.

The girl suffered a leg injury as well as a broken wrist and scratches to her face. Fortunately, professional rescuers arrived quickly to the scene and had to splint the victim’s injuries.

As Philadelphia injury lawyer Edith A. Pearce, Esq. reminds us slip, trip, and fall accidents can have dire consequences. Broken bones and other debilitating injuries are common after such incidents. Slip and fall accidents are just second to motor vehicle accidents when it comes to injuries caused. If you have been injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident, it is important that you ask the right questions and know your rights. An expert injury lawyer will be able to help.

Lo Wah Chu, 56, of King of Prussia Pennsylvania is suing after being injured in the now infamous Philadelphia Megabus crash. Chu’s is one of several filed so far against the Coach Bus company, the bus driver, and others. Her suit was transferred to federal court in Philadelphia last week.

The bus was traveling from Philadelphia to Toronto carrying 29 people including the driver when it crashed around 2:30 a.m. on September 11th. Before the accident, driver John Tomaszewski missed a turn late at night and failed to clear a low 10-foot-9-inch railroad bridge. A New York grand jury found that Tomaszewski allegedly missed 12 warning signs, some with flashing yellow lights that would have prevented the approximately 13-foot bus from crashing into the low railroad bridge.

Lo Wah, who was sitting on the upper deck of the bus, now suffers from catastrophic brain injury, spinal injury, and pain and suffering after being injured in the September 2010 crash. Her lawsuit alleges that the accident could have been prevented by a company installed GPS system that would have prevented the driver from getting lost and slamming into the bridge.

The accident proved fatal to some and injured many others. The crash killed a New Jersey teenager as well as a college student from Kansas, a Malaysian preacher, and an information technology specialist from India.

Chu’s cases as well as the other civil cases surrounding the Megabus crash are being put on hold pending a criminal case. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer you can trust. Edith A. Pearce, worked for an accident defense firm for years and knows the tricks of the trade. She will use her expert knowledge from inside the industry to help you recover expenses.

A Pennysylvania man suffered serious personal injuries after being injured during a propane tank explosion near Philadelphia. The propane tank exploded on a forklift at the Kimberly-Clark facility that produces tissues and paper towels in Chester, PA.

Officials say the man was hospitalized with second-degree burns after the Sunday afternoon incident. According to the Delaware County Times the man was refueling the tank when he noticed a leak. When attempting to shut down the propane tank, it flashed on him and the tank ruptured.

Firefighters used foam to put out the blaze within minutes but the forklift was completely destroyed. A Kimberly-Clark spokesman said the company was grateful for its first responders and the Chester Fire Department for rescuing the employee after the forklift exploded.

The incident was not the first large explosion that injured workers and rocked the Philadelphia area this year. Back in January a 19-year-old PGW worker was killed by a giant blast in the Tacony Section of Philadelphia.

That deadly blast occurred while workers were working to patch a high-pressure gas main break. The traumatic incident was caught on tape by onlookers who saw flames and sparks shooting high into the sky.

Aside from the fatality caused by this accident, three other gas workers as well as one city firefighter were injured and sent to a Temple University Hospital Burn Unit. The explosion took down one building and partially destroyed another causing at least 15-20 Philadelphia residents to evacuate their homes.

Both Sunday’s propane explosion and January’s deadly gas explosion remind us just how dangerous construction job sites can be. Construction workers who have been injured in a construction accident as well as their families may be entitled to recover damages. Workers should protect their legal rights by contacting a Philadelphia injury attorney with experience. Edith A. Pearce, Esq. knows how to navigate through the complexities of construction accident lawsuits to get victims full and fair compensation for their injuries, losses, and suffering.

A young boy was mauled by a dog just hours away from Philadelphia last May. Police arrived to the scene to hear a four year old boy’s mother screaming after her four year old son lie seriously injured after being attacked by a a Cane Corso Mastiff.

Tragically, the little boy suffered from catastrophic injuries to his head, neck, and boy that were so serious that he was pronounced dead upon arrival to Brookdale University Hospital in New York.

The New York Times reported that the Cane Corso Mastiff that attacked the boy belonged to his mother’s boyfriend. The dog was later removed and placed with the New York Animal Care and Control Agency for investigation into why the attack may have occurred.

Ironically, this vicious attack, which made news headlines across the country, occurred just one week after National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Five to six million people are bitten by dogs each year. An alarming 60% of dog bite victims are children.

Victims who have been mauled by dogs are often left with emotional trauma, permanent scarring, catastrophic injuries, disfigurement, and as in the case of the four year old boy in New York, often die as a result.

In Pennsylvania, dog owners can be held responsible for injuries inflicted onto another individual as a result of their dog’s bite. If you or your child has been the victim of a dog bite or attack, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer right away. As the daughter of a veterinarian, Philadelphia dog bite attorney Edith Pearce, has a unique understanding of dog breeds and issues regarding animals.

A new development has come about in what is becoming an epic Philadelphia personal injury case. The first mate of the tugboat found to be responsible in last Summer’s Ride the Ducks accident that killed two Hungarian tourists has plead guilty.

Matthew R. Devlin, 35, of Catskill, N.Y. plead guilty in Philadelphia federal court to misconduct of a ship operator causing death this Monday – a maritime offense equivalent to involuntary manslaughter.

According to reports, Devlin was talking on his cell phone with his wife when the barge his vessel was towing smashed into a Philadelphia Ride the Ducks tourist boat. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board showed that Devlin was distracted by the cell phone as well as by laptop use prior to the accident, before which he had just received news that his 5-year-old son had suffered potential complications during routine eye surgery.

Student tourists Szabolcs Prem, 20, and Dora Schwendtner, 16, were killed during the accident. Members of the victims’ families have filed wrongful death lawsuits against the city of Philadelphia, the operators of both vessels, and others. A total of 37 passengers were ousted into the Philadelphia harbor during the incident. Fortunately, most of them only sustained minor injuries or no injuries at all.

The accident caused Ride the Ducks operations to be temporarily ceased in the Philadelphia harbor for more than one year while safety investigations went underway and new precautions were put in place.

Matthew Devlin’s coast-guard-issued credentials have been permanently revoked. Devlin will face an advisory sentencing guideline range of 37-46 months in prison. The U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis is scheduled to hear the case on November 1, 2011.

Just a few months ago, a Philadelphia area fast food restaurant manager was arrested on indecent and sexual assault charges after being accused of fondling at least three minor female employees. Police arrested Popeye’s Chicken manager Eduardo Tomasek, 50 years of age and from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, after an ongoing investigation. As well as being accused of sexual and indecent assault Tomasek was charged with unlawful contact with minors, and corrupting the morals of minors. The Popeye’s Chicken case, was not the end of sexual abuse cases showing up in local Philadelphia news this summer.

Suits for child sex abuse against the Philadelphia Catholic Archdiocese has been in the spotlight for quite some time now, and as of this past weekend, the scandal continues to grow in magnitude. Just recently, a local Philadelphia man filed a civil suit charging that the church let two priests and a teacher serially rape him as a young altar boy. Rev. Charles Engelhardt, Rev. Edward Avery, and teacher Bernard Shero, who all worked at St. Jerome Parish in Northeast Philadelphia, are all alleged to have sexually abused the plaintiff who is being identified as “Billy.”

Yet another disturbing case making Philly area headlines is that of a Pennsylvania squash coach that is now also facing sex abuse allegations. A coach from an area private school has been charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a player. James Civello, of Upper Black eddy, Bucks County was jailed after being charged with corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators say Civello, 50, had sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl at the Shipley School.

If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual abuse or the emotional injury that comes as a result, it is important that you contact a Philadelphia lawyer like Edith A. Pearce who has the experience and sensitivity required for fighting for working on such cases.

Earlier this year, a long time Philadelphia police officer was arrested for allegedly assaulting and falsely prosecuting a businessman in Northeast after an argument. The officer was temporarily held on two charges of simple assault and unlawful restraint after the fashion in which he conducted the arrest of U-Haul store Dominic Catalano.

One week ago, Judge Frank Palumbo of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas reinstated the two charges against the officer, Aleksander Shwarz, pressed after they were already dismissed at an April 18 preliminary hearing by Municipal Court Judge james M. DeLeon. Judge DeLeon originally ordered Shwarz to stand trial on charges of obstruction of justice, unsworn falsification to authorities, filing false reports and official oppression before the charges were eventually dismissed.

Despite Sharz’s Philadelphia defense attorney’s pleas to let DeLeon’s findings stand, Judge Palumbo reinstated the charges after watching a 15-20 second video that was taken by a security camera on the evening of the March 10 incident at the U-Haul store on the 7700 of Roosevelt Boulevard.

According to a Philly.Com report, the video shows Catalano following the officers out of the store and passing Shwarz as the officer approaches the driver’s door of the patrol car. It also shows Shwarz reaching out his right arm to grab Catalano’s shoulder, a gesture to which Catalano responded by dipping his shoulder and proceeding to walk towards his store. On the surveillance video, Shwarz then follows Catalano and accosts him at the door, pushing him against the wall with enough force to possibly cause injury before cuffing him with the assistance of his partner.

Then Officer Scharz maintained an entirely different story than the video portrayed, telling detectives that Catalano swore at him and “shouldered him.” Catalano later testified that Shwarz told him “We’re going to teach you a lesson,” after pushing him into the police car.
On the video, Catalano follows the officers out of the store and passes Shwarz as the officer approaches the driver’s door of the patrol car. Shwarz reaches out his right arm to grab Catalano’s shoulder and Catalano dips his shoulder and keeps walking toward his store.
Shwarz then follows Catalano and accosts him at the door, pushing him against the wall as his partner comes from the car to help Shwarz cuff Catalano.

Shwarz charged Catalano with assaulting an officer and told detectives Catalano swore at him and shouldered him attempting to cause him injury. Catalano testified that he did not know why he was arrested but that, in the patrol car, Shwarz told him, “We’re going to teach you a lesson.”

Scharz, 55, was an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department for 21 years. Scharz’s partner was not charged with any crimes and the outcome of the case for Scharz is yet to be seen.

Byron and Twanda Jones, the parents of Abiah Jones, the 11-year-old girl Philadelphia area girl who died after falling from a Ferris wheel in June, are now suing the amusement park. Abiah’s parents filed their suit against Morey’s Piers of Wildwood in the Common Pleas Court last Thursday.

Abiah, once a Pleasantville NJ resident was attending a class trip to Morey’s Piers during one of the park’s annual education fair along with her entire fifth grade class, teachers, and multiple chaperones. Abiah was allowed by park staff as well as school staff to ride in one of the Giant wheel’s gondolas alone. A report by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs speculates that Abiah might have fallen out of her Ferris wheel gondola after kneeling or standing on her set and then leaning out too far. Abiah was pronounced dead due to severe injuries shortly after the fall from the 160 foot wheel.

Abiah’s parents and their attorney will be making the case that Morey’s Piers was “negligent for placing the fifth grader in the Ferris wheel gondola alone and for failing to provide passenger safety restraints…” They are also noting that winds at the park, near the Atlantic Ocean “were high on June 3, the day of the accident.” Since the gondolas can swing 90 degrees or more, Abiah’s parents will argue that the ride should not have been operating that day.

The Jones family has chosen to file their suit in Philadelphia since Morey’s both does business and markets in the area. According to reports, spokespeople at Morey’s Pier have declined to comment on the lawsuit surrounding the accident.

Rock and Tiger Allen sustained serious injuries in a one-car accident recently in Montgomery Township, a Philadelphia suburb. The 29 year old twins were once the city's most promising young fighters. They were taken to different hospitals after being taken out of a Ford Explorer. Tiger Allen was driving the vehicle.

The car accident report states the car was on Bethlehem Pike when it left the road and hit a tree. A spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania stated Rock Allen was in serious condition. Tiger Allen was placed in the intensive care unit at Hahnemann University Hospital last week.

Both boxers have been mostly inactive in boxing in recent years. The brothers were U.S. Olympic boxing team hopefuls for the 2000 Olympics. Both boxers were disqualified from the boxing trials due to Tiger failing to make weight at 125 pounds and being accused of attempting to weigh in for his brother Rock in the 132-pound class. The accusation took Rock out of the boxing trials. However, Rock made the U.S boxing team at 141 pounds for the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was defeated in the second round after getting a first-round bye.

Tiger Allen became a professional boxer in 2006 as a junior middleweight and had a 3 and 0 record. He last fought as a cruiser weight in 2008.

If you've been a victim of a car accident contact a Philadelphia personal injury attorney right away. An experienced Philadelphia injury lawyer will ensure you get full and timely compensation. Work with a law firm that has expertise in protecting the rights of people involved in car accidents.

A young Philadelphia girl is suing her father for emotional distress after having had to witness him receiving gunshot injuries. Then 9-year-old Kaitlyn Timko was in the back seat of her father’s car when he began to engage in a road rage dispute. Sadly, the road rage dispute ended with the other driver shooting Kaitlyn’s father in the head.

Kaitlyn watched as her father was shot and sat bloody and injured slumping over the wheel of his car. Although Kaitlyn Timko was not at all physically injured during the incident, she was reportedly unresponsive and extremely emotionally distressed when a counselor interviewed her later that week. Her mother, Lori Hardwerk of Norristown, PA, states that Kaitlyn remains traumatized now, 2 years later, at 11 years old.

Kaitlyn’s lawsuit alleges that her father “set off a chain of events that led to the gunfire by cutting off the other driver.” She also feels that her father, Mr. Timko, further provoked the other driver and escalated the situation by giving him the middle finger.

The October 2009 incident took place near the Walt Whitman Bridge and left Kaitlyn’s father, Thomas Timko with permanent brain injuries, a disfiguring scar, and high medical debts. The shooter, Christian Squillaciotti, is a clinical schizophrenic and ex-Marine. He is serving 13-26 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of attempted murder and weapons charges.

The recent case against Thomas Timko has been moved to discovery, which is now under way according to NBC Philadelphia. The case is not expected to go to trial for at least another year. Kaitlyn’s case will require an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer to handle the case. In cases involving children, the injury lawyer must have special experience and sensitivity.

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.

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.

A Philadelphia toddler was rushed to the hospital recently after being tragically struck by a motorist who wasn’t paying attention. The 2 year old boy was found to be in stable condition after being hit by the vehicle around the 5500 block of Wyalusing Avenue at about 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, the toddler was hit by the vehicle after running into the street without the driver noticing. The driver was traveling eastbound, and according to his statement, did not see the child running into the Philadelphia street.

The driver did remain at the scene and is not known to have suffered any injuries from the accident. At this time, it is not known whether the driver will be charged with any offense. The toddler, who suffered moderate injuries is being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is still in stable condition.

Sadly, this was the second Philadelphia area news report in a week of a toddler being injured by a vehicle after running into a city street. It is always important to keep children of all ages from playing in or near the roadside.

That being said, sometimes accidents do happen and children can veer off with little warning. Therefore, drivers should practice defensive driving at all times to avoid such incidents. It can be hard to assess whether the driver is to blame in such a cases, but if you or a loved one suspects the have been the victim of a careless motorist it is important to contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer right away. A Philadelphia injury lawyer should be called immediately after emergency care has been given.

Philadelphians, Pennsylvania residents, and others injured throughout the country at no fault of their own often wonder if they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries, and if so, how much?

It is firstly important to note that to get a definitive answer to that question, one needs to contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer immediately to advise you on your own individual and unique case.

Compensation settlements for personal injuries can take a number of things into account depending on the case, most importantly, how much your injury cost you in past, present, and future medical bills. Lost wages, lost ability to earn a living, and sometimes, pain and suffering and punitive damages may be taken into account when determining your personal injury settlement as well. Personal injury settlement averages and the factors that determine them vary from state to state and even county to county.

Also, things like inconvenience, physical and emotional pain, stress, loss of enjoyment of life, inability to complete responsibilities, loss of consortium, and inability to do things you enjoy must be considered by the judge. Your age at the time at which you were injured will be taken into consideration as longer amounts of time left to live will presumably incur greater expenses. When coming up with a settlement figure, liable parties’ actual responsibilities will be determined.

Calculating the exact total of your damages is never easy and there is no on exact calculator that is used. An expert Philadelphia injury lawyer at The Pearce Law firm can help you on an individual basis to determine what amount you very well may deserve as well ensuring that your case is heard. In cases involving serious injury and long term disability, your lawyer should always be contacted right away.

Philadelphians often wonder whether or not they have “a case” when it comes to their personal injury. They may have been injured in an auto accident, while walking on icy roads, or at work. Sadly, many who are entitled to compensation, if even a small amount, fail to contact Philadelphia injury lawyer to begin their case and secure their settlement.

The truth is, when it comes to personal injury cases, there are many factors in determining if “a case” is truly to be had and to determine the settlement amount awarded in the case. Only an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer with years of experience can truly tell you whether you may be eligible for compensation or not.

Factors such as who is at fault for the accident, insurance policy limits of the drivers or property owners, the severity of the crash or accident, the age and prior health of the injured person, as well as the extend of the injuries and medical treatment needed will all go into determining settlement amount. Your injury lawyer will take all of these factors into consideration when determining what amount to demand should a lawsuit be pursued.

Some personal injury cases may be even more complicated, calling for attorneys to go above and beyond looking into the usual factors. Your attorney may need to be able to prove that a property owner was negligent in some way if you were injured on his or her premises or in some cases, a witness may need to be found to corroborate the victim’s side of the story.

If you suspect you may have a personal injury case, don’t “go it alone” when it comes to deciding whether or not you have a case or what you are probably entitled to. Contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer as soon as possible. What you don’t give due diligence may cost you.

Pennsylvania has no statewide law banning talking or texting on cell phones while driving. Since the late 1990s, a number of such laws have been introduced by Pennsylvania lawmakers without garnering the required support to become law. A 2010 attempt to pass such a law bogged down in political disagreement over infraction penalties. Undaunted, State Representative Josh Shapiro, a strong supporter of a statewide ban on cell phone use and texting while driving has again placed the issue on the legislative table.

Concerned about rising accident rates related to driving distractions, particularly among tech-savvy teens, a growing number of cities, including Philadelphia, have implemented municipal bans against texting and cell phone use while driving. The legality of those laws are about to be tested in court. Two Allentown, PA residents fined for violating that city's cell phone/texting ban are appealing their fines, arguing that a municipal ban is illegal because there is no state ban on the practice.

It is important, however, that drivers see the laws beyond simply a “money making opportunity” for their locality or for the state of Pennsylvania. These laws protect drivers from hurting themselves, or even more unfairly, others.

The statewide ban could help those who become victims of car accidents due to another driver texting on their cell phone receive compensation due to the other driver’s reckless actions. This compensation is important for victims and their families to tend to any damages accrued.

Since laws on texting and talking on a cell phone while driving are new, diverse, and still being interpreted, it is important to contact a Philadelphia injury lawyer with any questions. A Philadelphia injury lawyer will be able to help you whether you have been the victim in an accident case or the defendant.

In our last posts we've been discussing when and how to choose a Philadelphia personal injury attorney. Before you hire a Philadelphia personal injury attorney ask the following critical questions:

Do you have experience trying cases like mine? What is your success rate?
It is essential that the Philadelphia personal injury attorney you select has considerable experience trying cases that are very similar to your own case. Look for an attorney who has successfully taken cases to trial as opposed to one who has only obtained settlements. Should your case go to trial, you want an attorney with proven courtroom success. Naturally, you also want an attorney who has an excellent track record winning cases like yours to ensure that you receive the settlement you deserve.

What types of law does your firm handle?Many attorneys will say they can handle a personal injury claim, but make sure you should choose an attorney that specializes in personal injury law and whose primary business is personal injury law. Personal injury law is a highly specialized field. Just as you would ask your family doctor to perform heart surgery; you shouldn't ask your family lawyer to handle a wrongful death claim.

How long have you been practicing personal injury law in Philadelphia?
Experience is life's greatest teacher. Many law firms tout their combined years of legal experience; however, the experience of an individual lawyer may range from one to 30 years. Ask how long the attorney who will be representing you has been practicing personal injury law.

How much experience have you had negotiating with insurance companies?In Philadelphia personal injury lawsuits an insurance company will generally be responsible for paying the settlement or award. An attorney who has insider knowledge of how insurance companies process and litigate claims will know all the tricks and ploys insurance companies use to minimize the settlement amount paid to the victim and can use that knowledge to your benefit.

If you or someone you love is injured in an accident or suffers an injury while using a faulty product, you will want to hire a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to represent you. A personal injury lawyer protects your rights, investigates the circumstances of the injury or accident, handles communication with insurance companies and the other party's attorneys, and works to make sure you are justly compensated for your injuries. An adroit Philadelphia personal injury lawyer will protect all your options by negotiating aggressively for a favorable settlement while at the same time preparing for trial if a settlement cannot be reached.

Philadelphia personal injury lawyers work on what is called a contingency fee basis. They receive a percentage of the settlement or court award if they win the case. If they lose, there is no fee. This allows accident and injury victims to focus their financial resources on recovery. If you are an accident or injury victim, you will not have to pay attorney fees, but you may have to pay costs, such as a court filing fee. When you hire a Philadelphia personal injury attorney, make sure you clearly understand what costs you will be responsible for.

The law has become so complex that it is now divided into a number of specialty areas. Personal injury lawsuits require in-depth understanding of personal injury law and the insurance industry. You will want to hire an attorney with proven experience in personal injury law and a successful track record in negotiating settlements and winning cases that go to trial.

To find a personal injury attorney in your area, ask friends, your family lawyer, a business attorney or your local bar association for recommendations. Beware of attorneys who advertise on television or online legal directories. Check with the bar association about the attorney's standing and legal rating before making a decision.

Next time: What to ask an attorney at the interview.

Update: Firefighters now report 5 people killed by the tragic Allentown, PA gas explosion reported below. An 83-year-old gas pipe is being cited as the most likely cause of the Wednesday night explosion and fire.

A natural gas leak is the suspected cause of a deadly explosion and fire in Allentown, Pennsylvania late Wednesday night that killed at least one person and leveled several homes. Numerous people suffered burns and other personal injuries and were transported to the hospital. According to news reports, 5 people were still unaccounted for early this morning. Allentown firefighters continued to search through the rubble of several homes that were flattened by the blast. (Click here to watch a Reuters news service film clip of last night's fiery scene.)

Echoing the scene of a January Philadelphia gas main explosion that killed one and injured 6 other people, last night's explosion sent hundreds of frightened residents fleeing into the street as rescue workers evacuated near-by apartment buildings. The explosion appeared to have originated in a group of rowhouses. At least 2 rowhouses were reduced to rubble by the blast and another 6 rowhouses were severely damaged by fire.

A UGI Utilities spokesman told reporters that the 12-inch gas main that serves the neighborhood had no history of leaks and reported that no complaints of gas odor had been received. The Philadelphia gas explosion is still being investigated; but faulty pipe welds were found to be the cause of a similar California gas explosion last September that killed 8 people and destroyed 40 homes.

Investigations into gas main explosions are lengthy and involve multiple local, state and federal agencies. Burn victims suffer excruciating injuries that can take months to heal and may necessitate multiple skin grafts, lengthy treatment and additional months of rehabilitation. If you are the victim of a gas explosion or fire, contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer immediately for a free case review.

Next time: Part 2 of our discussion on food-borne illness

In what Philadelphia personal injury lawyers say is one of the more bizarre personal injury cases, an olive pit resulted in a $150,000 personal injury lawsuit against a sandwich maker. What makes the recently-settled case so unusual is that the olive pit was in a sandwich wrap purchased by Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich from a cafeteria in a House of Representatives office building. Philadelphia personal injury attorneys note that the congressman's experience provides an excellent example of how a seemingly small injury can wind up costing tens of thousands of dollars and lead to months of pain.

The unusual personal injury saga began 3 years ago when the Capitol's most prominent vegan ran afoul of an unpitted olive when he bit into his lunch. The olive pit cracked the congressman's tooth in half, splitting it into the bone. When the tooth and surrounding bone became infected, a bad reaction to antibiotics sent Kucinich to the emergency room with an intestinal obstruction.

But the congressman's trials were just beginning. The damaged tooth had to be extracted and a replacement tooth implanted. The first implant failed and the procedure had to be repeated. Because the damaged tooth had anchored Kucinich's bridgework, the bridgework had to be rebuilt, necessitating the replacement of 5 additional teeth. For months the congressman said he was unable to eat properly or enjoy food.

Kucinich had no dental insurance and his medical policy did not cover dental expenses. Out-of-pocket for a significant sum, Kucinich filed a personal injury lawsuit against the sandwich maker in the amount of $150,000 for pain and suffering and "loss of enjoyment." The suit was recently settled out of court for an unspecified amount.

The congressman's experience is a cautionary tale in how a small incident can mushroom into a major problem. If you are hurt in an accident of any kind, don't shrug it off; consult a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to protect yourself.

A gas main explosion in Philadelphia's Tacony neighborhood this week killed a 19-year-old Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) employee and injured 6 other people. Three PGW workers suffered critical personal injuries and remain hospitalized with severe burn injuries. The 3 other people injured -- 2 PGW employees and a fireman -- were treated at Philadelphia hospitals and later released.

Shooting a 50-foot fireball into the sky, the bomb-like blast turned buildings into rubble and engulfed the site in flames. Several buildings were completely destroyed. The force of the blast flattened cars, shook buildings and blew out window glass over a two-block radius.

The tragic event began when the Philadelphia Fire Department and PGW responded to reports of a gas odor. A "fairly serious" gas leak was discovered, and teams had begun evacuating neighborhood residents when the explosion occurred. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the leak to ignite.

Explosions and fires caused by ignited gas leaks are a recurrent problem in the gas industry. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 80 gas leak accidents killed 9 people and injured 50 in 2009. Accidents are often deadly, and investigations can take months. A California gas explosion that killed 8 people and destroyed dozens of homes is still under investigation.

"This type of explosion isn't that unique. It happens every 4 or 5 days," Carl Weimer, head of advocacy group Pipeline Safety Trust, told the Philadelphia Inquirer in an article published on philly.com.

When fatal accidents like this occur, it can take months to thoroughly investigate not only site conditions and events, but also utility construction, repair, maintenance and safety records and procedures. Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can manage accident investigations and insurance company demands so that seriously injured Philadelphia accident victims can focus on recovery and the families of those who are killed can bury their loved ones and grieve in peace.

The Ohio Supreme Court's recent ruling on a fatal 2007 bus accident has the potential to impact school athletic programs and change school transportation policies in Philadelphia and throughout the country, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers cautioned. In a 5-2 decision, Ohio's highest court ruled that in the 2007 bus accident that killed 7 people, including 5 members of the Bluffton University baseball team, the bus driver and his wife, the university's insurance policy extended to vehicles that are "owned, hired or borrowed" by the school and that the university's insurance company was liable for accident costs.

The ruling sent shock waves through the nation's university and high school communities. Universities and many high schools often hire private buses to transport athletic teams, band members, choral music students and other school groups to games, competitions and special events. Prior to the Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the transportation provider has been assumed to be liable for accidents in which their vehicles are involved, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys explained. Extension of a school's liability to include accidents incurred by hired vehicles during transportation of students to school-sanctioned events could be a game changer.

The Ohio ruling creates a precedent that could potentially be applied to similar accidents in Philadelphia and elsewhere, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers said. There is considerable concern, particularly in the athletic community, that the additional accident liability could cause high schools and colleges to curtail offsite events, including sports competitions.

The tragic bus accident that precipitated the ruling occurred in 2007. The Bluffton University baseball team was en route to a tournament in Florida when the driver of their hired bus mistook an Atlanta freeway exit ramp for a carpool lane and sent the bus crashing through a barrier fence and onto the highway below. Five players, the bus driver and his wife were killed and several other players sustained serious personal injuries.

Tuesday's chair lift accident at Maine's popular Sugarloaf ski resort injured a number of people, including several children. Eight people -- 5 adults and 3 children -- were injured seriously enough to be transported to a local hospital when the chair lift derailed. One of the injured was air-lifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Philadelphia personal injury attorneys noted that accidents involving severe jolts and falls can result in serious back and neck injuries.

When the derailment occurred, ranks of lift chairs plunged 30 feet, tumbling several skiers out of their chairs and into the snow below. Scores of the 220 skiers on board the lift at the time of the accident were stranded in their chairs in the bitter cold for nearly two hours before rescue crews were able to lower them safely to the ground.

Although the 35-year-old ski lift had recently passed a required safety inspection, resort personnel said it was scheduled for replacement this coming summer, in part because of stability issues in high winds. Winds on the mountain were gusting to 40 mph on the morning of the accident which had caused the resort to close all ski lifts earlier that morning. The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m., not long after ski lifts were reopened. One eyewitness told Fox News that he had seen an employee working on the lift prior to the accident.
Authorities are investigating to determine whether a mechanical problem or strong winds or a combination of the two might have caused the accident.

The Maine accident put Pocono ski resort operators and safety authorities on alert. In an effort to prevent ski accidents at Pennsylvania's popular winter playground, this year the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry added a load test to the regular inspection procedures mandated for ski lifts. In addition to an annual state inspection, the 180 ski lifts operating in Pennsylvania's 23 ski areas undergo daily inspects by resort personnel.

Children love toys that light up, make noise, play music or move. As every Philadelphia parent knows, noisy motion toys are the first to attract the attention of children on Christmas morning, particularly very young children. When Christmas shopping for their children, Philly parents understand the importance of buying age-appropriate toys and know to watch out for small parts that can present a choking hazard when they. But tiny toy pieces aren't the only hazard that may be lurking under your Christmas tree, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers warn. Few parents are aware of the potentially lethal hazard presented by the small lithium batteries that power many children's toys.

More than 3,500 people swallow small lithium batteries every year, according to the Washington D.C.-based National Capital Poison Center. Also called disc or button batteries, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys note that these miniature batteries are commonly used to power children's toys, games, singing greeting cards, flashing Christmas pins and other light-up jewelry, hearing aids, watches remote control devices and numerous other items from cat toys to cooking thermometers. While lithium batteries have allowed toys and other products to become smaller and lighter-weight, their ingestion triggers hundreds of potentially dangerous swallowing incidents in Philadelphia every year, particularly during the gift-giving holiday season. Battery swallowing emergencies have become so numerous that the National Capital Poison Center operates a 24/7 hotline dedicated to battery ingestion at 202-625-3333. Philadelphia personal injury lawyers also recommend that parents keep the phone number of the National Poison Control Center -- 800-222-1222 -- handy in case of emergency.

When children swallow a battery, it often passes harmlessly through the digestive tract and is eliminated in the stool. However, lithium batteries can become stuck. If this occurs, the battery can generate an electrical current that can burn through tissue, causing fatal internal injuries. Toys and games with screw on battery covers can help prevent battery swallowing accidents.

In an extremely tragic Pennsylvania accident case that has recently come to trial, two young girls were sadly killed while riding in the car of a teenage acquaintance.
Driver Thomas Kocon was driving his SUV about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia when it flipped over on Route 100 in December of 2009. Kocon, of North Coventry Township, was only 18 years old at the time of the crash.

The many young passengers in the vehicle at the time suffered unfortunate fates. Sixteen-year-old Andrea Antonio Harris and 15-year-old Breanne Brothers were killed in the crash while three other young girls were injured.

Charges in this case, including homicide by vehicle and recklessly endangering people, were filed against driver Thomas Kocon. Kocon recently pleaded guilty to the charges, entering the plea in late November 2010 in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.

Kocon’s defense attoney has noted that his client is “completely devastated.” The Mercury of Pottstown reports that Judge Joseph Smyth has deferred sentencing pending a background check on Kocon.

Similar cases, in which young, inexperienced drivers inadvertently injure or kill passengers, happen around Philadelphia as well as all over the country. In an effort to prevent such tragedies, so-called “Cinderella laws” have been instituted by some states in order to limit the number of passengers young drivers are allowed to transport in their vehicles at one time.

These cases can be absolutely emotionally taxing for both the families of the defendants as well as for the victims, as individuals struggle to be sure to obtain what they are entitled to, while making sense of and grieving over the accident. It’s always important to contact a Philadelphia injury attorney or a Philadelphia accident attorney who can help throughout the entire process.

Christmas vacation is just around the corner and many Philadelphia families will be heading south to relax on sunny beaches. A trip to the local amusement park is de rigueur when vacationing with children and teens. While family-friendly amusement parks are usually a safe bet for family fun, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers warn that things do sometimes go wrong, as they did for a California family attending the 2008 Calaveras County Fair. Last week a judge approved a $3.375 million settlement to compensate the Milligan family for severe personal injuries suffered by their five children when an amusement ride malfunctioned.

A day of family fun turned tragic when the five Milligan children boarded the Yo-Yo ride during a family outing to the Calaveras County Fair. As the swing-type ride came to an end, supporting arms dropped while the ride was still in motion, dragging passenger chairs across the ground. In all, 21 people sustained personal injuries in the amusement ride accident, among them the five children of Robert and Deena Milligan. Tragically, one of the children suffered catastrophic injuries that caused permanent brain damage and severe orthopedic injuries.

Accident investigators determined the cause of the amusement ride accident to be a damaged lock washer that allowed the ride's arms to drop prematurely. The ride's manufacturer, Chance Rides, subsequently issued a national bulletin to Yo-Yo ride owners ordering the installation of a metal plate to prevent the occurrence of similar accidents.

Personal injury accidents often involve multiple parties. In this case, personal injury attorneys filed suit against the ride's owner, previous owner and manufacturer. When complex amusement park rides malfunction, common causes of failure include faulty design or construction by the manufacturer, improper repair or negligent maintenance by the ride owner, and faulty or negligent operation by ride attendants. When amusement rides fail, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys investigate each possible contributing factor to ascertain degree of fault and ensure that families are compensated for their injuries or loss.

When the Megabus left Philadelphia's bus station Friday night, passengers were looking forward to an entertaining weekend in Toronto. The fun ended early Saturday morning when the double-decker Philadelphia bus crashed into a railroad bridge near Syracuse, New York. Four passengers, including two from the Philadelphia area, were killed when the 13-foot high bus drove under a 10-foot, 9-inch CSX railroad bridge, demolishing the forward section of the upper deck of the bus. Among those killed in the bus accident were Temple University sophomore Kevin Coffey of Kansas and 18-year-old high school student Deanna Armstrong of Voorhees, New Jersey. The bus driver and several passengers, including a Philadelphia man and two other Pennsylvania residents were transported to local hospitals suffering from severe personal injuries.

Police are investigating the bus accident. It is unclear why the bus driver took a wrong turn off the exit ramp, putting the bus on a collision course with the low-head railroad bridge. Police noted that the bridge is well-marked with numerous warning signs and flashing yellow lights. A Megabus spokesman said the company has launched its own investigation into the fatal bus accident. They are attempting to ascertain why the driver, who had driven the Philadelphia-Toronto route numerous times, drove off course.

Bus accident personal injury claims are more complex to litigate than car accidents because many more variables and multiple defendants are usually involved, including the bus company, bus manufacturer, bus driver's license and competence, the municipality where the accident occurred, state or county agencies responsible for roadway maintenance, and others. On behalf of their clients, Philadelphia personal injury attorneys thoroughly investigate each and every party and circumstance that might have contributed to an accident in order to determine who is responsible for its cause. In the Megabus accident, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers would also investigate railroad bridge markings and signage to determine whether railroad negligence might have contributed to the bus accident.

Under siege himself, the man at the helm when a disabled duck boat was rammed by a city barge in a tragic Philadelphia personal injury accident that killed two young tourists has filed a negligence lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia and the tugboat company hired to pilot the barge. The sensational personal injury accident, which occurred on a sunny summer afternoon in front of scores of waterfront sightseers, called a halt to duck boat tours in Philadelphia and sparked a national debate about the safety of the popular World War II-era land/water vessels that have become a tourist staple in many U.S. cities.

In the July accident, a duck boat carrying 35 passengers became disabled after suffering engine trouble and came to a stop on the Delaware River. The captain radioed for rescue and dropped anchor to keep his craft from drifting before shutting down the smoking electrical system. Reported investigation indicates that, despite repeated radioed warnings from the duck boat, crew members of the tugboat pushing a city garbage barge down the river did not see the duck boat and ran it over. Crew and passengers trapped underwater struggled to escape by swimming through the duck boat's windows. Two Hungarian tourists, ages 16 and 20, never made it and drowned.

The Philadelphia negligence lawsuit brought by the duck boat captain says he suffered severe emotional trauma and severe injuries to his back, neck, head, arms and legs during the accident. Like many of his passengers, the captain was trapped under water and could see the barge passing above him as he struggled to escape from the submerged craft. His attorney said the captain is still haunted by the "horror" of that day.

Need help NOW? The Pearce Law Firm now offers live help when you visit our website. If you need immediate help with a Philadelphia personal injury accident just click the yes button in the pop-up box that appears when you log onto the Pearce Law Firm website or click on Chat Live! on the menu bar. You will be instantly connected to an operator via live chat. No appointments, no waiting; you can get us your information immediately so that we can begin the process of reviewing your case and answering your questions.

Our new Chat Live! feature is just one more way the Pearce Law Firm demonstrates our commitment to the individual needs of our Philadelphia personal injury clients. You won't find any "cookie-cutter" law being practiced at the Pearce Law Firm. We recognize the unique circumstances of each client who walks through our door and treat each case with respect and prompt attention. We strive to develop a supportive personal relationship with each of our clients built on accessibility, trust and responsiveness to each client's individual needs. Our Philadelphia injury clients can be assured that we will work diligently toward a settlement while aggressively preparing for trial.

Our principal, respected Philadelphia attorney Edith Pearce, has consistently been named one of Philadelphia's "Super Lawyers" by Philadelphia Magazine, an honor that recognizes the top 5% of Pennsylvania lawyers. With considerable legal experience as both a trial lawyer and attorney for an insurance company, Edith has a significant competitive advantage when negotiating settlements that enables her to maximize recovery for her clients. If you are the victim of a Philadelphia personal injury accident or employment dispute, visit the Pearce Law Firm website and try our Chat Live! feature today.

Thousands of Philadelphia children participate in youth sports. Little League, traveling soccer teams, Pop Warner football, cheerleading, baseball leagues, basketball intramurals, gymnastics competitions -- our kids are playing all kinds of sports outside of school and Philadelphia parents are all for it. Parents see youth sports as a great way to promote health and fitness, teach teamwork, foster competition and build self-esteem. Philadelphia youth sports do all that, but they also increase your child's risk of sustaining serious personal injury, warn Philadelphia personal injury lawyers.

A 5 billion dollar industry, youth sports are virtually unregulated. Coached mostly by interested parents with little to no training, more than 40 million U.S. children participate on one or more non-school sports teams. Personal injury rates for young players have skyrocketed with 78% of youth sports' injuries requiring treatment at a hospital or urgent-care center. Patient loads at sports-medicine clinics that treat young players have tripled. More than 25% of children who play youth sports sustain a severe personal injury that permanently affects their ability to play any sport.

Physicians say the pressure to succeed at youth sports is causing children to push their still-developing bodies beyond their abilities. Year-round play, sports specialization and traveling teams risk overtaxing the physical abilities and endurance of young players, placing them at considerable risk of sustaining permanent personal injury. Doctors single out concussions as the most dangerous personal injury young players risk. Concussions can permanently impair the physical and mental development of young players. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cited heat illness during games or practices as a leading cause of death and disability among teen athletes.

Philadelphia parents don't send their children onto the playing field expecting them to suffer a serious injury or permanent disability, but the risk is real. If your child suffers a serious personal injury while playing sports, contact a Philadelphia personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation.

Dogs may be man's best friend but that doesn't mean your dog won't bite the hand that feeds him. When dogs feel threatened, frightened or cornered, they react instinctually, They are likely to revert to the raw, primitive animal instincts of their ancestors, exhibiting the highly aggressive, territorial behavior that has helped the species survive. Even the most even-tempered dog can bite. The files of Philadelphia personal injury lawyers are full of dog bite cases where someone's sweet little Rover savagely bit a child, neighbor or the postman.

Dogs bite to protect themselves, their pups and sometimes their owners. Dogs bite to protect their territory (your home and yard) from invaders, exhibiting particular vigilance when mailmen or deliverymen come to your door. Dogs bite when they are removed from the safety and familiarity of their home environment. Dogs that have no experience with young children may consider them to be pack competitors and attack to protect their place in the pack hierarchy. In most dog bite cases that involve serious personal injury, dog owners are surprised and horrified by their pet's behavior.

Philadelphia dog attacks can cause catastrophic injuries that can permanently scar victims physically and emotionally and even kill them. Earlier this year an Ohio man was mauled and killed by his family pets. Police reports said the man was bitten hundreds of times and died in his driveway from blood loss. Last September there were more than 40 dog bite incidents in Pennsylvania that resulted in serious personal injuries.

Every 40 seconds someone enters a U.S. emergency room for treatment of a dog-related injury. According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), approximately 800,000 dog bite victims receive medical attention each year and at least a dozen dog attack victims die. More than half of dog bite victims are children bitten in the face. If someone in your family is bitten by a dog, seek help from an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney immediately.

While amusement park rides can be a great family adventure over the summer, they can also be the cause of serious injuries, according to Edith Pearce, the founder of the Philadelphia injury law firm, The Pearce Law Firm. A story out of Wisconsin is a reminder to Philadelphia parents to be cautious at amusement parks to prevent child injuries. An amusement park worker in Wisconsin has been charged with first-degree reckless injury following a severe personal injury accident this summer at a Wisconsin Dells amusement park. If convicted, 33-year-old Charles Carnell could face up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. That's small consolation for the parents of a 12-year-old Florida girl severely injured in a 100-foot plunge from a free-fall ride and may be paralyzed. According to newspaper reports, the ride operator told police he "blanked out" as the safety catch net was not properly raised.

Similar free fall rides and bungee jumping offered at Philadelphia area fairs and festivals, amusement parks and vacation spots are a popular draw for thrill-seeking teens. Safety ropes and harnesses and the ride's longevity on carnival midways make the potential risk seem negligible to parents out for a day of fun with their kids. While the appearance of danger may heighten the thrill of carnival and amusement park rides, parents expect -- and have a right to expect -- rides to be operated safely and their children to return home safe and sound. They do not expect 2 minutes of excitement to end in critical, life-threatening injuries as it did for 12-year-old Teagan Marti.

Teagan landed on her back, suffering multiple fractures to her spine and pelvis that have resulted in paralysis of her legs and lower body. She has already weathered several surgeries to repair fractures and faces additional surgery and extended rehabilitation at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. It will be months before Teagan can return home to Florida. In addition to medical, medication, hospital and rehabilitation bills, Teagan's parents must shoulder considerable hotel and traveling expenses to be near their daughter so far from home.

When severe amusement ride accidents like Teagan's occur in the Philly area, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers fight aggressively to protect the rights of accident victims and their families and see that they are justly compensated for current and future losses.

The parents of a Uniontown, Pennsylvania high school cheerleader were awarded a $235,000 settlement for severe personal injuries their daughter suffered when school bleachers collapsed during a 2008 cheerleading practice at Uniontown High School. Taylor Wrona, then 14, was pinned under the bleachers with another girl when the bleachers collapsed. She and other cheerleaders had been told to push the heavy wood and metal bleachers out of the way and into their storage position to create practice room.

Both of the trapped teens suffered severe personal injuries and permanent scarring in the accident. Taylor sustained a broken nose, broken teeth, broken ankles and facial scratches that have permanently scarred her young face. The other girl suffered a broken leg, broken ankle, nerve damage and permanent scarring. The school district agreed to pay Taylor and her parents a $235,000 settlement, the court ordering that $137,989 of that amount be held in a federally insured account until Taylor turns 18. The Pennsylvania personal injury lawsuit filed by the other girl and her family is still pending.

Participating in school sports is an important part of a teenager's life. Team sports are considered healthy and desirable activities that provide myriad physical, social and emotional benefits to developing teenagers. Yet, any sport involves inherent risk of possible injury. Many of these injuries are considered the nature of the game -- twisted ankles, torn knee cartilage, bumps and bruises happen. However, when negligence on the part of the school or coach contribute to or cause a child's injuries, schools and their employees should be held accountable. When serious personal injuries occur on the playing field or in the school gymnasium, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers can protect the rights of the student and her parents and work aggressively to see that they are adequately compensated for medical and rehabilitation bills, lost mobility and capability, and pain and suffering.

In a horrific motor vehicle accident early this morning, six people died and more than 34 were injured, at least four critically, when a Greyhound bus collided with two other vehicles on a California Highway 99 near Fresno. California highway patrol officers reported that the bus appeared to have struck an overturned SUV that was sitting in the highway's fast lane, then crashed into a second vehicle before running down an embankment and smashing into a large tree. The severe personal injury traffic accident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. local time. Police are investigating.

Just last week, one adult and two children suffered personal injuries when a school bus hit a car and crashed into a building in the Andorra section of Philadelphia. And in May, another Philadelphia bus accident sent 14 people to the hospital with serious personal injuries. In that Port Richmond accident, a bus driver for Del Val Staffing lost control of a bus carrying 22 people while exiting I-95 at Allegheny/Castor Avenue, The bus hit a light pole then flipped over several times before coming to a halt in the middle of East Westmoreland Street. Twenty-one people were injured, 14 seriously enough to require hospital treatment. One bus passenger who suffered a severe blow and cut to his head during the Philadelphia bus accident was listed in critical condition.

Unlike cars and trucks, seatbelt laws do not apply to buses. Despite sometimes tragic personal injury accidents like the ones noted above, very few buses even offer passengers the option to buckle up. Due to their open, boxy construction, buses do little to protect their passengers when accidents occur. The result can be serious personal injury and death. Experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can help accident victims navigate the complexities of bus accident claims and protect their rights.

Two young tourists from Hungary remain missing after a popular Philadelphia tour boat was struck by a barge yesterday sending 37 people plunging into the murky Delaware River. Several people were transported to Philadelphia hospitals with personal injuries.

The Philadelphia boat accident occurred along the busy waterfront near Penn's Landing in front of scores of horrified onlookers. Local boaters, bystanders, policemen, firefighters, Coast Guard and a visiting Navy SEAL team rushed to the rescue as the DUCK boat rolled under the barge and sank. All but two of the passengers were rescued. Teams searched for the two until dark yesterday and continued the search this morning. Divers located the DUCK boat in 50 feet of water but visibility was too poor to determine whether the missing passengers were aboard the sunken craft.

One of Philadelphia's most popular tourist attractions, DUCK boats are based on amphibious WWII boats capable of land and sea travel. The boat involved in the accident suffered mechanical trouble and a small fire shortly after entering the water with a full load of sightseers. The 2-man crew had radioed for help and passengers were awaiting rescue when the huge barge bore down them. Passengers said they had less than 45 seconds to secure lifejackets and abandon ship before the barge hit.

Owned by the city of Philadelphia, the barge hauls sludge to a Water Department recycling plant. The powerless, driverless barge was directed by a tugboat owned by K-Sea Transportation Partners of New Jersey. Initial investigations indicate that the tugboat crew was unaware of the DUCK boat in its path.

Philadelphia personal injury accidents like this that involve multiple responsible parties present a complex legal challenge requiring the expert knowledge of an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney.