Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

An 8-year-old Camden, NJ boy was seriously injured in a vehicle accident on April 27 after he was hit by a NJ Transit bus and trapped beneath it.

According to this article from philly.com, the boy was riding the handlebars of a bicycle with a 17-year-old boy in April when the bus struck the bicycle at the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Cooper Street. Police said the younger boy was caught underneath the bus and had to be freed by rescue crews. He was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he underwent surgery.

There were no passengers on the bus. According to the article, the bus had just completed all stops on the 419 line, which runs from Burlington City to Camden. The bus was headed to a garage when the auto accident happened.

The family of this boy will need the services of an experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable personal injury attorney who will do a thorough investigation. Their attorney should be looking at other causes for this accident like a dangerous intersection, bad brakes, and so on.

The skilled Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano use their knowledge, their aptitude and their ability in pursuit of obtaining considerable damages for the injured party.

Experts of the medical and technical fields are called in to provide much needed insight with subject matter including structural engineering, environmental engineering, general and specified medicine as well as accident reconstruction. Working with these experts greatly helps in the building of a strong case. If you or someone you know has been injured due to negligence in Pennsylvania, we can assist you in evaluating your case. Contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano today by calling 888-845-2706.

Marquetta Grate, a 28-year-old Pittsburgh woman, died after being hit by a utility pole that was knocked down by a truck on May 15.

According to an article, Grate was waiting for a bus in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood when a tractor-trailer making a right turn hit the pole and made it fall.

Grate tried to get out of the way, but was hit. She was taken to a hospital and later died.

The family of Marquetta Grate will need the services of a knowledgeable, experienced and skilled Pennsylvania personal injury attorney who will do a thorough investigation. Their attorney should be looking at other causes for this accident like a dangerous intersection, bad brakes, and so on.

If you suspect a loved one shouldn’t have died at all and that their death was due to the action or lack of responsible action of another person, Philly wrongful death lawsuits can be filed. In these lawsuits, the decedent’s heirs sue the negligent party or parties for damages related to the loss of life and their own pain and suffering.

The amount that can be claimed and the heirs who are allowed to file a Pennsylvania wrongful death lawsuit can vary widely depending on jurisdiction. In addition, statutes of limitation may come into play that limit the time a family has to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For these reasons and due to the complexity of these cases, it is recommended that families, who think their family member’s death was wrongful, first contact an experienced Philadelphia wrongful death attorney for a case assessment. If the case is valid, the attorney can help investigate the claim, gather evidence, represent them in court, and collect the compensation they deserve.

If you or someone you know has been injured or died due to negligence in Pennsylvania, we can assist you in evaluating your case. Contact a skilled Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano today by calling 888-845-2706.

On May 13, a jury awarded Rosalyn James $2.185 million in a Philadelphia medical malpractice suit against St. Joseph’s Hospital and two emergency-room physicians. Her husband, Zachary James, died at the North Philadelphia hospital when his heart stopped beating on April 20, 2006.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Daily News, Mrs. James filed a lawsuit claiming her husband’s death may have been preventable if someone had just looked at his X-rays before he died.

James, 51, began experiencing chest, back, and leg pains on April 20. He called 9-1-1 and was transported to St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia. James was seen by the attending emergency-room physician, Dr. Thomas Powell, within a half hour, who ordered several lab tests, including X-rays and echocardiograms, but it took almost two hours for some of the tests to be performed.

Powell left the hospital to attend a corporate meeting, leaving a physician who was serving his first day on the job at St. Joseph’s. The emergency-room physician did not review the X-rays before they were sent to radiology, as per hospital procedure.

Zachary James died at 7:05 on April 20 from a dissecting aortic aneurysm, a condition in which blood gets between the layers of the aorta wall and fills up the sac surrounding the heart, constricting it until it's unable to pump. The X-rays and other tests would have revealed this condition before James had to suffer a wrongful death in Pennsylvania.

According to the article, the hospital and doctors pursued two defenses at trial. One was that Zachary James had a history of hypertension and “chronic noncompliance” in taking his blood-pressure medication.

The other was that quickly identifying James’ condition still may not have allowed enough time to properly transfer him to another hospital where the necessary surgery could have been performed. The defense argued that he was never given the opportunity to survive and the jury found both doctors and the hospital liable.

When a patient like Zachary James has been treated with substandard care by a doctor or healthcare provider and has suffered an injury or disability as a result, the patient has been the victim of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical errors, prescription drug errors, birth injuries, failure to treat diseases, delay in treatment, and negligence are just a few examples of medical malpractice. People of all ages are at risk for medical malpractice, including children, adults, and the elderly.

Medical malpractice is a distressing situation, and the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP, will make the process as simple as possible for you. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, please contact Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation with a skilled Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney.

Thomas Coon, a long-time employee at a New Jersey welding supplies shop was killed when a 60-pound oxygen tank he was filling exploded. According to this article, the 60-year-old victim had worked at the shop for more than 30 years. The company fills tanks with industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and acetylene.

The force of the blast on May 13 at the J.W. Goodliffe and Son building in Linden, NJ damaged a door and a concrete block wall. Nine other people were in the building. Coon was the only one who suffered because of the explosion.

The cause of the workplace accident is not yet known.

The family of Thomas Coon has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in their best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Government investigators began sorting through the Dallas Cowboys’ flattened practice facility to determine why fierce winds sent the tent-like structure crashing down during a rookie workout session.

According to an article in the Philadelphia Daily News, twelve people were hurt, including Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who had surgery to stabilize a fractured vertebrae in his neck. Rich Behm, 33, the team’s scouting assistant, was permanently paralyzed from the waist down after his spine was severed. Assistant athletic trainer Greg Gaither, 35, had surgery on his fractured right leg.
Inspectors were looking at the collapse site, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The company that built the facility— Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, PA— issued a statement that said proper engineering was used during the original construction 5 years ago and the installation of the new roof. The president of Summit has been working with team and local officials to “fully assess this severe weather event.”

The employees who were injured here have a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in their best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.”These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated PA workplace accident lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more. Call 888-845-2706 today for a case evaluation.

For the second time in one week, a pedestrian was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver while crossing a busy Philadelphia intersection.

According to this article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the unidentified man was on Ninth Street and Roosevelt Boulevard in Hunting Park.

The victim was pronounced dead at 2:22 a.m. on May 8 at Temple University Hospital.

The man was crossing Ninth Street and stepped into an outer lane of the Boulevard when a northbound vehicle hit him.

The intersection has a traffic light with a camera, so authorities may be able to determine who had the signal and whether that camera or any others in the area captured helpful images.

According to the article, the vehicle was believed to be a minivan, possibly a dark-gray Chrysler Town and Country, with tinted windows. There was heavy damage to the front passenger side, where a headlight and the windshield were broken, the hood damaged, and the antenna ripped off.

An investigation continued into another pedestrian accident in Philadelphia that week that killed another person 1.3 miles away at Erie Avenue and 19th Street in Tioga.

Luciano Rios, 30, was charged with leaving an accident, involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, and related offenses.

Rios should be held criminally and civilly responsible for the accidents, injuries and the deaths of these victims. There families would be well advised to contact a skilled Pennsylvania wrongful death attorney. When needless death occurs due to negligence of another party, a wrongful death can be filed. In these lawsuits, the decedent’s heirs sue the negligent party or parties for damages related to the loss of life and their own pain and suffering.

With the help of a wrongful death attorney, the family can sue the negligent person in court and receive monetary compensation for the wages the decedent would have earned had he or she lived, the loss of support to the family, even money related to pain and suffering and loss of consort.

The attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, Marciano understand the devastating impact a Pennsylvania wrongful death can have on a family. They can help you find justice and compensation for your loved one’s death. Your case consultation with one of the Philadelphia, PA wrongful death attorneys is free of charge and completely confidential.

An explosion at the Sunoco refinery plant in Marcus Hook, Pa. that resulted in a fire that raged for almost 24 hours has been put out, officials said Tuesday, May 19th. Sunoco officials also said that they did not have a cause for the chemical fire in Pennsylvania, and were not certain when operations would return to normal. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the explosion or subsequent fire.

The explosion occurred around 10:15 AM on Sunday, May 17th and is said to have originated in the storage tanks of the ethylene unit. Ethylene is a common organic chemical produced from butane and often used to make other chemicals such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene glycol, otherwise known as antifreeze. Ethylene oxide is a carcinogenic compound that can cause cancer in high doses.

After the fire settled down, citizens in the surrounding area began to fear that the toxic chemicals that exploded might start to rain down on them. Local authorities and Sonoco Inc. claim that Ethylene Oxide is practically harmless to humans once it is burned off, which they say occurred in the explosion.

Explosions and fires at refineries and industrial plants can be especially dangerous, not only to the employee’s of the plant, but also to the surrounding community who may be at risk of being exposed to dangerous chemicals in unstable states. When these plants erupt in flames, the effect on the gasses and liquids contained in the storage areas of the plant can be especially unpredictable and dangerous. These accidents are so common in our country that a whole area of law has been created to deal with them: Toxic Torts.

A toxic tort, by definition, is a legal suit brought against an individual or company for their inattention that leads to exposure of a dangerous contaminant to others who in turn suffer physical injury.

Recently, partners Kevin Marciano & Dave Cherry earned a $1 Million settlement against Sunoco Inc. for their client Joseph J. Hughes. Mr. Hughes was exposed to steam that had been contaminated with hundreds of hydrocarbons. As a result of the exposure, Hughes continues to have noticeable tremors, speech problems and brain damage as well other serious and permanent injuries.

Continue reading " Marcus Hook Sunoco Refinery Explosion Results in Chemical Fire " »

A roofer was severely injured from tar burns he got while working on a suburban Philadelphia high school.

According to this article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, the worker was airlifted to a hospital after the May 8 work injury in Fort Washington, PA. He had tar burns over most of his body.

It was not yet clear what caused the workplace injury in Philadelphia.

The roofer here has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in his best interest to also contact an experienced Philadelphia worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Eight firefighters and a gas company worker were hurt May 7 in a gas explosion next to a pregnancy clinic in Maryland.

According to this article on Philly.com, a natural gas leak occurred on May 7 at a shopping center in Prince George’s County, MD. The gas company employee who was hurt was working on a gas line at the time of the blast.

Two firefighters were admitted to the burn unit at the Washington Hospital Center.

The article said a board member of the Forestville Pregnancy Center called 911 to report the leak and then the store exploded.

The gas leak might have been caused by recent renovations in the empty storefront.

The worker who was injured here has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may also be in a worker’s best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled Philadelphia work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A medical malpractice tribunal will decide whether a lawsuit can move forward against a psychiatrist who prescribed powerful drugs for a 4-year-old girl who later died of an overdose.

According to this article in USA Today, Michael and Carolyn Riley are awaiting trial on murder charges for their daughter, Rebecca’s 2006 death. The psychiatrist is accused of intentionally overdosing the girl to keep her out of the way.

A lawyer for Rebecca’s estate argued in March that Dr. Kayoko Kifuji should be held responsible in her death, claiming that Kifuji diagnosed her with bipolar disorder too quickly and did not monitor her condition closely.

When a patient, such as Rebecca Riley, has been treated with substandard care by a doctor or healthcare provider and has suffered an injury or disability as a result, the patient has been the victim of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical errors, prescription drug errors, birth injuries, failure to treat diseases, delay in treatment, and negligence are just a few examples of medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, please contact Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation with a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney.

In severe cases of medical malpractice when a patient dies as a result of the negligence by the healthcare provider, the patient has been the victim of medical malpractice and wrongful death. In most cases, a Pennsylvania wrongful death claim may be handled along with a medical malpractice claim.

An audit of a nuclear weapons complex in South Carolina says the construction site did not meet several safety standards when constructing a new facility and could have resulted in a serious construction accident. According to an article, the Department of Energy released a report in April that a mistake was found at the Savannah River site near the South Carolina-Georgia border that could have resulted in a spill of high-level radioactive waste.

The safety issues involved a facility that is being built to convert weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for commercial nuclear reactors.

The report stated that three structural components were obtained and installed by the prime contractor at Savannah River during construction of the mixed oxide fuel fabrication (MOX) facility that did not meet safety specifications.

The faulty steel was discovered after a piece of it broke during construction.

According to the article, these substandard items led to costly and time-consuming remedial action to ensure that nonconforming materials and equipment would function within safety margins.

The Department of Energy’s report said that weaknesses in internal control could have led to installing critical components that didn’t meet standards and could have injured workers and the public.

If any worker at this South Carolina site had been injured here, he or she would have a potential workers’ compensation claim. It is usually in a worker’s best interest to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Vatthana Vongtheva, a 28-year-old from Emporia, Kansas was killed in a construction accident at a power plant under construction north of Kansas City. According to this article by the Associated Press, Vongtheva was employed by Team Industrial Services of Alvin, Texas.

Kansas City Power & Light (KCP &L) officials said that on March 28 he was inside a boiler inspecting equipment on an elevated scaffold at the utility’s Iatan 2 power plant site, near Weston, MO. He became pinned against the boiler wall and was fatally injured.

Last May, at Iatan 1 (KCP& L’s operating power plant), a crane collapsed and killed a worker and injured three others.

Mr. Vongtheva’s family is entitled to Workers’ Compensation through his employer, Team Industrial Services. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker’s family. It may be in the family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Philadelphia police and SEPTA officials are continuing their investigation into the death of a man in a wheelchair, Milton Boneta, who was struck by a SEPTA bus at Eighth Street and Girard Avenue in Philadelphia on April 17.

According to this article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, 61-year-old Boneta was crossing Eighth Street in his motorized wheelchair when the bus hit him while making a left turn.

Boneta already lost a leg in September when a SEPTA bus hit him near the same location, which is why he was in a wheelchair.

Police are sorting out the details and have interviewed about 35 witnesses.

The SEPTA driver remains at work, but has been taken off his route.

Witnesses to the bus accident in Philadelphia said the wheelchair had gotten lodged under the bus and dragged about 100 feet before the bus veered onto the curb-less sidewalk and came to a halt. Boneta was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim’s family would be well advised to contact a competent and skilled PA personal injury attorney with a good track record in order to pursue legal action against the person whose negligent behavior caused Mr Boneta’s death. The right lawyer can help assess the case, gather evidence, negotiate between parties, and obtain compensation for trauma and costs.

There are up to 65,000 injuries a year due to pedestrian accidents. And 5,000 or more pedestrians die every year in pedestrian accidents.

The unshielded human body is just not designed to stand up to the impact of a passenger vehicle, truck, or other conveyance. The pedestrian can be flung and suffer severe impact, such as brain injury, paralysis, broken bones, even disfigurement or death. Though urban areas increase higher pedestrian accident rates than the country, rural pedestrian accidents can be even more tragic due to crashes that occur at high velocities. Males are far more likely to be injured in pedestrian accidents, most of which occur on the weekends.

The Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorneys at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano know how stressful and scary pedestrian accidents can be. They have a long track record helping people bring negligent drivers to justice for pedestrian accidents. They offer a free consultation to anyone with questions about whether their pedestrian accident could result in a valid lawsuit.

A Pennsylvania state trooper is recovering from an injury he got from a chemical dripping from a leaky truck. According to an article, it happened April 28 at a rest area near the Tafton exit of Interstate 84 in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The injured trooper was airlifted to a hospital. Two other troopers, as well as three highway inspectors, were also taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Hazardous materials workers were called in to clean up the chemical. It was not yet known what type of chemical injured the trooper.

Like any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment, this Trooper has a potential Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim. An injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities - and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

It is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

It may be in the worker’s and their family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who will carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced Philadelphia work injury attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Paul Frankel, an Oklahoma City surgeon has been accused of medical malpractice in a lawsuit. According to this article, a father is suing over the death of his son, a Russian teenager who died after a risky brain stem operation.

This lawsuit is one of seven suits filed in Oklahoma County District Court against Frankel so far this year. He stopped practicing in December while he is under investigation by state medical officials.

Frankel performed a free surgery on Russian David Kurbanov in October 2006 to remove a tumor on his brain stem. Kurbanov slipped into a coma and never recovered. He died at the age of 16 in June of 2007.

Sabit Kurbanov, the boy’s father, said that the surgeon used his boy as a “guinea pig” for publicity. The lawsuit alleges that the care and treatment of David was below acceptable medical standards.

In another lawsuit against Frankel, a patient accuses the doctor of using the wrong size rods in 2007 during surgery for a herniated disc. The patient complained he had to have two more surgeries but ended up with permanent injuries.

If a patient, such as David Kurbanov, has been treated with substandard care by a doctor or healthcare provider and has suffered an injury or disability as a result, the patient has been the victim of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical errors, prescription drug errors, birth injuries, failure to treat diseases, delay in treatment, and negligence are just a few examples of medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, please contact Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation with a Philadelphia PA medical malpractice attorney.

In severe cases of medical malpractice, when a patient dies as a result of the negligence by the healthcare provider, the patient has been the victim of medical malpractice and wrongful death. In most cases, a Pennsylvania wrongful death claim may be handled along with a medical malpractice claim.

An explosion at a Los Angeles-area oil refinery caused hundreds of thousands in damage and left one worker with minor work injuries. According to this article by the Associated Press, no evacuations were required at the plant or the surrounding neighborhood.

The blast occurred on April 22 as workers were re-lighting a pair of 100-foot-high furnaces at Paramount Petroleum in Paramount, CA (about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles).

According to the article, a build up of gas caused the explosion.

One worker was injured and taken to a hospital.

Although there were no leaking fumes that would require evacuations, damages to the furnaces and surrounding structure totaled an estimated $800,000

If the plant worker here sustained any injuries, he would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through his employer, Paramount Petroleum. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled Pennsylvania work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Several people suffered injuries in a multi-vehicle auto accident in the Olney section of Philadelphia, CBS News reported in a story. The car crash in Philadelphia occurred at 5th and Chew Avenue and involved at least two vehicles. One of the vehicles was reportedly sent careening onto a nearby sidewalk during the accident. At least five people, including a 10-year-old child, were taken to local hospitals with injuries. However, the injuries are said to be non-life threatening. Traffic investigators are trying to determine whether alcohol played a role in this crash. No one has been arrested pending a criminal investigation.

In any auto accident, it is extremely important to get the facts of the case and determine whether there was negligence or wrongdoing involved. If you were seriously injured by a drunk driver, then he or she should be held civilly and criminally responsible for such negligence. It is against Pennsylvania law to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania auto accident, you will be well-served to contact an experienced Philadelphia auto accident lawyer at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP. Our skilled team of personal injury lawyers will evaluate and review all relevant facts to help determine who was at fault and who should be held responsible. Such factors may include road conditions, weather condition, the condition of the vehicles involved (defective auto products or mechanical malfunction) and whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Please call us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your Pennsylvania auto accident case.

A New Jersey construction worker was killed in Piscataway after falling at a construction site, according to this news report. The construction worker, who has not yet been identified, fell about 10 feet and suffered severe head trauma. He was taken to a local hospital where he died shortly after the fall. The fatal construction accident victim was apparently a member of a construction crew that was building single family homes in the area. Police are saying that the fall was an accident although an investigation is ongoing.

Construction sites are extremely dangerous because of their inherent risks for serious injuries. However, every construction site is required to follow stringent safety procedures mandated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The proper implementation of these safety procedures can reduce and prevent many of these construction site dangers, injuries and unnecessary fatalities.

Construction accident victims undergo tremendous pain, suffering and expenses both in terms of medical costs and loss of wages. Pennsylvania workers compensation benefits are hardly enough to compensate an injured construction worker for all these costs and expenses.

If you have suffered a serious Pennsylvania construction accident injury, then you need an experienced construction accident attorney in Pennsylvania from Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP on your side to fight for your rights and secure fair compensation for your injuries and loss. Our goal is not only to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve, but also to make the employer correct the hazardous situation so more workers are not hurt. Please call us today for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your Pennsylvania construction accident injury claim.

A driver who allegedly caused a Kensington crash that injured eight people, including a pregnant woman, has been charged with simple assault and reckless endangerment, according to this CBS report. David Ramos, 30, was reportedly driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse near B and Tioga streets when he lost control and crashed into seven cars. Eight people, including a woman who was six months pregnant, were injured in this car crash in Philadelphia. Philadelphia police say Ramos was traveling at a high rate of speed. He also apparently faces trial in two separate cases including a charge from a January DUI case.

If you have been injured in a Philadelphia car accident because of someone else's negligence, then you have rights. You could receive compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of income or future earnings, treatment for disabilities and other related damages. If you have lost a loved one as a result of negligence or wrongdoing on someone's part, you may want to file a wrongful death claim, which will compensate families of deceased victims for medical/funeral expenses, loss of wages, loss of companionship and other related damages.

If you have been in a DUI auto accident or any Philadelphia car accident that involved a negligent driver, please contact an experienced Pennsylvania traffic accident lawyer at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP. We will provide a free evaluation of your claim, protect your legal rights, and make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and loss.

General Motors Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires, according to an Associated Press news report. The recall includes the 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue; the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix; 1997-2003 Buick Regal; and the 1998-2003 Chevy Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala. So far there have been no known cases of engine fires. The auto product liability defect involves vehicles with a 3.8-liter V6 engine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine.

Auto product defects are responsible for a number of traffic accidents and collisions. When a vehicle malfunctions because of a mechanical problem or a defective product, it is tough even for an experienced driver to avoid an auto accident. Examples of vehicle product defects are seatbelt defects, airbags that won't deploy, tire tread separation, engine fires, gas tank explosions and seatback failure.

In cases where there have been serious injuries or deaths as a result of auto product defects, the auto manufacturer or the company that made the defective product such as a tire, may be held liable. Victims in such cases could receive compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related expenses. If you have suffered serious injuries or have lost a loved one as a result of an auto product defect, please call the experienced Pennsylvania product defect attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP for a free consultation today.

A man in a motorized wheelchair was killed in a Philadelphia pedestrian accident, according to this news report in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The wheelchair-bound man was reportedly crossing Eighth Street from the west when a westbound bus turning left on to Eighth from Girard Avenue struck the man. The wheelchair lodged in the bus' undercarriage and the man was dragged about 100 feet before the bus came to a halt.

The victim suffered severe injuries and died at the scene. SEPTA's systems safety engineers are looking into the condition of the bus' brakes and other aspects of its equipment. The bus driver has apparently been a SEPTA bus operator for 16 years. The driver is also being questioned and tested for drugs and/or alcohol. In this case, if the bus driver was found to have been driving recklessly or operating under the influence, both he and his employer, South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), can be held liable.

SEPTA can also be held liable if it is determined that they did not maintain their vehicles properly and that their bus suffered a mechanical malfunction as a result of that lack of vehicle maintenance. If that Philadelphia intersection is determined to be a dangerous roadway or intersection, the city could be held liable for the bus accident in Pennsylvania.

In such auto versus pedestrian accidents, the victims' families would be well-served to consult with an experienced Philadelphia auto accident attorney, who will be able to thoroughly examine the investigative reports and determine exactly who should be held accountable. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Philadelphia auto accident, please call Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Hydroxycut, the number one weight loss supplement in the world, was recalled on May 1st by the FDA. The FDA reports that there are at least 23 reports of serious liver injuries and death, including jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a serious type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

This Hydroxycut recall applies to the following products, which are being removed from the market:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

If you or anyone you know have been using Hydroxycut, you are advised to stop using it immediately. Symptoms to watch for include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), brown urine, light-colored stools, fatigue, stomach cramps or pain, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

If you have any symptoms of liver injury, or any other of the symptoms listed in the FDA report, you should see your doctor immediately. Keep any unused portions of the product for evidence.

If you have suffered any of these symptoms or injuries contact our experienced Dangerous Pharmaceutical and Personal Injury Lawyers and click here to visit our website for more information.

Investigators are looking into the cause of a construction accident at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado that injured a construction worker in early April. According to an article in USA Today, the accident occurred at a new St. Anthony Hospital that is under construction at the center.

A U.S. Geological Survey employee told The Denver Post he was eating lunch and watching the construction when the crane collapsed and twisted while lifting a beam.

The article said that the injured worker drove himself to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries.

The construction worker here is entitled to Workers’ Compensation through his employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” Suing a third party involves claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

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