Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

An ammonia leak on June 20 at a poultry processing plant in North Carolina killed one worker and injured four others.

According to this article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, the leak occurred about 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at the Mountaire Farms plant in Robeson County, NC (about 16 miles south of Fayetteville).

The worker who died was identified as Clifton Swain, 47, of Fayetteville. Four other workers were taken to hospitals with injuries.

The County Emergency Management Director told The Fayetteville Observer that the leak has been contained.

The ammonia leak happened while workers were doing maintenance work on a piece of machinery at the plant and it has been ruled simply as a workplace accident.

The plant employs 2,500 people. About 30 to 40 people were at the plant when the leak occurred.

The workers from the Mountaire Farms plant who sustained any injuries and the family of the worker who died because of the leak are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the 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.” 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.

Continue reading " Ammonia Leak at NC Plant Kills 1 Worker, Injures 4 " »

The parents of a Chester County teen who fell to his death two years ago in an abandoned mine shaft while working with underprivileged children in Mexico, are suing the companies that organized the trip.

According to this article that appeared on Philly.com, the parents of the teen filed a wrongful death suit in Philadelphia court last week against Travel for Teens L.L.C. of Wayne and Casa de los Angeles, an Illinois corporation.

On July 20, 2007, the parents’ sixteen year old son was participating in a summer volunteer program and went on a field trip with 30 U.S. teens and 80 Mexican children. While playing tag with a group of children in the Cinco Senores mine in Guanajuato, Mexico, the boy fell into a 500-foot shaft that had no warning signs or railings.

The suit says that the failure of the program organizers to warn participants about the dangerous conditions constituted gross negligence. The teen’s parents are seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

Continue reading " Philadelphia Wrongful Death Lawsuit against Volunteer Programs " »

The Associated Press reported in an article that consumers should immediately stop wearing a certain type of chenille robe made by Blair, LLC due to a fire hazard that is believed to have caused the wrongful death of at least six people.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Blair LLC, issued the second recall notice in two months after receiving reports of six deaths due to the robes catching on fire. In five of the six cases, the victims were women who were cooking at the time; three of the victims were in their 80s. The recall applied to 162,000 robes.

The article said that the CPSC urges all consumers to report any incidents or injuries involving consumer products, even after a recall has been announced. Contacting the CPSC may help prevent tragic deaths or injuries.

CPSC and Blair initially announced their voluntary recall in April, citing three reports of the robes catching on fire, including one report of second-degree burns.

The robes are a one-piece garment made of plush sculpted chenille, a shaped stand collar, and horizontal chenille front and back yolks and cuffs. The robes have a full-button front with seven matching button closures.

Continue reading " 6 Deaths Result in Robes Recall " »

The government is investigating if heart attack survivors enrolled in a controversial federal study of an alternative treatment were told about possible health risks.

According to this article, the $30 million study with 1,500 participants, is one of the largest alternative medicine experiments. It tests high doses of vitamin and mineral supplements and chelation, a treatment used for lead poisoning. It has not been proven safe or effective for heart disease and has the potential to cause drug injury.

Last August, the federal Office of Human Research Protections began a probe into whether the people in the study were being fully informed of risks and adequately protected. Researchers then suspended enrollment.

Chelation involves intravenous doses of a drug, in this case disodium EDTA. Proponents claim it can flush out calcium that has built up in artery walls.

According to the article, the study’s consent form does not tell participants that others have suffered wrongful death from chelation. More than half of the doctors running the study make money by selling chelation treatments, which is a conflict of interest.

Continue reading " Chelation Heart Disease Study Investigated by Government " »

On June 16, federal health regulators said consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell. According to this article by the Associated Press, scientists said the zinc in these over-the-counter products might damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The FDA said about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999.

Other products affected by the FDA’s announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening because people without the sense of smell may not be able to detect life dangerous situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house.

The article stated that Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies that are not required to undergo federal review before launching.

Known as homeopathic products, the formulations often contain herbs, minerals, and flowers.

The FDA issued a warning letter to Matrixx asking the company to stop marketing its zinc-based products. The agency did not issue a formal recall.

According to federal regulators, Matrixx would have to submit safety and effectiveness data on the drug. And, if they wish to continue marketing Zicam intranasal zinc products, they need to seek FDA approval.

Continue reading " Zicam Nasal Spray Linked to Loss of Smell " »

On June 10 in Austin, Texas, scaffolding on the 11th floor of a building collapsed and two workers who were on it fell to their deaths. A third worker was critically injured. According to this article, four men were on the scaffolding last week when it collapsed. The fourth worker suffered minor injuries.

Authorities do not know what caused the scaffolding to collapse, resulting in the wrongful death of two workers.

The workers here who sustained any injuries and the families of the workers who died because of the collapse are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the 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.” 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.

Continue reading " 2 Workers Killed in 11th Floor Scaffolding Collapse " »

Craig Kelley, a Philadelphia Housing Authority police officer testified in the trial of Zahir Boddy-Johnson on June 5. On February 17, 2008, he was on duty inside a bulletproof-glass enclosed security booth at a Germantown apartment complex when he suffered a workplace injury in PA after Boddy-Johnson shot him with a rifle.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the officer was on duty alone when he heard a knock at the door of a security booth at the entrance of the Queen Lane Apartments. When he opened the door he was “staring down the muzzle” of a semiautomatic rifle about six feet away. The gunman struck Kelley in the left side of his abdomen, which spun him around and then knocked him down.

Boddy-Johnson, 18, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm on a public street. He could face from 35 to 50 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Kelley, who has been a PHA officer for 17 years, testified that the bullet remains in his abdomen and that because of his injuries, he has only been able to return to desk work.

Mr Kelley is entitled to Worker’s Compensation in Philadelphia for the injury that he suffered. 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 and property damage, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. Our dedicated and experienced Philadelphia work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

On June 8, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to use skin products made by Clarcon because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found during a recent inspection. According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, issued a voluntary recall of some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names to prevent any further incidents of personal injury.

Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should throw them away.

Analyses of several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions. Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues and could result in medical or surgical attention as well as permanent damage.

Examples of products that should be discarded include Citrushield Lotion, Dermasentials DermaBarrier, Dermassentials by Clarcon, Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer, Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment, Skin Shield Restaurant, Skin Shield Industrial, Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion, Total Skin Care Beauty and Total Skin Care Work.

The FDA said its findings are concerning because these defective products are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds and damaged skin and protect against various infectious diseases.

As a consumer, you have the right to assume that products you purchase or use have been produced in a manner that would ensure that they are safe and free from unreasonable risks. If a company manufactures or sells a product that is hazardous to the user, the company must be held liable for any injuries or fatalities that occurred due to the faulty product.

If you have a Pennsylvania defective product claim, you will require the representation of Philadelphia's skilled products liability attorneys from Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP to handle all of the complexities involved with this type of case. There are many steps to a product liability case; beginning with proving that the product was in fact defective, next proving the product was the cause of the injury, and finally proving that the product was not used unreasonably. Please contact our firm today to discuss your case with an experienced legal professional.

On June 9, 2009, two people were unaccounted for after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina. According to this Associated Press article on Philly.com, an Emergency Medical Services official said a third person initially declared missing was found and went to the hospital along with 20 other people. Authorities were still searching for two others but it wasn’t clear whether they were inside the building.

Five people who were injured had serious conditions. The article said several workers reported hearing an explosion before the collapse and the workplace injuries ranged from burns to smoke inhalation. Emergency crews were keeping people away because of an ammonia leak.

The Slim Jim plant workers here who sustained any injuries are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his/her 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 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.

A 23-year-old Indiana County man died and a teenage girl suffered major injuries after the all-terrain vehicle they were in crashed into a utility pole, according to this news report. Ryan Dixson Henry was driving around the borough with a 15-year-old passenger when he drove off the road near 3rd and Main streets. Pennsylvania State police officials said Henry first struck a newspaper box and then a utility pole, causing both him and the girl to get thrown from the vehicle in this PA wrongful death accident. Neither person was wearing a helmet. Henry was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after the ATV crash. He apparently died of head and chest injuries. The girl, who has not yet been identified, suffered serous injuries, the report stated.

ATV auto accidents in Philadelphia can cause serious injuries and even deaths. In this case, it is unfortunate that both the rider and the passenger were not wearing helmets. Safety gear is a must while riding an ATV. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 750 deaths and 146,600 injuries reported in 2006 as a result of ATV accidents in the United States. Officials say that at least one-third of ATV accident victims are children under 16 years of age.

ATV accidents can happen because of driver error, inattention or simply inexperience. However, often times, ATV crashes also occur because of a manufacturing or design defect. If you believe you have been seriously injured in an ATV accident because of a product defect, you would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania product liability attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation from the manufacturer of the defective product to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. If you have been seriously injured as a result of a product defect, please call Cherry, Fieger & Marciano LLP. for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Michael Tangora of Hookstown died after a two-vehicle collision in Chester, Pennsylvania on U.S. Route 30, the Herald Star reports. Hancock County Sheriff's officials said the head-on collision occurred when an eastbound truck on the highway traveling at a high rate of speed crossed the center line and struck a car. Two others – Anita Benz and Glenn Robert Krugle III, were airlifted to Pittsburgh area hospitals for treatment of injuries they sustained in the car crash. This fatal auto accident is still under investigation.

The consequences of an auto accident in Philadelphia can be devastating. As it occurred in this case, major injuries or death could occur as a result of an auto accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approximately 40,000 people die in the United States as a result of traffic accidents.

Also as in this case, auto accidents can occur as a result of someone's negligence or error. In this case, one of the drivers crossed over the center line and collided head on with the other vehicle. Distracted driving, reckless driving or driving under the influence is also considered "negligence" in Pennsylvania. If you have been seriously injured in a Philadelphia car accident by a negligent driver, you need to get in touch with an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney, who can analyze the case thoroughly, determine the facts, identify the negligent parties and hold them accountable.

At Cherry, Fieger & Marciano LLP., our skilled PA personal injury lawyers have obtained fair compensation for auto accident victims who have suffered major injuries or families that have lost loved ones as a result of another motorist's negligence. Call us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your Philadelphia personal injury claim.

Pennsylvania environmental officials have announced a $34,187 fine against a chemical company for a toxic leak that caused an acid cloud and forced hundreds of Butler County residents to be evacuated. According to this news report, Indspec Chemical Corp. has already been hit with a $121,500 in fines for federal workplace safety violations after an October 11, 2008 leak in its Petrolia plant. About 3,300 pounds of oleum leaked when a transfer tank overflowed. The type of sulfuric acid cloud that formed over the area as a result of the leak could have caused respiratory damage and skin burns, officials said. But so far, no workplace injuries have been reported as a result of this leak.

When it comes to Pennsylvania manufacturing plants, it is up to manufacturing companies to maintain a safe environment not only for their employees, but also for the area residents and neighbors. In this case, the company did not do its due diligence in making sure proper safety procedures were followed and their workers were properly trained to do their jobs. It is indeed fortunate that no one – neighbors or employees – suffered serious personal injuries as a result of this toxic leak in Pennsylvania.

If you have suffered toxic exposure as a result of such negligence or if you have suffered a workplace accident because your employer failed to maintain a safe environment, you are entitled to compensation. Please contact a skilled Pennsylvania workers compensation lawyer, who has experience successfully handling workers compensation claims and cases involving on-the-job injuries. At Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, we have the skill, the knowledge and access to experts who can strengthen your case and make sure you receive fair compensation for the injuries and loss you have suffered. Call us today for a free consultation.

A Pennsylvania motorcyclist was killed after crashing head-on into a minivan on Route 352 in Delaware County, according to this CBS News report. According to Pennsylvania State Police, the motorcycle was traveling southbound on Route 352 when it veered into the northbound lanes and struck a Dodge Caravan. The motorcyclist, 53-year-old Jeffrey Hoyle, was thrown from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene of the PA auto accident. Five people inside the van, including a 2-year-old child and a 91-year-old man, were taken to an area hospital with unknown injuries.

Motorcycles are increasingly becoming a popular means of transportation in the United States and here in Pennsylvania especially given the current economic pressures and rising gas prices. But unfortunately, riding motorcycles is risky. Very often, when it comes to motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania, it is the motorcyclist who suffers major injuries or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 4,000 deaths and 76,000 injuries each year in the United States can be attributed to motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle accidents can occur due to many reasons including the motorcycle's error, use of alcohol or drugs, a product defect in the motorcycle, a dangerous condition on the roadway or because of the other motorist's negligence. Motorcyclists can lose control of their vehicles also because of a mechanical malfunction or a product defect, which can trigger a mechanical malfunction. If your motorcycle accident is caused as a result of a product defect or another person's negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, damages and loss. If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident, please call the experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano LLP. to find out more about your legal rights and options.

A Michigan truck driver faces reckless driving charges after his big rig hit a traffic cone and then struck a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation worker on April 30, 2009, according to a report. Truck driver Donald Minehart apparently did not realize that he hit the cone, which then struck a PennDOT supervisor who suffered injuries as a result. Minehart continued to driver and was stopped by troopers. The auto accident occurred in a work zone on Interstate 81 near exit 141.

This is not the first time a PennDOT worker has been injured by a careless driver. In May 2001, Richard Bradley, a PennDOT worker from West Hazleton, died when a teen driver struck him and three others on East Butler Drive in Butler Township. In this particular case, the worker was fortunate to get away without major injuries. However, this workplace injury serves as an important reminder for motorists to drive with caution along freeway construction zones.

Workers who get injured on the job are eligible for workers compensation from their employer. But very often, Pennsylvania workers compensation benefits are not sufficient to pay for medical expenses, loss of earnings or other related costs, especially when it comes to serious injuries. If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania workplace accident, please contact our experienced Philadelphia workers compensation lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano for a free consultation. Our skilled Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys will fight for your rights and make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries, damages and loss.

Over the past year, the optical products company Bausch and Lomb has quietly settled nearly 600 fungal-infection lawsuits for causing multiple cases of personal injury, with dozens more individual claims yet to be resolved. So far it has cost the company more than $250 million.

According to this article, more than 700 lens wearers in the United States and Asia say they were exposed to a potentially blinding infection known as Fusarium keratitis while using ReNu with MoistureLoc, a new-formula multipurpose solution for cleaning, storing, and moistening soft contact lenses.

Sometimes, the eye injury damage was irreparable, including seven people who had to have an eye removed and 60 more Americans who needed vision-saving corneal transplants. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 180 cases in 35 states from June 2005 through September 2006. The CDC continued to hear of sporadic, unconfirmed cases in the months after MoistureLoc was withdrawn.

Among out-of-court settlements reached in May was one brought by a Broadway actress and comedienne whose eye was scarred. In Colorado, a corneal transplant ended a race-car driver’s career. The culprit was a rare infection that most eye doctors had never seen before. The outbreak appeared first in Hong Kong in spring 2005 and reached its peak in the United States just days after MoistureLoc was removed from domestic markets in April 2006.

Victims typically complained of eye irritation that progressed to a sudden onset of searing pain. Many were mistakenly treated with antibiotics and steroids, which actually worsened the condition. Leading eye doctors and government scientists concluded that MoistureLoc was the only lens solution that contributed to the outbreak. Yet the mechanics of how it caused the problem are still not fully clear.

Continue reading " Dangerous Contact Lens Solution: Bausch & Lomb Settles 600 Eye Fungus Lawsuits " »

A 62-year-old man, Ahilefs Kalaitzi, was struck by a car and killed in a pedestrian accident on June 1 in Evesham Township, NJ. This was the township’s third pedestrian fatality this year.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kalaitzi was walking south on the shoulder of N. Elwood Road, near his home, when he was hit by a northbound car driven by 19-year-old Anthony Schepis III.

Kalaitzi was pronounced dead at Virtua Marlton Hospital. The driver, Schepis only suffered minor injuries.

According to the article, the incident remains under investigation.

Every eight minutes a pedestrian is hurt in a traffic accident – that’s up to 65,000 injuries a year. And 5,000 or more pedestrians die every year in pedestrian accidents.

It is recommended that victims and families of victims of Pennsylvania pedestrian accidents contact a competent, reputable and skilled PA personal injury lawyer with a good track record in order to pursue legal action against the person whose negligent behavior caused their injury. The right lawyer can help assess the case, gather evidence, negotiate between parties, and obtain compensation for injuries, associated trauma and costs.

The attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano know how stressful and frightening pedestrian accidents can be, but we can help you during this difficult time. We have a long track record helping people bring negligent drivers to justice for pedestrian accidents - and we offer a free consultation to anyone with questions about whether their pedestrian accident could result in a valid lawsuit. Don't sit back and let someone get away with endangering your life, your happiness, and your financial future. Call our Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorneys today for a free and completely confidential evaluation.

Rubiel Sanchez-Ramirez caused a fatal car accident in Clayton, NJ on June 2. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, he was charged with causing a death while driving without a license and cited for several lesser violations. His bail was set that same day at $100,000 in Gloucester County, NJ.

Sanchez-Ramirez was driving an SUV in Deschler Blvd. in NJ when he struck and killed Mary P. Rogers, 52, of Williamstown, NJ.

According to the article, Sanchez-Ramirez, 25, received only minor injuries.

He was detained in Gloucester County Jail by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency because of his alleged status as an illegal alien from Mexico.

Sanchez-Ramirez should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the accident and the death of Mary P. Rogers. Her family deserves to be rightfully compensated for their tremendous loss. They would be well advised to contact a Philadelphia wrongful death attorney who will file a wrongful death claim on their behalf and fight for their rights.

When needless death occurs due to negligence of another party, 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.

Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano understand the devastating impact a Pennsylvania wrongful death can have on a family. Call 888-845-2706 today for a free case evaluation and more information.

According to this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the popular bodybuilding and weight-loss supplement, Hydroxycut, has been linked to liver damage. It is uncertain exactly how many people have suffered Hydroxycut drug injury, although a few incidents have been noted. For instance, a 33-year-old woman went to the emergency room at Yale-New Haven Hospital because of dark urine, yellowish skin, and profound fatigue. Her lab results showed she had acute liver inflammation.

Joseph Lim, a liver specialist at Yale on the woman’s case, noted that the woman had been taking Hydroxycut supplements for weight loss for two weeks. Several reports in the medical literature had linked Hydroxycut (which is used for both bodybuilding and weight loss) to liver damage. His patient improved after she stopped taking the supplement.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut, which had been linked to liver damage and jaundice in 23 case reports received by the agency. These complaints included one liver transplant and one fatality. Those who have suffered injury due to using Hydroxycut in Pennsylvania would be well advised to contact a Philadelphia Hydroxycut recall attorney to help them receive compensation for any medical costs, treatment, or lost wages from not being able to work.

Iovate Health Sciences, the manufacturer, voluntarily recalled 14 Hydroxycut products. According to the article, the company sold more than nine million bottles of Hydroxycut in 2008. It is unclear how many people Hydroxycut may have injured or even which of its ingredients are dangerous. Although Hydroxycut was pulled from drug store shelves, many of its ingredients were widely available in other products still for sale. The FDA said that the agency was investigating those ingredients and other products that contain them.

The Hydroxycut ingredient that shares the product’s name is hydroxycitric acid or HCA. Two other ingredients in Hydroxycut could also be toxic: the mineral chromium and Camellia sinensis, the tea plant. They could be potential liver toxins. Recalling Hydroxycut does not fully protect the public if consumers buy another weight-loss supplement. Weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements may all be dangerous and have the potential to cause personal injury in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. Unfortunately, adverse events are dramatically underreported because patients often fail to tell their doctors about supplement use.

Continue reading " Hydroxycut Linked to Liver Damage " »

Ray Kot, a shift manager at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, was fatally shot May 27 in a storage room just off the casino floor. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a suspect identified by state police as a 57-year-old man from Norristown, PA was arrested inside the casino’s parking garage. Police also recovered a handgun that may have been used in the wrongful death incident.

Kot was pronounced dead about 2 1/2 hours after the shooting.

The shooting apparently happened in a nonpublic area of the casino where gaming supplies are stored. This area is not visible from the casino floor.

Kot was shot in the abdomen and rushed to the trauma unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which is handling the investigation, declined to provide further details about what happened or what may have prompted the shooting. No casino patrons or any other employees were injured and no one was evacuated from the casino.
According to the article, the gunman was not a casino employee, and there did not appear to have been a dispute between Kot and the gunman before the incident. State police said the suspect apparently knew Kot from past instances as a patron at the casino.

Kot was an employee at the casino since it opened in 1990.

The shooting was the second incident involving gunshots at the Taj Mahal this year. In January, a suspect in a New York embezzlement case pulled a gun and threatened to kill himself in an office there.

The family of Ray Kot is entitled to worker’s compensation benefits through his employer, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover expenses of a deceased 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.

Continue reading " Shift Manager Killed On-the-Job at A.C. Casino " »

Eleven spectators were injured when two school buses crashed into a restraining wall at a demolition derby-style race in Ohio.

According to this article, the accident happened on May 23 when the buses were racing in figure eights around the Columbus Motor Speedway track. The race was one of several taking place at a Crash-A-Rama event.

One spectator had to shield her 18-month-old daughter from flying debris and saw people get hit by chunks of concrete from the 4-foot-high wall.

The article said 11 people were taken to nearby hospitals with cuts, bruises, and some ankle injuries as a result of the bus accident.

The injured victims here may need the the services of a skilled personal injury attorney who will do a thorough investigation into this accident. Their attorney should be looking causes for this accident.

The experienced 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 a skilled Philadelphia personal injury attorney at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano today.

On May 25, a 53-year-old Glen Riddle, PA resident died and six people were injured when a motorcycle collided with a van on Route 352 and Gradyville Road in Delaware County, PA.

According to the article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the crash occurred at about 8 p.m. when Jeffrey Hoyle, operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, headed southbound on Route 352, crossed into oncoming traffic.

The motorcycle hit a Dodge Caravan driven head on. The van was driven by Evelyn Hill of Philadelphia. Hoyle was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. Hill and five passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The family of Jeffrey Hoyle would be well advised to obtain Philadelphia's skilled motorcycle accident attorneys so they may be compensated for their loss.

Though motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania have a variety of causes, common causes include unsafe road conditions, inclement weather, defective motorcycle parts, driver fatigue, drunk drivers, and driver error. The latter is the most common cause of motorcycle accidents. Some passenger vehicles simply don't understand the rules of the road and may hit a motorcycle while changing lanes, may disregard their presence on the road, or ignore right-of-way laws. Unfortunately, the toll is usually on the side of the motorcyclist in these cases. Due to the inherent lack of protection while on a motorcycle, catastrophic injury often occurs, ranging from broken bones and minor lacerations and bruises to disfigurement, brain injury, paralysis and even death.

The National Highway Traffic Administration (NTHSA) estimates that 4,000 deaths and around 76,000 injuries take place every year due to motorcycle accidents.

The attorneys of Cherry, Fieger, Marciano understand the severity of Philadelphia motorcycle accidents and their life-changing effects. They have what it takes as personal injury attorneys to conduct discovery, gather appropriate testimony, stand up for you in court, and get the compensation you deserve —and they are offering a free case consultation today.

On May 27, authorities identified a motorist killed in an Evesham, NJ auto accident over Memorial Day weekend as a resident of that township, 19-year-old Shawn English.

According to the article on Philly.com, Thomas Thorn Jr., 22, of Tabernacle, NJ was driving a pickup truck when he struck English’s vehicle as it was crossing Route 70 on Maple Avenue around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 24.

The article said that a preliminary investigation showed that Thorn, who is in stable condition, disregarded the traffic signal before his truck hit English’s vehicle. No charges had been filed yet as the investigation continued.

Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones are injured or even die as the result of traffic accidents.

The aggressive and skilled Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP, represent clients who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the state of Pennsylvania. They have the experience and knowledge that are necessary to represent clients involved in even the most complex car accident cases. When preparing your case, their skilled team of attorneys will review all relevant facts to assist in determining which party was at fault and who should assume responsibilities. Some factors that may be of importance during this process may include road conditions, weather conditions, the condition of the vehicles involved (i.e., faulty or defective auto parts), and whether or not alcohol or drugs were involved.

If you or a loved one has suffered severe physical injuries in an automobile accident in Pennsylvania, please call Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP for a free case evaluation.