Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

On November 24, a woman swerved across three lanes on Marshall Road in Upper Darby, PA to get around a traffic jam and slammed her car into two school children. She then drove on at high speed and hit a third boy, which threw him against a building and left him in a coma. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 12-year-old is in critical but stable condition at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

A 13-year-old and another 12-year-old were in serious condition being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The boys were leaving Beverly Hills Middle School when they were hit. Two of the boys were waiting to cross Marshall Road. The woman driving a Dodge Charger then swerved. When her car plowed into the two boys crossing Marshall Road, one of the boys was tossed into the air and bounced off the windshield, shattering it.

The car continued 15 yards and struck the other boy. The impact sent him into the side of an auto-parts store. The car did not stop.

The Dodge returned to the eastbound lanes, where it traveled 50 more yards before striking a Subaru station wagon. The force drove the Subaru into a parked Mercedes-Benz. The Dodge continued for an additional 20 yards before stopping. According to the article, police believe she was trying to get away. Police took the woman into custody and took her to Upper Darby police headquarters.

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.

Continue reading " Darby Crash Injures 3 Boys " »

A 33-year-old woman of Magnolia, NJ was driving her Ford Escort in the interstate through Haddon Heights when a tractor-trailer following behind her failed to brake for traffic that had slowed for a construction zone. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, she was pinned in her car, crushed between two trucks and suffered serious injuries below her waist.

The accident occurred when a tractor-trailer veered to the left and slammed into a concrete barrier. It bounced back into the center lane of traffic and plowed into the rear of the woman’s Ford Escort. The impact drove her car into the rear of a box truck carrying liquor.

The box truck collided with several more vehicles before it came to a stop.

The female motorist was sandwiched between the two trucks and pinned by the engine block of her car. Rescue workers had to pull her from the wreckage.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. The box truck driver suffered neck and back pain.

The article said the tractor-trailer driver would receive a traffic summons for careless driving. Other charges may be forthcoming after an investigation and an inspection of the truck by state police.

Continue reading " Trucks Crush Car and Pin Woman on I-295 in Camden County " »

A Cherry Hill woman riding a bike in Medford, NJ was hospitalized with multiple fractures because of a driver texting about a drug deal. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the bicyclist was riding along Route 70, wearing a reflective vest and a helmet on November 16 when she was struck by a car.

The male motorist told police he was texting when his 1994 Oldsmobile Cutless wandered onto the shoulder.

The article said that the text message related to a deal for a “controlled dangerous substance.”
Police were seeking the man’s car before the accident happened and had reports he was driving erratically.

The biker suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to her face, a vertebrae and a leg.

Unauthorized prescription drugs were found in the car, and the motorist was charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Continue reading " Driver Injures Biker While Texting about Drug Deal " »

A new study raises new concerns about Zetia and Vytorin, drugs taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, Zetia failed to shrink buildups in artery walls while a rival drug, Niaspan, did so significantly. Zetia users also suffered more heart attacks and other problems although the numbers of these events were too small to draw firm conclusions.

A preventive cardiology chief at Johns Hopkins University said that in the seven years Zetia has been on the market, it hasn’t proven that it improves clinical outcomes.

Lipitor and Crestor (statins) have long been used to lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, and are known to cut the risk of heart problems. Because many statin users still suffer heart attacks, doctors have been testing adding a second medicine to further lower risk.

They are trying Niaspan, a slow-release version of niacin, a type of B vitamin that raises HDL, or good cholesterol. The other is Zetia, which lowers bad cholesterol in a different way than statins do, by blocking its absorption in the gut.

Vytorin is a pill that combines Zetia with a statin.

Abbott Laboratories sponsored the new study in which researchers enrolled 363 people with heart disease or a high risk for it who had been taking statins for six years on average.

Half were given Niaspan and the others, Zetia. Ultrasound images of neck arteries showed that Niaspan shrank buildups by about 2 percent, while Zetia had no effect on this even though it lowered bad cholesterol as expected.

Continue reading " Study on Merck Pill Zetia Raises New Questions " »

Federal health regulators have found tiny particles of trash in drugs made by Genzyme, a biotechnology company. This is the second time this year the company has been cited for contamination issues. According to an Associated Press article, on November 13, the Food and Drug Administration said that bits of steel, rubber, and fiber found in vials of drugs used to treat rare enzyme disorders could cause serious adverse health effects for patients.

The FDA said the products would remain on the market because there are few alternative treatments. They also said doctors should closely inspect vials for particles before injecting them into patients. Doctors should return the defective pharmaceutical to Genzyme if they suspect contamination and watch for potential allergic reactions, blood clots and other problems in patients.

In June, Genzyme was forced to shut down a key production facility due to viral contamination.
The drugs affected by the latest announcement include: Cerezyme, Fabrazyme, Myozyme, Aldurazyme and Thyrogen. All are manufactured at a biotech plant in Allston Landing, Mass., where FDA regulators are conducting an inspection.

Genzyme specializes in biotech drugs to treat rare diseases.

Continue reading " FDA Discovers Pieces of Steel and Rubber in Genzyme Drugs " »

On November 17, federal health officials said that a popular variety of heartburn medications can interfere with the blood thinner Plavix, a drug taken by millions of Americans to reduce risks of heart attack and stroke. The Associated Press reported in an article that the Food and Drug Administration said the drugs Prilosec and Nexium cut in half the blood-thinning effect of Plavix, known generically as clopidogrel.

Regulators said the key ingredient in the heartburn medications blocks an enzyme the body needs to break down Plavix, muting the drug’s full effect. Procter & Gamble’s Prilosec OTC is available over-the-counter and AstraZeneca’s Nexium is only available with a prescription.

The FDA said that patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots would not get the full effect of this medicine. Because Plavix can upset the stomach, it is often prescribed with stomach acid-blocking drugs.

The FDA recommended that patients who need to reduce their acid should take drugs from the H-2 blocker family. These include Mylanta and Zantac. FDA scientists said there is no evidence those drugs interfere with Plavix’s anti-blood clotting action.

FDA regulators said they don’t have enough information to say whether other drugs in the same class as Nexium and Prilosec (proton pump inhibitors) shouldn’t be used with Plavix. The warnings on Plavix have been strengthened based on a 150-patient study submitted over the summer. Some consumer advocates argued that regulators should have placed the information in a “black box” warning label.

It was reported last year that taking Plavix with Nexium significantly increased patients’ chances of being hospitalized for a heart attack, stroke or chest pain. Plavix’s labeling was updated to advise against using it in combination with certain heartburn drugs.

Continue reading " FDA Says Heartburn Drugs Can Interfere with Plavix " »

Two Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge builders were injured on October 29 when a steel structure they were preparing collapsed near the Lehigh River at Parryville. According to an article in The Morning Call, several circles of steel, each with a diameter of about 10 feet, tipped over, hitting the men. The two men were pulled from the steel and taken to an area hospital. Fortunately, they did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The men were employees of Walsh Construction Co. and were putting together the steel framework for a column to support a Northeast Extension replacement bridge between the Lehigh Tunnel and the Mahoning Valley interchange.

The article said that the cause of the accident was unknown.

Continue reading " Turnpike Bridge-Building Accident Injures 2 Workers " »

A man from Ambler, PA was charged with third-degree murder in connection with a fatal car crash in Delaware County on November 10. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 18-year-old man allegedly was traveling at a high speed northbound in the southbound lanes of Route 352. He then drove his Ford Explorer though a red light at the intersection of Knowlton Road in Middletown Township. He collided with a car and broke the smaller Honda Accord into two pieces. The driver in the other vehicle died at the scene. The charged man was treated for injuries.

Drivers of two other cars caught in the pileup and a passenger also were hurt, but the Inquirer reported that their injuries were not life-threatening.

The 18-year-old also faces charges including aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and recklessly endangering another person.

The 18-year-old should be held both civilly and criminally responsible for the motorist’s death and for injuring the other victims. The families of these victims would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death/personal injury attorney.

Continue reading " Ambler Resident Charged for Fatal Delco Car Crash " »

One worker was killed and another injured on November 10 when a crane tipped over at the construction site of a Kansas City, Missouri performing arts center. According to an article on KansasCity.com, the two men were in the bucket of the 100-foot-tall JLG Lift when it fell away from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. It then landed across a platform of steel beams.

One of the men was pronounced dead at a hospital and the other was listed in serious but stable condition.

The men were installing steel panels on the building for Detroit-based subcontractor Midwest Steel.

According to the article, the center will be the home of the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet.

Crane accidents kill up to 82 construction workers each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Continue reading " Kansas City Crane Accident Kills Worker " »

On November 9, about a million Maclaren strollers sold by Target and Babies “R” Us were recalled after 12 reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge mechanism.
According to an Associated Press article, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall includes all nine models of single and double umbrella Maclaren strollers (Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller).

The amputation risk occurs when a child’s finger is placed in the hinge mechanism of a stroller while it is being unfolded. When the opened stroller locks into place, it can cut off the tip of the child’s finger.

The company is offering free hinge covers to prevent future incidents. The covers should not be removed unless the stroller is being cleaned, according to the CPSC.

Continue reading " Stroller Recall Over Fingertip Amputation Danger " »

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a Levittown man whose car allegedly slammed into a parked police car, causing the cruiser to fatally run over an Officer, was “impaired.”

A paramedic and a police traffic investigator testified that the suspect behaved “oddly” right after the accident on January 29.

The 37-year-old officer became wedged under his cruiser and suffered a skull fracture and multiple fractures of the left leg.

He died of multiple injuries.

The driver went on trial November 9.

According to a fellow Officer and accident reconstructionist for the Middletown police force, the driver’s eyes were “red and glassy” and he was incoherent when interviewed by first responders.

The man is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Court records have alleged that the man was high on methadone, marijuana, opiates and benzoylecgonine, a substance related to cocaine use.

Continue reading " Trial Over Officer's Traffic Death Address Impairment " »

On November 5, a SEPTA track inspector was struck and killed by an R3 West Trenton train in East Oak Lane. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 34-year-old from Sharon Hill was struck by a southbound train near the Philadelphia-Montgomery County line just south of the Melrose Park station. He died at the scene.

The man was part of a team inspecting tracks that normally carry northbound trains. It was unclear yesterday how fast the train had been traveling.

According to the article, inspecting tracks is a set procedure. SEPTA officials said trains often switch tracks because of equipment issues.

The family of this deceased man would be well advised to contact an experienced Philadelphia 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 " Track Inspector Hit and Killed by Regional Train " »

On November 3, 8-year-old twins were mowed down by a hit-and-run driver in Crescentville, PA. According to an article in the Philadelphia Daily News, the sisters were on their way to a corner store at Cheltenham Avenue and Colgate Street when they were struck by a gray Lincoln Town Car that sped from the scene.

One of the girls suffered only bumps and bruises and was treated for minor injuries at St. Christopher’s hospital.

The other child’s injuries are much more severe than her sister’s.The article said that the Lincoln rolled over the little girl, leaving tire marks on her clothes and abdomen. She was listed in critical condition.

An arrest in the case is expected to come soon, as police found a car that they believe might have been involved.

The driver of the Lincoln should be held both civilly and criminally responsible for the girls’ injuries. The twins’ family would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney.

Continue reading " 8-Year-Old Twins Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident " »

A man from central Pennsylvania has been charged with drunken driving and homicide by vehicle in a crash that killed a taxicab driver and one of his passengers in October. According to an article on Philly.com, the 31-year-old man is also charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and other counts.

The article said that his blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit, he tested positive for marijuana, and he told officers that he was texting at the time of the crash.

Police said the man’s car crossed the center line on Harrisburg’s Market Street Bridge on October 3 and hit the taxi head-on. The crash killed the 34-year-old male driver of Harrisburg and the 28-year-old female passenger of Camp Hill, PA. Her husband, a 31-year-old man, was injured.

Continue reading " PA Man Charged in Collision with Taxi that Killed 2 " »

Two Penn State fraternities and two students were charged with misdemeanors in connection with the death of an 18-year-old freshman who fell onto a concrete stairwell after a night of drinking.

According to an article on Philly.com, University and State College police charged the Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Gamma Delta fraternities each with one count of selling or furnishing alcohol to minors and one count each of unlawful acts relative to alcohol. The 18-year-old freshman was found dead in September with a blood-alcohol level of 0.169 percent, more than twice the legal limit for a 21-year-old to drive. He was found about 75 yards from Phi Gamma Delta.

A 21-year-old female student and a 21-year-old male student are facing charges. According to the article, the female student bought vodka for her underage sister and for the teen who died earlier in the weekend. The male student hosted the deceased teen and his friends in his room at the Phi Gamma Delta house.

Continue reading " 2 Penn State Students, 2 Fraternities Face Charges for Drinking Death " »

A New Jersey truck driver involved in a Route 9, NJ accident that led to the death of three people, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of grossly negligent operation resulting in death. According to an article by The Associated Press, attorneys said they will ask a Vermont District Court judge to sentence the Deptford, N.J. man to one to 10 years in prison.

On April 16, 2008, the truck driver was driving a tractor-trailer on Route 9 in Woodford, NJ that overturned on a sharp, downhill curve. The truck hit two cars in the opposite lane, killing two men. A third man died five months later of injuries suffered in the crash.

The families of these victims deserve to be rightfully compensated for their tremendous loss. Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones are injured or even die as the result of traffic accidents.

Continue reading " Deptford Truck Driver Pleads Guilty in 2008 Triple Fatal Accident " »

The family of a Connecticut woman who died after her chenille bathrobe caught on fire has filed a federal lawsuit against a Pennsylvania-based retailer. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, attorneys for the estate of an 80-year-old woman filed suit last week in U.S. District Court in Hartford, CT against Blair LLC. They are claiming wrongful death and product liability and are seeking $30 million.

The woman was severely burned on Feb. 12, 2005, when her robe ignited as she made tea in her home. She died two weeks later.

The robes were linked to nine deaths. Blair recently expanded its recall of more than 300,000 chenille products it imported from a Pakistani manufacturer.

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.

Continue reading " Bathrobe Fire Death: Connecticut Family Sues " »