Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

An off-duty police officer was killed on May 8 when his motorcycle was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Lakewood, NJ. According to this article on Philly.com, Angelo Vasile, 36, a Harvey Cedars police officer from Beachwood, NJ, was riding south on Route 9 when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The car involved in the collision was abandoned not far away and no arrests had been made. The Lakewood, NJ police are investigating the accident.

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 Philadelphia 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.

Continue reading " Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Collision Kills Off-Duty N.J. Officer " »

An Ohio truck driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter after his rig hit a disabled car on a New York highway while watching pornography on his laptop computer. According to this article by The Associated Press on Philly.com, Thomas Wallace of Ohio had little sleep before the Dec. 12 crash on the New York State Thruway that killed a woman from Snyder, N.Y.

The woman hit a deer and her car was disabled in the passing lane about 20 miles east of Buffalo, NY. Wallace’s tractor-trailer struck it from behind.

The trucker pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and faces five to 15 years in prison.

The family of the wrongful death victim in this accident would be well advised to consult an experienced accident attorney who is experienced with truck accidents and multiple party claims.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, the Pennsylvania truck accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP 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 your vehicle sustained any damaged in the incident, repairs can be assessed by a body shop. Of course, your physical and emotional injuries associated with the PA auto accident are extremely important, and may result in compensation for pain and suffering, loss of future income, and loss of current income due to inability to perform job duties.

The skilled PA injury attorneys at Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP have years of experience representing victims of Pennsylvania vehicle accident cases, including motorcycle accident injury and truck accident injury cases. Call today for a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable lawyers.

A recent case in Pennsylvania saw attorney's fees awarded to an employee who had filed a workers’ compensation claim. According to RiskAndInsurance.com, the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Appeal Board approved the worker's attorney's fees agreement and mandated that he be reimbursed of his costs. State law in Pennsylvania says that when a laborer wins a worker's compensation case, the claimant will receive payment for lawyer's fees, if he has a prior agreement with his attorney, and fees do not exceed 20% of the total amount awarded.

In this particular case, a construction worker had fallen from a roof, fracturing his heel. Initially, the claim for attorney's fee reimbursement was denied. He then filed a petition indicating that his initial claim had been inadequately described. Upon doing so, the employer augmented the injury description and issued an addendum that reinstated the worker's temporary total disability benefits. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Appeal Board determined that in light of the additional agreement from the employer, the worker was entitled to recover attorney’s fees.

Filing a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania can be a complicated process. Certain rights and reimbursements may be blocked, if a case is filed incorrectly. If you have been injured at work, you may be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs incurred, including attorney’s fees. The experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP can help you file your claim correctly and ensure that your constitutional rights are protected. Call today at 888-684-7192 for a free consultation.

A man installing a 1.5-ton steel safe at a bank in Colorado on May 13 died after it slipped and crushed him.

According to this article from The Huffington Post, the man was pinned against a door, which trapped a co-worker in the room with him.

The article reported that firefighters had to cut through a wall to reach the man and the other worker. The other worker was not injured.

The fatal workplace accident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The victim’s family would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ 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 Pennsylvania work accident injury attorneys 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.

On Thursday, May 6th, 2010, a commuter train hit a passenger car in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, injuring one person. The car was apparently stuck between gates at a crossing when the train collided with it. According to AJC, the accident caused the car to overturn and suffer severe damage. There are no further reports as to why the car was between the gates or why the train didn't stop, but no injuries were reported on the train.

A witness said that the train, headed for Norristown, was moving slowly and approaching the station when the Philadelphia train accident happened. Many train passengers were unaware of the accident and remained on the train until Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority explained what had happened and asked them to exit the train.

Unfortunately, accidents happen, but that does not lessen the ill effects, injuries, possible inability to work and so forth that often come to Pennsylvania car accident victims. People involved in Philly injury accidents may have a hard time paying their medical bills, experience a loss in pay if they are unable to work and be forced to deal with difficult physical circumstances either while in recovery or permanently, if their injuries are catastrophic.

If you have been a victim of a Pennsylvania car accident and find yourself in any of the above situations, know that you are entitled to seek compensation for your financial losses. The experienced Philadelphia injury attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano, LLP can help you learn your rights and ensure that your constitutional rights are protected. Call today at 888-684-7192 for a free consultation of your case.

On May 17, sixteen workers returning from their temporary jobs at J&J Snack Foods Inc. in Bellmawr, NJ, were hospitalized after a private bus crashed on an I-95 exit ramp. The riders were to be dropped off in Kensington, PA.

According to this article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the driver did not have the proper license to operate a vehicle that uses air brakes.

One of the injured workers is still in critical condition with head injuries.

The bus is owned by Del Val Staffing L.L.C., one of several staffing companies that provides temporary help to J&J, the Pennsauken-based manufacturer of pretzels, funnel-cake mix, churros, cookies, Icees, and Daddy Ray’s fruit bars.

The article said that it appears that a brake malfunction caused the auto collision in Pennsylvania. The bus had air brakes, which operate with a compressor that builds up air. The compressor malfunctioned and the driver apparently drove from New Jersey to Kensington with no air built up for braking.

The victims would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ 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. Although the workers are the employees of the temporary agency, the client may have some liability as a co-employer.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential Philly 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 Pennsylvania workers’ comp 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.

Justin Plank, a 21-year-old man, was injured on May 12 at a gas station in Norwalk, CT after a steel beam fell off a payloader and struck him in the leg. According to this article, Plank was guiding a 16-foot steel pillar into place at when a chain wrapped around the claw-bucket holding the beam slipped. The beam crashed to the ground and cut a gash into his lower left leg.

Plank, who works for East Hartford-based Van Horst Commercial Construction, and a payloader operator were unloading the pillars and beams off a flatbed trailer when the accident happened.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.

Mr. Plank would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ 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 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 gas industry worker suffered a traumatic injury on May 11 during an accident in Susquehanna County, PA. According to this article on The Times-Tribune, the man was working at a Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. drill rig site. He was struck in the head by a casing pipe and taken by ambulance to Endless Mountains Health Systems and then flown by helicopter to another hospital.

The worker was employed by a subcontractor, Caliber Casing Oil Field Service of Vernal, Utah.

The victim here would be well advised to contact an experienced Worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced Pennsylvania 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.

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 PA workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano, LLP can help you. These dedicated 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.

Two tractor-trailers drivers were killed and two automobile drivers injured in a five-vehicle crash on May 10 in West Saint Clair Township, Pennsylvania. According to this article on www.times-news.com, a 2000 Sterling Truck tractor pulling a trailer was traveling eastbound when it struck the rear bumper of a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am pushing the Vogel vehicle into the westbound lane.

The Sterling truck tractor began to roll over onto its driver side and then struck a westbound 2006 International truck and pushed the impacted tanker trailer over the guardrail and down an embankment.

The Sterling rig then struck an eastbound 2003 Suzuki Vitara and a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier, which caused extensive damage to both vehicles.

The trucking company could be held liable for serious injuries caused as a result of this multi-vehicle accident. The people who were injured may have rights to compensation for their losses and injuries. The owner of the truck may also be liable.

The injured victims would be well advised to consult a knowledgeable Pennsylvania truck accident lawyer who is experienced with trucking collisions and multiple party claims.

Continue reading " West Saint Clair Township Multiple-Vehicle Crash Kills Two " »

A man was killed and a mother and her 3-year-old daughter were injured in a crash on April 21 in East Windsor, NJ.

According to this article on NJ.com, the 52-year-old male truck driver from Middlesex Borough, NJ was driving a Freightliner truck west on Mercer Street toward Route 130 when he crossed the grass median into oncoming traffic.

The truck collided with an SUV driven by a 42-year-old woman from Lawrence, NJ. Both vehicles were forced off the road.

The article said that the truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene and that the driver of the SUV and her daughter were rushed to a nearby Hospital in New Brunswick and treated for injuries.

The trucking company could be held liable for serious injuries caused as a result of this truck accident. The driver who was injured may have rights to compensation for their losses and injuries. The owner of the truck may also be liable.

The injured victim would be well advised to consult a skilled personal injury lawyer who is experienced with truck accidents and multiple party claims.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia accident lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano 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.

Continue reading " East Windsor Trucking Accident Kills Driver " »

On May 13, one person was killed on U.S. 64 in North Carolina after two tractor trailers collided.

According to this article on www.newsobserver.com, a tractor-trailer owned by J.B. Hunt Inc. was traveling east on US 64 and was stopped in the right lane. A second tractor-trailer owned by Preferred Transport & Distribution Inc. was also traveling on the right lane of eastbound US 64 and impacted the J.B. Hunt truck in the rear.

The driver of the second tractor-trailer was killed on impact. The driver of the Hunt truck was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The article reported that the reason why the J.B. Hunt tractor-trailer had come to a stop in its travel lane is under investigation.

The trucking company could be held liable for the death caused as a result of this accident. The owner of the truck may also be liable.

The family of the victim who died would be well advised to consult an experienced accident attorney who is experienced with truck accidents and multiple party claims.

Continue reading " Tractor Trailer Accident Kills Driver " »

Kenneth Laymon, an Alabama truck driver, was on his cell phone sending and receiving calls leading up to a crash that killed him and 10 other people in Kentucky in March.

According to this article by The Examiner, Laymon was driving in excess of the 70 mph speed limit and did not have his tractor-trailer under control when he crossed the median on March 26 and struck a van carrying Mennonites to a wedding in Iowa.

Laymon tried braking 96 feet after entering the median, and a witness said Laymon may have been traveling 80 mph when the accident happened. The van showed no signs of trying to avoid Laymon’s truck.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also looking at highway engineering, vehicle design and operation, and other issues before reaching a conclusion, which may take a year or more. An investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration is also pending.

Weather was not a cause of the fatal tractor trailer wreck, although the road was wet from rainfall the night before, it didn’t cause the accident.

The trucking company could be held liable for serious injuries caused as a result of this accident. The people who were injured may have rights to compensation for their losses and injuries. The owner of the truck may also be liable.

The injured victims would be well advised to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who is experienced with truck accidents and multiple party claims.

Continue reading " Cell Phone Use Cited in Truck Collision that Killed 11 " »

On May 4, a head-on collision in Eastern Pennsylvania killed two elderly women and critically injured two other people.

According to this Tribune Democrat article on, the two women were in a car heading south on Route 873 in North Whitehall Township, PA when an oncoming car veered into their lane and hit the vehicle.

The article said that the 74-year-old woman and 83-year-old woman of Slatington died as a result of injuries from the PA accident. Another passenger and the driver of the other car were taken to a nearby hospital, where both were listed in critical condition the night of the accident.

Police are still investigating the vehicle accident in Pennsylvania.

Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones die as the result of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 33,963 auto accident related fatalities in the United States in 2009.

Continue reading " Eastern PA Crash Kills 2, Critically Injures 2 " »

A recent article in The Legal Intelligencer discusses an annual court study which reveals that a 44% drop in the amount of medical malpractice filings has occurred. This decline is attributed to reform procedures initiated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2003. The article mentions that PA medical malpractice cases must be filed in counties where the alleged malpractice and subsequent patient harm occurred. In addition, cases must be filed with a certificate of merit from a physician reflecting a reasonable likelihood that a medical malpractice defendant digressed from the conventional and expected standard of medical care that patients should receive. These measures are meant to aid in smoothing out the litigation process so it can best serve the people of Pennsylvania.

Based on the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts’ most recent statistical data on medical malpractice litigation, the number of medical malpractice suits begun in Pennsylvania dropped to 1,533 in 2009. In 2002, the year before the reform measures went into effect, 2,904 filings were made; a number that showed significant decline in 2008 with 1,602 filings. Furthermore, Philadelphia saw a large decline in filings with 491 in 2009 in comparison to 1,365 in 2002.

According to the article, skilled attorney, Kevin R. Marciano of Philadelphia firm, Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP, and president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s trial lawyers group, stated that the recent collection of statistics demonstrates that the rules governing medical malpractice cases are working. Kevin R. Marciano also stated that when the rules surrounding Pennsylvania medical malpractice law were being written, trial lawyers were involved with the reasonable and fair implementation of venue rules and certificate of merit requirements. In acknowledging that other changes, such as a cap on damages or specialty medical malpractice courts, would potentially throw-off “a level playing field,” Marciano said that “people’s rights are going to be infringed upon” if such alterations are introduced to a process that has already demonstrated accuracy and efficiency in its functioning abilities.

Medical malpractice in Pennsylvania can happen to anyone. Whether a medical professional’s negligence results in surgical error, misdiagnosis, prescription drug error, birth injury, or a delay in treatment; patients of all ages may be at risk of suffering serious injury or even death. This is why it is crucial for legal matters relating to medical malpractice filings and cases to be given proceeding standards that are fair and just.

On May 2, a Honda Civic struck a charter bus carrying 45 people headed from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn. It caused a multi-vehicle accident in northern New Jersey. The driver of the Honda was killed.

According to the article on Philly.com, the 37-year-old driver of the Honda tentatively was heading the wrong way on Interstate 78 when it hit an SUV then spun into the bus.

The article said it was not clear why the driver was traveling in the wrong direction.

The SUV driver and their passenger were not hurt, however the bus driver sustained a broken ankle. About a dozen passengers reported minor injuries.

Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones die as the result of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 33,963 auto accident related fatalities in the United States in 2009.

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania traffic accident lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP have the experience and knowledge that are necessary to represent clients involved in even the most complex car accident cases. When preparing your case, our 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 your vehicle sustained any damage in the incident, repairs can be assessed by a body shop. Of course, your physical and emotional injuries associated with the PA bus accident are of extreme importance, and may result in compensation for pain and suffering, loss of future income, and loss of current income due to inability to perform job duties.

On April 2, one man was killed and two people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash near Millsboro, Delaware. According to this article on www.delawareonline.com, a 1998 Dodge Caravan westbound on Del. 24 collided with a 2004 Chrysler Sebring that was southbound on Careys Camp Road and failed to stop at a stop sign. The front of the Sebring struck the right front side of the Caravan.

A 77-year-old passenger in the front of the Caravan was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Caravan, a 53-year-old man from Lewes, was admitted to a local hospital with multiple injuries.

The driver of the Sebring, a 53-year-old woman, was also treated for multiple injuries.

Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones die as the result of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 33,963 auto accident related fatalities in the United States in 2009.

Continue reading " Two-Vehicle Delaware Crash Kills One, Injures Two " »

The family of a woman, who was struck and killed in a pedestrian accident by a Chattanooga Billiard Club worker, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the bar that provided free alcohol to the employee. According to an article on this website, www.timesfreepress.com, that and other allegations are made against the long-established downtown Chattanooga, TN bar where the male worker used to be employed.

The deceased woman’s husband is seeking damages for the bar’s negligence.

The lawsuit claims that on December 23, 2009, the 25-year-old male worker stayed at the bar to drink alcohol “free of charge” after his shift ended at 3 a.m. and that the alcohol was provided by his supervisor at the club.

The suit claimed the man left the bar visibly intoxicated and then ran over the victim who was crossing the street to report to work.

The article reported that the man was drunk behind the wheel of his Nissan sports car, ran a red light, hit the woman, fled, then called police and pretended he had been carjacked to cover his tracks.

It is against a city ordinance for bar workers ever to drink where they work, even when they are off duty. Bars also are not permitted to serve alcohol to anyone between 3 and 8 a.m. on weekdays.

Continue reading " Hit-and-Run Victim's Family Sues Bar " »

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 20-year-old man from South Philadelphia was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison for the incident in which he was driving under the influence of marijuana.

The driver ran down two women after a Phillies game in 2008. One of the pedestrians was killed and the other woman was permanently disabled.

Police say the two women left the stadium after the baseball game to go to dinner. They were crossing Broad Street at Curtin Street when they were struck by the car.

The motorist was stopped at the red light behind two cars when he swerved around the stopped cars, drove through the light, and hit the two women at high speed as they were in the crosswalk.

The article reported that the man had a string of seven previous arrests before the crash, as well as his own admission that he smoked marijuana after he had been freed on bail and was awaiting his trial.

The driver should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the female pedestrian’s death and the other woman’s catastrophic injuries. When needless death occurs due to negligence of another party, a PA wrongful death claim 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.

Continue reading " Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident, Driver Sentenced " »

A 20-year-old man and his attorney are suing a man convicted of driving drunk and hitting the 20-year-old while he stood outside his apartment. According to this article on wtsp.com, the lawsuit also targets Shephard’s Beach Resort, the bar in Clearwater, FL that served the man before the crash. The man who was struck by the vehicle is now confined to a wheelchair. The convicted driver is currently serving an eight-year prison term.

The lawsuit claims that Shephard’s is incredibly responsible for this tragedy. An investigation showed that Shephard’s over-served the man who later caused the catastrophic injury crash. According to the article, the lawsuit says the bar served up about 10 Long Island Ice Tea drinks in just a two-hour period. Apparently, before he took to the road, the man was ejected from the bar, because on the way to the men’s room he fell against the wall and collapsed to the ground drunk. The suit also claimed bar workers then walked him to his car and watched him drive away.

The injured 20-year-old’s attorney said that although Florida alcohol laws make such a lawsuit difficult to win, they hope the suit will bring both monetary compensation and behavior changes.

Bars that over-serve their patrons should bear responsibility. Dram shop laws vary widely from state to state and cover places of business that serve alcohol — from liquor stores to bars to restaurants, theaters, and clubs — and impose liability on these establishments when they serve alcohol to someone underage or already intoxicated who then goes on to break the law or get in an accident that hurts themselves or others.

Continue reading " Drunk Driver Causes Catastrophic Injury Accident " »

Police are investigating an accident that claimed the life of a 27-year-old man. He died in a three-car crash on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia last week. According to this article on Philly.com, a 2008 Honda Civic and a 1996 Honda Civic were traveling side-by-side northbound on Academy Road.

A woman was driving the newer car in the right lane, while a man was driving the older Civic in the left lane. According to the article, the drivers know each other personally.

The newer Civic veered to the left, striking the older car. Both vehicles then crossed the double yellow center line into oncoming traffic. The newer car collided head-on with a southbound 2007 Mazda 3. The 27-year-old driver of the Mazda suffered fatal injuries in the collision.

Investigators believe that one of the northbound vehicles may have been traveling in excess of the posted speed limit.

Every day throughout the country families are devastated when innocent loved ones die as the result of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 33,963 auto accident related fatalities in the United States in 2009, about 30% of traffic fatalities involved alcohol.

Continue reading " Northeast Philadelphia Car Crash Claims One Life " »

Dram shop laws vary widely from state to state and cover places of business that serve alcohol — from liquor stores to bars to restaurants, theaters, and clubs — and impose liability on these establishments when they serve alcohol to someone underage or already intoxicated who then goes on to break the law or get in an accident that hurts themselves or others.

An article on www.stltoday.com, recently reported that a female Missouri Police Officer and the bar that served her alcohol have agreed to pay a total of $2.255 million to compensate the families of four young people killed and one man injured in a traffic crash in Des Peres, Missouri in March of last year. The wrongful-death lawsuit, brought by the survivor and the victims’ families, claimed that the Officer, who was off duty, drank “a high quantity” of alcohol that night at O'Leary's Restaurant & Bar, and then drove her car into oncoming traffic.

The suit accused the woman of negligence based on allegations of driving
drunk and driving on the wrong side of the road, among other things. The article reported that the woman’s blood-alcohol content was 0.169 % three hours after the crash. The threshold for drunk driving is 0.08 %.

Continue reading " Dram Shop Law Applicable for Fatal DUI Car Accident " »