Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

A 47-year-old Worthington man suffered serious injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania. According to the Kittanning Paper, the man had failed to negotiate a turn, causing him to strike a residence. Pennsylvania State Police reported that the man had been traveling east on Glade Run Road in North Buffalo Township.

He had lost control of his Buell Firebolt XB12R motorcycle, skidded across oncoming traffic and into a driveway and yard of a residence. The skid caused the man, who was still on his bike, to strike shrubs, an embankment, a cement retaining wall and a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo that was parked in the driveway.

The man was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of his severe injuries. The motorcycle had also been severely damaged. There have been no further reports as to the cause of the PA motorcycle crash.

Continue reading " Worthington Man Severely Injured in Motorcycle Accident " »

A woman in her 60s was hit by a SEPTA bus on June 22 near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. According to this article on Philly.com, the Route 32 bus was traveling south on 21st Street when it struck the woman as it was turning east on Winter Street. The woman was walking north on 21st and was crossing Winter.

She was hospitalized with head and foot injuries.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, pedestrian accidents account for 9.7% of all traffic crash deaths. Elderly pedestrians, although involved in fewer pedestrian crashes, are more likely to be killed if struck by a moving vehicle.

Individuals who are injured in pedestrian accidents in Philadelphia should seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. While insurance companies often get involved, a quick-fix settlement isn’t always a good idea for the victim, who may suffer life-long complications, require ongoing medical attention, and can be scarred for life by their ordeal. It is recommended that victims of Pennsylvania pedestrian accidents contact a competent, reputable PA personal injury attorney 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 the injuries and associated trauma and costs.

Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano offer a free consultation to anyone with questions about whether their pedestrian accident could result in a valid lawsuit. Call our skilled accident lawyers today at 888-684-7192.

A 19-year-old Pennsylvania man riding his bicycle was struck and killed by an SUV in New Mexico. He was riding across the country to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

According to this article by the Huffington Post, John Anczarski, of Ringtown, Pa., died June 22 of injuries that he suffered the day before in New Laguna, N.M.

Anczarski, a University of Colorado engineering student, was riding with 3 friends for what they called “The Pink Pedal project.” They left Pennsylvania on May 23 and expected to reach San Diego next month.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating the crash because the bike accident occurred on tribal land.

Continue reading " PA Bicyclist Killed on Cross-Country Cancer Ride " »

On June 20, two motorcycles crashed on a northern New Jersey highway, killing one Pennsylvania woman and critically injuring her companion. A New York man is facing drunken driving charges.

According to this article, the motorcycle crash occurred around 1:15 a.m. on eastbound Route 78 in Bedminster.

Nicole Widener, 45, and Paul Shelly, 56, both of Stewartsville, Pa., were riding on a motorcycle that Shelly was driving when it was struck by another motorcycle driven by 36-year-old Maurice Smith of Patchogue, N.Y.

Widener was thrown into the roadway and then run over and killed by a car that left the scene. Shelly was hospitalized in critical condition with leg and other injuries.

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 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that in 2008, there were 237 motorcycle riders killed in Pennsylvania. NHTSA also has reported increasing numbers of motorcycle deaths associated with alcohol-impaired driving in recent years, especially among persons aged >40 years.

Continue reading " Motorcycle Highway Crash Kills 1, Injures 1 " »

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Suzanne K. Lammers, charged in a Main Line hit-and-run last July, is expected to plead guilty to one count of causing an accident with a serious injury.

Lammers, 76, is accused of hitting and critically injuring Andrew Mallee, a 13-year-old boy from Bryn Mawr, PA. He was riding his bike on July 15, 2009 when he was struck by Lammers’ gold 2002 Volvo station wagon. Lammers fled the scene, parked the car in her garage, and covered it with a blanket.

Mallee was treated at an area hospital for head and leg injuries. He then continued his recovery at home.

Two weeks after the Pennsylvania injury accident, investigators found the vehicle, which had a large hole in the windshield. The article said that Lammers thought she had hit a deer.

The agreement was that Lammers would plead guilty to one count of causing an accident with a serious injury. She was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but that charge has been dropped.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. Under Pennsylvania state law, the penalty is three months’ incarceration.

Continue reading " Bryn Mawr Hit-and-Run Accident Seriously Injures Bicyclist " »

A construction worker was seriously injured on June 15 in an accident at a new courthouse project on Federal Street in Salem, MA. According to this article on Boston.com, the worker, who is in his early thirties, received serious injuries to both of his legs after he was hit by a concrete slab. The article said that the slab was about five inches thick.

The worker was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The victim here would be well advised to contact a skilled work injury lawyer 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.

The dedicated Philadelphia work accident injury attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano 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 June 13, a limousine filled with passengers was struck by another vehicle along Church Road in New Hanover, PA. According to this article in the Delaware County Times, eight people were taken to hospitals because of injuries.

The article reported that when police arrived on the scene on the 3300 block of Church Road, each driver was still trapped inside their vehicles.

Sean Lawrence, 25, was driving his 1988 Ford Mustang north on Church Road when he collided with a 2010 Lincoln Navigator limousine.

The passengers were preparing to get out of the limousine when the accident happened.

The impact forced the limousine into a wooded area just north of the residence’s driveway. One of the seven female occupants was ejected from the passenger area of the limousine.

The drivers and six passengers were transported to different hospitals with unknown injuries.

The injured victims would be well advised to consult a skilled Pennsylvania injury attorney who is experienced with auto accidents and multiple party claims.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, the Philadelphia Pennsylvania auto 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 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 vehicle accident are of the 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.

Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano have years of experience representing Pennsylvania auto accident cases, including motorcycle accident injury and truck accident injury cases. Call today for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.

A utility worker was killed in Memphis, TN when part of a pole fell on him. According to this article on USAtoday.com, a 42-year-old man died on June 15 while doing maintenance work on a wooden pole when part of it broke off. Another employee was injured.

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. A knowledgeable attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” Third party claims in Pennsylvania 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 " Utility Worker Killed by Falling Pole " »

Seven people, including several members of a wedding party, were injured in a traffic accident on June 11. According to this article on Philly.com, the wedding had to be postponed due to the crash. The mother of the bride-to-be was critically injured and the bride’s stepfather was also injured.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash outside Primanti Brothers restaurant in the Pittsburgh suburb of Pleasant Hills.

The article said that members of the wedding party were in a car that was trying to turn into the parking lot when it collided with an oncoming pickup truck.

This crash was the third that day along that stretch of road.

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

Continue reading " Pittsburgh Traffic Crash Injures 7, Including Wedding Party " »

Two workers removing clay from a pit in a remote part of the Texas Panhandle were killed when a natural gas line exploded. The Associated Press reported that the blast on June 8 involved a crew that was removing clay for a dirt-contracting company.

The explosion happened when a bulldozer struck a pipeline.

Three other workers were injured. One was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Oklahoma City. Two others suffered minor injuries.

The owner of the 14-inch pipeline, Denver-based DCP Midstream, allowed the fire to burn itself out about four hours after the incident. The pipeline fed one of the company’s processing plants.

The victims and their families would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or violation of workplace safety. 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

A dedicated Philadelphia work injury lawyer at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano 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 25-year-old man from Ambler has pleaded not guilty to charges that he was speeding and driving under the influence of illegal drugs when he struck and killed a 13-year-old boy on March 17. According to this article in the Delaware County Times, the boy was riding a scooter in Lower Gwynedd when he was struck by the man’s 1999 Ford Ranger pick-up truck traveling southbound at 63 miles per hour.

The motorist will now be scheduled for trial on the charges. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 8 ½- to-17-years in prison

The boy, a seventh-grader at Wissahickon Middle School, was crossing the street on his Razor scooter, not far from his home.

According to the article, the male driver allegedly told detectives he had smoked marijuana earlier on the day of the crash. The man also claimed that bushes prevented him from seeing the young boy and that he attempted to stop but couldn’t avoid striking the child.

The investigation determined that the boy had safely crossed the road and had reached the opposite side of the road at the time he was struck. The driver did not properly perceive the path of travel of the boy. He applied his brakes and steered to the left, directly into the path of the boy.

The blood tests determined that the motorist had the anti-anxiety medication Clonazepam, Methadone and traces of marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.

The family of the boy would be well advised to seek the advice of experienced wrongful death attorney. When needless death occurs due to negligence of another party, 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. It is recommended that families who think their family member’s death was wrongful first contact a Philly wrongful death attorney for a case assessment. If the case is valid, the attorney can help investigate the claim, gather evidence, represent them in court, and collect the compensation they deserve.

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

The 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.

The Associated Press reported that on June 7, a crew drilling a natural gas well through an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia (about 55 miles southwest of Pittsburgh) hit a pocket of methane gas that ignited. It triggered an explosion that burned seven workers.

The seven workers were taken to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh.

Since methane is a known risk when working near old mines, the company typically takes a variety of precautions, including venting systems.

Five of the injured workers were employed by Union and two worked for BJ Services Co. of Houston, Texas.

The crew runs a safety check at the start of each shift and was just preparing to do that when the blast occurred.

The article reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a program to deal with gas drilling in the vast Marcellus shale fields about five years ago and has been proactively inspecting sites to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

The victims here 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

The dedicated Pennsylvania work injury accident attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano 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 June 8, at least 40 students were taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after an accident involving two school buses on their way to Pepper Middle School. According to this article in The Philadelphia Inquirer many of children had minor injuries.

Two adults also sustained minor injuries in the accident, in which one bus rear-ended the other on the 2700 block of Island Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. About 45 students received medical attention.

The article reported that there were several windows shattered in one of the buses, sending glass onto the floor and seats, and all the children fell on the floor after being thrown into the backs of the seats in front of them. The bus had no seat belts.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the Philadelphia traffic 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.

Your physical and emotional injuries associated with the Pennsylvania bus 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.

Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano have years of experience representing PA auto accident cases, including bus accident injury and pedestrian accident injury cases. Call today for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.

A garbage company worker was injured in Kenner, LA May 11 when a portion of a street collapsed, trapping the worker in soft mud in the bottom of the hole.

According to a news report, the garbage truck was on its regular morning pickup route when a section of the 200 block of 27th Street caved in. The incident occurred just north of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

The truck fell back into the hole, trapping the unidentified worker between the truck and the mud. The worker was someone who empties garbage cans into a bin at the back of the truck.

A wrecker arrived and lifted the garbage truck, and five Kenner firefighters went into the cavity under the street and used hand shovels to dig out the trapped man.

The man was pulled out several minutes later and taken by ambulance to a hospital.

City officials are trying to determine what caused that portion of the residential street to collapse.

If the victim suffered any injuries, he 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 Philadelphia work accident lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Thomas Patrick Brandon was making a delivery to the Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania on the morning of April 13, 2009 when his delivery truck crashed into a car stopped for a traffic light on Route 202. According to this article in the Delaware County Times, it caused the car to burst into flames, killing its driver, Daniel Lopez, of Phoenixville.

Brandon, 48, of Penndel, Bucks County, will begin an 11½- to 23-month prison term for criminal charges resulting from that crash.

The article said that Lopez was on his way to work when the crash occurred on Route 202 at Greentree Drive in Thornbury. He was stopped for a traffic light in his Chevrolet Cavalier behind a Pontiac Sunbird.

A crash reconstruction team determined Brandon was traveling about 67 mph when his truck struck the rear of Lopez’s car. Investigators found no evidence that Brandon had tried to slow down until just before impact.

The force of the crash pushed Lopez’s car into the Pontiac.

Brandon’s blood test showed the presence of THC, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, although the intoxication level was insufficient for authorities to prove it had caused the crash. Brandon was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI.

Lopez’s wife is pursuing a civil suit against Brandon and his former employer for her husband’s wrongful death.

If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, the Philadelphia wrongful death auto 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.

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.

Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano have years of experience representing Pennsylvania vehicle accident cases, including motorcycle accident injury and truck accident injury cases. Call today for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.

A cafeteria worker at Elk Lake Elementary School in Susquehanna County was injured on May 28 at work. According to this article on www.thetimes-tribune.com, the woman was preparing breakfast for students in the morning when a piece of kitchen equipment malfunctioned and she received an electrical shock.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released. The school district’s electrical contractor is inspecting the equipment.

The cafeteria worker would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading " Susquehanna County Cafeteria Worker Injured by Electrical Shock " »

The bar that served a man involved in a 2007 drunken-driving accident was primarily responsible for the death of Mary Elenbark of Voorhees, according this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. A jury awarded the victim’s family $15 million this week.

Steven Evans was 25 % responsible and Racks Bar & Grill was 75 % responsible for the hit-and-run accident that killed Mary Elenbark and injured her husband. Mary, 45, was a passenger on the 1999 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that her husband was driving west on the White Horse Pike in NJ.

The couple was headed home from a Hammonton, N.J., diner on April 20, 2007 when Evans pulled in front of the Elenbarks from the strip mall where Racks is located. The Harley struck the rear of Evans’ car. Evans failed to stop and was later pulled over in Winslow Township. He failed a field sobriety test and a breath test. His blood alcohol content was 0.10.

An attorney for Mr. Elenbark said he would seek to have the bar pay the $15 million.

A toxicologist testified that Evans had between six and eight beers in 2 1/2 hours.

Elenbark had four operations on his left leg the week following the accident, Porter said. His wife, who had head injuries, was taken off life support seven days after the crash.

Evans pleaded guilty in 2008 to leaving the scene of a fatal accident and the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury. He was sentenced to four years in state prison and paroled last September.

George Elenbark, 45, now walks with a cane and has no feeling in his left ankle.

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.

Continue reading " Driver and Bar Responsible in Woman's Death " »

On May 21, an accident involving three trucks killed one driver and injured another on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to this Los Angeles times article, a dump truck decelerating as it approached a construction area on the highway’s northbound lanes in Chesterfield was rear-ended by a box truck.

The box truck swerved into a barricade and the driver was declared dead at the scene.

The dump truck broke apart, and part of the vehicle remained in the center lane. A truck carrying 8,000 gallons of kerosene swerved to miss it and overturned. That driver was flown to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

The family of the victim who died as well as the injured victim 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 Philadelphia 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.

Continue reading " Fatal 3-Truck Crash Shuts 26 Miles of NJ Turnpike " »

On May 20, a cleaning man was taken to a hospital after being sucked into a machine at a sausage-making company in Danvers, MA. The workplace accident happened when the man was cleaning the vacuum-type machine that is used to season the meat at DiLigui Sausage Co.

According to this article by The Associated Press on Philly.com, his head and shoulders became stuck in the machine after it somehow activated while being cleaned.

The article reported that the man was freed from the machine and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.

If the victim suffered any injuries, he 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 in Pennsylvania arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential PA 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, the Philadelphia workers compensation attorneys at Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP can help you. These dedicated PA 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.