Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

Recently, nineteen-year-old Thomas Andrew Kocon pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering other persons, careless driving, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. The Delaware County Times reports that he took his hands of the wheel to get a CD, causing a Pennsylvania car collision that killed two girls and injured three others on December 12, 2009.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that almost 20 percent of all car crashes in 2008 involved some form of distraction. Nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver and more than half a million were injured that year. Distracting activities included cell phone use, eating, changing the radio/CD, reading and others.

Because of his negligent actions, Mr. Kocon could also be held civilly responsible for this fatal Pennsylvania car accident. The victims and their families would be well advised to seek attorneys who handle wrongful death/personal injury cases in PA.

If you have recently lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, contact the Pennsylvania wrongful death attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free evaluation of your case. We can work to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in a court of law, and seek compensatory damages on behalf of your lost loved one to help pay for medical bills, funeral arrangements, and even lost wages. We are determined to win substantial settlements for injured clients. Call us today for a free consultation of your PA wrongful death case.

Two men were killed and three others were injured in a head-on collision on I-95 near Broad Street in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving, November 25. The drivers of both vehicles involved were killed and 3 passengers were seriously injured. According to Philly.com, one of the vehicles had been traveling north in the southbound lanes.

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are higher fatality rates during holiday periods. In 2002, there were 543 crash fatalities over the Thanksgiving holiday. The number of fatalities per day during both the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holiday periods is significantly higher than the fatalities per day for the rest of December. In 2006, there were 392 crashes over the Christmas holiday period, 160 of those involved impaired drivers.

Weather conditions and road surface conditions can also negatively affect vehicle handling and driver sight, especially during the holidays in winter. In 2008, there were 145 deaths from Pennsylvania car crashes that involved rain and rain/fog. There were 55 that involved snow/sleet.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident during the holiday season, contact Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation with one of our experienced Philadelphia car crash attorneys. They have extensive experience representing those who have been involved in even the most complex Pennsylvania car accident cases.

Remember that during the holidays be careful while heading to your destination and have extra patience while driving your vehicle!

NJ.com reports that a construction worker was killed after being trapped under a milling machine on the New Jersey turnpike on November 9.

The accident happened around midnight. The construction worker was setting the depth on the “rolling grinder” machine when the operator of the apparatus noticed he had been trapped.
In 2009, there were a reported 224 fatal construction work injuries, the most of any industry in the private sector. The number of fatalities in construction did decline 16 percent since 2008, which may be due to economic factors. Out of the total number of work fatalities that year, 232 workers were killed by being caught or compressed in machinery.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported about 20% of workplace injuries take place between 4 p.m. and midnight. Although that may appear safer, the severity of the injuries is greater in the non-daytime hours.

Safety in the workplace is the first step in the reduction of workplace injury accidents in Pennsylvania. State and federal laws are in place that set strict standards for workplace safety, including requirements for safety equipment; procedures for dealing with heavy objects, machinery or dangerous chemicals; and limitations on how long workers may go without a break. It is the job of the employer to not only adhere to these rules, but also to train their workers in proper safety etiquette and make sure they are aware of the rules and laws that are in place.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have the knowledge and skill to represent cases of severe injury or death from Pennsylvania construction site accidents. They have successfully represented the families of workers killed in Pennsylvania construction site accidents caused by the following: heavy equipment; faulty scaffolding; electrocutions; falls; malfunctioning equipment; lax safety regulation enforcement; trench cave-ins exposure to toxic chemicals; falling objects; and other fatal construction site accidents. If your loved one has been killed in a PA construction accident, please call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free consultation.

According to The Delaware County Times, on November 13, seven motorcyclists were involved in a collision in Ocotillo, CA. A Honda Accord triggered the motorcycle accident when he attempted to pass a dozen motorcycles, which forced another vehicle to swerve to avoid a head-on car crash. He lost control and killed 4 motorcyclists. The Honda Accord did not stop.

The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 4,000 deaths and around 76,000 injuries take place every year as a result of motorcycle accidents. If passenger vehicles don’t obey the rules of the road, they 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.

Motorcycle accidents have a variety of causes such as driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, driver error, poor weather conditions, and defective motor vehicle parts. A PA motorcycle collision with a car, truck, SUV or other motor vehicle will likely cause serious injury or death to the motorcyclist.

The police are still looking for the Honda driver who caused this tragic motorcycle accident. That driver can be held liable for the crash in a court of law. Families of accident victims have the right to seek damages from reckless motorists on behalf of lost loved ones, and the best strategy in doing so is to retain the services of an experienced accident attorney who will examine all circumstances surrounding an accident to determine the negligent parties involved. The Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP, understand the severity of motorcycle accidents and their life-changing effects. Call today for a free and confidential consultation.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which people who work or live in a building contaminated with chemicals, mold, or other hazards experience illness related to being in the building, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When the symptoms progress to the point of causing a diagnosable illness, the EPA uses the term “building-related illness.” Both can cause serious health problems for those exposed to these “sick buildings.”

The causes of SBS vary, depending on the building and its contents. Inadequate ventilation in buildings can result in chemicals being trapped inside, where they can harm building occupants. Even if ventilation is adequate, chemicals from adhesives, carpeting, machinery, and cleaning agents can make people sick. Chemical contaminants may also come in from outdoors in the form of car exhaust, pesticides, and other compounds. Finally, biological contaminants, like mold, bacteria, and viruses can cause illness.

The symptoms of sick building syndrome include headaches, fever or chills, dizziness, irritated eyes or respiratory tract, coughing, dry or itchy skin, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Usually, the cause of the symptoms cannot be pinpointed, but patients usually experience relief when they leave the sick building.

Building owners, business owners and workplace supervisors have a responsibility to check for SBS if workers or residents start becoming ill, and to take corrective measures to ensure the health of residents or employees. Since SBS can result in severe health problems that are difficult to treat, the medical costs of exposure to a sick building can be astronomical, particularly if those responsible for the building do nothing or do too little to solve the problem.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to a sick building, you have certain legal rights and options. The experienced Pennsylvania toxic tort attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP can help you understand your case and take the next step to protect yourself and your family. Call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today at 1-888-684-7192 for a free and confidential consultation of your potential toxic tort case.

On November 10, Kyle Malcolm Washington led police on a chase that included speeding, running stop signs, and endangering construction workers. He eventually struck a vehicle and then fled the scene of the Pennsylvania car accident. According to an article in The Delaware County Times, the driver of the vehicle that was struck suffered injuries.

Motorists like Washington who fail to adhere to traffic laws and safe driving practices are ultimately responsible for causing Pennsylvania car crashes. Traveling at speeds greater than posted speed limits is a form of aggressive driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as a driver who commits a combination of moving offenses so as to endanger persons and property. Negligent drivers’ unsafe driving practices are an intentional decision to violate a combination of basic traffic laws. Aggressive driving kills an estimated 1,000 people a year.

When drivers are traveling at excessive speeds, the Pennsylvania auto accidents they cause are often very severe and may result in a victim suffering life-changing and sometimes permanent injuries. A high number of fatalities also result from aggressive driving car accidents.

If you or a loved has been involved in a Pennsylvania car crash caused by an aggressive driver, you may seek damages for your injuries, including compensation for loss of income, pain and suffering, disability, medical expenses, and even punitive damages to punish and discourage the negligent person from unsafe and reckless conduct.

Please contact the Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation of your car crash case. They have the experience and knowledge that are necessary to represent clients involved in even the most complex Philadelphia car crash cases.

The Delaware County Times reports that a PA appeals court denied an appeal from a plastic surgeon from King of Prussia in a Pennsylvania medical malpractice case. The family of Amy Fledderman was awarded $20.5 million after they filed a suit against Richard P. Glunk. Fledderman died from complications from liposuction surgery and the jury found Glunk liable for Pennsylvania medical malpractice.

Surgical errors are a type of Pennsylvania medical malpractice that may take place when an attending surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical resident, or nursing staff causes an error that result in an injury. With so many surgeries being performed each year, countless patients are suffering from surgical errors, such as surgeries being performed on the wrong body part, surgical instrument related injuries, and anesthesia accidents.

Liposuction is a surgery with significant health risks, including infection, organ punctures, embolisms, nerve damage, toxicity from anesthesia, and death. The patient must be informed of all serious risks associated with the procedure, as well as those that are of particular concern to that individual patient. If a physician does not disclose the risks of a medical procedure, they could be liable for negligence. If Ms. Fledderman had known about the risk associated with the surgery, she may not have undergone the procedure.

If your a loved one has been the victim of Pennsylvania medical malpractice, the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP, will help make the process as simple as possible. In most cases, a Pennsylvania wrongful death claim can be handled along with a medical malpractice claim. Please call our law office today for free consultation.

On November 5, a Columbia Gas worker was struck by a car and killed while working in York, PA. According to The York Daily Record, there have been several similar Pennsylvania car accidents in this region in the past eight years.

In 2008 in the United States, about 5071 fatal work injuries were reported. Two-fifths of those incidents were transportation accidents. Of the 2053 transportation fatalities, 322 involved a workers being struck by a vehicle.

There are many potential hazards on a Pennsylvania construction site that endanger workers’ lives. When a worker is killed on the job, the victim’s family should contact an experienced Pennsylvania construction accident death lawyer to seek damages against the company. If a third party caused or contributed to the accident that killed the victim, that party may also be liable under all the laws that govern injuries outside the workplace. A third party is any person or organization that is not the victim’s employer and includes the driver of a car that hit your loved one while they were at work.

The Pennsylvania construction accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have many decades of combined experience helping families during this very difficult time. They have successfully represented the families of workers killed in construction site accidents. Families may face economic hardship, which includes medical and funeral expenses that can lead to extreme financial and emotional suffering.

An attorney from Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP can launch an investigation into the fatal Pennsylvania construction accident, determine if safety measures were in place and fight hard to seek damages for the victim’s family. Call today for a free consultation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently cited trucking company JBS Carriers for multiple safety violations, including violating hours-of-service rules and rules on commercial drivers’ licenses.

The company must install electronic on-board recorders in all 700 of its trucks or pay over $81,000 in fines. In addition to installing the electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs), JBS must also train its drivers in how to use them properly and set up a plan to incorporate the data from the EOBRs into its evaluations of its drivers.

The trucking company, which makes deliveries nationwide for food companies and other clients, had falsified its employees’ hours of service records, according to FMCSA. The company had also allowed drivers without valid commercial drivers’ licenses to drive the company’s trucks.

The federal government’s hours-of-service rules prohibit drivers from driving for extended periods of time without getting proper rest. The rules are in place to protect drivers from becoming too fatigued to drive safely and help prevent truck accidents. Sleepy drivers increase the risk of an accident because they cannot pay full attention to the road, nor can they react quickly in an emergency. When a truck driver becomes fatigued, the truck poses an even greater risk to other motorists on the road than ordinary passenger cars due to the truck’s large size and weight.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP. We will examine your case carefully and help you understand your legal rights and options. Call 888-684-7192 today for a free case evaluation.

Each year, over 200,000 children are treated at U.S. hospitals and emergency rooms for injuries that happened on the playground, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly half of these injuries are severe, including broken or dislocated bones; internal injuries; amputated limbs, fingers or toes; and severe head trauma such as concussions. Although deaths from playground injuries are rare, life-altering injuries unfortunately are not.

According to the CDC, most playground injuries occur on climbing equipment or on swings. Injuries on playgrounds can occur in public parks, at schools, or even at home, though most playground injuries take place when kids are on recess during school hours. Children between the ages of five and nine are at the highest risk for serious playground-related injuries.

Parents throughout Philadelphia can help protect children from falls on the playground by examining playground equipment to make sure it is maintained properly, with no loose parts, missing fasteners, or broken pieces. The surface below playground equipment should also be soft enough to cushion a fall. While these steps can help you protect your children, no parent can find every hidden danger on a playground. Equipment with unseen defects or that was installed incorrectly may look safe, but may also lead to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or other life-altering consequences.

If your child was injured on a playground in Pennsylvania and you believe another person’s negligence is to blame, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to learn about your rights and legal options. The Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP will fight hard for the compensation your child and your family deserve. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today at 888-684-7192.

John Kotchey, 58, an Allegheny County, PA employee, died after the power saw he was using kicked back and cut his neck. According to the article on WPXI.com, he was cutting a broken water line when he was killed in the Pennsylvania workplace accident on November 9. The article said he was wearing safety gear.

Pennsylvania construction accidents are more likely than any other workplace accident to result in wrongful death. There are many potential hazards on a construction site that endanger workers’ lives. Out of the work fatalities that occurred in 2008 in the United States, 969 were in construction and about 508 of those deaths were caused by a worker being struck by their equipment.

Many rules and regulations exist to protect workers from injuries caused by power tools and other hazards in the workplace. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) outlines safety tips, tool use, and other advice for protecting workers from injuries on the job.

OSHA routinely inspects all kinds of work environments for hazards relating to building codes, equipment maintenance, ventilation and much more. OSHA also maintains resources at its website for workers to use if they see dangers in their places of work. The regulations put in place by OSHA can be a significant part of a work injury claim if the agency did not catch a safety issue prior to an injury.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP know about OSHA statutes and their relevance to cases in which workers suffer injury while on-the-job. They can launch an investigation into the fatal Pennsylvania workplace accident, determine if safety measures were in place, and fight hard to seek damages for the victim’s family. Call today if you have lost a loved one due to a fatal Philadelphia workplace accident.

Twenty-five year old Jennifer Rose of Clifton Heights, PA was struck by a car while crossing the street on November 7 at Oak and Cambridge Avenues. The article in The Delaware County Times reports that John Durkin was driving a Jeep Liberty turning onto Oak from Cambridge when the he struck the woman.

Pedestrian deaths represented 9.7% of all crash-related deaths (2008). In 2008, there were 142 Pennsylvania pedestrian accident deaths and 4,389 pedestrians injured in PA. Most pedestrian crashes and deaths occur while pedestrians are “entering crossing/specified location,” meaning a pedestrian was most likely crossing the street at an intersection, mid-block crossing, or driveway entrance.

According to Pennsylvania law, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Based on the article, it appears that the pedestrian was legally using the crosswalk at the time. It’s not clear is why the driver failed to see the woman in time to avoid hitting her. Police will need to look into whether the driver was distracted, inattentive, speeding or otherwise negligent.

If you or a loved one has been in a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident, you should seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. Victims 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.

Ramifications of a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident can last a lifetime because the unshielded human body is just not designed to stand up to the impact of a passenger vehicle, truck, or other conveyance. The pedestrian can be flung and suffer severe impact, such as brain injury, paralysis, broken bones, even disfigurement or death. Call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation with a Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorney.

The Centre Daily Times reports that Judith Meyers, a 70-year-old woman from Centre Hall, PA, filed a lawsuit against the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Healthsouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation as well as several doctors. The lawsuit claims that they did not order tests in time that could potentially have diagnosed a tumor. An emergency surgery left her paralyzed.

Pennsylvania nedical malpractice includes misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical errors, prescription drug errors, birth injuries, failure to treat diseases, delay in treatment, and negligence. People of all ages are at risk for medical malpractice, including children, adults, and the elderly.

Failure to diagnose cancer is a serious type of malpractice that costs many people their lives. Early detection and early treatment are the keys to beating cancer and preventing it from spreading. Many people are suffering needlessly because their doctors have not properly diagnosed their cancer.

Hospital negligence applies to many situations that can occur within the healthcare system. A hospital staff member may cause harm to a patient that is unintentional. However, the person who caused the harm may still be liable if he or she neglected to perform the duties of the job in a reasonable manner and that neglect caused injury to a patient. Failing to properly diagnose a patient so that he or she can receive appropriate treatment for a condition and failing to order and/or complete tests and procedures that are appropriate for a specific illness or condition are examples of negligence.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact Cherry Fieger, & Marciano, LLP to discuss your case with an experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer right away. They may be able to recover the maximum monetary compensation for your injuries and suffering. They offer free consultations.

Sheila McCrea was recently sentenced to 6 years in prison after she crashed her car on the Atlantic City Expressway on July 19, 2009. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, her blood-alcohol level was 0.201 % when she swerved into a guardrail, killing her daughter’s friend and injuring her daughter and two nieces.

On average, every day 1.5 persons are killed and 26 people are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. In 2008, in Pennsylvania, 534 people died in alcohol-related crashes. Ninety percent of the alcohol-related occupant deaths were in the vehicle driven by the drinking driver; 75% were the drinking drivers themselves.

Individuals like Ms. McCrea who are deemed responsible for causing a fatal Pennsylvania car crash can be held liable for having done so in a court of law. Families of car crash victims have the right to seek damages from reckless motorists on behalf of lost loved ones, and the best strategy in doing so is to retain the services of an experienced car collision attorney who will examine all circumstances surrounding an accident to determine the negligent parties involved.

If you have recently lost a loved one in an car accident, please don't hesitate to contact the attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free evaluation of your case. These Pennsylvania auto accident attorneys can help hold negligent parties accountable for their actions, seeking compensatory damages on behalf of your loved ones to help pay for medical bills and funeral arrangements, if necessary. Call today at 888-684-2374 for more information.

New Jersey Department of Public Works employee Jay Artale was injured while repairing a water main in Fairfield, NJ on October 29. An article on NJ.com reports that he sprained his neck and back and suffered bruises on his legs and arms when the walls of a hole caved in on him. A co-worker was also injured.

Construction sites are often associated with a higher amount of vulnerability as opposed to the environments of a common office or shop. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported 299 fatalities in 2008 that were caused by being caught in or compressed by objects. That same year, there were a total of 91 construction injuries in New Jersey, 15 of which were due to contact with an object or equipment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, an experienced work injury attorney would look at the specific conditions and factors that led to that injury. The Pennsylvania work injury lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have helped many workers pursue claims for injuries that left them with limited means to provide for families and make their own way along a future career path.

These experienced, aggressive Pennsylvania construction accident injuries attorneys have many decades of combined experienced helping injured workers and their families seek damages to help pay for construction accident injuries such as crushed limbs, back injuries, paralysis, electrocutions, broken bones, internal injuries, head injuries, severed limbs, chemical burns, and others.

They can advise clients on necessary parts of a workers’ compensation process, such as an independent medical review where the injured worker may be required to participate. Skilled legal teams can guide the work injury victim through the entire process of building and pursuing a case.

Call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP today so they can help you find your way to a successful end to a PA work injury case.

On Wednesday, November 3, a bus on its way to Pencader Charter High School in New Castle, Delaware, overturned on a ramp close to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, reports Philly.com. Thirty-two students were injured, as well as a school aide. It is reported that the driver of the bus approached the ramp at an unsafe speed, causing the bus crash.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 1996 and 2006, 96 crashes occurred in which at least one occupant of a school bus died. More than 50 percent involved another vehicle. In more than half of all crashes involving fatalities, the principal point of impact was the front of the vehicle.

Victims of bus crashes such as this one should consult with an experienced auto accident attorney. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus crash, the Pennsylvania bus accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP will examine all facts relating to the accident to properly conclude if negligence was involved and if there is an at-fault party. Many factors can contribute to a Pennsylvania traffic accident, including poor road conditions, bad weather, defective auto parts, or if drugs or alcohol were involved.

If the bus driver is found to be at fault, the bus company, in this instance the Lehane Bus Company, and possibly the school district could be held liable in a court of law. Drivers of school buses should be particularly careful about maintaining enough stopping distance between their vehicle and the ones in front of them because many school buses do not have seat belts. Stopping suddenly or crashing into another motor vehicle can be particularly dangerous when young passengers do not have safety belts to help restrain them.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have many years of experience representing Pennsylvania bus crash cases. Call 888-684-7192 today for a free consultation with one of our highly skilled attorneys.

One construction worker died and another was injured after a roof collapsed at The Hill School in Pottstown on November 1. An article in The Delaware County Times reported that the men were working on the roof of a utility building when the Pennsylvania construction accident occurred.

Falls from roofs are of particular concern at construction sites. In 2008, there were 121 worker deaths in caused by falls from a roof. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 2003 to 2007, construction worker falls from roofs resulted in 686 fatalities. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls at construction sites are the most frequent causes of deaths, and account for about one of three construction-related fatalities every year.

Most construction site fall accidents occur in one of the following scenarios: unprotected sides, wall openings and floor holes; improper scaffold construction; unguarded protruding steel rebar; and/or misuse of portable ladders.

The Pennsylvania construction site accident attorneys at the personal injury law firm of Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have decades of experience helping injured workers and their families seek damages against construction companies. It is essential to understand how and why safety lapses occurred, to determine how the fall accident could have been prevented with the right equipment and to help the victim and their family pursue damages. If you or a loved one has been injured by a fall at a Pennsylvania construction site, call us today at 888-684-7192 for a free consultation.

A New Jersey family is part of a class action lawsuit against Kiddie Kollage daycare. An article on Philly.com states that after attending the daycare, their children have shown health problems as well as behavioral problems that may be linked to high levels of mercury vapors. Mercury vapors can cause many serious health issues including brain, CNS, and kidney ailments.

Parents who are looking at daycare centers for their children would be well advised to check with local governments to ensure that the facilities where you leave your children are properly licensed and accredited.

It is common for groups of people who have all been exposed to the same toxin because of the same event to bring legal claims as a group in order to seek compensation for wrongful toxic exposure. Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP represent consumers, injured persons and small business claims in class action lawsuits with the intention of receiving monetary or other damage claims within the Federal and Pennsylvania State court systems.

The purpose of a class action suit is to allow a group of individuals with like grievances against one company or other entity instead of dozens of similar cases tying up the courts. The results may apply to not only the claims of those individuals but the claims of the entire group as well.

When the actions of a company present a result or results harmful to a group, a class action lawsuit may begin to develop. Class action suits have been brought against companies that take part in injurious practices including offering deceptive data to sell goods or services including inconsistent charges by banks, insurance providers, and credit card or mortgage companies.

If you are currently a member of a class action suit at the Federal level or within the State of Pennsylvania, contact a Philadelphia class action lawyer at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP, for assistance in assessment of your case.

A brain cancer study at a Rohm & Haas research center concluded that the number of employees who died of that illness was higher than should be expected. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article, a study found that that rate was 1.88 times the level in the general population (U.S.) and the death rate at the Spring House location was 2.02 times the prevalence in PA.

In 2008, there were 127 workers nationally who died of an exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances. Exposure to deadly chemicals can seriously impact an individual’s well being. Occupational exposure to substances can slowly but surely render an otherwise healthy individual permanently affected by acute or chronic injury.

Chemical exposure in the workplace can take on a variety of forms. The use of hazardous materials can create dust and fumes that are breathed into the body, permanently damaging the lungs and slowly debilitating an individual’s health. Chemicals can cause skin damage if handled improperly, especially if an employee is not properly trained on how to handle them. Regardless of how one is exposed to toxic materials, those materials can cause brain danger, can induce cancer, and may even lead to death. Employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees, and this protection is supposed to come in the form of proper training, building facilities that are up to code, and necessary care and planning always taken every time dangerous materials are handled in the work place.

If you’ve been injured while on-the-job by dangerous materials, the experienced Philly chemical exposure attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP will fight to restore your rights as an employee, and will seek compensatory damages on your behalf to assist with the costs such as medical bills, lost wages, and physical therapy. If your employer was negligent, they may be held liable for failing to protect their employees against chemical exposure and other preventable dangers. Call today for a free consultation.

On October 26, 26-year-old Veronica Santiago was struck by a pickup truck while crossing Fifth and York Streets in Philadelphia. According to Philly.com, the pedestrian accident happened around 8:30 p.m. The driver of the pickup truck fled the scene of the Pennsylvania pedestrian accident. Ms. Santiago suffered severe head trauma and died hours later.

About 11% of all vehicle accidents are hit-and-run car accidents. In the United States there are about 700,000 hit-and-run car accidents reported each year. When a family loses a loved one in a pedestrian accident and the negligent driver is absent, they not only suffer emotionally, but also financially.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano , LLP have a long track record helping people bring negligent drivers to justice for Pennsylvania pedestrian accidents and they offer a free consultation to anyone with questions about whether their pedestrian accident could result in a valid lawsuit.

Pedestrians are the second-largest group of all car accident fatalities. In 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in the United States. A pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 120 minutes and injured every 8 minutes. As was the case with this particular pedestrian accident, about 72% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas 70% were at night.

Ms. Santiago had young children. Her family would be advised to contact a competent, reputable Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorney who will investigate this tragic accident. Cherry Fieger & Marciano , LLP offer a free and confidential consultation.

A teenager has been charged in hit and run collision that killed an 81-year-old pedestrian Zitto Egitto of Willow Grove. According to the article in The Philadelphia Daily News, the 17-year-old was driving almost 80 mph in a 35-mph zone and trying a technique known as “drifting.”

Elderly pedestrians are very likely to be killed if struck by a car. Statistics show that pedestrians aged 75 and over represent a sizable portion of pedestrian deaths. In 2008, about 26 people in that age range died and bout 170 were injured in pedestrian accidents. The fatality rate for pedestrians age 65 and older was 2.07 per 100,000.

Drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 are the least experienced drivers and they are also prone to over zealous driving performance, perhaps due to their youth and peer pressure. Recently, there are news reports of teenagers trying the “drifting” maneuver, in which the driver pulls on the emergency brake and turns the wheel to slide the car sideways.

Because of the negligence of this driver, an innocent pedestrian lost her life. “Drifting” is just one of many forms of reckless driving, including traveling over the posted speed limits.

Mr Egitto’s family should contact a Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorney who will look into the accident. Cherry Fieger & Marciano can help families who have lost loved ones bring negligent drivers to justice for pedestrian accidents and they offer a free consultation to anyone with questions about whether that accident could result in a valid lawsuit.