Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

According to a report in the Green Bay Press Gazette, a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a 16-year old girl who fell 50 feet to her death in a 2007 amusement park swing accident was settled for $1 million dollars the maximum amount of policy limits.

It is also sad to note and report that Brandon Zucker, a young boy who was badly hurt in a “Roger Rabbit" amusement accident in Disneyland died January 26, 2009. According to news sources, Brandon Zucker, an Anaheim, California boy, suffered brain damage after being trapped under the car of a Disneyland Park ride in September 2000. At age 4, the young boy was badly injured when he fell from a Roger Rabbit Disneyland ride and was dragged about 10 feet, trapped underneath another car and suffered serious internal injuries including torn diaphragm, liver and spleen. The boy’s body was crushed by the ride, and he went into cardiac arrest suffering brain damage and was unable to walk or talk after the accident. Brandon’s mother, Victoria Zucker, stated that Brandon fought hard for the past 8 years. Our hearts and prayers go out to Brandon’s family.

Continue reading " Amusement Park Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit In 2007 Death of A Girl Who Fell 50 Feet To Her Death At An Amusement Park Swing Chair Accident - Young Man Injured On Roger Rabbit Amusement Dies " »

I recently had the privilege of attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, DC and similarly to Ruth Manuel-Logan was astounded when I noted how many 15-passenger vans were on I-95 southbound from Philadelphia traveling to the inauguration containing innocent children, churchgoers and others who were unknowingly traveling in one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road - the 15-passenger van.

Most of the time,15-passenger vans are operated by individuals who have not been trained or experienced with the most specific handling dynamics of the 15-passenger van. In fact, for many years, I had been an occupant in the 15-passenger van and allowed my children to attend camp and school while traveling in a 15-passenger van until I became aware of its dangers after representing many individuals and families who had lost loved ones or sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of a 15-passenger van accident. Surprisingly, or really not surprisingly (after one becomes aware of the dynamics and stability factors of these vehicles), three out of every four 15-passenger vans that overturned did not collide with another vehicle but overturned because of an inherent manufacturers design defect while executing a foreseeable accident avoidance or other sudden maneuver.

Continue reading " Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Rollover Attorney Salutes “Car Chick" Ruth Manuel-Logan - Warns Against Inherent 15-Passenger Van Dangers " »

When George Bush took office 8 years ago, he made no secret of his disdain for trial lawyers and his preference for corporate interests. Eight years later, the economy is in distress, individuals’ rights have been violated and more unsafe products continue to flood the market causing catastrophic injuries and deaths. According to a Bloomberg news article published on January 8, 2009 “The billion dollar jury verdict has disappeared from U.S. court rooms. Because of changes in legal rulings, punitive damage verdicts can be thrown out if they exceed actual damages; therefore, the diminished threat of high punitive damages has benefited corporate defendants by taking away the incentive to settle out of court.

The U.S. Supreme Court has chipped away at punitive damages for several years, most recently with its decision in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case where it will replace a $2.5 billion punitive damage award with one for $570 million

Continue reading " Bush Administration Judiciary Successful In Reducing Billion Dollar Punitive Damage Verdicts - A Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyer Weighs In " »

Nissan Motor Company has recalled thousands of Frontier Pathfinders and Xtera vehicles from the 2005 to 2009 model years to replace potentially defective airbag sensors that are vulnerable to damage from winter weather and road salt. More than 240,000 SUVs and trucks were recalled to fix the problem that could prevent the airbags from deploying in a crash.

In states where winter time salt is used, the mixture of snow, water and salt can enter the crash zone sensor and cause rust, interrupting the signal and preventing the airbags from deploying. Nissan says that the recall involves 242,720 vehicles sold in 20 states, including SUVs and trucks sold in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia product liability and airbag defect law firm of Reiff & Bily has handled many defective airbag cases involving defective sensors. During a car accident, airbags should deploy automatically to cushion the driver and passengers to reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury. Unfortunately, as we have to often seen, airbags can malfunction. In fact, we are currently working on a similar case involving a Nissan vehicle resulting in a life changing catastrophic injury.

If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of a defective airbag, please contact one of the experienced defective airbag lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free consultation. We have the knowledge and experience in investigating and prove your airbag injury case. We represent clients throughout Pennsylvania and the United States.

A Missouri woman who sustained serious head injuries when a towing coupler came apart from a large homemade house trailer that crashed head on into her car successfully won $8.6 million dollars against the manufacturer of the towing coupler. The jury determined that the Dutton-Lainson Company of Hastings, Nebraska knew about the defect in the coupler but did not correct it or issue a warning about it. The victim sustained serious head injuries when the coupler came apart on Illinois Route 143 in April 1997. The significant $8.6 million dollar damage verdict was broken down as $5 million dollars in punitive damages against Dutton-Lainson, $3.6 million dollars in natural damages against the companies and firm whose employees were towing the trailer. Dutton-Lainson’s attorney stated that the company will make all attempts to reverse the verdict.

The defective trailer lawyers at the Philadelphia defective trailer accident law firm of Reiff & Bily have long warned that in many states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, very minimal regulation exists with regard to trailers and their coupling devices. Many state laws, including Pennsylvania, are silent as to design or construction specifications for towed vehicles or for towing chains or hitches. All too often there are many safety violations and product defects that ultimately lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities. There is no Federal law, national agency, or Pennsylvania law that requires reporting or regulation of defective trailer coupler accidents.

Continue reading " Jury Awards Woman $8.6 Million Dollars Against The Manufacturer Of An Allegedly Defective Towing Coupler Manufactured By Dutton-Lainson Company of Hastings, Nebraska " »

The Philadelphia Product Liability law firm of Reiff & Bily wishes to inform you that the Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs has recalled 56,450 Jardine cribs manufactured in China by Jardine Enterprises of Taipei, Taiwan due to the fact that wooden slats can break and create a gap that can entrap or strangle a child. This is an expansion of a previous recall of Jardine Enterprise cribs where it was noted that wooden slats and spindles would break, trap, and strangle infants. Owners of Jardine cribs should check both the first and second recall notices to see if their crib is affected by the recall. The cribs were sold at Kids World, Geoffrey Stores, Toy R Us, Babies R Us and other stores nationwide. Jardine is recalling the Berkley, Capri, Hilton, Olympia, Positano, Spindle and Windsor cribs. These potentially unsafe cribs were sold nationwide from January 2002 through January 2009 for between $220 and $330.

There has been a rash of recent recalls of products manufactured in China posing the ethical question - Are we placing the health, well being and safety of our children to save a few dollars and maximize profits by manufacturers? The recent recall seems to indicate that products manufactured in China are not being manufactured with the same quality standards as those manufactured in the United States even though the average purchaser would assume they had the same standards.

Recently, another recall of over 19 million of Mattel Corporation toys that were imported from China and contained excessive amounts of lead paint causing potential catastrophic injuries and fatalities to young children.

While we would like to think that most of the products manufactured for children in this country as well as abroad are safe, many are not as evidenced by the numerous CPSC recalls.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed by a defective or unsafe product, toy, or crib, please contact the product liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily today at 1-800-421-9595 for a free evaluation of your case. Since 1979 we have committed our efforts to protecting injured consumers and promoting consumer safety. For more information, please feel free to browse our website at www.reiffandbily.com.

Since 1979, the Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff & Bily has been representing individuals who have been involved in accidents or assaults by individuals who were visibly intoxicated and continued to be served intoxicating substances by bars or establishments known as Dram Shops. The current laws of Pennsylvania allow for Dram Shops to be held liable for injuries caused or suffered by intoxicated persons. The theory behind the Pennsylvania Dram Shop Law is to protect not only the public at large but also to protect the individual consuming the alcohol.

Currently Pennsylvania is in a minority of jurisdictions that allows intoxicated patrons to recover for damages caused by their own intoxication if the bar or restaurant that served them had knowledge that they were intoxicated. Often Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop law comes into play when an intoxicated person causes a serious car accident or the person is injured in a bar fight.

Continue reading " Pennsylvania’s Current Dram Shop Law Makes It Unlawful To Serve Liquor or Malt or Any Brewed Alcoholic Beverages To Any Person Visibly Intoxicated " »

The Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Reiff & Bily advise you that a voluntary and precautionary recall program has been launched by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission in cooperation with Atomic Skis GMBH of Austria for Atomic ski bindings that were produced between the years 1998 and 2002. Atomic has noted on its own website that the heel housing component of these bindings could crack, possibly causing the binding to release early posing a falling risk to the skier. Therefore, these bindings must no longer be used.

The models affected include Atomic Race, Xentrix, Device, Centro, and Dynamic. These models were sold by Atomic dealers from 1998 through 2005 for between $150 and $350. It is important to note that skiers are advised by OHS and Atomic to stop using these bindings immediately and return them to an authorized Atomic dealer. The dealer will inspect your bindings for free and will replace the heel component if necessary.

If you or a loved has been injured because of a defective product, please call the Philadelphia product liability law firm of Reiff & Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Willow Crest Manor was shut down by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in December after two patients allegedly died because of possible medical errors. Stacey Witalec, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Welfare, stated, “Given the history of serious and life-threatening incidents this facility has had... it is our intention for them to remain closed." Many of the patients of Willow Crest Manor were elderly or suffered from mental illness. In ordering the closing, DPW stated that Willow Crest failed to give one of the patients who died Medrol as prescribed by a doctor for bronchitis and asthma and failed to elevate her legs which were covered with open bleeding ulcers according to agency records. The home also failed to give emergency treatment and report her death within 24 hours as the law requires. In the past, Willow Crest had been in trouble with the Commonwealth for numerous health and safety violations including but not limited to understaffing and medication and recordkeeping errors. For more details on this story, see the article published by The Inquirer on Friday, December 19, 2008. (news article)

Continue reading " Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Salutes The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania For Shutting Down Willow Crest Manor " »

As an experienced Pennsylvania Dram Shop and premises liability lawyer practicing since 1979, I am all too familiar with a fact with which many of my readers may not be aware. Mainly that if you host a holiday party at your home, you can be held liable for injuries sustained by your guests if they hit the road while intoxicated and cause an injury to themselves or others. Louis Paster was quoted as saying that chance favors the prepared mind.

According to a new survey on homeowner’s insurance by The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, many homeowners are unaware of the risks that they may be taking or of their own responsibilities to insure that their guests don’t hit the road drunk. Additional risks of a homeowner to watch out for are defects on the property where someone may slip and fall, including uneven carpets or uneven flooring surfaces, ice or snow on the entrance way that has not been shoveled, food poisoning from prepared or catered food, as well as many other situations that the average homeowner may not think of.

Continue reading " Did You Know That You Can Be Liable For The Injuries Of Your Guests If You Host A Holiday Party. Chance Favors The Prepared Mind. " »