Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

As insurance carriers get more picky as to the comfort of their risk levels, some carriers are refusing to insure certain breeds of dogs and other animals. Many carriers however still do not inquire about dog breeds during the underwriting process. The Center For Disease Control has listed the following breeds as the most dangerous based upon fatal human attacks which could be particularly prone to insurance claims: Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepard, Huskies, Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, and Chow Chow. Many insurance carriers claim that these dogs have a reputation of being intimidating and aggressive, particularly towards strangers.

Some states have a very specific definition of what constitutes a dangerous dog and may include but not limited to the following: aggressively bites, attacks, or inflicts severe injury on a human on public or private property; has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal on lawful owners property; has been used preliminarily or in part for dog fighting which when unprovoked chases or approaches another individual in a menacing fashion or attitude of attack.

As an experienced Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer and animal attack attorney for over 30 years, I am well aware that approximately 60% of all seriously injured dog bite victims are children. In Pennsylvania, dog bite injury victims can legally hold a dog’s owner responsible for their injuries. Pennsylvania dog owners are only legally obligated to restrain or control the dog to make sure the public is safe from harm. If the dog is not on a lease or properly secured on an owner’s premises or the dog owner knew that his or her dog was prone to violence yet did not take proper safety measures to prevent someone from being bitten, mauled, or killed, the owner can be held financially liable by a Pennsylvania court. The Philadelphia dog bite lawyers of Reiff & Bily understand that many involved in a dog bite situation may have permanent scarring or catastrophic and severe bodily injuries and unfortunately, sometimes a wrongful death.

Continue reading " As Insurance Companies Get Banged For Dog And Animal Bites, Many Carriers Maintain A List Of Dog Breeds They Won’t Insure " »

As a top amusement park accident lawyer and top hayride accident lawyer for over three-decades, I am always concerned but not surprised to learn when many innocent and unknowing victims are seriously injured as a result of a hayride accident.

Recently 44 members of a church group were injured during a hayride accident in Washington state when a tractor pulling a trailer jack-knifed ejecting passengers onto the roadway. According to news sources, the tractor was heading down the steepest hill on Shaw Island, Washington where the hill’s surface material was compacted gravel with a 5% downgrade. The hay bale trailer was loaded with hay and 50 people when the tractor gained speed. According to news sources, the trailer did not have brakes and was literally pushing the tractor down the hill and the front axle of the trailer failed spilling the passengers on the roadway resulting in broken bones, sprains, and lacerations to many of the victims. The accident remains under investigation and the police are also looking into a heavy load of people and logs that were placed in the trailer for seating, together with maintenance records for the tractor and trailer.

Hayrides are quasi-amusement rides and in my humble opinion as a hayride and defective trailer accident lawyer who has investigated and litigated these claims, many hayrides are simply accidents waiting to happen when proper control mechanisms are not in place. The operators of hayrides owe the highest duty of care to the passengers on the ride. They are often operated in dark and noisy environments frequently visited by children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated that a number of serious injuries resulting from hayrides and trailer malfunctions has risen dramatically. Unfortunately most hayrides involve the use of a trailer hitch to a tractor or truck pull and NHTSA has admitted that no standard exists for such trailer hitches. Many state laws, including Pennsylvania, are silent as to the design and construction specification for many of the trailers used in hayrides.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this accident.

The amusement and hayride accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation confidential consultation to victims of amusement park accidents and hayride accidents. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Recently a New York jury awarded $1.1 million dollars to a woman who was struck by a falling shelf in a Bronx grocery store. The jury found that the shelf was improperly stocked and had not been properly secured, and the victim claimed that the shelf fell on her while another worker was placing aluminum pans on the same. The victim claimed that the shelf dislodged, fell on her head, and activated an arthritic condition of her spine causing herniations of two discs. The defense denied negligence of the shop owner and also contended that the woman’s condition was not worsened by the accident. However the jury thought otherwise.

As an experienced Philadelphia premise liability lawyer for over three decades who has represented generations of injured victims, the law recognizes that when you enter a business premise, you are classified as a business invitee and are owed the highest duty of care. If a property owner neglected to correct an unsafe condition or caused an unsafe condition to exist which caused your injuries such as being harmed by falling merchandise or shelves, you may have a right to recover compensatory damages. If your injuries require you to take time off from work and undergo medical procedures, rehabilitation, and lost wages, an experienced Pennsylvania premise liability lawyer can help you recover the compensate that you deserve.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia premise liability lawyer and store injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily
have protected the rights of injured people and their families throughout Pennsylvania. We always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced swimming and drowning accident lawyer who also happens to live on the beach, many times I often observe individuals going into the ocean with belly boards or rafts when there are strong currents and high winds. Many times conditions are simply unsafe, however individuals seemingly believe that the raft, belly board, or other personal flotation device will keep them safe.

Over the last weekend, two individuals drowned and died in water-related accidents while using personal flotation devices. Both individuals were experienced swimmers. As an experienced drowning and swimming accident attorney who also happened to be a lifeguard in his earlier years, I advise anyone using a body board or raft to use them only with a leash attached to the board and/or ankle or wrist. These are available in most shops where surf and body boards are sold and rented. With the leash, the user will not become separated from the flotation device. I also advise that one should not float where you can’t swim. Many times non-swimmers will use rafts or belly boards to go off shore and if they fall off, they may panic or get caught in the current and be unable to swim back to the raft or board even with a leash attached.

The water accident and drowning attorneys of Reiff & Bily are committed to water safety and recognize that even skilled swimmers often find themselves at risk for injury if they are not properly prepared. For more information, please contact us toll free at
1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

On the last day of a Bahama honeymoon, a tragic parasailing accident took the life of a newly wed wife of Victor Rodriguez, age 22. The 22-year old bride Crystal Rodriguez died after her parasailing harness apparently snapped while she was being towed sending her plunging more than 200 feet into the sea. Both Crystal and her husband were being towed by a speed boat with a parachute billowing behind them when the accident occurred on the final day of their 10 day honeymoon. Her broken hearted husband was wheeled onto a jet on a gurney with oxygen after spending the last five weeks with extensive internal injuries in a hospital in Orlando, Florida.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and as an amusement accident and parasailing accident attorney, accidents like this are always the most hard hitting.

Parasailing has been defined as a sport or recreational activity where one soars while harnessed to a parasail. The words “while harnessed" are the key words. Fortunately more than one can imagine, many people are wrongfully killed or tragically injured due to faulty equipment of the owner or operator or the parasail operation’s negligence. There is very little regulation or oversight of many of the companies that operate parasailing operations and they tend to operate for profit instead of safety.

Most victims who survive parasailing accidents have their lives forever changed due to injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, paraplegia, or even wrongful death due to a defective product or negligence on behalf of the company providing the parasailing service.

Continue reading " Parasailing Accident During Bahama Honeymoon Results In Death Of Wife And Serious Injuries To a Broken Hearted Husband " »

In recent weeks, two catastrophic deaths took the life of two special Americans. One an 11-year old honor student at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood and the second an American war hero, Sgt. James Hackemer, 29, who died on the Ride Of Steel roller coaster at Darien Lake Theme Amusement Park located east of Buffalo, NY. Hackemer had lost both his legs in a roadside bomb explosion while deployed to Iraq in 2008 and had to be assisted on the coaster. Just 11 days after turning eleven, Abiah Jones was on a school trip to a Wildwood, NJ amusement park to celebrate students who attained honorary scholastic achievement. In both cases, the question arises why park employees of the respective amusement parks let these individuals on the rides, and both incidents have sparked a renewed effort to place fixed site theme parks under federal regulatory oversight.

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA7) stated that local and state regulators who currently oversee amusement parks may lack budget resources and technical experience to carry out effective safety checks and investigate accidents. Rep. Markey plans to introduce legislation which he has proposed multiple times before the make fixed site amusement parks subject to regulatory authority of the CPSC, a federal consumer protection body, in an attempt to prevent future injuries. Owners of amusement parks as well as industry lobbyists oppose the legislation. Safety should be the number one concern, and as an experienced product liability and amusement park accident attorney who has fought for decades on behalf of catastrophically injured victims and those wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others and/or defectively manufactured and designed products. I believe safety should never be an option, and I believe that Federal oversight would most likely go a long way towards improving amusement park safety and question why the amusement industry is so opposed to it if they claim they are already operating safely and taking all steps to insure that accidents do not occur. I for one believe that the proposed check and balance legislation can only benefit rather than have a detrimental effect.

As an experienced Pennsylvania boating accident attorney, I want to thank Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett who signed into law last week new legislation which will now hold boat operators under the influence to the same penalties as driving a motor vehicle under the influence. The new law treats all vehicles similarly regardless of whether it is an air craft, water craft, or land vehicle. As an attorney who has investigated and prosecuted boating accident cases for over three decades, many times our investigations reveal that alcohol was a contributing factor. Common sense is all that is necessary to understand that sitting in the sun and alcohol is not a good mixture particularly when operating a boat. A boat is less controllable than a car and requiring one’s full facilities to properly and lawfully control and operate. Boats do not have brakes and the ability to stop or slow down quickly in an emergency or accident avoidance maneuver.

Several years ago, Pennsylvania state law reduced blood alcohol levels for operating under the influence to 0.8 down from 0.1 which now applies to boats. The newly signed law also recognizes that operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol will be treated as a second class felony. While many complain that the new law might impinge on the traditional boating and having a few cocktails on the water, this experienced Pennsylvania boating accident attorney has sat with victims and their families who were catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed believes that alcohol and the operation of any motor vehicle or machinery is a potentially deadly combination. If you want a drink, keep it at dockside or in the security of your home.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a boating accident, boating explosion , or any other vehicle accident involving the use of alcohol, our skilled and experienced catastrophic injury lawyers always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I was recently contacted by an investigative reporter concerning swimming pool accidents and drownings in Pennsylvania and one of the issues discussed was whether or not there was a safety difference between in ground or above ground pools. Simply stated, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and more children under the age of 12 will die or sustain a water submersion injury due to the failure of others to lock, look, and learn about pool safety.

As an experienced swimming pool accident, drowning, and water submersion injury lawyer for over three decades, one thing is for certain it really doesn’t matter what the size of the pool is or whether it is in ground or above ground, pools are still pools and it only takes a minute for a child to drown.

Researchers indicated that every 5 days across American, a child drowns in a portable swimming pool and almost half of these deaths happen in very shallow wading pools and according to the Mayo Clinic, a baby can drown in less than 1 inch of water. Most children’s drownings occur in the child’s own yard. Interestingly enough in many of the portable or above ground pool cases that we have investigated, many times there was the lack of a safety barrier or fence and the rationale explained by the defendant was that the small portable pool or above ground pool was not big enough to make expensive safety fencing necessary. Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury related death for children under 14 years of age. With the recent heat wave in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we have seen an increased amount of water rescues, drownings, and water submersion injuries. Many times if one purchases a portable or above ground pool retailers never inform the customer of local restrictions requiring fencing. Many advertisements state you can be swimming in no time and are more interested in profitability and the bottom line return for store owners than the safety of those who buy the pool.

Continue reading " Experienced Swimming Pool Drowning and Water Submersion Injury Lawyer Weighs In On Which Is Safer - Above Ground Or In Ground Pools " »

The Mississippi Supreme Court upheld a $4 million dollar jury award for a couple robbed and injured in 2008 at a Jackson, Mississippi extended stay motel. During an attack at the hotel, the victims sustained facial damage and a permanent eye injury, as well as post traumatic stress disorder after hearing the assailants talk about a rape during the physical attack. Although the victim was not raped and the three assailants were never captured, the verdict insures that the motel guests will now have necessary money for medical care. Additionally as a result of the verdict, a significant message was sent to the motel who subsequently upgraded motel security making it a safer place for customers and employees.

As an experienced Pennsylvania hotel attack, and negligent security lawyer, it is important that hotel owners and operators be held accountable when they fail to protect their customers from crime and attacks. While many of us read bold advertisements boasting about new and special beds or renovated rooms, it is essential for hotel and motel operators to insure the safety and privacy of motel guests as a top priority. As experienced hotel attack and negligent security lawyers, we are very well aware that this is not always the case. In the instant case, the facts reveal that the hotel operator had ignored the safety of its employees and customers. Facts were alleged stating that the manager had been robbed four times at gun point in the six months leading up to the victims attack and the manager of the hotel was begging the corporate office for a security guard to protect the guests and employees of the hotel and he was turned down. The couple alleged in the lawsuit that the hotel operator knew or should have known that it had inadequate security and that strangers, trespassers, and loiters frequently came into the property.

Since 1979, the experienced premises liability and inadequate security and hotel attack lawyers of the Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff & Bily have aggressively represented clients who have been injured on another’s premises. If you or a loved one has sustained a physical injury or robbery due to negligent security or hotel attack, it is best to contact an experienced hotel attack and negligent security lawyer to begin an immediate investigation into your case, as well as preserve evidence to properly prepare your case. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. We are greedy for justice in protecting the rights of injured consumers since 1979. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In the beginning of June, unfortunately, Abiah Jones, age 11, tragically fell to her death at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey. On Friday evening, July 8, 2011 war hero, Sgt. James T. Hackemer, 29, who lost both his legs in Iraq died after falling from a ride on a steel roller coaster at the Darien Lake Theme Park resort.

As an experienced amusement park accident attorney who has been intimately involved investigating and litigating amusement park cases for over three decades, I am extraordinarily concerned that the amusement park industry is one of the most highly unregulated industries, yet we entrust our children to thrill rides confidently assuming that they are safe and have been inspected. Massachusetts Congressman Edward J. Markey notes that he has been trying for years to pass a bill entitled The National Amusement Park Rides Safety Act that would close the number of loopholes regarding oversight of amusement park rides. The Bill calls for restoration of the Consumer Product Safety Commissions ability to oversee fixed site amusement rides, a job that the Commission had until 1981 when an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Act was passed removing language that gave the Commission responsibility over its rides. The change would also give the CPSC the authority to investigate accidents in amusement parks and then allow the CPSC to share information with operators of the same rides in other states before accidents occur and develop plans to correct problems and reduce risks of harm. The CPSC would also be able to compile comprehensive safety information for consumers.

In a tightened economy, many amusement parks seem to be taking short cuts on safety and putting profitability first. I for one believe that safety should never be an option and yet many amusement park owners and operators who are members of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions have issued several statements in response to Congressman Markey’s bill stating that it is not necessary as the Bill “seeks to address a problem that does not exist". The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions cites the industry’s outstanding safety record, and as an experienced amusement park accident attorney, I am well aware that many accidents that occur at amusement parks are not reported and those accident situations that are resolved are generally resolved in a confidential manner. In my opinion, many amusement parks operate in an atmosphere where politicians and inspectors seem to take protective measures in favor of the amusement parks due to the fact that they contribute so much to local economies.

As I have been intimately involved as an amusement park accident attorney in several amusement park accidents where investigators found no fault, it has been quite mind boggling when our own independent experts perform an independent and non-biased analysis that seems to be completely at odds with those of the park with the amusement park owner and operator. One must ask themselves if these rides are so safe why not make them more transparent and promote the Bill which would insure their safety. My own personal opinion is that in many states, the situation is not so dissimilar to the fox guarding the hen house.

Continue reading " Experienced Amusement Park Accident Attorney Suggests That It Is Time For Lawmakers To Close The Loopholes In View Of Recent Amusement Park Accidents And Deaths - Calls For Transparency In Reporting Requirements " »

As an  experienced Philadelphia product liability lawyerfor over three decades, I have always believed that manufacturers and distributors of retail products should emphasize safety first rather than bottom line return to shareholders.

Recently a story surfaced whereupon the Viking Range Corporation was aware for years of a defect involving refrigerator door hinge mechanisms that were resulting in incidents and injuries to customers yet they failed to report the alleged defective product situation immediately to the CPSC as required by federal law.

According to news sources Viking first reported the safety defect to the commission in April 2009 and agreed to a recall in June 2009. However a subsequent investigation conducted by the CPSC staff indicated that by the time of the initial report, the firm was aware of at least ten reports of injuries involving Viking refrigerator hinge failures over a period of several years. In June 2009, the CPSC and Viking Range Corporation announced a recall of more than 45,000 Viking Refrigerators and announced a potential hazard where it was noted that refrigerator hinges and hardware that attached to the doors in the refrigerator could loosen, sag, and detach posing an impact injury to consumers if the door detached. Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to report to CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which can create a potential product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of injury or death or fails to comply with any consumer product safety or any other rule regulation standard or enforced by the CPSC.

Continue reading " Experienced Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyer Calls Attention To Federal Laws That Require Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers To Report Information Concerning Product Defects To CPSC Within 24 Hours " »

In the summertime I ride my bike almost 20 miles every morning as a way to get my juices flowing and pump up the endorphins before going to the office. This past weekend, I witnessed a terrible bicycle accident on the boardwalk in Ventnor City, NJ when a cyclist appearing to be in a zombie like trance listening to an iPod with music blaring violently collided with another walking person. In fact, what I found even more surprising was that in a highly congested area with bicyclists, walkers, and joggers, the striking bicyclist was weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed indifferent to others as music played through his iPod. Obviously, the bicyclist was acting irresponsibly and posed a danger to himself as well as many other people.

Recently British authorities have noted that there has been a significant rise in the number of bicycle riders being seriously injured or killed while wearing iPods during cycling. I admit that I love music just as much as anyone and have been guilty of wearing an iPod during cycling. However one need not apply anything but common sense to recognize that if you are in traffic on a congested street area, it is just down right not safe. It is impossible to hear warning bells or horns as well as concentrate in a congested area.

As an experienced bicyclist for decades and as an experienced Pennsylvania bicycle accident attorney who unfortunately investigates the worst bicycle accidents involving catastrophic injury or death, I advise all bicyclists to focus their attention on the roadway and avoid distraction in an urban environment or on resort boardwalks that are crowded with people. When you investigate bicycle accident legal cases, just as I have for the past three decades, it is easy to recognize that many otherwise innocent people are catastrophically injured or killed due to the fact that they were distracted and unable to hear a hazardous situation.

Continue reading " Ipods and Cycling A Potentially Deadly Combination Advises Experienced Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Lawyer and Cyclist " »

Over the weekend, I had a chance to view an HBO documentary entitled “Hot Coffee". The documentary examined the dangers of so called “tort reform" and its threat to our civil justice system. As an experienced Pennsylvania catastrophic injury
and wrongful death attorney who has personally grieved with clients and witnessed some of the most unimaginable tragedies involving my clients over the last three decades, I feel that it is important that individuals understand that tort reform would block one’s ability to access our civil courts and take away their valuable legal rights.

“Hot Coffee" examines the roles of corporations, government, and complicit media in promoting tort reform and was a selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The stories that are highlighted in the film are similar to many cases that any experienced catastrophic injury or wrongful death lawyer has handled over a long career. The title derives from the McDonald’s hot coffee case which shocked a number of people with a substantial verdict. The verdict was “spun" by many tort reformists and corporate entities into a tale of fright for a largely unknowing American populace. However what most people were not aware of was that McDonald’s acknowledged that there were 700 prior burns and the woman burned by the cup of coffee had quite devastating injuries and not merely a minor superficial burn as many were led to believe. “Hot Coffee" reveals how caps on medical malpractice awards affect those who sustain injuries and require medical care for the rest of their lives. The film also highlights a case regarding mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts and how that has prevented a Halliburton employee who was raped while in a bunker will all fellow male employees from obtaining justice after being raped.

Many are told that trial lawyers are greedy and in fact, I admit that yes I am greedy for justice and sick of the relentless attacks on our civil justice system by big business and the government who continue to emphasize profitability and shareholder return instead of safety. We must aggressively protect one of the greatest gifts of being an American, namely our civil justice system. It is imperative that many know the whole story so that the misconceptions that people have regarding tort reform can be properly addressed. I assure you that after watching the documentary “Hot Coffee" your mind will be changed and you will think differently.

Since 1979, the skilled boating accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have been investigating and litigating boating and maritime accident cases. A good portion of these cases involve a catastrophic accident that occurred when the boat operator was intoxicated. Interestingly enough up until recently the Pennsylvania legislature did not address this issue. However, a Bill now sits on Governor Tom Corbett’s desk awaiting his signature which should toughen penalties for boating under the influence. Our hats go off to Rep. Mike Hanna who proposed an amendment to House Bill 78 which would allow prior drunken driving convictions to be factored into a sentencing for a drunken boating conviction. Surprisingly, Pennsylvania’s boating laws are considered pretty tough by national standards which really doesn’t say too much for the rest of the country. As an experienced boating accident attorney and boat skipper for over four decades, I do not think that Pennsylvania’s boating laws are tough enough and lack “teeth" when it comes to enforcement. However, as an experienced boating accident attorney who has dealt with the most catastrophic injuries and deaths that occur as a result of one operating a boat while intoxicated, I always felt there was a need for a tough criminal statute with teeth covering those who kill another while operating a boat while in an intoxicated state. Currently when a DUI accident by motor vehicle results in death, the sentences are significantly greater graded as a third degree rather than a second degree felony.

As Pennsylvania has more than 2,500 lakes and thousands of miles of rivers, intoxicated operation of a vessel is a serious problem. It is almost impossible for the small number of Pennsylvania marine police to enforce these laws, and this experienced boating accident lawyer argues that the stronger the penalty the more it will deter others from operating a boat while intoxicated and make Pennsylvania waterways safer for all.

Continue reading " Experienced Pennsylvania Boating Accident Lawyer Queries Why Someone Convicted Of DUI Operating A Boat Should Face Less Of A Penalty Than Those Behind The Wheel Of A Car When Boat Accident Victims Are Catastrophically Injured and Wrongfully Killed " »

I got to admit that I am a sucker for beautiful bikes and last weekend I was taking a ride with a friend of mine when all of a sudden and without warning the front wheel of his newly purchased bike collapsed due to a spoke failure. Thank heavens my friend was wearing a helmet as he tumbled over the handlebars onto the ground at a fairly descent speed. He informed me that he recently purchased a bike from one of the large discount mass market sports shops and when he called the shop they told him to bring it in and they would just give him a new one “no questions asked". Of course as an  experienced Pennsylvania product liability and bicycle accident attorney, I was curious to determine how this situation could have occurred on a brand new bike and when I investigated the manufacturer, I found that although the product looked good and was great “eye candy", it was actually rather cheaply manufactured in China and sold for a price well below what one would expect to pay for such a fine looking specimen. Of course the old motto goes, “you get what you pay for"; however, safety should never be an option. Of course my dear friend was very lucky. However, many other people and bikers may not be so lucky.

Many bicycle accidents are not caused by negligent drivers, many are caused by a product defect or design defect . Our experienced bicycle accident attorneys are avid bikers and have litigated cases involving defective brakes, defective tires, defective gear shifts, defective frames, as well as defective pedals and wheels. Bicycle manufacturers fight bicycle defect cases strongly due to the fact they wish to avoid recalls or negative publicity that will hurt their business.

Continue reading " Just Because The Beautiful New Bike You Purchased Looks Safe, It Doesn’t Mean It Really Is Advises Avid Cyclist and Experienced Philadelphia Bicycle Accident Attorney " »

As an experienced Pennsylvania swimming pool, drowning, and water accident attorney who also has investigated many amusement and water park catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases over the last three decades, I am always sad to learn of news concerning the death of a young child.

On Wednesday, July 6, 2011, a six year old boy was killed after jumping into a swimming pool at Knoebels Crystal Pool located in Elysburg, North Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. According to news reports, life guards found the boy under water and pulled him from the pool and performed CPR. He was then transported to Geisinger Medical Center where he later died. The cause of death is not known and is under investigation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the 6-year old. According to news sources, the boy was said to be in the shallow end of the pool, jumping in and out of the water.

It appears that the summer of 2011 is unfortunately proving to be one quantified by catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths at local amusement parks, swimming pools, and water parks, as well as drownings at private and public swimming pools.

As an experienced Pennsylvania water park, amusement park, and swimming pool accident attorney, I am curious why the child was not spotted sooner and whether or not the water park had proper supervision and training of life guards and safety personnel, whether the pool was properly maintained, and whether or not there were breaches of any of the federal and state guidelines concerning the operation of the swimming pool and amusement attractions. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss and we ask that all of our readers keep this grieving family in their thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading " Boy Dies In Pennsylvania Amusement Park Swimming Pool Accident - Experienced Pennsylvania Swimming Pool and Water Accident Attorney Weighs In " »

When we send our children to summer camp, we want to always think of the smiles and moments of joy and happiness etched in the minds of our kids. Unfortunately all it takes is a tragic overnight or day camp accident to turn a family’s life into a nightmare. Dreams are lost and hopes are vanished.

On June 19, 2011, Andrew Silvershein, 16-years old, of Davie, Florida drowned during a white water rafting trip during his first week at Camp Ramah Daron. As an experienced water accident and camping accident attorney who has also been involved in the camping arena, I recognize that safety should be the number one concern and priority when it involves kids, teens, and summer camps.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Silvershein family, and this tragic accident should cause all summer camps to review safety measures. Unfortunately investigation reveals that Andrew Silvershein was wedged under a rock and was wearing a life jacket and helmet. I too have been an experienced white water rafter and had suffered a similar accident a number of years ago on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica when I was thrown from the boat and swept by the current and snapped my leg to break it between a rock. White water rafting can simply be dangerous under improper conditions and it is essential that summer camps properly train their staff in safety measures and out source to reliable trip providers that follow the safest of protocols.

The drowning drowning, and water submersion accident attorneys
of the Beasley Reiff Law Group
are committed to swimming pool and water safety. Our catastrophic injury and wrongful death
drowning lawyers have been awarded billions of dollars on behalf of victims and their families since 1958. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Earlier this year, a 32-foot fiberglass cabin cruiser boat exploded in Del Ray Beach, Florida killing a man and burning others on board the boat. The explosion took place when one of the individuals was working on the engine after the tank was filled with approximately 50 gallons of gas. Investigators concluded that gas leaks and vapors filled the engine room and I suspect that the engine must have started, igniting the fumes and triggering the explosion after the boaters stopped to refuel the vessel at a marina. The owner of the boat told investigators that after fueling, the smell of gasoline permeated the air after which point one of the victims on the vessel began to look for leaks in the engine compartment and thereafter heard a pop and saw flames. The day after the explosion, state investigators found a burned body in the charred hole of the boat. The headline of the newspaper indicated that the explosion that killed the man was deemed “accidental".

As an experienced boater for over 50 years who has skippered just about every type of water craft, I also happen to have over three decades of experience as a boating accident lawyerinvestigating and litigating boating accident and boat explosion cases. There is one thing of which I am certain, that boating explosion cases do not happen on their own and always involve a proximate cause whether it be negligence or design or  manufacturing defect.

As an experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyer who has worked on fuel fed fire legal cases both in the automotive, motorcycle, and boating arena, boat explosion accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries or death. Lately the United States Coast Guard has noticed a dramatic increase in boating fatalities and explosions. Most times injuries and deaths could have been prevented if proper safety procedures were followed.

Continue reading " Investigation Into A Florida Boat Explosion Concludes That Leaking Gas and Vapors In Engine Room Was The Cause - Boating Accident and Explosion Lawyer Weighs In " »

Several times a year my wife drops a small fortune to have her hair straightened in what is known as a Brazilian blow out procedure. When she comes home, her hair has an odor that is anything but pleasant and the same lasts for a few days. Although I must admit she looks sexier than ever and loves her straightened hair, I became concerned when I started to review warnings issued by the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration warning hair salon owners, workers, and consumers about potential exposure to formaldehyde used in some hair smoothing and straightening products including the Brazilian blow out brand. Tests indicated dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in the hair salon using these hair straightening products even though many of the products are often listed as formaldehyde free. Many clients and workers were found to have allergic reactions including nose bleeds and eye irritations. Unfortunately many of the hair straightening products or products used by hair care services are not required to list their ingredients and clients, workers, and consumers may not even know what is in the products they are utilizing.

As an  experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyer, I think it is essential to the safety of workers and clients and anyone exposed to a potentially dangerous product or material to mandate health warnings on all hair care products including but not limited to hair straightening products. In Canada, many of the products were pulled off the shelves and the FDA now notes that it has begun looking at the complaints about hair straightening products.

Our office has received a number of calls from clients who had the hair straightening solution put on their head and claim that their head or scalp is burned for a number of weeks and some have even claimed a loss of hair. Although every situation must be considerate of “the goods, the bads, and the uglies," one must ask them self if the quest for beauty is worth the risks of potential physical danger or physical harm.

Continue reading " Are Brazilian Hair Straightening Blowouts Dangerous? - Experienced Product Liability Lawyer Weighs In " »

When one thinks of a baptism ceremony, we normally think of joy, smiles, and celebration. Unfortunately this is not always the case. As an experienced water accident and drowning attorney, I unfortunately learned of a tragic and sorrowful accident that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend of June 25th when a church member drowned following a baptism ceremony at Lake Lanier. According to news sources, 37-year old Ciro Jimenez Beltron, age 37, was lingering in the shallows of the lake with a few congregants after a baptism ceremony and although it was noted Beltron could not swim and was not wearing a life jacket, he slipped in a lake drop-off where the water depth drops from 3 to 13 feet. Rivers and lakes are often popular settings for baptisms by submersion. Unfortunately rescuers from several law enforcement agencies and other parishioners were unable to locate Beltron’s body until the following Monday morning.

It is my understanding that a water baptism is symbolically an act of obedience that follows conversion to portray the symbolic washing away of sins. Obviously, if non-swimmers and church parishioners choose to participate in these ceremonies, proper safety measures must be taken to insure a tragedy such as this does not occur. Lakes frequently have drop offs and slimy bottoms and therefore without proper safety equipment or trained supervision, a person without swimming ability could easily sustain a water or drowning submersion injury. There have been an unusually high number of lake drownings this year and no matter what the situation, safety should always be the top priority.

Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional related death for children age 1 to 14 and males are 4 times more likely than females to drown. African American children age 5 to 14 are more than three times more likely to drown than Caucasian children of similar age. Almost all drownings are caused by failure to follow safe water front or swimming pool safety programs.

Continue reading " Believe It Or Not People Drown During Baptisms Advises Drowning Lawyer " »

The defective trailer hitch and trucking accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily urge all of our readers to follow safety tips offered in a new Purdue Extension Guide entitled AKeep The Trailer Connected To The Truck; Understanding The Hitch System.

As experienced Pennsylvania defective trailer and truck accident attorneys, we have investigated many claims where people were either catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of another or a manufacturing or design defect involving a trailer hitch. Unfortunately, many people hitch trailers to cars without having full knowledge of how to properly do the same and therefore, create a risk of harm and danger to other innocent pedestrians or vehicles on the highway. Trucks, receivers, inserts, and balls all have a rating that list the maximum pulling weights with the lowest rated ball and components determining how much can be pulled. For example if a truck, receiver, and insert ratings are 5,000 lbs but the ball can only tow 2,500 lbs, the load should be no more than 2,500 lbs. We have found that many truckers or individuals pull more than the safety load putting strains on the system and causing a failure. Safety chains should also be employed and should be strong enough to hold the trailer if the hitch fails. It is important to confirm that emergency brake cables are functioning and properly connected to the trailer and that the loads are properly placed to minimize stress on the hitch system. In a recent traffic safety presentation to commercial groups, many attendees noted that they experienced a trailer coming loose or detached from a truck. One can only imagine the consequences when this occurs on a busy highway. As an experienced defective trailer hitch attorney who has investigated all too many of these cases, I can tell you that the results are generally tragic, resulting in catastrophic injury or wrongful death.

The defective trailer hitch and trucking accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Our skilled defective trailer hitch and trucking accident attorneys have decades of experience representing those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others as well as product defects. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

It seems that 2011 is on its way to breaking records for drowning and boating accidents in the Pennsylvania Tri-state area. On the weekend of June 26th, two people died in separate boating accidents in Cecil County, Maryland. The boating deaths represent the 10th and 11th fatality in Maryland this year. According to news sources, the first death occurred at 8:30 Friday night when an individual fell into the water as he attempted to jump from his boat to a pier near the Chesapeake Inn. Two shipmates tried to rescue him but could not.

The other death happened at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Saturday afternoon when a boat capsized on the Elk River. Initial investigation indicates that the boat was rated for three people and 435 lbs. However, there were 4 people in the boat and the conservative estimate noted that the weight exceeded 700 lbs. Interestingly enough as an experienced boater and boating accident attorneys what these drownings have in common with other boating deaths is a lack of appropriate flotation devices and the failure to exercise proper care by overloading the vessels weight requirements.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these victims and we note that these unfortunate deaths clearly reveal the need to wear flotation devices in and around a boating environment. The boating accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily boating accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Most of our experienced boating accident lawyers are also boating skippers and have handled just about every type of water craft for decades. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

As an experienced Pennsylvania trucking and commercial carrier accident attorney, I have noticed a disturbing trend in the past few years that has also been highlighted by the press resulting in recent governmental inquiries and investigations, namely that many individuals who have been operating trucks and buses have a disturbing history involving traffic accidents and reckless behavior in their past. A recent investigation has noted that the deaths of six people in last Friday’s Amtrak train and truck crash in the Nevada desert involved a truck driver who had a long history of speeding, using a cell phone while driving and causing other injury accidents. The history of his reckless driving also included that he was found to be at fault in a prior freeway crash in 2007 and received many traffic citations earlier as a school bus driver in California. Investigators remain mystified as to why the truck driver failed to stop at a railroad crossing despite the fact that all warning lights and gates were working at the crossing and were easily visible for up to a mile in the flat desert area in Nevada. As a result of the train’s crash with the truck, six individuals died and others were burned and others remain unaccounted for.

The Pennsylvania trucking accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and we hope that the government and trucking companies do not continue to drag their feet when conducting background checks and investigating those who driver their vehicles and are entrusted to have full knowledge of the laws and regulations governing our roads and highways. I question how an individual with such a prior record could have been hired by this trucking company and join forces calling for a careful analysis and investigation of the factors leading to this accident.

The Pennsylvania railroad accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily and the Beasley Reiff Law Group have together been awarded over $2 billion dollars since 1958 representing the interests of those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others. We always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation. For more information contact we online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

As July 4th officially kicks off the summer season many of us will be hosting or be guests at barbecues. Many of the newer barbecues utilize propane tanks to fuel the system. Propane is pressurized and put into the tank and safety dictates that one must make sure that the tank is not rusted or corroded and that all the fuel fittings are properly secured. Thirty liters of propane equals 750 mg of energy and 750 mega joules of energy is approximately equal to 170 kilograms of TNT or 8 millionths of a kilogram of nuclear grade uranium and has the energy equivalent and release of the force of 9 fully loaded semi-trucks being dropped from a kilometer high off the ground. Similarly enough energy is released to melt 2.25 tons of ice.

Typically propane tanks do not explode on their own. Generally human error or negligence is a primary factor contributing to any type of propane explosion and propane fed fire accident. If you are using propane to fuel your barbecue, make sure that you are using and storing it in accordance with NFPA requirements. You must fully understand that the integrity of the propane bottle must be maintained and one must always keep the propane cylinder away from an area where there is an extreme build up of heat or fire. Many times a fire or explosion can be caused by a leak near an ignition source such as a cigarette or spark. Many times propane fires or explosions occur due to negligent handling by an individual or refueling station or due to the defective manufacture and construction of the propane fuel. Obviously a propane explosion can cause catastrophic injuries
and wrongful death. Many times these injuries include amputations, blindness, loss of hearing, permanent scarring, spinal injuries, brain injuries, and paraplegia.

The fuel fed fire and propane explosion lawyers of the Beasley Reiff Law Group are stalwarts for consumer safety and suggest that if you are using a propane gas tank you should have it routinely inspected and maintained and make sure the tank is properly installed to reduce the risk of fire and explosion. If a propane tank is not properly maintained, there is a potential to suffer a tank and fuel delivery system failure and increases the risk of excessive heat or sparks coming into the tank which could ignite the gas and cause explosions.

Continue reading " A Defective Propane Tank Can Create An Explosion To Multiple Kilograms Of TNT Warns Experienced Pennsylvania Product Liability and Explosion Lawyer " »

More people died in boating accidents in New Jersey last year than the year before. While boating fatalities fell nationally to a record low of 672 from 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered vessels to 5.4 deaths per 100,000 vessels, these numbers were not translated into a better safety record in New Jersey where fatalities and drownings increased. Two more people died in 2010 than in 2009 in New Jersey due to boating accidents and almost all deaths were related to failure to have adequate flotation devices and failure to wear life jackets.

As an experienced boating accident and drowning accident lawyer who also deals with swimming and submersion injuries and deaths, we urge all of our readers to take a Coast Guard boating safety course and have their boat inspected to make sure that you are compliant with safety regulations. Of course it goes without saying that one should never operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol and should stay off of vessels where the operator has had one too many. While these statistics refer only to those boats that are legally registered, many other boating accidents involve catastrophic injuries and death on boats that are not registered as well as smaller water craft.

As an experienced boater for over 50 years and as a boating accident attorney who is focused on boating and maritime injuries and drowning accidents, I am constantly amazed that I see people acting unsafely in the water jeopardizing the lives of others and taking risks that may cause catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. The United States Coast Guard is pushing for federal legislation that would make lifeguard usage mandatory in all adults in New Jersey as currently children under 13 are required to wear life jackets. Nine people have been killed on the water in the 5th Coast Guard District since the Memorial Day weekend.

Continue reading " Local New Jersey Boating Fatalities Increase In 2010 Contrary To A National Trend - Experienced Boating Accident and Drowning Lawyers Weigh In " »

Unfortunately bicycle accidents in Philadelphia are on a major up rise. As an experienced Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney and an avid bicyclist for over 40 years, I start every day in the summer with at least a one hour bike ride in an attempt to keep in shape and get the “juices flowing". I notice more and more people on the highways on bicycles, and a recent survey also noted that more Philadelphians are ditching cars for bikes due to the tightened economy as well as the beautiful weather. While biking is one of the most pleasant forms of relaxation and good cardiac exercise, unfortunately recent statistics show that there are potential costs involved when it comes to personal safety. Bicycle injuries and deaths are on the rise.

Recently I have been contacted by several cyclists who were struck by motorists while traveling in designated bike lanes. The law tells you to ride as far to the right as possible and many times people exiting vehicles open their door right in front of the bicyclist or many people make turns across the bike lane striking the cyclist. If you are planning on riding your bike for transportation or just for the fun of it, you should always check to make sure the bike is properly maintained and properly fit. The bicycle accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily always advise using hand signals for riding, as well as wearing a properly affixed helmet.

I hate to say it, but as an experienced cyclist I always assume that many of the drivers are not paying attention and never see me and therefore, drive defensively. I recommend that all bicyclists in Philadelphia wear bright colors and at night never operate a cycle without a light or strobe light.

Continue reading " This Summer In Philadelphia More People Are Ditching Cars And Using Bikes As A Primary Means For Transportation – Unfortunately More Bicycle Accidents Are Occurring " »