Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

As an experienced PA amusement park accident attorney, I am always aware of the harms that can occur at an amusement park. As rides are getting bigger and faster, the chances of sustaining an injury while on an amusement park ride are dramatically increasing.

Recently, tragedy struck the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo when a three-year-old was thrown from her seat on the “Techno Jump ride”. While the girl met the height and weight requirements, she still slipped from the moving chair and fell to the ride’s platform. The lap bar and restraining belt were unable to stop her from falling.

This is not the first accident to occur at the Houston Rodeo. Last year, a man was killed when he fell out of a roller coaster. While safety teams inspected the roller coaster and found no malfunctions, something obviously went wrong. Another passenger who had ridden on the same roller coaster earlier that day claimed that her safety latch had come undone while she was on the ride. As an advocate for safety, especially for trusting consumers, I believe it’s time that the Federal Government reconsider regulating both fixed site amusements and traveling carnivals.

In one of the last reports released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), statistics revealed that there were on average 3,400 accidents at amusement parks each year. Other sources indicate that the real number of injuries and deaths is much higher.

If you or a loved one is injured, or becomes injured in an amusement accident in Philadelphia, it is important to never sign anything without first consulting a lawyer. Oftentimes, the owners of amusement parks and traveling carnivals will deny liability for injuries sustained on their rides. If you have been injured in an amusement park or rodeo accident, you may have claims for pain and suffering, emotional harm, physical damages, lost wages, and future lost wages. The accomplished Philadelphia amusement park attorneys at Reiff and Bily have successfully assisted amusement park accident victims and their families since 1979. If you have been injured at an amusement park, contact Reiff and Bily immediately at (800) 421-9595.

The Philadelphia sexual abuse attorneys at Reiff and Bily have handled sexual abuse cases for over three decades. Sexual abuse is one of the most atrocious offenses that can be proffered upon a victim. Sexual abuse cases and unlawful contact litigation often involve physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, grief counselors, teachers, camp counselors, Scout masters, clergy, or individuals who typically abuse a position of perceived trust, power, authority, strength, or fear over the victim.

While most people think of sexual abuse as a criminal offense, there is also a very important civil side. Sexual abuse can cause extreme long-term physical and emotional harm to those who suffered the abuse. This can result in lost wages and expensive medical bills. One of our landmark physician sexual abuse cases involved a young female victim who was repeatedly molested and raped by her treating psychiatrist. The case resolved for a multiple seven figure amount.

If you are somewhere and an employee abuses you while working in the scope of their employment, the employer may be liable for the employee’s actions. Recently, charges were filed against an instructor in Cherry Hill at The Prism Institute, a for-profit career-training center. The instructor allegedly fondled students’ breasts while teaching them how to operate an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. Two female students originally came forward, and four more have followed.

The prosecutor’s office in Camden County is handling the criminal case, but this might not be the end of it. These women may be able to bring a civil suit not only against the instructor personally, but against The Prism Institute. Sometimes it is as simple as an employer failing to do the necessary background checks that are required, that make them liable. Other times, it may be the employer’s lack of training and regulations that can allow sexual abuse in the workplace to occur. The Philadelphia sexual abuse attorneys at Reiff and Bily handle sexual abuse litigation in Pennsylvania and believe that these predators must be held accountable and brought to justice for the sake of their victims.

If you or a loved one is a victim of sexual abuse, feel free to contact our office for a free, no obligation, and totally confidential consultation online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

I recently learned that a colleague of mine, a young and vibrant practicing attorney, died from complications from a broken hip. When one typically thinks of death from a broken hip, our mind assumes more likely than not that it involves an elderly person. A hip fracture typically occurs from a trauma to the hip often resulting from a slip and fall, premises liability accident, or car accident. Many times, elderly individuals suffer from osteoporosis or a loss of calcium from the bones which makes them weak and fragile. Typically after surgical repair of a hip fracture, the patient or victim is confined to a bed and has an increased risk of death from blood clots in the legs that travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), pneumonia due to immobility, pressure or bed sores which can become infected, or bladder infections stemming from the catheter used to drain their urine.

The mortality following a fractured hip is between 20 and 35% within one year of patients aged 82 plus or minus seven years. Approximately 80% of those who succumb to death as a result of a hip fracture in the elderly population are women.

If a traumatic hip fracture occurs to an individual who has underlying disease or illness such as diabetes, hypertensive arterial sclerotic pulmonary disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the increased rates of death are even greater.

If you or a loved one has sustained a broken hip as a result of a car accident or slip and fall accident, the experienced Pennsylvania hip fracture injury lawyers of Reiff and Bily have over three decades of experience and successful track record and always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced amusement park accident attorney in PA, there seems to be a common factor in many of the amusement park accident cases after the fact. Namely, that maintenance and inspection reports are often altered or falsified.

Recently, news sources revealed days after a crash of a miniature train at a South Carolina amusement park that a state inspector falsified the train’s inspection report leaving the ride untested before it crashed in its first hour of operation of the season.

In order to make safety rather than profitability paramount at amusement and water park environments, there must be direct accountability for individual inspections with checks and balances.

I recently met with an amusement safety expert on an amusement park accident case that we are currently working on who informed me that despite in excess of 1,000 amusement accidents or incidents that he has been called to investigate, almost none of them were inspected according to the protocol on the date of the accident.

In order to ensure amusement park safety, all amusement park owners must have a comprehensive training program for operators and drivers of rides with verified documentation that all training has been completed with all mechanical inspections actually completed. Many times rides are manipulated and speed governors removed, which creates an unsafe condition particularly if left uninspected by qualified personnel.

The experienced amusement park and water park accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily understand that unfortunately many times amusement park operators and owners take short cuts in the name of maximizing profitability, and if you or a loved one has been injured in an amusement or water park accident, it is best to seek the services of an experienced amusement park accident attorney who will work with a team of experienced amusement accident investigators to preserve evidence and conduct an independent accident evaluation and analysis. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In 2011, close to 20,000 deaths occurred due to unintentional falls. An even greater number of individuals who experienced slip and fall accidents or premises liability accidents sustained significant or catastrophic injuries that have had an extraordinary impact on their ability to earn a living or enjoy life’s pleasures.

Many times, a slip and fall accident in Pennsylvania not only results in broken bones and herniated discs, but also more significantly, traumatic brain injury, paresthesia, and quadriplegia. A slip and fall accident of an elderly person can have fatal consequences. Common injuries to elderly individuals as a result of slip and fall accidents are fractures of the spine, ankle, leg, hips, arm, and hand.

Slip and falls are often caused by uneven or slippery surfaces, and in fact, slip and fall accidents in the workplace are the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities.

The National Safety Council claims that a slip and fall accident is the single leading cause of emergency room hospital visits. Slip and fall accidents are also referred to as trip and fall and premises liability accidents and can be caused by a series of factors including, but not limited to, poor lighting, improper use, improper handrails or lack of handrails, violation of building codes or Americans with Disabilities Act, rug tears, insecure carpeting, wrinkled carpeting, stair defects, and grease or a foreign substance on a floor area. While many individuals seem to minimize slip and fall accidents, the experienced Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers of Reiff and Bily have successfully litigated slip and fall accidents for the last 33 years and have recovered numerous settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients in excess of seven figures.

If you have sustained an injury due to a slip and fall accident, let an experienced independent team of investigators, experts, and lawyers evaluate your claim for free without any obligation. The Philadelphia premises liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I was recently called in to evaluate a case with another lawyer who spent a good portion of our meeting explaining to me why his clients were “creeps”, morally bankrupt, and undeserving of any financial recovery in a substantial personal injury case. I sensed a bit of insecurity from the lawyer and anger towards the client, and can only wonder to myself whether or not this individual was the proper attorney to be handling this case. I thought to myself that I would never want this lawyer representing myself or any members of my family.

I am not a psychologist, but obviously this lawyer had anger issues and his own deep sense of insecurities. When I left the meeting, I was angered. I’ll admit that after 33 years of practicing law, there are certainly some clients that give me more headaches than others. However, there is one thing that I am certain of, my clients legal cases will only be successful if my clients are properly and passionately represented. Obviously no case or client is perfect, and one of the secrets to being a successful lawyer and in life in general is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.

When I handle a catastrophic accident legal case that involves the death of an individual or the inability to earn a living, many times the outpouring of grief and emotions is almost impossible to accurately describe and communicate.

I often receive frantic calls from clients at all hours, and my job is to keep them calmly informed about their case, recognizing the stresses unfamiliar to them in the litigation process. Most individuals would rather not have a legal case and deserve the right to choose a lawyer who is invested and fully believes in their lost hopes and dreams.

Many times this is not easily quantifiable and depends on the individual’s circumstances in each case. Of course, an economist or vocational expert can easily calculate the loss of earnings and earning capacity. However, what is the value of one’s lost hopes and dreams? Certainly, if a lawyer does not believe in his client or the case and expresses anger towards that client, one must ask themselves how can this individual be an outstanding advocate for their client. Many times, lawyers tell me the worst part about their practice are their clients. However, one thing is for certain, without the clients, they would have no practice and if they really feel that way, they should not be practicing law.

Many Sports Supplements are “Downright Dangerous” to Your Safety

As an experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyer who also happens to be a “health nut,” I frequently venture into vitamin shops across the country. I am always amazed to learn of many of the advertising claims made in the shops and on TV by the manufacturers of some new “wonder” product. Unfortunately, as a dangerous product attorney, I am all too familiar with claims of injuries and wrongful death that have occurred as a result of taking compounds that were successfully marketed, yet were found to be illegal and dangerous. Many times, the manufacturers of these supplements, and the retail outlets that they are sold in, make false and unsubstantiated representations concerning the safety and efficacy of these sports and health enhancement products. In fact, many of these products, when mixed with over-the-counter and prescription medications, can lead to toxic consequences.

Many of the enhancement products may contain dangerous additives including, but not limited to, suspected carcinogens. Many of our experts claim that they have diagnosed heart problems, kidney and liver issues, anxiety, depression, and addiction as well as death caused by tainted products sold openly as sports enhancers, performance enhancers, or dietary supplements in vitamin and health shops across the nation as well as on the internet.

Last year, Americans spent close to $30 billion dollars on supplements, multivitamins, and enhancers, marking a $5 billion increase of over the past five years. Although a majority of the supplements may be safe, as an experienced product liability attorney, I have repeatedly called for increased regulation to tackle the problems of safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product, the experienced PA personal injury law firm of Reiff and Bily has successfully represented tens of thousands of claimants for over three decades. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Lost evidence almost always destroys what could have been a successful case. Unfortunately, many times our law firm is consulted several months after an incident or accident occurred after another lawyer has recognized that they are in over their head and had been looking for an easy “A” recovery which, evidently, was not going to happen.

When a complex accident occurs which causes catastrophic injuries, death, or property damage, it is important to immediately preserve the evidence and send non-spoliation of evidence letters to any and all responsible parties so that careful inspection and analysis can be conducted, and cause and origin can be determined.

The experienced Pennsylvania catastrophic injury lawyers of Reiff and Bily prefer to immediately retain an independent investigator and expert to inspect, as well as photograph the scene of the incident and the properties involved. A consultation with experienced experts will reveal what we need in order to properly evaluate our client’s claim. There is an old doctrine in law that states that anyone who loses or destroys evidence must suffer consequences.

This doctrine dates back to 18th century case law. Spoliation of evidence is defined as the destruction of material or alteration of evidence or the failure to preserve property for another’s use as evidence in pending or reasonably foreseeable litigation.

If you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury as a result of negligence or a product failure or the actions of another, make sure that your attorney understands the spoliation doctrine and preserves any and all evidence necessary to successfully prosecute your claim. If you would like to speak to one of our knowledgeable attorneys about your particular situation, do not hesitate to contact us today at (800) 421-9595.

In America, an individual is victimized by crime approximately every 1.7 seconds. Every 43.5 seconds a person is assaulted. Every 14.6 seconds a home is burglarized. One child will die from abuse or neglect every 6.8 hours. One person will be killed in an alcohol-related or DUI accident car crash every 48.5 minutes. One person is raped or sexually assaulted every 2.8 minutes.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed in 1984 under the watch of President Ronald Reagan who created the Victims of Crime Act Fund to be a protected and dedicated source of funding for crime victim programs. The bulk of the Fund does not depend on taxpayer dollars but is derived from fines and penalties on offenders at the Federal level. While VOCA Fund has been very successful in creating a strong web of services for many victims, there are still far too few services for certain victims of crime, including teen victims, elderly victims, disabled victims, non-English speaking victims and many others.

Uncollected crime victim restitution is a serious and ongoing problem across America and the criminal victim and inadequate security attorneys in Pennsylvania with Reiff and Bily continuously work with victims of crime and the National Center for Victims of Crime to improve restitution and recovery of monetary damages in a civil forum for victims of criminal activity. 2012 National Victims Crime Week will be celebrated from April 22 -28, 2012.

For over three decades, the Philadelphia inadequate security and sexual abuse lawyers of Reiff and Bily have represented countless crime victims and survivors in order to properly protect their rights of financial recovery. We understand that many incomprehensible crimes are being committed upon victims and how many victims do not have the resources or support to overcome the impact of crime.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a criminal or sexual assault, been in a car accident with a drunk driver, or has catastrophic injuries or death as a result of a criminal offense, please contact one of our Pennsylvania criminal victims attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over three decades as a brain injury lawyer in PA, I have been investigating and litigating traumatic brain injury cases and am intimately familiar with the devastating consequences of this often misdiagnosed and non-diagnosed condition and how it can impact the victim and their family.

According to medical statistics and research, a brain injury is the biggest cause of death and disability for children and teens. Yet, it is so difficult to have third parties or insurance companies accept responsibility and fund treatment for the same. Often a traumatic brain injury goes undiagnosed and there appears to be a non-uniform or arbitrary methodology in the health industry recognizing and dealing with these problems. Unfortunately, many victims who sustain a brain injury do not even know they have sustained it, and many insurance companies and defense advocates in a litigation case tend to brush the injury under the carpet claiming on another front that they are well aware that there is a silent and often subjective standard with arbitrary guidelines and measurements. The effects of a brain injury are often predictable and can range from minimal impact on cognitive functioning to a massive concussion, subdural hematoma, and aneurysm, which can lead to death.

Recently, traumatic brain injuries have been receiving a lot of attention in the sports arena, particularly with high impact sports such as football and hockey. While a victim of traumatic brain injury or concussion may look normal, many times under the surface, there is a cauldron bubbling with behavioral issues, cognitive functioning, memory issues, sight issues, hearing issues, and a diminishment of brain functioning. Many of our traumatic brain injury clients have developed abnormal behavioral patterns or depression and have gone undiagnosed until a proper evaluation was performed by skilled professionals.

The most common cause of a traumatic brain injury is from a blow to the head. Motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, as well as amusement and water park accidents are the predominant causes of a traumatic brain injury followed by sporting accidents and violent crime. When a person sustains a traumatic brain injury, the extent of the injury will be determined by the portion of the brain that was damaged. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury to be on the alert for include, but are not limited to, memory loss, paralysis, sensory loss, cognitive function, and communication problems. A traumatic brain injury often seriously alters the lives of victims. In addition, medical recovery and the cost of living with a traumatic brain injury can be very high.

If you or a loved one has sustained impact or injury to the head as a result of the negligence of another or from the use of a defective product, it pays to consider contacting an experienced traumatic brain injury and closed head trauma lawyer for a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, contact Reiff and Bily toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

School-aged children and their parents at a Philadelphia school had a tough day recently; a day that was difficult for parents and children throughout America as well. While a shooting in a suburban Cleveland high school left one student dead and another four injured, something was happening close to home too. Here in North Philadelphia, a fifth-grader also went on a rampage around his school with a BB gun. The shooting occurred on 27th and Clearfield streets at the John Whitter School. School personnel has said that the student could be expelled after he shot one classmate with a plastic pellet and threatened another with his BB gun.

While the student in this situation was not injured by the shot, this is no laughing matter. Parents around the country are fearful when sending their children to school, any incident major or minor, may increase those fears. While not all schools in Philadelphia have metal detectors, the BB gun may not have even been picked up if this school had one, because it was plastic. In fact most schools outside of the City of Philadelphia do not have metal detectors at all.

BB guns may not have the same impact as firearms or handguns but they are still scary and can cause harm. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported that four deaths occur every year from BB gun accidents or defects. Consumers often underestimate the power of a BB gun and the seriousness of injuries that could occur due to a BB gun accident. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated around 30,000 people visited the emergency room in the past year for BB gun/non-powdered gun related injuries. The most common injuries occurring from BB gun accidents are to the face, head, neck, and eye. Some injuries can cause permanent disability, or death. With no national safety standards for BB guns, the CPSC has issued warnings that most BB gun safety manuals do not include injury-prevention specifications for minors.

Because of the lack of warnings, it’s the responsibility of the BB gun owner to know how to operate and keep their BB gun safe. Parents who own a BB gun need to take special precautions to ensure their children keep their hands off of the weapon. Precautions, such as locking BB guns away, taking out ammunition, disassembling after use, and teaching children about gun safety, should be a priority in these homes. The Pennsylvania BB gun accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily understand the importance of gun safety and know that mishandling firearms and failing to follow safety protocol can lead to tragedy. We will fight to hold those responsible for you or your loved one’s injury or wrongful death for their negligence. If you have been injured or threatened with a BB gun and you believe you may have a claim, please call Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Pennsylvania water park accidents and amusement park accidents are more common than you think. Unfortunately, most of the accidents are caused by errors on behalf of water park staff members in charge of operating and maintaining the rides.

Many times, water park and water slide accidents occur due to an improper spacing of thrill seekers. Improper spacing occurs when a member of the water park’s staff fails in their duty of checking to see if the water slide’s landing area or slide itself is clear before sending additional riders. On many of these rides, riders travel at speeds up to 30 or 35 mph with virtually no control. Although a great percentage of those individuals will complete the ride safely, many water slide and water park accidents happen when a rider does not exit the amusement ride or water slide attraction and another is sent down behind him causing a violent collision at high speeds. Often, such an accident results in broken bones, spinal fractures, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and in the worst cases, wrongful death.

In many of the water park and amusement park accidents that our investigators have independently examined, we have identified numerous problems with procedures and protocols involving safety. Many times, the attendants operating these water park attractions are not paying close enough attention to their timing watch. Based on the average time it takes for a rider to complete the slide, timing watches are used to assist the attendant in calculating the time and space gaps between each rider for safe passage. In almost all of the amusement accidents that our experienced amusement park accident law firm handles, we are told by defense counsel and park officials that this is the “first accident” on this ride and that this particular case was a “random chance encounter”. Obviously, based upon our experiences, we know that this assertion is not true.

As an experienced amusement park accident attorney in Philadelphia, I am aware of many improper practices taking place in the amusement park and water park industry with regard to safe ride management, safe ride and water slide operation, proper ride and slide maintenance, and accident investigation, following an accident. I believe that there is a conspiracy of silence when it comes to reporting water slide and amusement park accidents. I, along with many of the nation’s top amusement park and water park design and safety experts, urge the federal government to take greater steps to regulate both the amusement and water park industry. Until more stringent regulations are put in place on a national level, amusement park and water park accidents will continue to happen.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an amusement park or water park accident, please contact one of our experienced amusement park or water park accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily for a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

You Might Not Be the Only One Responsible for Allowing Yourself to Get Too Drunk

A man was stabbed outside an Old City club recently. Around 3 a.m., a 34-year-old man was the victim of a stabbing to his left leg. The event took place at Recess Lounge, one of the many after-hours clubs throughout the city of Philadelphia. The stabbing developed after another man started a fight while leaving the club. Police are investigating the crime, but no arrests have been made yet. While the victim was taken in critical condition to the hospital, he was lucky. In recent months there have been multiple incidents of violence plaguing the streets on late weekend nights. Usually, one or more of the victims or perpetrators, have been drinking.

What could have happened to lead to this violence? What rights does the victim have to recover for his injuries? While the cause of this incident is still unknown, many victims of similar crimes might have a way to recover. Club and bar owners owe a duty to their patrons to keep them safe from harm while inside and from incidents that begin inside and lead to injury once patrons leave.

Under the Pennsylvania Dram Shop Law, anyone who supplies alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated can be held responsible for damage that person might cause to a third party. The Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Section 4.493(1) states it is illegal to: ... "permit any liquor or malt or brewed beverages to be sold, furnished or given, to any person visibly intoxicated, or to any minor.'' This law applies to individuals as well as businesses such as restaurants, clubs, or bars that sell or serve alcohol. Private events are also subject to Pennsylvania's Dram Shop Law.

Bar and club owners are responsible to stop their patrons from drinking if they are showing signs of intoxication such as: staggering or stumbling while walking, slurred speech, drowsiness, bloodshot eyes, or showing signs of the inability to continue to sit straight. If an owner or their staff does not stop patrons from continuing to drink if any of these signs exist, and the patron causes harm to himself or another, the owner may be liable.

Dram Shop Laws provide a way not only for the injured third party to recover but also for the intoxicated person to recover. If it can be proven that the bar owner knew that the individual was intoxicated, and served additional alcohol, claims can be brought against them. Usually this can be proven by video footage of the bar, witnesses, receipts, or bartender or staff testimony. If you find yourself the victim or even the perpetrator of a crime because of intoxication that could have been reduced if the bar had acted faster, it’s important to begin to collect this evidence quickly before it’s lost or forgotten.

If the man who was stabbed knew he was in danger while inside the club and he knew that the bar owners should have stepped in, he may have a claim. He may also have a claim if the bar owners or their staff knew that the man who stabbed him was visibly intoxicated. After hours, clubs take on additional risks serving drinks late into the 4 a.m. hour and with this risk comes responsibility. Even if they cannot see the total amount of consumption over the entire evening, they are still responsible to stop people before they go over their individual limits.

The Philadelphia Dram Shop attorneys at the law firm of Reiff and Bily have the knowledge, personal experience, and commitment necessary to investigate crimes caused because of alcohol and hold the owners of bars, restaurants, hotels, as well as the social hosts responsible for injuries or deaths caused by intoxicated patrons. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured as a result of an alcohol-related accident caused by the negligence of an irresponsible party, please contact one of our experienced Dram Shop liability attorneys at Reiff and Bily for a free evaluation of your case at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conjunction with Fuji Bikes announced a recall of Fuji Saratoga Women’s Bicycles. The recall came after 12 women sustained injuries when the frames on their Fuji Saratoga bicycles broke. According to a CPSC release, Fuji recommended that anyone who has purchased the Fuji Saratoga women’s bike “stop riding the recalled bicycle immediately” and return the bike to any authorized Fuji bicycle dealer for a free replacement frame.

As experienced product liability attorneys in Pennsylvania, who are also avid bicyclists, we have independently investigated many bicycle manufacturing defects involving bicycle frames. Many experienced bicyclists and retailers of bicycles will tell you that many Chinese manufactured bikes are “soft metal junk”. Yes, they may look new and shiny in the store, but many times the quality of construction and manufacture is just not there.

Approximately 60% of the world’s bicycles are now being made in China, and we have independently investigated a number of problems with Chinese bike frames made of carbon fiber, as well as steel and aluminum. While there certainly are some excellent quality carbon and metal bicycle frame manufacturers in China, chances are that if the bike looks shiny and glitters at a price too good to be true, quality may be lacking and can often lead to frame and component failures which result in bicycle accidents.

The experienced Philadelphia bicycle accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are well attuned to the problems of manufacturing defects and safety issues concerning bicycles that lead to serious injury. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation to cyclists who have been involved in a serious bicycle accident and suffered serious personal injury. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Helping a person through a difficult time, such as the aftermath of a serious car accident or amusement park ride accident in which they’ve suffered catastrophic injury, is not only rewarding, it can help change their life for the better. While helping only one person in your entire life is a big step in the right direction for humanity, why stop there? This is the philosophy that Jeffrey M. Reiff has adopted as a personal injury lawyer who provides legal counsel and representation to accident victims unlike any other attorney out there.

Putting all of himself in every case he handles, Mr. Reiff has been acknowledged by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbel as one Philadelphia’s Top Rated Lawyers for his extraordinary ethical standards and professional excellence. The 2012 Edition of the Top Rated Lawyers list is the epitome of LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbel’s high standard for peer review ratings that, for decades, has been lawyers’ authoritative resource for data regarding the legal profession worldwide.

Mr. Reiff has also been named among the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” in his field by National Trial Lawyers.

As “The Definitive Guide to Legal Representation in Philadelphia,” the Philadelphia Top Rated Lawyers list is based on confidential opinions and reviews of attorneys provided by various lawyers and judiciary members who are familiar with the professional work, persona, ethics, and career of the attorney receiving the rating.

Over the course of 140 years, the Matindale-Hubbel has developed into a database comprised of over 1 million attorneys and law firms in over 160 countries. As a resource that thousands of individuals rely on to find lawyers in specific cities, states, and across the world, the database is also utilized by people to confirm credentials based on independent evaluations of an attorney’s skills and experience, and then to choose law firms and attorneys that best match their personal and professional legal needs.

In being honored as an attorney on this prestigious list, Mr. Reiff is only motivated to do more to assist others during their time of need. There are numerous individuals and major companies who try to get away with murder, literally in some instances, and squeeze by without being held legally responsible for causing a person to be paralyzed or endure a brain injury and suffer brain damage for the rest of their life. Mr. Reiff and the legal team at the Pennsylvania personal injury law firm of Reiff and Bily do everything within their power to ensure this doesn’t happen to their clients. To learn more about the many accomplishments of Mr. Reiff and the Reiff and Bily law firm, please visit http://www.reiffandbily.com/ or call (800) 421-9595 to discuss your case with us.

It is said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb and with it the ritual of spring break. Every year at this time, teens in dorm rooms across the country and families are planning their dream vacations seeking adventure and excitement. Unfortunately, as an experienced Pennsylvania accident lawyer, I find that our phones are ringing during spring break with tragic accidents involving over-consumption of alcohol or drugs resulting in car accidents, balcony falls, or sexual assaults. Additionally, many spring break tourists are vulnerable to robberies, pick pockets, sexual assault, and physical assault in foreign hotels or condominiums that do not provide proper security for fare paying guests.

Keep in mind when traveling on foreign roadways during spring break that you may not be familiar with often dangerous on- and off-ramps or confusing signage. Many times there are highway and roadway defects. If you are abroad, drivers often drive in a different and more erratic fashion, and may be more frequently under the influence of alcohol. If you are using a taxi, make sure that you are in a legitimate and regulated taxi and always wear a seat belt, and if traveling by bus try to sit in the rear in case an accident occurs.

Almost every year, we hear the tragic stories of teenagers who die falling from hotel balconies while intoxicated. Statistics indicate that teenagers at famed spring break resorts such as Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach are at an increased risk of car accidents due to driving while intoxicated.

A recent study published in the Journal of American College Health has noted that the average male is reported to consume 18 drinks per day and the average woman 10 drinks per day during spring break. More than half of all men and 40% of all women drank until they became sick or passed out at least once during spring break.

Obviously, injuries sustained during spring break resulting from over-intoxication of alcohol include death from automobile accidents, drowning, falls, amusement park and water park accidents, in addition to other mishaps.

If you are on spring break and you or a loved one suffers a serious injury or wrongful death, our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free, no obligation consultation. Please be safe and in the words of Louis Pasteur, “Chance favors the prepared mind”. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

With the seasons about to change I am continually thinking about weather and its effect. Whenever wind is predicted, I find myself worrying about many different things. Will the wind be strong enough to knock out the power? More importantly, what damage could all the falling trees outside my home and around my car cause?

Every year, fallings trees impact millions of people around the country. It is a problem that occurs in every season and in every state. While wind may be out of our control, the problems Philly tree fall accidents cause could be within your control. Whether it’s a tree falling on your car, roof, or on you, there is something you can do.

With wind and rain comes liability and there are many things you can do to gain control over the situation. As a homeowner, it is important to be aware of trees presenting a danger of falling. If you have a tree that is in bad shape, maybe has weak branches, stress cracks, or hollow or decayed areas, and you do not do anything about it, if it comes crashing down, you could be held accountable for damages. As an experienced catastrophic injury attorney, I advise all property owners to regularly survey their land for potentially dangerous trees - before it is too late.

If a tree on your property damages your home or car, it will be up to your insurance company to handle the claim. If someone else’s tree damages your car, you may need to contact your automobile insurance to find out about your comprehensive coverage. Keep in mind whose tree fell and if it could have been prevented. When a property owner has reason to know or should have known that a tree posed a potential danger of causing a falling tree fall accident, you may have a much larger and profitable claim.

It is also always important to keep in mind that more than property damage can be caused by falling trees and extreme bodily harm is always a possibility when trees are flying around. In fact, the experienced investigators and lawyers at Reiff and Bily are currently working on a case where a woman suffered a traumatic brain injury because of a falling tree. For this woman, like many, it was a normal day when she dropped off her children at day care. The next thing she remembers is seeing white, and a man asking her for assistance. The tree that fell on her was the worst injury of her life. When we sat down to talk to her she was suffering terrible headaches, loss of memory, and constant nausea. Her life, unlike damage to a car or home, will never be the same.

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury or have property damage because of tree fall accidents, it pays to contact an experienced Pennsylvania tree accident lawyer to handle the case. The legal team at Reiff and Bily is well versed in your rights as a tree fall victim and we will not let the insurance company or their representatives minimize the injuries that nature and another’s negligence has caused you. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

When a company or manufacturer observes a high rate of warranty and property damage claims and receives notice of catastrophic injuries and deaths caused by a product failure, it should be incumbent upon the manufacturer to recall the allegedly dangerous product to avoid countless other injuries and wrongful death.

As a tire defect lawyer in Philadelphia with years of experience, I recently learned of a recall by Goodyear Tire who notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is recalling 40,915 Wrangler Silent Armor flagship tires more than a year after the company observed a high rate of warranty and property damage claims. Goodyear Tire was also notified of the death of two college students who died due to a tire failure that precipitated a rollover crash.

According to news sources, as a result of a de-tread of a Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tire on a 2008 Ford F-150 pickup, the vehicle occupied by a driver and passenger went into a skid and rollover whereupon the driver was fatally ejected and the restrained passenger sustained fatal injuries. Almost a half a year went by before Goodyear filed with the NHTSA on February 22, 2012 claiming that it first noticed elevated property damage and warranty claims for the same Wrangler Silent Armor tire during its May 2010 early warning data.

Since the initial notice to the NHTSA, sources indicate that the company would continue to see high levels of warranty and property damage claims specifically for six sizes of tires produced at its Fayetteville manufacturing plant, but Goodyear still resisted a product recall and passed off the uptick in claims as isolated cases caused by “stone drilling damage and other external damage to the tires”.

The specific tire was advertised as a big beefy tire tough enough to stand up to the rigors of off-roading and their marketing materials read, “Are you looking for an on and off road alternative tire? Do you want tires that are going to fit all of your versatile needs? Are you only interested in buying tires that are safe, durable, and provide you with the most comfortable ride possible? If so, you should consider purchasing Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tires.” … “These tires will really take you anywhere and you never have to worry about your safety or the durability of the tires!” Curiously, after the accident had resulted in twin fatalities, Goodyear reported to the NHTSA in its defect report as “one injury claim”.

Interestingly enough, on March 30, 2010 narcotics agents raided Goodyear’s Fayetteville plant where the tires were manufactured and arrested 15 workers and among the 69 charges it was alleged that suspects were operating a full service drug store trafficking cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy, and other prescription drugs.

David Bright, a highly respected attorney in the field of automotive product liability, is representing one of the victims in the Ford F-150 rollover caused by the tire de-treading and was quoted as saying, “I think Goodyear is getting a lot of warranty claims. Let’s see what happens.” Then Goodyear waited another 12 months and decided to hang on, wait a while longer, and three months later, the two victims were killed.

Obviously a heavy price has been paid by the victims and their families due to a delayed recall from an allegedly defective tire where the manufacturer had sufficient warning that problems existed with their product.

If you, a loved one, or anyone you know sustained a catastrophic injury or was killed in a crash caused by the de-lamination or de-treading of a Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tire, please let us know as we are currently working with a group of committed auto defect and tire defect lawyers throughout the United States to assemble another similar incident base. In the event you experienced tire failure that did not result in a tragic consequence, any information that can be shared documenting the failure of the Wrangler Silent Armor tires is of critical importance to assist other consumers and victims, as well as NHTSA, to understand the scope and magnitude of this problem.

I recently returned from a business trip to Los Angeles and stayed at a hotel that was frequented by many Hollywood celebrities and movie stars. As a Philadelphia hotel premises liability lawyer, I have to admit that I have never seen such an extensive amount of security at a hotel and was overly impressed. When I questioned the concierge, I was told that many guests had booked rooms at this hotel with hopes of meeting a celebrity or having a glance at a “movie star” in the hotel’s elevators, hallways, or lobbies. In fact, even the pool area had security guards present who were unidentified in plain clothes and lounging. In the back of my mind, I could not help but think about the difference of security at this hotel and another hotel where a client of mine had recently sustained a sexual assault due to the lack of security and improper safety measures. Why should there be different standards for movie stars and celebrities then there are for the rest of us?

There is one thing that I am certain of, and that is: the safety and privacy of ALL hotel, motel, resort, and cruise ship guests should be top priority. Many of us do not hear much about lack of security in hotels, motels, apartment houses, and cruise ships. Generally, it is only after an easily avoidable tragedy, such as the recent story of Carnival Cruise line passengers who were robbed at gunpoint while touring a part of Mexico, that the United States State department warns citizens everywhere of potential dangers. Unfortunately, it is not until an easily preventable act of violence has occurred that the issue of inadequate hotel security, inadequate motel security, inadequate apartment house security, or inadequate cruise ship security, is addressed.

There is no room to have double standards when it comes to hotel security. Our experienced premises liability law firm always offers a free, no obligation consultation to victims of physical assault, sexual assault, or robbery at a hotel, motel, apartment house, or cruise ship due to negligent security. We will begin an immediate and independent investigation of your case to preserve evidence and properly prepare your case. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reifandbily.com.