Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

Every year during prom season, groups of local teenagers celebrate by flocking to the New Jersey shore and staying at seaside motels. As long as these teenage guests can pay for their rooms, they are welcomed with open arms. But, as parents well know, when teenagers party after their proms, there is a good chance they’ll include alcohol or other intoxicating substances in their party mix. There is also a good chance they’ll get hurt—especially if the motels they are staying in pose safety risks.

The warm months of May and June are not exclusive to prom season. They also mark the beginning of the tourist season at the Jersey shore. It is fair to say that many of the motels on the shore have not been very busy over the cold winter months, and are in need of repair, due to the ravages of storms and winter weather— especially this year, after the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy.

The conjunction of prom season and tourist season is a valid concern for the parents of these shore-bound teenagers. Typically, prom-goers look for the cheapest possible motel deal, and end up staying in places where the quality of maintenance is not up to par, or in accordance with safety codes. As a father and a motel/hotel premise liability lawyer who specializes in balcony and railing falls, I worry—for myself, and for all parents of teenagers.

Every year, victims are left in critical condition, or die, after falling over balconies in seashore motels with defective balcony railings. Just last year, a real estate agent was showing a seashore motel property listed for sale, when he leaned against the railing and fell over backwards, suffering permanent catastrophic injuries. The beachfront motel on the Jersey shore where he fell was said to have had multiple safety violations.

Falls from hotel and motel balconies commonly occur during holidays or post-prom parties, and they are often fueled by intoxicating substances and unusual behavior. Despite the presence of alcohol, however, property owners are responsible for the safety of their premises. A fall from a balcony due to defective railings or deck surfaces can totally decimate a victim’s hopes and dreams, and those responsible must be held accountable. If you, your teenage child, or anyone else in your family, has been injured in this kind of accident, you must act immediately, and seek the counsel of an experienced premises liability lawyer.

The nationally recognized premise hotel/motel liability law firm of Reiff and Bily has well over three decades of experience successfully representing victims of slip and fall and balcony fall accidents. We know what can go wrong, and understand the modes of failure and safety code violations that lead to balcony and railing collapses. We have been recognized by our peers and outside third parties as being among the best and brightest, and have been listed as members the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers.

When someone gets injured on another’s property—whether it be a business, public, or residential site—the stakes can be very high, especially when the property owner is deemed negligent and the victim is seriously hurt. A property owner has an obligation to keep the premises in safe condition and free of hazards. But, all too often, balconies and railings are overlooked. Given that falls from balconies are generally quite serious, and often lead to catastrophic injuries, the awards for such premises liability cases can be very high indeed.

Recently, a 25-year old motel guest fell 12 feet from the balcony of a second story motel room, while a guest at the motel. The victim contended that the motel maintained the property in a negligent fashion, and that the railing was dangerously low—in violation of the building code. The defense denied that the victim was a motel guest, and presented expert testimony that his injuries were consistent with a ground-level backwards fall. The defense also argued that the victim’s blood alcohol level was .267 at the time of the accident. The plaintiff presented evidence that his mother had come to the motel the day after the accident, and retrieved his personal belongings—which, he alleged, proved that he was a guest at the motel. The plaintiff admitted that he had been intoxicated at the time, had struggled with alcoholism, and was partly responsible for the fall. However, his attorneys argued that this did not excuse the motel’s non-compliance with the building code.

As a result of the fall, the plaintiff was severely injured. He was diagnosed with four skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and had to be placed in a coma for three weeks to be treated for brain swelling and internal bleeding. He sustained brain tissue death, resulting in traumatic dementia. Though he is able to speak, and can understand and process visual information, he has trouble responding, owing to extreme anxiety. He has difficulty planning, and suffers from problems with memory, concentration, and behavior control.

The victim was awarded an extremely large settlement—38 million dollars—owing to the fact that the owner had failed to correct a serious safety hazard, and to fulfill his duty of care to a hotel guest. It is always a property owner’s obligation to keep his premises in a safe condition.

If you or a loved one has been injured from a slip or fall caused by the inadequate safety of someone else’s property, you should contact a premises liability attorney with specialized expertise and a track record of achieving large settlements in such cases. Moreover, you should do so immediately, in order to preserve vitally important evidence.

Jeffrey Reiff has decades of experience as a premises liability attorney, and is a contributing member of the National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association. He has consistently been named one of the Top Attorneys in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers, and has been recognized by National Trial Lawyers as a member of the Top100 Trial Lawyers. He has also been nominated as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania.

Recently, 25-year old X Games athlete, Caleb Moore, performed a flip that went wrong, as he clipped the top of the jump and went over the handlebars of his snowmobile. Moore was able to walk off the course, with help, and go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with concussion. Unfortunately, however, due to complications, he passed away shortly thereafter.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Caleb Moore, who lived life passionately, and served as an inspiration to everyone involved in the extreme and action sports community. In calling attention to this tragic accident, it is my hope—as a consumer safety advocate and a closed-head trauma and traumatic brain injury attorney—to increase awareness of the seriousness of intracranial injury.

While we all recognize that extreme sporting events are dangerous, we are apt to underestimate the most common athletic injury of all: concussion. Because athletes like Caleb Moore—and countless football, soccer, and hockey players—are able to get up and walk away, they are often presumed to be fine, and are encouraged by well-meaning coaches and parents to return to play before they are ready. More often than not, they end up sustaining many more head traumas during the course of their athletic careers, causing cumulative brain injury. For, even if the first injury is a mild one, every successive bang to the head increases the level of injury to the brain. According to news sources, it is estimated that Caleb Moore had sustained ten previous concussions prior to his fatal accident.

Approximately half a million sports-related concussions occur each year in the United States. At this moment, litigation is pending for close to 4,000 football players with head injuries—now the top trauma-related cause of death among athletes. Fortunately, however, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among athletes have been widely researched in recent years, thereby paving the way for greater public awareness and understanding.

Of course, you don’t have to be an athlete to sustain a concussion—or multiple concussions, for that matter. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, falls, or blows to the head can cause the same damage as snowmobile accidents or dangerous tackles.

Traumatic brain injuries and closed head traumas—aptly called “invisible injuries— are a serious health problem in the United States. Even a minor concussion can cause significant and sustained neurological and cognitive impairment, and can diminish one’s ability to process information at normal speeds. All too frequently, head trauma results in memory impairment, diminished spatial perception, and/or long-lasting emotional, mental, and behavioral changes.

The impact of closed-head injury and brain trauma on a family is devastating. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury to the head and skull, it is imperative that you seek an independent medical examination by a qualified health professional. TBI has the potential to kill--or to cause catastrophic injuries that require life-long care, which can greatly impact the victim’s family members, both emotionally and financially.

Continue reading "Never Underestimate the Power of a Concussion" »

Each year, tens of thousands of people sustain catastrophic injuries—or die—on American highways, as the result of side impact crashes. Head-protecting side airbags are known to be the only way to prevent traumatic brain injuries and death in this type of accident. It is an established fact that side airbags reduce driver and passenger deaths and injuries by close to 40 per cent—and, more specifically, that side airbags that protect the head reduce fatality risks by 52%, while side airbags that only protect the torso reduce fatality risks by 30%. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, if all cars were equipped with side airbags, thousands of lives would be saved annually.

Many automobile manufacturers offer side airbags as an option, and not as standard equipment, even though the cost of installing them is minimal compared to the risk of injury. Therefore, we believe that, if an individual sustains a catastrophic brain injury, paralysis, or wrongful death because a vehicle manufacturer did not install side airbags for protection—or because the side airbag system failed—the manufacturer ought to be held fully accountable. Indeed, when an automobile manufacturer fails to provide side air bag protection to the passenger, it can be held responsible for damages, according to vehicle design defect theory.

We recently completed litigation of a claim involving a woman who was struck by another vehicle that ran a red light. Of course, after protracted litigation, the other vehicle’s insurance company tendered their minimal insurance policy limits. However, that amount was not enough to fully compensate the victim, and we were able to obtain a significant additional amount from the manufacturer of the vehicle, owing to its failure to install side airbags on the vehicle.

We believe that safety, not profitability, should always be the number one concern, when it comes to the design and manufacture of motor vehicles. Our skilled auto defect and car accident lawyers understand that safety should never be an option. Jeffrey Reiff is a nationally recognized car accident and auto defect attorney dedicated to vehicle safety issues, and he deals with crashworthiness and other design issues seven days a week, 24/7.

As an avid bicyclist and Philadelphia bicycle accident lawyer who has represented bicycle accident victims seriously injured in bicycle traffic accidents for more then 30 years, I salute the Pennsylvania Senate’s approval of a Bill known as the “Safe Passing Law". The “Safe Passing Law" requires cars to leave a 4 foot clearance when passing a bicyclist and it applies in Pennsylvania cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

In Philadelphia and surrounding counties, even despite placement of bicycle traffic lanes adjacent to traffic, many avid cyclists know that they have had a close call by someone who was ignorant of the cyclist or has buzzed by them in an alarming way almost causing, or in fact actually causing, a catastrophic injury. Personally, I was almost struck by a SEPTA bus while riding my bicycle in a bicycle lane, causing me to flip over the handle bars and break my wrist. I have represented bicyclists who have suffered broken bones, brain injuries, amputations, and in the worse cases a wrongful death when they were struck by a motorist ignorant of their rights on the road. Hopefully the new “Safe Passing Law" with proper enforcement by law enforcement officials will serve to educate other motorists on how to properly and safely pass a bicyclist. It will be interesting to observe how the new bicycle passing law is enforced, and whether the penalties have enough teeth to deter wrongdoers. Only time will tell.

The Pennsylvania bicycle accident law firm of Reiff and Bily remains committed to bicyclist safety and always offers a free, no obligation consultation to those injured in bicycle accidents caused by the fault of another or due to a defectively designed bicycle, a defectively manufactured bicycle, or a defectively designed bicycle component part.

Recently traumatic brain injury has been in the news as it applies to athletes, most notably football players, as well as more concentrated focus on efforts by the United States government as indicated in a press release from the White House on January 11, 2012. In the White House press release, First Lady Michele Obama announced a major coordinated effort by America’s academic institutions to address and combat PTSD and traumatic brain injury. The White House announced a commitment to an initiative of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine to leverage missions in education, research, and clinical care to meet unique health care needs in military and veterans communities which involves PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury).

Diagnosis and treatment of PTSD and traumatic brain injury has long been swept under the carpet and the understandings that arrive from research were not widely distributed. Researchers are now working and developing new major imaging that allows visualization of brain wiring in high definition which could lead to new breakthroughs in the diagnosis of TBI. Many unknowing victims have been diagnosed with TBI, and in the case of professional athletes, many players stated that they would try to hide brain injuries rather than leave the game. Many sports fans and team owners claim if brain injuries are part of the game then at some point there would be no game. Tragic circumstances surrounding the incident in which U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head have also significantly increased awareness of traumatic brain injury.

Millions of Americans live with a traumatic brain injury and it is estimated that millions of cases of TBI occur and go unreported each year. Although most of the TBI’s are considered mild, they do have a tremendous cumulative effect on the lives of the victims.

If you have been involved in a serious accident and sustained a blow to your head by virtue of a bus crash, auto accident, motorcycle accident, sporting accident, slip and fall accident, amusement park accident, and notice dizziness, loss of focus, ringing in the ears, imbalance, or sensory deprivation, you should present to an emergency room immediately and contact an experienced TBI professional.

The Philadelphia traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder lawyers of Reiff and Bily salute increased government attention focused on TBI and PTSD and understand how the complexities of the issues faced by victims of accidents that suffer from TBI and PTSD. We have over 30 years of experience representing victims who have suffered traumatic brain injury and understand the assistance that is necessary to put TBI victims on the same footing they were prior to the incident that caused this unfortunate diagnosis. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over thirty years, I have worked closely with the medical community in my capacity as a lawyer investigating and litigating cases involving closed head traumas and mild to severe brain injuries, as well as intracranial hemorrhages. Many times individuals who do not possess proper medical insurance do not receive adequate or proper screening after an accident or violent impact to their head. Left untreated, a mild TBI or intracranial hemorrhage can have a considerable impact in the reduction of one’s quality of life and can many times lead to death if improperly diagnosed.

Studies and statistics have indicated that African-American and Hispanic children are less likely than Caucasian children to receive cranial CT scans in emergency departments following minor head trauma according to a study presented at the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics national conference. Many physicians that I have discussed this situation with claim that those who sustain a minor head trauma “are probably at low risk anyway" for a clinically important brain injury. However, one’s socioeconomic status or lack of insurance or ignorance of the insurance and billing systems should not stand in the way of a proper diagnosis and the safe practice of medicine. Many times an impact to the head is the result of a car accident, product defect, or other type of negligence, and third party’s and third party insurance companies may be responsible for medical bills and resulting financial, emotional, and payment of medical bills. Simply stated, I have noted that many individuals contact our office with symptoms of traumatic brain injury and closed head trauma and have not received proper medical treatment because they were afraid that they would be responsible for paying the bills and did not have adequate personal medical insurance. In fact, many hospitals and physicians will not treat these people unless there is a letter of protection from a lawyer representing them or the lawyer’s office has done the ground work to secure funding for the diagnostic testing. What we do know is that individuals with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury have a much lower health-related quality of life at times compared to others. It is important to immediately diagnose and effectively treat a brain injury.

Continue reading "Why Is It That Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries and Intracranial Hemorrhages Are Not So Readily Diagnosed. Is It A Patient Or Medical Issue?" »

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 " »

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" »

With the arrival of summer public pool and private country club swimming pools are the place that many families and young children escape to to create summertime memories of fun.

Unfortunately in mid-June a special day for a family turned tragic after a 6-year old donned his goggles and prepared to dive for toys at the Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville. According to news sources, the 6-year old suffered a severe brain injury after remaining submerged underwater for an unknown period of time and according to medical records, the cause of death was consistent with drowning. Attempts were made to save the youth, however, he died the following day after medical staff at a children’s hospital disconnected him from life support.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Keegan Adkins and as a parent and experienced swimming pool accident attorney who has witnessed this type of tragedy for decades no words can express the sorrow and loss we all feel when we learn of a catastrophic incident or drowning such as this.

Continue reading "Drowning Death of 6-Year Old At A Country Club Indicates Just How Quickly A Special Day Can Turn Into a Tragedy - Experienced Swimming Pool Accident Attorney Weighs In" »

A spinning coaster roller coaster ride with revolving cars resulted in the catastrophic fatal fall and death of a 34-year old man. According to news sources, the roller coaster ride occurred at Tokio Dome City attractions. The spinning roller coaster reaches a speed of 39.6 kph as it cruises a 305 meter long track. The victim was believed to have fallen from a height of 7 to 8 meters. This is the third major amusement park accident to hit the park in three months.

In another catastrophic amusement park accident, a 26-year old female worker lost three fingers while checking wires and motors at the top of the popular Tower Hacker amusement attraction. The Tower Hacker is an 80 meter tall tower that lifts riders to the top and lets them free fall vertically at almost a 100 kph.

In another roller coaster accident in December, parts from the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster injured a small girl on the ground.

As an experienced amusement park accident lawyer, unfortunately I am all too familiar with the fact that seemingly safe rides are often unknowingly dangerous forms of entertainment for families. Amusement park owners always advertise the newest thrill ride or adventure ride to increase popularity and revenue and many times the new thrill rides are not safe and cause many deaths as well as catastrophic injuries including broken bones, broken noses, broken legs, whiplash, brain hemorrhage , paralysis, quadriplegia, and death. Most times, amusement park owners will aggressively fight these claims and it is important to consult with an experienced amusement park accident and death lawyer. The amusement park accident firm of Reiff & Bily as of January 1, 2011 has joined forces with the Beasley Firm and together have been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of their clients with scores of multi-million dollar awards. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

In less than 24 hours, three different innocent individuals were either injured or killed when struck by snow plows. Other innocent property owners, including myself suffered plow related property damage by hit and run snow plow drivers.

In Delaware, 51-year old Denise McFadden was walking on the Washington Street Extension. The snow plow driver made a U-turn and fatally struck Ms. McFadden. She was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head injuries.

In Milford, Police continue to investigate a hit and run accident that occurred at the intersection of High Street and Drain Place, where an unidentified woman was struck by a snow plow. The driver of the snow plow left the scene of the accident.

In Maryland, Richard Francis Ogles was walking along Mountain Road when he was fatally struck by a snow plow. The driver of the snow plow left the scene of the accident. Mr. Ogles was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Extreme caution must be taken when operating a snow plow. Unfortunately, before, during, and after a snow fall, especially a large snow storm, both State and privately owned and operated snow plow drivers are working long hours, double time, and sometimes even triple time. In addition to driver exhaustion there could be decreased visibility due to the poor weather conditions. When you have the combination of driver exhaustion and poor visibility behind the wheel of a snow plow, it can only lead to a disaster.

Snow plow accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries or head injuries, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries or broken backs, crush injuries, and other devastating injuries, including death.

Twice in the last two weeks, a snow plow charging down my road struck at least 3 mailboxes breaking off cast aluminum stands like they were toothpicks. Yesterday, I was forced into a snowdrift while another snowplow, driving seemingly beyond the speed limit on an icy downhill suburban road, took over the highway without due regard for anybody else on the roadway. After all of these incidents, the snow plows kept going without regard for the damages inflicted. When I filed a claim with the township, I was told that these events are not as uncommon as one would think.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia wrongful death and negligence law firm of Reiff & Bily has aggressively represented clients and their families who have been injured or killed by negligent snow plow drivers. Effective January 1, 2011 the Reiff & Bily law firm has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm in Philadelphia who since 1958 has been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of their clients and have hundreds of millions and multi-million dollar verdicts, settlements, and awards to their credit. Please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

On December 19, 2009, a full Devil’s Head ski lift suddenly stopped, sparked, and then sent the seats screaming backwards at a high rate of speed. Riders, fearing for their lives, jumped from their seats, seriously injuring 14 of the riders.

On December 28, 2010, while workers were trying to realign a ski lift cable at Sugarloaf Resort, the cable jumped its track, causing riders to plummet 25 to 30 feet below and sustain serious injuries.

Although rare, ski lift accidents do occur and when they do, they can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.

Ski lift accidents can occur due to negligence or faulty equipment. Many times, we will see cases where the ski lift operator did not stop the lift after a person fell, causing the next rider to collide with the skier lying on the landing base. In those cases, the ski lift operator was negligent. Other injuries are caused by faulty or defective equipment. Faulty or defective equipment can lead to the cable dislodging from its track, break failure, bullwheel failure, gearbox failure, back up break malfunctioning, and anti-rollback device failure that cause skiers to become thrown from their seats or fall to the ground. Faulty and defective equipment can also be caused by improper instillation or maintenance.

Ski lift accidents can lead to traumatic brain or head injuries, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries or broken backs, punctured or collapsed lungs, multiple bone fractures, lacerations and other devastating injuries, including death.

Since 1979, the experienced Philadelphia product liability, wrongful death, and negligence law firm of Reiff & Bily has aggressively represented clients and their families who have been injured by a faulty ski lift or negligent ski lift operator. Effective January 1, 2011 the Reiff & Bily law firm has joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm in Philadelphia who since 1958 has been awarded over $2 billion dollars on behalf of their clients and have hundreds of millions and multi-million dollar verdicts, settlements, and awards to their credit. Please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

It is an unfortunate fact that as the summer season comes, so do water and pool-related injuries and deaths. Approximately 10 water-related deaths per day are related to drowning. Additionally, 700 people die each year in boating-related accidents. According to the CDC more than 1 in 4 fatal drowning victims are children aged 14 and younger. For every child who drowns, another 4 receive emergency treatment for non-fatal submersion and brain injury. Non-fatal drownings often cause brain damage resulting in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities and a permanent loss of basic functioning. The CDC determined that the major risk factors for swimming pool accidents and/or drowning are lack of barriers and supervision. Almost all young children who drown in pools were last since in the home, had been out of sight less than 5 minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time. All pools should have pool fencing which can help prevent children from getting access to the pool area without care giver awareness. With adult or adolescent deaths there is generally a ratio of alcohol use with a drowning or pool injury. Alcohol influences balance, coordination and judgment and its effects are often heightened by sun exposure and heat.

The experienced Philadelphia swimming pool accident and injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily recommend that you take the following steps to help prevent pool or water related drowning or injuries.

1. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while swimming or playing in or around water. Adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone or mowing the lawn while supervising children.

2. Always swim with a buddy.

Continue reading "Protect The Ones You Love From Drowning" »

As a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney and an active bicyclist for the last 45 years, I have been the victim of quite a few bike accidents and have represented many individuals who have been catastrophically injured as the result of a bicycle accident. Every year, injuries and fatalities from bike rides increase due to the fact that many motorists are not paying attention.

For many years when I rode my bike I never wore a helmet, enjoying the freedom. However, every year approximately 135 children die from bicycle-related injuries and more than 267,000 non-fatal bicycle accidents occur. It is a well known statistic that helmets can reduce the risk of head trauma and severe brain injury by 88%. However, studies indicate that only 15 to 25% of children 14 and under wear a bicycle helmet. Many states and municipalities are now requiring all bicycle riders to wear helmets at all times when riding a bicycle.

When selecting a helmet, one should purchase one that meets standards set by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. I suggest purchasing a helmet from a store specializing in bikes who understand that safety comes first. Of course, a helmet is of no great value unless it is properly fitted and put on correctly. Straps must always be buckled and the helmet should be positioned correctly on the head. For more information about bicycle safety, call 937-641-3385 or visit www.usa.safekids.org.

Continue reading "Bicycle Season Is In Full Swing - Make Sure You Wear A Helmet" »

Traumatic brain injury and closed head traumas are all to common in catastrophic car accidents. The Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily recently received a call from a client whose mother sustained a closed head trauma and an acquired brain injury as a result of being a passenger in a serious car accident. When a catastrophic brain injury occurs, it does not affect individuals, it affects families. Many times brain injuries are an invisible disability and it is easy for the condition to be unnoticed, undiagnosed and unsupported and many doctors will state that no two brain injuries are alike. One of the main causes of brain injuries in the United States are car accidents. Most individuals who sustain a brain injury do not even realize that they have one. In our case, the victim began to display irregular and abnormal behavior patterns to her husband and daughter.

If you have been involved in a car accident or other catastrophic accident and suffer any one of the following symptoms, you may have suffered a brain injury:

loss of short term/long term memory
dizziness
agitation
blurred vision
loss of coordination
paresthesia
pins and needles in the limbs
weakness in the extremities
seizures
difficulty hearing
nausea/vomiting
irregular eye movement
loss of smell
loss of taste
affectation of cognitive thought process
convulsions

Continue reading "Invisible Brain Injury From Car Accidents A Hidden Danger That Can Destroy Families If Not Diagnosed" »