Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit filed against the Pennsylvania agency and the bus driver over an accident that killed an Erie surgeon in 2005. The 36 year old surgeon, David Sanders, was riding his bicycle when the bus collided with him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. This bus was making a left hand turn at the time of the accident. There is no question that this is a huge tragedy for Dr. Sanders’ family and friends and the local community and we offer our heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved him. (news article)

Bicycle ridership is on the upswing in Pennsylvania and so are the injuries and fatalities. The Philadelphia bicycle accident and catastrophic injury lawyers at the Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff and Bily have been successfully representing injured bicyclists since 1979. Approximately 11% of all traffic fatalities involve bicycles. I have worked hard as a Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney for the past 30 years to help injured cyclists and the families of cyclists who have been died as the result of the negligence of other drivers. As more and more individuals turn to bicycles as a viable means of transportation, as well as to relieve the stress of our increasingly complicated society, bicycle accidents will no doubt continuously be on the rise.

The Philadelphia bicycle accident law firm of Reiff and Bily has extensive experience working with bicycle accident cases and can assist you in assessing and protecting your legal rights. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident and need advice of your legal rights and you are not at fault, please contact one of the experienced lawyers at the Philadelphia bicycle accident and personal injury law firm of Reiff and Bily. We will fully evaluate liability fault, legal compensation for pain and suffering, medical compensation and make sure that you are fully compensated for your injuries.

Bicycles share the same laws as motor vehicle and motor vehicle operators owe a duty to be attentive to bicycle riders. If you are in need of legal advice or services and wish to speak to an experienced Philadelphia bicycle accident attorney, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at the Philadelphia catastrophic injury firm of Reiff and Bily for a no cost, no obligation case evaluation and pre-litigation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bicycle accidents , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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A catastrophic trucking accident took the life of an eastern Pennsylvania woman after her vehicle collided with a cargo container which was knocked off of a flatbed trailer truck that struck an overpass on Route 22 in Lehigh County. Sadly, 42-year old Michele Lamaze of Whitehall Township was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash this past Tuesday. The truck driver, a 29-year old Ohio resident, was not injured. According to a State Police investigation no charges have been filed.

Although many, including the newspaper, has called this a “freak” accident, unfortunately the situation is not so unusual. Full details and photographs of this deadly crash are available on the following link. (news article)

The experienced truck and trailer accident lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff and Bily offer their deepest condolences to the family of Michele Lamaze who died in this tragic and unfortunate accident. Obviously, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was the victim of someone’s negligence.

Unfortunately, freeway debris and containers falling from trucks is not so infrequent on Pennsylvania highways. In Pennsylvania a motorist can be fined and held liable for dropping anything from their vehicle onto the roadway which causes an accident to occur. In addition to fines, they can be held civilly and criminally responsible for the consequences of the debris on the highways. Reiff and Bily has successfully handled many major injury and fatality cases caused by highway debris and objects falling from trucks and trailers. A person injured in an car accident caused by highway debris and falling objects has the right to be compensated for their injuries not only from the person who drops the debris on the highway but also from their own uninsured and underinsured motorist provision of their automobile policy. An experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney will tell the family of the injured or deceased how their Pennsylvania motor vehicle policy would apply to a roadway debris or trailer debris accident. I sincerely urge the family of Michele Lamaze to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania truck accident or automobile accident attorney who would help and hold the negligent parties responsible and help secure them the compensation they are rightfully deserve and are owed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

If you would or a loved one has been catastrophically injured in an automobile accident and would like a free consultation with an experienced Philadelphia auto accident attorney, please contact one of the lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-431-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Large Truck Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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For many years, the 15-passenger van accident and SUV rollover lawyers at Reiff and Bily have been representing passengers that have been catastrophically injured or killed while being transported in 15 passenger vans that have flipped over. The rollover risk posed by 15 passenger vans, including those predominantly used by church groups, school groups and other unsuspecting individuals, is the most dangerous on the road today. 15 passenger vans started out as cargo utility vehicles in the early 1970's and is still essentially a cargo van with modifications made to accommodate passengers. If a 15 passenger van is fully loaded it is 6 to 7 times more likely to flip over than a van containing only a driver. As a matter of fact, NHTSA has noted that fully loaded 15 passenger vans are more likely to rollover than any other passenger type of vehicle, including cars, mini vans, SUVs and pickup trucks.

Internal documents by the major automotive manufacturers, including but not limited to Ford, Chrysler and GM, revealed that the companies were and still are well aware of safety and deficiencies with the 15-passenger van. However, the manufacturing of these passenger vehicles and the transition from cargo to passenger vans became too profitable and the automobile manufacturers have made a consistent effort to place profitability over consumer safety. Documentation of testing data indicates that the engineers who designed these cars knew they were unsafe and suggested necessary fixes to protect innocent and unsuspecting consumers. Initially in April 2001, NHTSA issued a report on the rollover propensity of 15-passenger vans. It is significant that NHTSA had never done this for any other vehicle and during that time period there had been approximately 800 fatalities.

Continue reading "The Vehicle Most Likely to Rollover, Injure And Kill Innocent Children and Churchgoers Is The 15-Passenger Van - 15- Passenger Van Lawyer Warns Consumers" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Product Liability , SUV and 15 passenger rollover , Wrongful Death

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I was recently contacted by Patrick James who lost his 10-year old daughter, Alexis James, on July 17, 2007 in a 15-passenger van rollover in South Carolina. Unfortunately, according to the investigation, the accident resulted from the failure of the left rear tire. When the tire failed, the van rolled over and beautiful Alexis James was ejected from the vehicle though she was wearing her seat belt. It was only a lap seat belt. Three point lap/shoulder belts were not required in this van when it was manufactured in 1994. Patrick James founded the American Center for Van and Tire Safety. I urge all of you to review Patrick’s website at www.acfvats.org. Patrick’s story is an all to familiar story to members of the 15 passenger van rollover law firm of Reiff and Bily.

Unfortunately, our lawyers have handled too many cases similar to the loss of Alexis James and have shared the pain of losses of all too many parents and children. We applaud Patrick James’ efforts to inform unknowing consumers of the danger of these death machines and salute the his effort to keep the public continuously informed. Every time I learn of another one of these tragic cases, I think of the senseless loss of lives and wrongful death of the innocent and unknowing occupants of these vans.

Continue reading "Philadelphia 15-Passenger Van Attorney Salutes Efforts of American Center For Van and Tire Safety" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , SUV and 15 passenger rollover , Wrongful Death

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On November 4, 2008, my client, who is an honor’s college graduate and works in a medical laboratory at one of the prominent university’s of Philadelphia, was rear-ended by a tractor trailer who was merging into his lane of traffic on I-76 westbound in Philadelphia. His car was knocked considerably forward and there was considerable damage squarely to the rear of the bumper. Immediately thereafter, the driver of the 2004 Peterbilt vehicle apologized to my client and told him that the accident was entirely his fault and that he did not see him and could not stop in time. My client accepted his apologies and called the police even though the truck driver told him that it was not necessary to call the police. Shortly thereafter, the Pennsylvania state troopers arrived and the trucker then changed his original version of the accident claiming that my client cut his vehicle off and he was unable to stop. Interestingly enough, the damage was squarely to the rear bumper of my client’s vehicle and did not match the truck driver’s story. When the driver was confronted by my client and asked why he changed his story, the driver shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

Obviously, but not so surprisingly, the insurance company for the truck driver and trucking company has denied payment for any property damage claiming that it was not their fault. Not so surprisingly, another one of America’s trucking companies and insurance companies, the same ones that spend billions on advertising to earn your trust, are refusing to pay a claim they are obligated to pay in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I have seen more insurance companies and corporations systematically denying claims as the economy continues to tighten. I have been practicing law since 1979 and I am certain that the truth will prevail when this case is heard in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. However, for many others whose valid claims have been denied, I will remind you that insurance companies count on you giving up. Always fight for your rights and never, ever give up.

If you were a victim of a car accident and an insurance company refuses to pay your claim, it is time to put an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer on your side. The law offices of Reiff and Bily has been representing catastrophically injured car accident victims since 1979 with a successful track record. Please feel free to call for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident

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Government Investigates "Rhino Rollover” Virus

Yamaha promises its Rhino goes "almost anywhere" referring to its new breed of Utility Terrain Vehicle or U.T.V.'s. What the ad fails to mention is that federal safety regulators are investigating the safety of this vehicle following reports of approximately 30 deaths including two young girls last month. Yamaha Rhino Rollovers

According to a recently published article in The Wall Street Journal on November 4, 2008 Yamaha currently faces more than 200 lawsuits in State and Federal courts alleging that Rhino design is unsafe. (Wall Street Journal article)

Due to their unique design, Rhinos are not subject to the safety standards of all terrain vehicle (ATV's) or even more stringent car safety standards. The Yamaha Rhino ATV is alleged to be unstable during normal operating maneuvers at low to moderate speeds and turning on level ground.

Characteristically, low speed turns lead to sudden rollovers causing the occupants' arms and legs to be crushed by the roll cage as the vehicle slams to the ground.

The Philadelphia SUV rollover firm of Reiff and Bily has represented individuals across the United States who have suffered injuries in SUV and ATV rollovers. If you or anyone you know has been injured in a Yamaha Rhino accident, please contact the ATV and SUV rollover firm of Reiff and Bily for a free consultation at 1- 800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com and we will promptly review your case and assist you in recovering damages for pain and suffering along with both future and past medical expenses without fee or obligation to you.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: ATV Rollover , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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Philadelphia Amusement and Hayride Accident Lawyers of Reiff and Bily Salute Ron Melancon and dangeroustrailers.org

Ron has been a step ahead of government officials and many lawyers. Ron has recognized that many trailers used for hayrides and other utilities are under 3,000 lbs. and fall below federal guidelines. These trailers do not need to be inspected. You can build one on your own and use it yourself or sell it. As Ron has recognized, there is very little regulation addressed with trailers under 3,000 lbs. Most state laws are silent regarding design or construction specification for utility trailers used in hayrides or for towing hitches. Obviously, a potentially dangerous situation exists using these trailers for hayrides or even on the roads of the Commonwealth. In many cases, we find trailers have obvious violations of safety codes that related to lighting, braking and inspection requirements.

The unregulation of the hayride and trailer obviously allows profit hungry operators to cut corners on safety, often leading to preventable catastrophic injuries of innocent children.

We urge you to link to Ron’s website at www.dangeroustrailers.org. We salute Ron’s efforts to become a crusader for public safety and in his attempts to keep the public informed of the dangerous situations of unregulated trailers and hayrides in the United States and abroad. Consumer advocacy is what change in laws and regulations is all about.

Continue reading "The Dangerous Trailer and Hayride Injury Lawyers of Reiff and Bily Proudly Salute the Efforts of Ron J. Melancon of Richmond, Virginia" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Hayride Accidents , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, a 15-passenger Ford Econoline van took the life of an innocent man and injured ten others Saturday, November 10, 2008 when the van lost control causing it to go sideways, eventually resulting in a multiple roll on Interstate 90. There was not alcohol use detected. According to the accident reports, the driver was driving westbound on Interstate 90 when he lost control of the 15-passenger van. Our hearts and prayers go out to the individuals in this van who were probably not aware of the dangers of 15-passenger vans and their tendency to rollover and cause catastrophic injury and fatality. (news article)

NTHSA’s research and the research of the automotive manufacturers indicate that there is significant risk of rollover in 15-passenger vans when fully loaded. Often times, 15-passenger van rollover crashes are due to defective tires and inexperienced and untrained drivers.
The experienced 15-passenger van attorneys at Reiff and Bily believe that the victims of this unfortunate accident should contact an experienced 15-passenger van and rollover attorney to investigate this accident and get them proper compensation that they rightfully deserve from the manufacturers of these knowingly defective vans. If you or a loved one has been injured in a 15-passenger van accident, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , SUV and 15 passenger rollover , Wrongful Death

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According to an article published by The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal on October 30, 2008, Sarah Timblin, 23, of Lancaster County was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for being intoxicated when she drove her SUV the wrong way on a two lane highway in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania. Her SUV struck a Honda Civic head on, killing all three people inside the vehicle. Three York, Pennsylvania men traveling to work were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Ironically, the date of Sarah Timblin’s sentencing was the birthday of one of the deceased workers. Tests revealed that Ms. Timblin’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was more than three times the level at which a person is considered legally drunk in Pennsylvania. Sarah Timblin’s sentence rightfully reflects the gravity and severity of her negligent act, an act that ultimately contributed to three senseless and untimely deaths. Lancaster County President Judge, Louis Ferina, sentenced Sarah Timblin to the mandatory 9 year prison term for three felony counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence. The judge also ordered Ms. Timblin to 6 years probation after her release from prison. (news article)

The catastrophic injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily salute Judge Louis Ferina for setting an excellent example to deter other DUI fatalities from occurring in Pennsylvania. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased for their irreparable losses. 23 year old Sarah Timblin should be held criminally and civilly responsible for this accident and the deaths of these working men. She had no regard for the law, traffic rules and most of all for the life of other human beings. In 2007 there were 1,491 fatal traffic accidents in Pennsylvania as a result of driving under the influence. The families of the victims deserve to be rightfully compensated for this tremendous loss. Anyone in this situation would be well advised to contact a reputed, experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf and fight for their rights. The driver of the vehicle that struck them was uninsured and did not have enough insurance. The injured individuals or the families of the deceased individuals would be able to seek compensation through their own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, please contact the experienced Philadelphia car accidents lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800 421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com to discuss your case.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Yet another tragic story came across the wires reporting that a Pennsylvania woman was accused of drunk driving. The 25 year old woman was charged with vehicular homicide while driving under the influence along with related crimes of death. According to news sources on September 1, 2007, 25 year old, Heather Renee Werner, of Hyndman, Pa. was speeding when she lost control of her vehicle and struck an embankment before rolling over repeatedly. Susan Fleegle, a 48 year old passenger in the car was ejected from the car and died. Steven Huffman, another passenger in the car sustained severe injuries from the accident. Police records indicate that Ms. Werner’s blood alcohol level was 0.115% above the legal limit of 0.08%. We at Reiff and Bily offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of Susan Fleegle for their loss and extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr. Huffman. (news article)

Indeed, Heather Werner should be held criminally and civilly responsible for this devastating accident that resulted in death to one passenger and inflicted injuries to the other. Driving with a blood alcohol level 0.115% above the legal limit is indicative of the fact that Ms. Werner has little respect for the law, traffic rules and most importantly herself and the safety of her passengers. The families of Susan Fleegle and Steven Hoffman deserve to be rightfully compensated for their tremendous loss. They would be well advised to contact a reputed Pennsylvania personal injury accident attorney who would file a wrongful death claim on their behalf and fight for their rights. If the driver of the vehicle is uninsured and does not have sufficient insurance, it would be appropriate to look at the underinsured or uninsured policies maintain by Susan Fleegle or her family, as well as the uninsured or underinsured insurance policies maintained by passenger, Steven Huffman.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Woman Charged With DUI and Vehicular Homicide in Mother’s Crash Death" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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According to investigators, an unidentified man was driving south on Island Avenue in southwest Philadelphia when his Chevy Avalanche SUV struck a raised trolley stop platform at the Buist Avenue intersection. The SUV flipped and the driver sustained massive head injuries in the crash. He was pronounced dead later that morning. This represents yet another single vehicle SUV rollover in what seems to be an epidemic in Philadelphia and nationally.

At the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff and Bily we would be interested to see the results of the investigation of this crash. Most likely, there was a roof crush, which is common for General Motors Company SUVs. The injuries and resulting fatality was most likely caused by the collapsing roof or seat belt failure. The victim’s family would be well served by consulting one of many excellent auto defect firms in the nation that are truly experienced in handling General Motors SUV litigation. When hiring an SUV rollover accident attorney, ask the attorney how many similar cases they have completed and how many they have in progress. You might also want to know how many auto defect cases in total they have successfully completed. More than 40,000 people die is SUV rollover accident in the United States each year. Many of these rollover accident fatalities involve SUVs.

Continue reading "New Jersey Man Was Killed in Philadelphia When His SUV Crashed into a Trolley Platform and Flipped Over" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accident , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , SUV and 15 passenger rollover , Wrongful Death

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Jeffrey Reiff, a Pennsylvania Product Liability Attorney, expresses concern that federal agencies are blocking the roadway to justice.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and The Transportation Safety Authority (TSA) have all broken with long-standing agency precedents, claiming authority to provide immunity from state laws. Many members of Congress, and this Philadelphia personal injury lawyer, believe that the agencies have overstepped their constitutional bounds.

A recent report issued by The American Association of Justice entitled “Get Out of Jail Free: How the Bush Administration Helps Corporations Escape Accountability” spotlights efforts by the Bush administration and several federal agencies headed by political appointees to negate the effect of state laws that protect consumers and injured workers, in effect granting immunity to irresponsible corporations. Since the Bush administration first came into power, there has been an unprecedented attack on trial lawyers and those who protect the rights of injured consumers. By pushing to allow complete immunity from lawsuits for corporations, whether through legislation or agency rule, the American public pays. Injured persons will not receive restitution from greedy corporations who sold unsafe products or the federal agencies that cut off their rights. Ultimately, industry will get immunity from state tort claims and the states and their taxpayers will be forced to pick up the hundreds of millions, or billions, of dollars a year in costs to support those who become permanently disabled and no longer have recourse via the courts to recoup their expenses.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Defective Product Laws Jeopardized By Federal Agencies" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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