Philadelphia Top Injury Lawyer Blog

CBS 21 News is reporting that Andrew King, a 16-year old Amish teenager involved in a crash at Orchard Road and Old Philadelphia Pike, has died. King had been riding his horse when a 54-year old man from Delaware slammed into him in his SUV.

This tragedy marks the second Philadelphia car accident within a week that's claimed the life of an Amish child. The Saturday before last, 8-year old Amish Fisher was hit by a car and killed while he was riding a scooter... just 200 yards away from where King got hit.

The local Amish community is obviously devastated by this pair of tragic, fatal Philadelphia car accidents.

In horrific cases like these, victims or family members of victims may turn to a Philadelphia accident lawyer to figure out how to get compensated for injuries and damages sustained. Obviously, you can't put a price on a human life. But even though you may be reeling from the accident and confused and overwhelmed by the situation, a Philadelphia injury lawyer can reassure you and reduce your stress and anxiety level.

In the wake of a serious accident, a lawsuit is usually the last thing on your mind. You want to focus on healing and caring for victims who've been hurt, and you also need to take care of secondary logistics. For instance, if your spouse got injured, you have to figure out how to manage child care. Or if you've been seriously disabled by an injury crash, you need to figure out how to deal with your work situation and finances.

The good news is that a qualified and experienced Philadelphia injury lawyer can explain exactly what to do - as well as what not to do - to maximize your ability to recover damages and minimize the amount of time and energy you have to spend thinking about the aftermath of the crash.

The same lesson holds for medical malpractice cases. For instance, say your husband got sick after a pharmacist overprescribed his diabetes medication. The last thing in the world you would want to think about is how to file for damages against the pharmacist or against a representative insurance company - you would probably have your hands managing the bare essentials.

In this case, a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer could advise you and protect your rights to get full compensation. An attorney can minimize your stress and give you confidence and clarity of thought to make the best decisions about healthcare choices and family logistics.

Continue reading "Two Amish Children Killed Within a Week in Tragic Philadelphia Car Accidents" »

According to recent research out of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, emergency records show that at least 92 people have been hurt from playing the Nintendo Wii, a gaming system that encourages active participation in games via motion controlled game controllers.

Although the idea of a Philadelphia injury lawyer (or 20) getting involved in the regulation of videogames may seem absurd, statistics suggest that something needs to be done to protect players before more people get hurt. Complaints that places like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have witnessed include: cuts and bruises, foot and ankle injuries, shoulder dislocations, bystander injuries (for instance, someone getting hit in the face with a Wii remote wielded by another player), repetitive stress injuries from spending too much time playing games, and other hand and wrist injuries.

One famous Nintendo Wii accident clip shows a kid swinging a Wii baseball bat - accidentally losing his grip and hurling the bat into a large TV, shattering the screen.

If you or someone you care about has been injured playing a video game or using essentially any product or toy - your Philadelphia accident lawyer will investigate to determine whether the company that made or designed the product was in some respect negligent or careless. In some cases, the company may not be to blame - rather the individuals involved in the activity might be to blame. For instance, if a bunch of college kids start playing the Wii while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and then get rowdy - and then one accidentally smashes his friend in the nose with a Wii baseball bat and breaks his nose - the Nintendo Company probably couldn't be held liable for the damage... but the negligent, drunk individual might be liable.

In other words, product liability and injury cases can get quite complicated. Most people understand that a case taken on by a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer -- for instance, suing an oncologist for making an incomplete diagnosis -- will be complicated. But every injury case takes effort, strategy and investigation to put together.

Continue reading "Dozens of Philadelphia Injuries from Nintendo Use. Is an Epidemic Brewing?" »

On July 7th, a shocking Philadelphia accident on the famous "riding the ducks" ride led to the death of two foreign exchange students - and provoked a city-wide debate over the safety of these duck boats. Last week, the company that operates these boats - along with representatives of the city, such as Mayor Nutter, publicly announced that the boat tours would resume in the spring of 2011 in spite of concerns from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that the boats do not meet effective safety standards.

Lawyers for the two students who killed in the July accident have opposed the resumption of tours. In a statement released, they said: "we regret that lives will still be at risk because of their failure to heed the NTSB's recommendation from 2002." The Coast Guard disputes the NTSB, and says the boats are safe - in spite of findings that the NTSB issued a call for a redesign of the canopy of these boats pursuant to a 1999 accident.

Philadelphia officials believe that the new tours -- which will be offered on the Schuylkill River leaving from near Eakins Oval -- will be safer because they won't be near commercial traffic. (The duck boat accident in early July occurred when a commercial barge collided with the duck boat).

If you or somebody you love got hurt on local rivers or roads, a Philadelphia accident lawyer can help you design an appropriate response to hold parties liable for your pain and suffering, time off of work, medical bills and other costs. (Likewise, if a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other caregiver caused you harm through negligence or an error of omission, a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer can provide practical guidance for getting compensation).

Continue reading "Philadelphia Duck Boat Accident Pits Coast Guard against NTSB" »

Last July 30, 24-year old Stephen Strasburg fell asleep at the wheel and caused a fatal Philadelphia car accident that killed 50-year old Wayne Cooper. Last week, a Montgomery County judge sentenced Strasburg for DUI homicide - three to six years in a state prison. Although the defendant showed serious remorse - he had been under stress at work and had fallen asleep at the wheel - Cooper's family members confronted him outside the courtroom, and the display escalated to the point that the police actually had to use pepper spray against the victim's brother, Gregory Cooper. Another child - a guest of the Cooper family - also may have gotten hit by the pepper spray.

According to reporters who analyzed the case, the emotional outburst likely did not stem from the victim's family's dissatisfaction with the sentencing. Rather, it erupted simply because of their collective trauma and grief. According to Assistant District Attorney Kate McGill: "I think they were emotional about the entire case, and it was an emotional day for them."

Strasburg was arrested for a Philadelphia DUI in 2008, and he had been on probation. He pled guilty to that charge in June 2008 and served a short jail sentence. Strasburg allegedly suffered serious injury to his brain in the accident. And although traces of an anti-anxiety drug and marijuana were found in his system, investigators believed that the accident stemmed simply from fatigue, and that his "reckless driving" ultimately caused the crash.

A Philadelphia motor vehicle accident can instantly change lives and traumatize entire families, as this heartbreaking story illustrates. If you or a family member has been victimized, you might find yourself overwhelmed by emotions as well as by logistical concerns. A Philadelphia accident lawyer or a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer could provide critical information about how to proceed in an effective manner.

To get good results - remuneration from liable parties, for instance - it may behoove you to speak immediately with a serious, experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer.

Continue reading "Philadelphia DUI Homicide Case Elicits Emotional Outburst from Victim's Family" »