Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

At a time when the young people of our county should be celebrating the end of the school year and graduation, we’ve instead seen too many tragic headlines about teenagers who have died in car accidents where they were not wearing seatbelts. But Schuylkill County’s coroner is determined to bring the need for seatbelt use to light.

In an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, Dr. David J. Moylan addressed this issue with the Schuylkill County commissioners at their monthly meeting this week. So far, Moylan said his office has examined 10 people who have died in car accidents this year. He is in the process of collecting data for a report on seat belts and car accidents. Moylan hopes to involve schools, community members, and the board of commissioners in a campaign to promote seat belt use.

Moylan suggested that school students be shown pictures from virtual autopsies conducted on accident victims. A virtual autopsy can be less upsetting to view than actual accident photos because a virtual autopsy is a 3D image done by a CAT scan. In the article, Moylan said, “I think it could have a very dramatic effect.”

A Massachusetts teen will serve one year in jail after having been found guilty of homicide as a result of texting while driving.

According to an article on CNN.com, the teen was found guilty of vehicular homicide, texting while driving, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle after a 2011 crash that killed one man and injured another passenger.

The teen received 2-1/2 years for the vehicular homicide charge and two years for texting and causing injury. He will serve one year concurrently on both charges and the balance of both charges is suspended for five year. His license is suspended for 15 years.

A truck driver has been charged with homicide by vehicle stemming from an accident in 2010 in Saylorsburg that killed a Scranton man. The driver has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, as well as other charges.

According to an article on the PoconoRecord.com, a 21-year-old Scranton man was killed in the three-vehicle accident that happened on Route 33 in Hamilton Township. The man’s parents have filed a civil suit against the driver, claiming that he maintained a “reckless and dangerous” speed while driving through a construction zone. The truck driver has been driving between 68 and 69 mph through a construction zone where the posted speed was 45 mph.

It’s sad to think that this tragic accident may have been avoided if the truck driver had complied with the rules of the road, especially through a construction zone. Our thoughts are with the family of the young man who was killed. We hope they are able to find some justice with their civil suit. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the truck accident attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.

Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall of Evenflo high chairs because the tray can detach causing kids to fall out.

The recall includes Evenflo high chairs that convert from high chair to toddler-size table and chair.

According to the CPSC, there have been 18 reports of the tray becoming detached and eight reports of children falling from the high chair. So far there are only reports of bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries.

A new study released by The State Farm Center for Women and Finanacial Services at the American College has found that women are most at risk both physically and financially when it comes to disability.According to an article on MarketWatch.com, 50% of women said that if they became disabled the impact on their household’s finances would be at least “somewhat devastating.” The study found that 18% of women compared to 12% of men are “extrememly concerned” about how a disability would affect their financial situation. And it appears that women are more likely than men to develop a disability in the first place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has data that shows women are more liekly to experience a disabling condition during their working years and senior years. For example, arthritis, the leading cause of disability among adults, is more than twice as like to affect women as men. According to data from the Social Security Administration, between 1999 and 2009 applications for women for Social Security Disability (SSDI) increased by 72 percent, while applications for men increased by 42 percent.

Although employer-sponsored plans are the most commonly used disability insurance, less than half have this benefit, with women less likely than men to be covered.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer update that says benzocaine, used to help soothe sore gums, can lead to a rare but serious (and sometimes fatal) condition called methemoglobinemia.Methemoglobinemia is a condition where the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream is greatly reduced. The FDA has warned that children under the age of 2 years old are at particular risk of this condition when benzocaine is used.

Benzocaine is a local anesthetic gel or liquid found in over-the-counter products such as Anbesol, Orajel, and Baby Orajel.

The FSA first warned about methemoglobinemia in 2006. Since then, they have received 29 reports of benzocaine gel-related cases of methemoglobinemia, with 19 of those cases occurring in children. Of those 19 cases, 15 cases occurred in children under 2 years old.

Memorial Day Weekend also signals the beginning of summer and the opening of private and public pools here in Pennsylvania. If you’re going to be swimming recreationally, it never hurts to take some precautions. So we’ve borrowed some Water Safety Tips from the International Swimming Hall of Fame:

• Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.
• Always brief babysitters on water safety, emphasizing the need for constant supervision.

The Chrysler Group has recalled nearly 68,000 2010 Jeep Wranglers with automatic transmissions because of a possible problem that could cause a fire in the vehicles.

According to a report on CNN.com, the recall is taking place here in the U.S. because the skid plate, found under the transmission and close to the vehicles’ catalytic converter, can catch debris. The catalytic converter can become extremely hot and can ignite debris that’s been trapped by the skid plate.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler acknowledged at least 14 reports of fires. Wrangler owners will be advised to bring their vehicles to Jeep dealership to have the skid plate replaced with a skid bar once the replacement parts are available.

Pennsylvania residents are urged to take steps to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus after the earliest detection of a disease carrying mosquito since testing began in 2000.According to a news release issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the infected mosquito was found May 3 in Exeter Township, Berks County.

DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said March’s warm weather caused the virus cycle to begin early this year.

Typically, the first virus-carrying mosquito is found in mid-June according to DEP. Last year, West Nile virus was detected in 59 counties and resulted in six human cases reported statewide. There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus so the best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid getting mosquito bites and to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and laying eggs in stagnant water around homes, weeds, tall grass, shrubbery and discarded tires.Residents can take the following precautions:

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed a proclamation recently designating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.According to a news release, the promise of warm weather brings an increased motorcycle presence on state roadways and motorcycle safety is the responsibility of both riders and drivers.

“By riding within the limits of their ability and by wearing the proper safety gear, motorcyclists can do a lot to protect themselves,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “But motor vehicle drivers also have a responsibility to keep an eye out for motorcycles and do what they can to share the road and keep riders safe.”n.”

According to PennDOT information, motorcycle use is on the rise – the number of registered motorcycles climbed by more than 5,600 and licensed motorcyclists grew by 8,500 last year – but crashes and fatalities were down from 2010. There were more than 3,600 crashes involving motorcycles on Pennsylvania roadways in 2011, resulting in 199 fatalities versus more than 4,000 crashes and 223 fatalities in 2010.