Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

Drivers can rest a little easier, as it may be a few years before big rigs can increase the size and weight on U.S. roadways.

Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pennsylvania and Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Illinois, backed an amendment to a transportation bill that would delay heavier tractor-trailer trucks from increasing the federal weight limit from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pound for three years. According to an article on CNN.com, it would also allow the largest rigs, which sometimes include two or three trailers, to be as much as 10 feet longer, at a total length of more than 100 feet.

The original legislation was sent before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and included about $260 billion over five years for federal highway programs. But when groups such as the AAA Auto Club found out about the provision for increasing the size of tractor-trailer, they expressed their concerns.

The RepublicanHerald.com reported that an accident occurred Tuesday morning in Saint Clair, involving a tractor-trailer and 3 vehicles.

The tractor-trailer was heading south and ran into the back of a Ford Ranger that was stopped at a red light on Route 61. According to the article, the Ranger flipped several times, finally coming to rest at the side of the southbound lanes.

After hitting the Ranger, the truck crossed the median and hit a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Chevrolet Impala that were stopped in the northbound lanes.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett recently signed House Bill 1458, bringing the state into compliance with new federal rules for driver’s licenses and permits issued to commercial drivers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently amended federal

regulations requiring interstate commercial driver’s license holders, or CDLs, to

As we continue to battle winter here in Schuylkill County, a recent article on the RepublicanHerald.com reminds us of the importance of carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

The article reported that a woman and her two children suffered symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning when exhaust fumes from their neighbor’s coal furnace made it into their home in Pottsville this week.

A pipe on the neighbor’s furnace became loose allowing smoke to fill the home and seep through to the woman’s adjacent home.

As the search continues for those still missing from the wreck of the Costa Concordia, CNN.com reports that a class-action lawsuit will be filed by an Italian consumer group.

According to the article, the Italian group named Codacons along with 2 U.S. law firms will file the suit in Miami against Costa and its parent company, Carnival Corp. The suit is open to all passengers, regardless of their nationality.

The goal of the suit is to get compensation for passengers for all damages. An estimate of the amount a passenger could receive is $160,000.

This weekend’s wintery mix of precipitation reminds us that spring is not as close as we think here in Schuylkill County. If you’re doing any travelling in this weather, PennDOT offers a few tips to keep you safe on the roads.

Make sure all fluid levels are full.

Consider installing winter wiper blades if you find that your wipers streak.

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation, made up of unpaid private sector volunteers, held its first meeting and heard presentations about successful public-private partnerships in Indiana.

The council members heard from Cris Johnston, deputy chief of staff to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, and Stephen Goldsmith, former mayor of Indianapolis, who have extensive experience in executing successful public-private partnerships, among others.

When Gov. Corbett created the advisory council last fall, he said Pennsylvania needs to evaluate where it can provide better services to residents at an efficient cost by examining potential privatization, public-private partnerships or managed-competition opportunities to streamline government and reduce costs to taxpayers

This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives could vote on a bill that would require anyone under 18 who wants a Class M (motorcycle) junior driver’s license to complete a safety course.

According to an article on YorkDispatch.com, State Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover Township, is the proponent behind this safety measure, known as House Bill 254. It was approved by the House Transportation Committee last week.

The course is 15 hours and would be provided free of charge, paid for through registration fees. It includes topics such as proper motorcycle techniques, drinking and driving, and defensive driving.

This week, Kia recalled nearly 146,000 vehicles because of faulty airbags. Affected models include the 2006-2008 Kia Optima and the 2007-2008 Kia Rondo.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the driver’s side airbag can become damaged over time due to a flawed spring system. This can mean that the airbag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash.

There have been no injuries or incidents involving the airbags not deploying. The company found the issue during regular quality product testing.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who have lost their lives in the horrific accident this weekend on the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that ran aground off the coast of Italy. We hold on to the hope that those still missing are found alive. We also applaud the efforts of the rescue workers who risked their lives to save passengers.

As the details of this tragedy continue to unfold, liability appears to lie with the actions of the captain who strayed off course and caused the ship to hit rocks near Italy’s coast. He remains in jail in Italy as authorities continue to investigate his role in the disaster. In an article on CNN.com, Costa Cruises said in a statement, “Preliminary indications are that there may have been significant human error on the part of the ship’s master, Capt. Francesco Schettino, which resulted in these grave consequences.” Transcripts of the conversation between the captain and an Italian port official have shown that the captain had abandoned ship and was ordered to return a number of times.

What may be frustrating for any American travelers involved in the accident who might try to pursue a case against Costa is the fact that they will need to file in Italy, because that is the port of call for the cruise line. The sheer number of victims may also help any cases that are filed.