Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

Although the end of July is upon us, we’ve still got a few more weeks of summer left to enjoy and relax. One of the highlights is summer is cooking on the grill. So we thought we’d provide these tips we found on CNN.com to make sure you’re grilling safely.

Remember to always wash your hands before you begin to prepare and grill your food.

Keep meats and seafoods cold before grilling. Keep them in the refrigerator or in a cooler if you are away from home. A safe temperature to keep them at is 40 degrees or below.

Lancaster County, known for its population of Amish and Mennonite, is largely farm country. It winding county roads and acres of picturesque green pastures make it an idea location for motorcycle riding. But even in paradise, accidents happen.

According to WHPTV.com, another fatal motorcycle accident happened this week in Lancaster County. Reports say that early Wednesday morning, a man on a motorcycle riding south on Route 501 in Warwick Township, was struck when a truck travelling north turned left onto a side road. Route 501 was closed in the area.

Even the most experienced and skilled motorcycle riders don’t stand a chance in an accident with a car or truck. Statistics show that most motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcyclist, but the fault of the other driver. If you or someone you know has been in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.

A man was killed on Thursday when his motorcycle was struck from behind by a car on northbound I-81 in Carlisle.

According to the Cumberland Times-News, Pennsylvania State Police say the the motorcycle was in the right lane when the front of a Carlisle woman’s car touched the back of the cycle. As a result of the impact, the motorcycle hit the ground and the rider landed in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car, who is 19, was not injured. The crash is under investigation.

As the details of this tragic accident unfold, it brings to mind two reminders as cars and motorcycles share the road. First, automobile drivers of all ages should be on the look out for motorcycles. But younger drivers should be especially careful, since they may not have as much experience with different situations that can occur when driving in traffic with other modes of transportation, such as motorcycles and trucks.

We read an eye-opening article on Philly.com about the widespread use of electronic devices across all modes of transportation. The article revisited the tragic accident that happened last year on the Delaware River when a tugboat ran over an amphibious “duck” boat, killing 2 international tourists. According to the article, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the collision was caused by the tugboat mate’s failure to maintain a proper lookout due to his repeated use of a cellphone and laptop computer.

The article notes that even though it was a violation of company policy, no one else on the tugboat objected to the mate’s repeated use of his cellphone, in which he made 13 calls and received 5 calls during the 80 minutes before the accident.

Another example of distraction in air transportation occurred in October 2009, when two pilots were out of radio communication with air traffic control for more than an hour because they were using their personal laptops. They overflew their destination by more than 100 miles, only realizing their error when a flight attendant inquired about preparing for arrival.

One of the biggest summer holidays is the Fourth of July, the day when Americans celebrate our independence and the birthday of the United States. Celebrations often include red, white, and blue to commemorate the American flag as well as vibrant firework displays. So we thought we’d pass along some tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety (www.FireworkSafety.com) to help keep your celebrations happy and safe. They recommend:

• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Always have water handy, either a bucket of water or a hose.

On Monday a tour bus hit a tractor trailer on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, killing the bus driver and injuring 23 passengers. The accident happened when the bus slammed into the rear of a flatbed tractor trailer near the Donegal exit of the turnpike.

An article on HamptonRoads.com reported that the bus was operated by Mr. Ho Charter Service out of Pennsylvania and was owned by the New York company, New Oriental Tours. According the article, both companies have been cited for a number of safety violations over the past two years, including fatigued driving, as reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

There have been other recent fatal crashes involving buses that have caused a federal crackdown on the discount bus industry.

One of our local papers, the Standard Speaker, (www.StandardSpeaker.com) has reported that a fatal accident happened on Sunday involving a motorcycle and a car.

According to the article, the motorcycle was northbound on Route 309 when a car was turning left from another road onto 309. The impact caused the man to be thrown from the motorcycle and the car to spin. The motorcycle rider was flown to a local hospital, but later died from his injuries.

Route 309 was closed for about 3 hours. Charges against the driver of the car are pending an investigation.

According to an article on today’s HuffingtonPost.com, authorities say five people remain unaccounted for and 6 are dead after an accident on Friday involving a tractor trailer and an Amtrak train. Investigators are searching for answers as to why the truck driver failed to stop before the crossing, which had its gates down and warning lights on.

National Transportation Safety Board Member, Earl Weener, said that the flashing lights at the crossing that are set to blink for 25 seconds before a train approaches would have been visible from a half-mile away if a motorist was driving the highway’s 70-mph speed limit.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen is quoted in the article as saying the investigation would include “not necessarily just drugs or alcohol, but fatigue, driver inattention.”

A tractor trailer accident that occurred this week on Coastal Highway 1 in Delaware not only tied up traffic on one of the main routes the beach for shore-goers, it also highlights what can happen when a truck with a wide load loses control of its cargo.

According to DelawareOnline.com, Delaware State Police said the accident happened Thursday afternoon near Waples Pond. That’s where a tractor trailer with a mobile home went onto the shoulder of Del. 1 south and hit a guard rail. The trailer then went back across the southbound lanes of the road and stopped on a grass median, causing the mobile home to come off the trailer and fall in the middle of the road. Police were still clearing the lanes in the area that night.

The left lane of travel was blocked, although no other vehicles were involved. The truck driver was cited for failure to maintain his lane.

An accident on Monday afternoon on I-84 in Pennsylvania near the New York state line involved seven people, destroyed 3 cars, and damaged 2 tractor trailers.

The RecordOnline.com of Middletown, NY has reported that state police are investigating the accident which appears to have been caused when the first tractor trailer hit a minivan when traffic was stopped due to construction.

The truck then steered left, hitting a BMW. The BMW hit another tractor trailer. The second tractor trailer was pushed into a Toyota Tacoma.