This fatal accident, like many that occur in Pennsylvania and around the country, may have occurred due to the actions of the driver of the vehicle. If this is the case, the driver, or his estate, may be liable to the surviving family of the victim for the costs and pain associated with the accident. As a result of the death of the fatal accident victim, the surviving family has suffered a great emotional and economic loss.
]]> But automobile crashes can have a number of causes. While some are due to driver error, in some cases, improperly maintained roads or defects in vehicle construction can contribute to an accident. In such cases, other parties may be liable for injuries and deaths.The economic costs of a fatal accident can be high, including lost wages, loss of consortium and other damages that can cause a grieving family financial hardship. In some cases the surviving family of a fatal accident victim can make a claim for compensation under personal injury laws. When available, these claims can offer some economic relief to the survivors.
Source: Pocono Record, "Two Ecuadorians die in Old Route 115 crash," May 7, 2012.
]]>The accident happened in Perkiomen Creek. According to reports, a car was found around 11 a.m. It had turned upside down and landed in the West Branch of the creek. One person in the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person was injured and taken to a local hospital.
]]> Police are continuing to investigate the cause of this tragic Pennsylvania car accident, and it was not immediately clear if the deceased victim was the driver or passenger. Wrongful death is a legal term that applies when a fatality occurs due to the negligent or intentional act of another. Certainly if the passenger was the one killed, a wrongful death issue may exist concerning any alleged negligent actions of the driver in causing the accident. But if the driver was the one killed, wrongful death would only apply if evidence indicated that a party other than the driver acted negligently in a manner that caused or contributed to the car crash.In many cases of a fatal car accident, the driver who is found to be at fault faces civil claims for the wrongful death of a victim. A successful claim can include payments to surviving family members for such damages as lost wages, lost consortium and medical costs. Though officials are unsure as to the exact cause of this accident, it may be the case that the actions of the driver caused the death of a passenger, and the official accident report will likely be an important document to review.
When a surviving family finds that they have suffered the consequences from the wrongful death of a loved one, they are faced with challenges that are both economic and emotional. It is important that these families know that there are ways to ease the economic difficulties so they can focus more wholly on helping each other through such a difficult time.
Source: ABC27 WHTM, "1 dead, 1 injured when car crashes into Pa. creek," April 30, 2012
]]>The truck accident occurred as a driver of a Pontiac crashed into a heavy-duty dump truck not far from Lairdsville. The resulting impact caused the engine of the Pontiac to catch fire. Thankfully, a passerby was able to use a portable fire extinguisher to squelch the fire before damages and injuries worsened.
]]> The dramatic crash caused serious injury to the Pontiac driver, who was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in reportedly critical condition. The truck driver was also treated for injuries. He was treated at Muncy Valley Hospital though further word on his condition was not immediately known.Police will likely continue to investigate the cause of this truck accident. As they do, they will be able to review all evidence and determine what party or parties were at fault for the collision. In many truck accidents similar to this one, it is the actions of one driver that result in the collision and injuries, though it remains to be seen what the official results of this investigation will be.
Once fault is assessed, any party whose negligence caused or contributed to the collision may face liability for damages caused in a truck accident. Under Pennsylvania personal injury laws, a negligent party may be held responsible for the medical treatment and care of those injured, as well as for lost wages and other damages suffered. When a victim of an accident finds that he or she has suffered injury that is both physical and financial, it may be wise to consider a review of all relevant evidence to determine what, if any, legal action may be pursued.
Source: Williamsport Sun-Gazette, "Man in critical condition after crash," Philip A. Holmes, April 19, 2012
]]>Officials say that a Pennsylvania woman from Norristown was killed on Saturday, April 14. The truck accident occurred on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in East Cocalico Township. A truck apparently hit the edge of a road construction sign, sending it crashing into the windshield of the journalist's car. The incident caused her vehicle to collide with a box truck and then a concrete barrier, eventually coming to a rest in a ditch on the side of the road.
]]> The victim was airlifted to a hospital. Medical personnel attempted to save her life, but the journalist passed away two days later. The driver of the box truck was reportedly uninjured in the truck accident.The family of the woman who perished in this sudden and seemingly senseless accident has suffered a great loss. No amount of money can replace the life of the 31-year-old victim. However, Pennsylvania law does provide for the right of a surviving family to pursue a wrongful death claim when evidence indicates the fatality was caused by the negligence of another party. In any case, surviving family members of a victim may find it helpful to assess the official report of the incident to determine what, if any, legal options they wish to initiate. A successful claim may provide some closure by holding negligent parties accountable while also ensuring reimbursement for monetary damages suffered, including pain and suffering occasioned by a crash.
Source: KSEE24, "Freak Accident Kills Journalist After Roadsign Slams Through Windshield," April 17, 2012
]]>Expressing concerns that the heightened costs of defending medical malpractice claims were being passed on to patients in the form of higher medical fees, officials have proposed varying solutions to the problem. One state university hospital system initiated a program where a patient who has been injured is sought out soon after a potential malpractice incident in an attempt to both acknowledge a mistake and to seek to settle with the wronged party. It is thought that the proactive approach both reduces costs and averts lengthy medical malpractice litigation.
]]> However, injuries from acts of medical malpractice can be quite severe for patients in Pennsylvania and everywhere else. According to reports, the injuries suffered can range from a missed diagnosis that delays treatment, to the death of a patient. Under the current medical malpractice system in place across much of the country, it can often take months or even years for a patient to be compensated for the injuries suffered as a result of a doctor's mistake or negligence.Medical malpractice claims have become a part of the debate over the cost of healthcare. Some argue that the costs are prime reasons for the high expense for medical treatment. However, those who have been hurt due to the negligence of a medical professional must sometimes confront life-altering circumstances, and there are many who argue these seriously injured patients deserve their day in court to prove both the negligence that occurred and the damages that resulted.
Source: philly.com, "Doctors Detail High Costs of Fighting Malpractice Claims," Mary Brophy Marcus, April 5, 2012
]]>According to police, the 40-year-old pickup driver struck the motorcycle's front fender causing the bike to spin and land on its side. The pickup came to a halt in a neighborhood driveway near the crash site. The motorcycle as well as the truck both sustained severe damage and were towed from the collision site.
]]> The truck driver and a 42-year-old female passenger were wearing seat belts, and initial reports indicated they were not injured. Unfortunately, the motorcycle driver was not so fortunate. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at the Lehigh Valley Hospital.Following the fatal crash, police arrested the truck driver for drunk driving. Official charges are currently pending blood test results.
The family of the motorcyclist will surely want to know the results of the pending blood test as well as the details of the official accident report. This information could provide them with sufficient evidence to pursue legal action rights under Pennsylvania personal injury law.
When a family has lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver, a wrongful death claim may be appropriate. While there is no amount of money that can make up for the pain that is left behind from the senseless death of a loved one, the right to take action against a negligent driver that caused a fatal accident could provide some solace by holding wrongdoers accountable and providing financial relief to cover funeral expenses and other damages.
Source: Lehigh Valley Live, "Berks County man killed; suspected drunken driver hit his motorcycle, police say," Precious Petty, April 5, 2012
]]>The 49-year-old victim was on his way home after visiting with his sister when the driver of an SUV crashed into him. The resulting impact caused his pickup truck to overturn, wedging him inside the car with his chin pinned against his chest. That shut off his trachea, and he ultimately died from positional asphyxiation
]]> The SUV driver told Pennsylvania police that he had two alcoholic beverages prior to the accident. He also failed field sobriety tests. Authorities have charged him with homicide by vehicle with DUI, in addition to the DUI charge itself. He is also facing other traffic offenses in connection with the tragic accident.Sources suggest that the victim's life may have been saved had the SUV driver simply cut the seat belt that was holding the man in position. The failure of the driver to do so may mean that he was negligent in failing to provide assistance after the accident. That would be in addition to any claim of negligence on his part for drinking and driving. As a result, the family of the victim might consider filing a wrongful death suit in connection with the fatal accident. In this process, they could potentially seek compensation for their funeral expenses and pain and suffering.
Source: Pocono Record, "Coroner: DUI suspect could have saved Interstate 80 crash victim," Howard Frank, March 22, 2012
]]>The driver of the truck perished in the accident, and a number of the children and both adults on the bus were injured. One student was airlifted to a children's hospital and one of the adults was listed in critical condition at the Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. Though initial reports were not clear on the total number of injured in the incident, most of the students sustained some kind of injury or were taken to hospitals to have their conditions evaluated.
]]> Even though law enforcement officials are still determining exactly what happened, the school superintendent was quoted as saying there were 22 children and two adults on the bus at the time of the truck accident. In accidents such as this one, Pennsylvania authorities typically investigate and ultimately publish an official accident investigation report.The injured were taken to multiple hospitals for treatment. As they recover, they, along with their families, may begin to assess their legal rights and responsibilities in regard to the truck accident. Under Pennsylvania personal injury laws, those seriously injured due to the negligence of one or more parties may seek compensation for the economic costs of recovery and other damages suffered. In some cases, those injured can pursue a claim against a deceased person's estate for their negligence contributing to the accident. A thorough review of the evidence and state laws, together with documentation of all medical procedures and costs incurred from the tragic incident may well be helpful should a victim decide to consider a claim.
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, "1 dead, others hurt in Pa. school bus, truck crash," March 15, 2012
]]>The fatal car crash happened in West Hazelton happened that Monday afternoon when a Chevrolet Impala sped around a turn, crashing into a construction sign and running into a parked Chevy Blazer. Thereafter, the Impala driver rear-ended a Toyota sedan, forcing the sedan to collide with a Lexus. The Toyota, carrying the infant along with his mother and grandmother, may have struck a parking meter as well.
]]> Several injuries resulted from this multiple-vehicle collision. Victims were taken to locals hospitals and treated for injuries ranging from mild to severe. The infant was initially taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital with head trauma, but died two days later from the results of the crash.The family of the child has surely suffered unimaginable devastation. It is difficult to comprehend the reality of losing a child, let alone in such a tragic and senseless manner. Pennsylvania law can do little to alleviate the grief such an event often brings about, but it does provide for the right of a surviving family to file a claim for wrongful death against any negligent parties to hold them accountable for their actions and potentially provide some financial relief for damages suffered, including pain and suffering.
Source: citizensvoice.com, "Baby hurt in West Hazleton crash dies," March 8, 2012
]]>Just north of Lehigh Valley, up in Lackawanna County, a jury returned the record-setting verdict in 2008 against Community Medical Center and the doctor involved in the case. The case was pursued after the baby boy of a couple from Jermyn suffered permanent injury during birth as a result, they argued, of negligence on the part of the doctor and hospital. The appeals court ultimately refused to hear the doctor's appeal of the damage award, thereby letting the judgment stand as rendered.
]]> The specific details of the negligence, which occurred in 2001, were not provided in a recent news article. It is only known that the boy suffers from cerebral palsy. Prior to the doctor's petition to the state Supreme Court to hear the appeal, a plea to the Pennsylvania Superior Court was denied as well.Medical malpractice remains a significant concern in our state and throughout the country. No price can truly be put on a life permanently altered because of the negligence of another. One can scarcely imagine how the events that unfolded for this family changed all their lives forever.
Those in and near Lehigh Valley that suspect they or a loved one have been victimized by the negligent care of a medical professional or institution would do well to seek appropriate advice to both preserve important evidence and assess potential liability to recover monetary damages through a medical malpractice claim. While money cannot change any tragedy that has occurred, it can help with covering essential expenses and other damages occasioned by the wrongful conduct.
Source: thetimes-tribune.com, "Supreme Court denies doctor's appeal of $20.5 million jury verdict," March 3, 2012
]]>The parents filed the lawsuit in 2006 against the Borough of Shenandoah, its former police chief and captain. The defendants had moved for summary judgment, though the judge's ruling now means the case will proceed to trial in August.
]]> The court's decision dismissed some aspects of the wrongful death claim, but also held that factual issues remained that required a jury to decide. While the county coroner found the man's death to be a suicide, the mother of the victim's child has sworn the police captain admitted to her that he and the chief killed the victim. The lawsuit asserts that, after being beaten to death, the man's body was hung in a cell to make it appear to be a suicide. Though the judge ruled it was clear the victim was drunk and disorderly, he also found that the remaining factual issues surrounding the death must be heard by the court on a summary judgment motion in a light most favorable to the plaintiffs. As a result of the ruling, the plaintiffs will now have their day in court to attempt to prove their case.The law in Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania defines a wrongful death as a fatality caused by the negligent or intentional acts of another. While the upcoming trial will address the issues raised by the lawsuit, the court's determination that there are sufficient factual issues for a jury to hear means the plaintiffs have passed an important stage in the ongoing litigation. The plaintiffs have waited over seven years for justice and will now have the opportunity to prove the allegations they have presented.
Source: Republicanherald.com, "Judge allows federal wrongful death lawsuit against Shenandoah, police," Peter E. Bortner, Feb. 17, 2012
]]>Details of the collision, said to have occurred at about 2:21 a.m., are limited. What is known is that the fatal crash took place in New Milford on Route 11. Authorities have indicated that the driver has been placed under arrest for multiple violations, the details of which were not disclosed in an early news report. It was also stated that authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the accident.
]]> Any traffic fatality is a tragedy. The families of the two men must now deal with the sudden and senseless loss of life as they grieve and prepare to deal with the consequences of the collision. They will surely await the results of the formal investigation and may ultimately decide to pursue wrongful death claims against all negligent parties.The law in the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania provides for the legal right of a victim's estate to recover monetary damages for the negligent acts of other parties. The families may wish to consider the accident report in conjunction with other facts and circumstances discovered surrounding the incident as they assess their options and determine the appropriate manner in which to proceed legally.
Source: Htrnews.com, "2 pedestrians killed in eastern Pa. accident," Feb. 25, 2012
]]>Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim was placed in a medically induced coma at the hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. She was surrounded by her family, and friends noted the woman's kindness in running errands for other senior citizens locally. Although the police officer said it did not appear the truck driver was reckless, an accident report concerning the collision will presumably be forthcoming. No charges were filed in the immediate aftermath of the truck accident.
]]> The focus of the victim's family is surely on her recovery from the tragic incident. They will also likely want to know exactly how the collision occurred. If evidence exists that the pickup driver or another party was negligent in a manner that caused or contributed to the woman's injuries, a claim for financial compensation may be proper under Pennsylvania law. In Lehigh Valley and throughout the state, those who are seriously injured due to the negligence of others have the legal right to pursue monetary damages for their injuries as well as for any related pain and suffering.Source: WFMZ.com, "Woman, 89, clings to life after accident," Dwayne Parker, Feb. 16, 2012
]]>The explosion occurred somewhere around 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2011. The 50-year-old son of the elderly couple first learned about the tragedy when a friend telephoned to say he should get to the scene. He saw from television news reports that there was little likelihood of survival. At the scene, he could only watch as rescuers searched for survivors. His father's burned body was found about six hours after the incident, his mother's 12 hours later.
]]> The man not only lost his parents and neighbors but also his childhood home. All that is left now is the lot on which the house stood. Though the precise details of the fateful explosion were not explained in the news article, it was noted that the man recently settled a wrongful death lawsuit against UGI Utilities in connection with the blast.In Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania, such lawsuits can be brought when a death occurs as the result of the negligence of another party. While no amount of money can begin to cover the losses suffered, it may help provide some sense of justice for those who have lost a loved one.
Source: The Morning Call, "Mark Hall misses his parents, lost on 'a night of confusion,'" Frank Warner, Feb. 8, 2012
]]>Following the prison sentence in early January, the families of two victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the now convicted man, as well as a number of other parties whose negligence is claimed to have contributed to the fatal accident. The two victims were passengers in the car struck by the drunk driver. The families have also sued a number of businesses that are claimed to have served the man alcohol prior to the accident under circumstances where they knew or should have known the man was drunk. The laws in Pennsylvania require those serving alcohol to cease service if the person appears drunk.
]]> The at-fault driver had been part of a group outing, co-sponsored by the bar where he worked. They attended a hockey game in Reading on Jan. 27. It is alleged that the man was served numerous alcoholic beverages in a luxury suite at the Sovereign Center. Thereafter, the man apparently drank in a number of bars, including several in Lehigh Valley. Those establishments were named in the lawsuit, as was a man who was apparently supposed to act as a designated driver but left without doing so.While it remains to be seen what the outcome of the wrongful death litigation will be, the families appear to be prepared to fight to hold all negligent parties fully accountable. A wrongful death action is appropriate when the negligent or reckless actions of another cause a fatality. While no amount of money can atone for the lives cut short, a favorable outcome may help provide the families some sense of justice for their loss while sending a message to others that drunk driving has grave consequences for all parties involved.
Source: The Express-Times, "Families of Anthony Bruno victims file wrongful death suit," Sara K. Satullo, Jan. 31, 2012
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