Car Accidents Articles - Pennsylvania Injury Lawyers

Three Things You Should Not Have to Worry About When You Hire a Capable Car Accident Attorney

If you have been in a car crash in Pennsylvania, you probably have lots of worries.

Your first priority should be taking care of your injuries, but there are also worries about your financial situation and how the crash will affect your future and your family. You worry about paying your bills and your living costs, especially if the injury affects your ability to work and you no longer have a vehicle.

Then there is the stress of dealing with insurance companies. What if you say something wrong and it damages your case? How do you know how much your settlement is worth and whether to agree to what the insurance company offers?

You will want to know what underinsurance is. You will need to know if you have signed any waivers or sign-downs reducing your underinsurance coverage. You will need to know about the insurance coverage of the other driver or drivers. You will want to know whether the other driver who was at fault for the accident was at work and, if so, what levels of insurance may exist.

The way to ease these worries and ensure you get the highest settlement possible is to hire an experienced car accident attorney who knows how to deal with the issues, and to do so promptly.

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a vehicle crash, you may be entitled to a settlement to cover medical, doctor, hospital and rehabilitative expenses, loss of future wage horizon, disfigurement, property loss, and loss of life’s pleasures prior to death. However, your case must be handled correctly, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system. Our seasoned Pennsylvania vehicle crash attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well-positioned to handle even the most difficult cases.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so call or contact us online today.

Three Things You Never Worry About When You Hire a Car Accident Attorney

The following are examples of things your attorney will handle, so you no longer need to worry about them:

1) Dealing with Insurance

Insurance companies are concerned about their own bottom line and will always try to get you to accept the lowest settlement possible. These companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters who begin evaluating your claim right away, so you need an attorney on your side immediately.

Your attorney will handle all dealings and communications with insurance companies, protect your rights, and keep you from falling into traps the adjusters try to set to get you to damage your own claim. Your attorney will work to secure first-party benefits and other forms of payment you might be entitled to. Insurance companies know that attorneys will not be pushed around and will negotiate realistically to prevent the expense of going to court. Pennsylvania has a system of insurance that not only concerns fault and whether there is a “serious injury” if you have limited tort, but also un and underinsurance. These are extremely complicated areas of the law where the courts are constantly issuing new decisions.

2) Dealing with evidence, laws, proving liability, and court matters

Evidence from a crash can evaporate quickly, as witnesses disappear, and damaged vehicles are towed away. An experienced car accident attorney can ensure that all of the evidence is properly preserved and have pictures taken to validate your injuries and damages.

Your attorney knows how to use the law to your advantage and the best way to prove the other party was at fault. Attorneys will take care of paperwork and legal matters, negotiate with insurance companies, gather witnesses, and determine whether to accept a good settlement or take your case to court. If you do go to trial, attorneys know what juries look for in making a determination, and they have connections with expert witnesses to help prove your case. They know how to argue your case before a judge and jury to get you the settlement you deserve. Of course, there can be no guarantee of results. Every case is different. Both legal and factual issues will dictate the course and scope of your recovery.

3) Calculating damages

Calculating your damages is complicated and requires considering numerous factors. In Pennsylvania, damage compensation falls into two categories:

Economic damages – expenses which can be objectively calculated, such as past, present and future medical and hospital expenses, , doctor, rehabilitation costs and other so-called “out of pockets.”
Non-economic damages – costs which are more subjective, such as the loss of life’s pleasures and emotional damages. Loss of life’s pleasures only applies prior to death.

If a case goes to a jury, there are factors that are often used to calculate a dollar figure for non-economic damages, such as the type, extent, and severity of injuries and how they affect your daily life and activities, including your personal relationships and whether you will be able to return to work.

Contact Us for Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, let the skilled and experienced Pennsylvania car crash attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters help relieve your worries and get you the best settlement possible.

Cliff Rieders wrote the book on Financial Responsibility Law, which is the law that governs auto and truck collisions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders teaches the law to other experienced attorneys. He is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude Phi Beta Kappa graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is a life member of the American Law Institute, which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States. He is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years.

Rieders was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania, and he wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff has authored a number of other textbooks and articles and he frequently teaches the law to other experienced lawyers. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. He is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

At Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results. Do not delay. Call or contact us online to set up your free consultation today.

VICARIOUS LIABILITY-MOTOR VEHICLES-SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT

Auto accident involving employee. It must be proven in order for vicarious liability to apply that the acts were committed during the course of and within the scope of employment. Even if the employee was engaged in furthering the employer’s business at the time he was driving his personal vehicle, there is no evidence that the employer exercised actual or potential control over the vehicle or the use of the vehicle at the time and place of the accident. It must be shown that the personal use of the vehicle was of vital importance in furthering the employer’s business. Under such circumstances, the courts may infer actual potential control by the employer. Liability, therefore, here cannot attach. Ludwig v. McDonald, 2019 Pa. Super. LEXIS 150 (February 21, 2019) Stevens, P.J.E.

Drivers with Multiple DUI Offenses in Pennsylvania

Drivers who repeatedly drive while intoxicated, even after getting multiple DUI convictions, put themselves and others at risk.

Drunk driving is a major cause of car crashes that kill and maim people throughout Pennsylvania. In 2017, the department of transportation (PennDOT) recorded 12,040 crashes where a driver was suspected of being impaired, a 2.1 percent increase from 2016.

With the holiday drinking season in full swing, Pennsylvania lawmakers have voted to increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders. On December 23, 2018, a law went into effect that increases penalties for those with a third conviction of driving with at least twice the legal limit of alcohol in their system, and for anyone with fourth DUI convictions. In addition, mandatory jail time for repeat offenders is longer.

If you or a loved one was injured or if someone has died in a crash involving drunk driving, you may have a claim for compensation for your losses. This includes medical, hospital and rehabilitation costs, lost past and future wages, loss of wage horizon, and other economic expenses. Compensation may also include the even more significant concept of non-economic damages such as loss of life’s pleasures, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of family relationships, consortium, society and services. A host of other damages are involved in connection with wrongful death and survival actions.

However, Pennsylvania laws are complex, and your case must be handled correctly and competently or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to. It makes sense to get legal representation before you talk to an insurance company in order to protect your rights and maximize the compensation you receive.

Attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts, the insurance companies, the system, and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our attorneys have successfully represented people who have been harmed in crashes involving drunk drivers throughout Pennsylvania. Call or contact us online today to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Pennsylvania DUI Laws

Pennsylvania already had strict DUI laws on the books. There is a three-tier system with penalties increasing as blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) increase from .08, to .10, to .159, to .16 or higher.

Penalties and jail time increase with each subsequent DUI, with a look-back period of 10 years:

First offense — no minimum jail time required and offenders can be fined $300.
Second offense — jail up to 6 months, a fine of $300 to $2,500, and a 12-month license suspension.
Third offense — up to 2 years’ jail time, fines of up to $5,000, and a 12-month license suspension.

The new legislation has established the state’s first felony for DUI. It applies when someone has been charged with a third offense in a decade with at least twice the legal limit for alcohol or for any fourth-time offense. There are increased fines and penalties for driving under the influence on a license suspended because of a DUI conviction and longer jail time for those who unintentionally cause someone’s death because of a repeat DUI violation.

Will Tougher Laws Help?

According to Pennlive.com, there are about 250,000 repeat DUI offenders in Pennsylvania and about 140,000 persons whose licenses are currently suspended because of a DUI.

While the new laws provide drivers with an additional reason not to drive while impaired for potential first-time offenders, it may not do much to stop habitual and addicted substance abusers. However, increased penalties may take some of the worst offenders off the road for a longer period of time once they are caught.

If You Are in a Crash

Survivors of a drunk driving accident may be left with serious and debilitating injuries that can change their life forever. Since anyone who operates a motor vehicle is required to drive responsibly and practice safe driving habits, DUI drivers must be held responsible for injuries they cause. In addition to criminal charges for being impaired, drivers may be sued for negligence in a civil suit. If the at-fault driver receives a DUI citation, it can positively affect your civil lawsuit, including allowing you to receive punitive damages, which are not covered by insurance.

Limited Tort

Where drunk drivers are concerned, limited tort options may not apply. The Financial Responsibility Law is an important and complex piece of legislation which governs recovery where there has been an auto collision. The equation changes when a drunk driver is involved. Drunk driving may also lead to punitive damages.

Contact us For Help and Guidance

If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury or someone has died from a vehicle crash caused by an impaired driver, you are entitled to compensation for your damages. However, Pennsylvania personal injury laws are complex, and insurance companies will try to get you to accept the lowest settlement possible. In order to get the best settlement possible, you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to guide you through the process.

The seasoned Pennsylvania DUI personal injury attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years.

Cliff Rieders wrote “the book” on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the Commonwealth. Cliff also teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in both the financial responsibility medical malpractice fields. Cliff has testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws and has supported organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Rieders is a Nationally Board-certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is admitted in Pennsylvania, New York State, District of Columbia and numerous federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States and is a life member of the American Law Institute which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States.

Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical and hospital malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. He does substantial work in multi-district litigation in connection with pharmaceutical products and medical devices.

Based in Williamsport, the DUI personal injury attorney Clifford A. Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters serves clients throughout Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Do not delay. Contact us online or call our offices today to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Parking Shortages in Pennsylvania Plague Truckers and Endanger Motorists

The shortage of legal parking spots for truckers is endangering everyone driving on Pennsylvania highways. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike alone, there is a deficit of 890 parking spots for trucks; as a result, frustrated truckers have been leaving their vehicles wherever they can find room, usually alongside the highways. This creates problems for both truckers and motorists who have to navigate a maze of large vehicles parked where they do not belong. In addition, trucks pulling back onto the road from unsafe parking can easily cause crashes.

Since the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a popular route for many commercial drivers, the need to address the parking deficit is crucial for the safety of all drivers. The situation has become so bad that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is finally attempting to deal with the issue and discussing the need to create more parking areas for trucks.

Other interstate roads crisscross Pennsylvania including Route 80, Route 81 and new roads running north and south through Williamsport Pennsylvania. Some of these roads have little or no areas for parking or even refueling of trucks.

Any crash involving largely trucks is likely to be devastating and result in serious injuries or death. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 3,986 people died in large truck crashes in 2016. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and have greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles winding up underneath trucks in crashes.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or someone has died in a crash involving an illegally parked truck or any other vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. However, due to the complexity and issues involving these accidents, your case must be handled correctly and competently by an attorney experienced in truck crashes, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to win a good settlement or try the case. Our skilled and experienced Pennsylvania truck crash attorneys have represented any number individuals who have been injured or killed in vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so contact us at our office or online today.

What is Being Done

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation runs a program called P3 which will be used to address the truck parking issues and create a pilot program. To start, the Turnpike Commission has pinpointed the six worst service stations for truck parking along the main turnpike. Those with the fewest parking spaces are:

Highspire plaza in Middletown, Dauphin County (9 truck parking spaces)
Lawn plaza in South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County (14 spaces)
Bowmansville plaza in Denver, Lancaster County (13 spaces)
Peter J. Camiel plaza in Elverson, Chester County (24 spaces)
Valley Forge in Wayne, Delaware County (7 spaces)
King of Prussia in King of Prussia, Montgomery County (26 spaces).

In total, there are 93 available spaces between the plazas, which are not enough. Observers for the program visited these plazas between the prime resting hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., and found 195 trucks parked throughout the six plazas. The most dangerous rest area was Valley Forge, with only seven available parking spaces. When visited, the plaza had 36 trucks parked around it.

To remedy the situation, the turnpike is instituting a pilot program to better manage existing truck parking spaces and provide information to drivers on where available spaces are located. The program will provide real-time information to truckers as they are traveling so they can see what spots are available at the two closest service plazas.

Remember that not all roads are governed by the Turnpike Commission in Pennsylvania. There are many interstate roads in Pennsylvania such as Routes 80, 81 and north/south roads that are being expanded through Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Some of these roads are more dangerous because they are not governed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Common Injuries from Truck Accidents

Injuries from trucks and other large vehicle crashes are often severe and may include catastrophic and devastating injuries such as paralysis, brain trauma, broken bones, disfigurement, emotional damage and post traumatic stress syndrome, and, of course, death. If victims survive, their lives may never be the same.

Damages crash victims may be entitled to include:

1) economic damages, which include compensation for past and future medical and hospital expenses, rehabilitation expenses, past and future wage loss and wage loss horizon, and other out-of-pocket expenses;

2) It is often said that economic damages are the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, a person is entitled to claim non-economic damages, including loss of life’s pleasures until death, emotional distress, pain and suffering; and

3) physical impairment and disfigurement and, depending upon the case, other specialized damages.

Family members of victims may be entitled to compensation for wrongful death.

Contact an Attorney at Our Firm

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a truck crash, you should get immediate legal assistance to protect your rights at every stage of your liability claim.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania truck accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

One of Cliff Rieders’ books specifically involves the Financial Responsibility Law which governs many considerations with respect to auto/truck and other vehicle collisions in Pennsylvania.

Rieders is admitted in Pennsylvania, New York State, District of Columbia and numerous federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States. Rieders is a life member of the American Law Institute which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical and hospital malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. Cliff Rieders does substantial work in multi-district litigation in connection with pharmaceutical products and medical devices.

At Rieders Travis, we offer a free personal injury consultation to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Don’t delay. Contact us today by calling or using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Limousine Safety in Pennsylvania

It was a birthday celebration that turned deadly. A crash involving a limousine in Schoharie, New York, on the afternoon of Saturday, October 6, killed 20 people, including the driver, 17 passengers, and two pedestrians. The limousine failed to come to a stop and lost control while proceeding through a busy intersection.

An investigation showed that the stretch limousine, a converted 2001 Ford Excursion, had failed safety inspections shortly before the crash and was not supposed to be on the road. In inspections made on September 4, Prestige Limousine Chauffeur Service, the company which owned the vehicle, had its limos cited for defective brakes, lack of proper emergency exits, flat or balding tires, defective windshield wipers, and other maintenance problems. In addition, the driver was not even licensed to operate the vehicle, as he did not have a commercial driver license (CDL) with a passenger endorsement.

Both the company and the vehicle had been watched by the New York Department of Transportation in the past, but the company still managed to put a defective vehicle on the road driven by a driver without a proper license.

Factors like noncompliance with government regulation and safety standards, driver negligence, human error, equipment malfunction, defective parts, faulty maintenance, or even poorly designed roadways can all increase the risk of a serious or deadly crash.

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or someone has died in a crash involving a limousine or any other vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. However, due to the complexity and issues involving these accidents, your case must be handled correctly and competently by an attorney experienced in auto/truck crashes, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to win a good settlement or to go to trial if necessary. Our skilled and experienced Pennsylvania auto accident attorneys have represented any number of individuals who have been injured or killed in vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so contact us at our office or online today.

Problems with Limousines

Even without defects or violations, there are potential dangers with stretch limousines. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), after-market modifications to a vehicle may affect its structural integrity and safety, and this may potentially increase the risk of serious injuries in a crash. For example, limousines typically feature floor-to-ceiling pillars to help protect passengers, but these may be absent in modified vehicles.

The NTSB’s records show that limousine crashes have killed at least 68 people since 2000.

What Pennsylvania Companies Are Doing

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), a modified vehicle must undergo an enhanced safety inspection at the time the vehicle is modified. In addition, Pennsylvania law requires a CDL for the driver of a limousine designed to transport 16 or more passengers.

In addition, some local limousine companies are taking steps to help prevent crashes. These include:

Examining a ten-year driving record when hiring drivers
Monitoring speeds with daily safety logs, which are reviewed regularly by management
Inspecting vehicles annually and taking them off the road until problems are fixed.
Retrofitting and purchasing vehicles that are safer and with GPS control.

Litigation and Unlawful Death

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a limousine crash you may be entitled to recover damages, including:

1) economic damages, which include compensation for past and future medical and hospital expenses, rehabilitation expenses, past and future wage loss and loss of wage horizon, and other out-of-pocket expenses;

2) it is often said economic damage are the tip of the iceberg. Therefore a person is entitled to claim non-economic damages, including loss of life’s pleasures until death, emotional distress, pain and suffering; and

3) physical impairment and disfigurement and, depending upon the case, other specialized damages.

You may have several types of claims, including:

negligence of the driver
negligence against the owner of the limousine and company
negligent entrustment or negligent hiring, training and supervision
claims against the manufacturer, retailer, modifier, or maintenance crews of any defective or malfunctioning parts on the limousine.

Contact an Attorney at Our Firm

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a limousine crash, you should get immediate legal assistance to protect your rights at every stage of your liability claim.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania auto/truck accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in experience while providing top-notch personal service.

One of Cliff Rieders’ books specifically involves the Financial Responsibility Law which governs many considerations with respect to auto/truck and other vehicle collisions in Pennsylvania.

Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania, and he wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Rieders is a Nationally Board certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Don’t delay. Contact Rieders Travis today by calling or completing our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

The Deadliest Times on Pennsylvania’s Roads

When you take your car on the road, there is always a chance that you could be involved in a crash, no matter what the time of day or year.

According to a 2015 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were more than 127,000 auto accidents in 2014 which caused the deaths of 1,200 people, while another 80,004 were injured. Those who survive a crash can wind up with serious injuries such as whiplash, neck injuries, and paralysis that can maim, disfigure, and cause pain and suffering that may last a lifetime.

Still, there are times when it is more dangerous to drive than others and when motorists should take extra safety precautions.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE WAS INJURED OR SOMEONE HAS DIED IN A VEHICLE CRASH IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER SUCH AS CLIFF RIEDERS OF RIEDERS, TRAVIS, HUMPHREY, WATERS & DOHRMANN, REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. If another party’s negligence or responsibility was involved in the accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation to cover your medical, hospital and therapy expenses, lost wages, property loss, disfigurement, and loss of life’s enjoyment. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania vehicle accident attorneys have helped a great variety and number of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience with many types of crashes and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so contact us at our office or online today.

What are the most dangerous times to drive in Pennsylvania?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has statistics breaking down traffic accident information by time, days of the week and months. According to their data, the following are the most dangerous times to drive:

Months — May and June are the deadliest months for Pennsylvania Possible reasons include extra people driving on vacation and extra teenagers on the road. The second most dangerous time comes in September and October due to back-to-school traffic and fall deer season, when deer running out in the road cause collisions.
Days of the week — Wednesday is the safest day to travel; Friday and Saturday are the most dangerous.
Time — The deadliest times are between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., when people are returning home from school and work. The safest time is from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., when there are fewer vehicles on the road.

Many collisions share factors in common. For example, speeding and alcohol use are both major accident factors, as are holiday weekends, when the roads swell with fatigued and intoxicated drivers coming and going from parties and family get-togethers.

Accidents at Night

It makes sense that when darkness falls, the possibility of crashes increases. According to AAA, about 30% of all serious or fatal car collisions happen between midnight and 3:00 a.m. During the rest of the night, fatal crashes occur four times more often than during the day, even though there are far fewer vehicles on the roads at night. Reasons include poor visibility at night, fatigue and poor reaction time of sleepy drivers, and increased drinking and drunk driving that occurs at night.

Contact us for Help

No matter what time of day, if you or a loved one is involved in a crash, you need legal assistance to protect your rights and ensure that you get the settlement you are entitled to. An experienced attorney can make sure that all relevant evidence is immediately identified and documented and can help you deal with insurance companies and handle information, medical bills and treatment.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania vehicle collision and personal injury attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in competency while providing top-notch personal service.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from collisions and have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many areas of practice, including the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania, and he wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm in any collision, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling or by using our online contact form.

PA Ranked 29th for Texting Teens

Texting while driving is a major cause of crashes; and teens, already inclined to take risks, are among the worst offenders. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania teens are worse than those in most other states for risky texting behavior. According to a study from the Journal of Adolescent Health that looked at teen texting while driving in the United States, our state ranked No. 29 out of the 35 states surveyed.

The study found that 38 percent of the 200,000 teens surveyed reported texting while driving on at least one day; 22 percent reported texting while driving one to nine days; and 16 percent said they texted 10 to 30 days.

The incidence of texting and driving rose sharply when kids legally drove unsupervised. It also is highest in states with a learner’s permit age of 15 or younger. More than one in five students aged 14 or 15 reported driving before they were eligible for a learner’s permit, and one in six of these drivers had texted while driving. The rate doubled between ages 15 and 16 and continued to rise through age 17 and beyond, and white teens were more likely to text while driving than students of all other races. And the study found that texting is also linked to other risky driving behaviors, including not wearing a seat belt, or drinking and driving.

If you or a loved one was involved in a vehicle crash caused by a teen who was texting or otherwise driving distracted, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to. To ensure that you get the settlement you deserve, you should CONSULT AN EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

The seasoned Pennsylvania vehicle collision attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With decades of experience with many types of crashes and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Contact us today by calling or by using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Texting and driving

In the less than 4.5 seconds it takes to send a text, a vehicle going 55 mph covers more than the length of a football field and can easily cause a crash.

It is no wonder that, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, driving distractions kill 3,500 people and injure 390,000 in U.S. crashes every year.

In Pennsylvania, distracted driving has been increasing. According to data by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, there were 5,054 citations in 2017 for offenses related to texting, using a handheld cell phone and wearing or using headphones while driving, up 172 percent from the 1,858 citations issued statewide in 2013.

Since March 2012, Pennsylvania has a law that prohibits all drivers from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write text-based messages while their vehicle is in motion. This is a primary law, which means that a police officer has the right to pull drivers over and give them a ticket for texting while driving, without having to witness another moving violation. The law carries a $50 fine and nearly $90 in court costs.

Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania texting ban is inadequate since it doesn’t prohibit drivers from talking on their cell phones while their vehicle is in motion.

Drivers must be responsible

Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is required to drive responsibly and practice safe driving habits. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), or cognitive (taking mind off driving). Texting involves all three.

To help address the problem, parents of teens should get more involved and provide positive parental role modeling, clear communication of rules around texting, and increased monitoring of teen drivers.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

If you or a loved one was involved in a crash due to someone else’s negligence due to texting while driving, you have a right to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical costs, loss of life’s enjoyment, and property and other damages. To protect your rights and maximize compensation, it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to determine the cause of the accident and identify the responsible parties. Prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania distracted driving personal injury attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s negligence, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling or using our online contact form.

More Than 20 Percent of PA Roads Deemed in “Poor Condition”

Pennsylvania roads are in bad condition, riddled with annoying potholes that can cause vehicle crashes that may damage property and result in serious injuries or even death. Those who survive a crash can wind up with injuries such as whiplash, neck injuries, and paralysis that can maim, disfigure, and cause pain and suffering that may last a lifetime.

Conditions are so bad that a 2017 study by TRIP, a national research transportation group, ranked our state eighth in the country for rural roads in poor condition. The report found that about 22 percent of Pennsylvania roads were rated as being in poor condition. Pennsylvania was also ranked third for structurally deficient rural bridges and 16th for fatality rate on rural roads.

When poor road conditions and potholes play a part in causing accidents or cause damage to vehicles and injuries to their occupants, you may have a legal claim for damages against the state or local government responsible for maintaining the roads and highways. However, there are special rules for filing a claim against a government entity. In order to ensure you get the settlement you are entitled to, you should CONSULT AN EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

We offer a free personal injury consultation to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so contact us at our office or online today.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Pennsylvania has specific laws about what you can do if you have been in an accident caused by poor road conditions:

1) State-owned roads

If the road is owned by Pennsylvania, including the PA Turnpike and other state roads:

You cannot sue the state for property damage.
You can receive money for your injuries, but only if you can prove that PennDot had notice of the road condition and had a reasonable time to fix it and failed to do so.

2) Roads maintained by a local government

You can sue for property damage to your vehicle and for serious injuries if you can prove that the local government knew, or should have known, about the condition and had time to fix it.

For both state and local governments, there is a time limit of six months from the date of the crash for you to file a Notice of Claim, which should include the date and location of the accident, details establishing the government’s fault, plus a list of claimed damages.

Proving Liability

It can be difficult determining who is liable for accidents caused by poor road conditions, because there may be other factors involved. You will have to prove that the road conditions actually caused or contributed to the crash accident and the damages and injuries that resulted. Even if the road was in poor shape, the agency will likely argue that there were other factors that contributed, such as distracted driving.

If you can show that the poor road conditions did cause your accident, you will have to:

Identify the state, local, or private entity responsible for maintaining the roadway.
Prove that the entity was negligent and failed to meet its legal obligation to maintain a reasonably safe roadway, repair the condition within a reasonable amount of time, or adequately warn drivers of the danger.

Contact us for Help

If you or a loved one was injured or if someone has died in a crash involving poor road conditions and potholes, you may have a claim for compensation for your losses. However, Pennsylvania laws are complex, and your case must be handled correctly and competently or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania vehicle crash personal injury attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence.

Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude Phi Beta Kappa graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is a life member of the American Law Institute, which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States. He is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years. Rieders was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania, and he wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff has authored a number of other textbooks and articles and he frequently teaches the law to other experienced lawyers.

Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure and is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. Cliff Rieders is also admitted in New York, the District of Columbia, and, as indicated above, numerous federal courts. He can offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Drivers Are Addicted to Distracting Activities – Automakers Aren’t Helping

Emerging technologies are cool and useful, but they can also take drivers down a path of distraction that leads to increased crashes. Driving while distracted is illegal in 47 states, including Pennsylvania; but people are addicted to their gadgets and technology, and new cars have more of these than ever. As a result, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has been studying how to minimize the driving distractions they say kill 3,500 people and injure 390,000 in U.S. crashes every year.

According to the Washington Post the study showed that new vehicle technology involving buttons, touch screens, gesture controls, heads-up displays, and voice commands are often not safe when used while the vehicle is in motion. For example, distractions from Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto shaved crucial seconds from the time that drivers could get their eyes back on the road.

The AAA survey found that almost half of drivers said they make calls and 35 percent sent a text or email while driving. In the less than 4.5 seconds it takes to send a text, a vehicle going 55 mph covers more than the length of a football field and can easily cause a crash.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a crash involving a distracted driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation to cover medical, hospital and rehabilitation expenses, past, present and future. Damages may also cover current and future lost wages, including loss of wage horizon. Property loss may be covered as well as non-economic compensation, which is often the greatest loss. Non-economic compensation may be loss of life’s pleasures during one’s life, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other items. However, your case must be handled correctly to prove the other driver was at fault or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Contact us today by calling or by using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Pennsylvania Distracted Driving

In the last five years, distraction citations in Pennsylvania have shot up dramatically, according to data by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. There were 5,054 citations in 2017 for offenses related to texting, using a hand-held cell phone and wearing or using headphones while driving — up from 3,336 the year before, and up 172 percent from the 1,858 citations issued statewide in 2013.

Since March, 2012, Pennsylvania has had a law that prohibits all drivers from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write text-based messages while their vehicle is in motion. This is a primary law, which means that a police officer has the right to pull drivers over and give them a ticket for texting while driving, without having to witness another moving violation. The law carries a $50 fine and nearly $90 in court costs.

Unfortunately, the texting ban is inadequate to protect people from drivers, especially teens, who are distracted by handheld devices, because Pennsylvania law doesn’t prohibit drivers from talking on their cell phones (even hand-held ones) while their vehicle is in motion.

DRIVERS MUST BE RESPONSIBLE

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), or cognitive (taking mind off what you’re doing). Texting is particularly dangerous as it involves all three, but so does fiddling with controls for many of the technological features found in newer vehicles.

Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is required to drive responsibly and practice safe driving habits. When drivers devote their attention to anything other than the road, they must be held responsible for any injuries they cause.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION.

If you or a loved one was involved in a crash due to someone else’s negligence caused by driving while distracted, you have a right to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical costs, loss of life’s enjoyment, and property and other damages. To protect your rights and maximize compensation, it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to determine the cause of the car accident and identify the responsible parties. Prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania distracted driving attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from vehicle crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Pennsylvania auto laws are complex. Pennsylvania is governed by the Financial Responsibility Law. Cliff Rieders has a great deal of experience in this field of the law and was involved in its creation. Rieders wrote the book on the subject, Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania. This book is available at www.amazon.com. Cliff Rieders teaches the subject of motor vehicle insurance laws to experienced attorneys in Pennsylvania.Cliff Rieders is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude Phi Beta Kappa graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is a life member of the American Law Institute, which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States. He is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years. Rieders was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania, and he wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure and is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

School Bus Safety Reminders for All Drivers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers school buses to be the safest way to transport schoolchildren, but tragic school bus accidents do happen. Thousands of children are injured each year in preventable school bus collisions that can result in serious and debilitating injuries and death.

School bus drivers may not be trained professionals. They may or may not have the requisite experience. School bus drivers can be negligent like anyone else. Crashes may be caused by other drivers, defective buses, poor weather, or by parents and children who do not follow safety rules.

If you, your child, or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a school bus, you may be entitled to a settlement to cover medical, hospital and rehabilitative expenses past, present and future, current and future lost wages and loss of wage horizon, loss of life’s pleasures until the time of death, disfigurement and emotional distress. Property loss may be covered. All negligent parties, including the school bus driver and the school district, may be liable. Cases against school districts is difficult because of Pennsylvania’s sovereign immunity laws.

Parents may sue on behalf of their children, and drivers of vehicles who are involved in accidents with school buses may sue as well. However, there are rules and restrictions involved when suing a State agency such as a school district, so you should seek the help of an attorney experienced with school bus accidents to help you file claims and receive the compensation you deserve.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to discuss the facts of your individual situation, so contact us at our office or online today.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Drivers sharing the road with school buses need to know Pennsylvania laws instituted to promote safety. Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law requires:

Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
Motorists must stop when they are behind or meeting a bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
Motorists alongside a bus must stop until the lights stop flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in opposing lanes may proceed.

Penalties for anyone convicted of violating the law include:

$250 fine
Five points on your license
60-day license suspension.

Negligence and Liability

Owners and operators of school buses must ensure that reasonable care is taken to keep students safe, or they may be found negligent and liable for damages. To collect damages from a bus driver or school district, it must be shown that other parties failed to take reasonable care, which contributed to or caused the accident.

Negligent acts might include:

Driver error, such as fatigue, intoxication, or distraction
Buses not being inspected and maintained to federal and state regulations
Negligent hiring, inadequate training, or failure to supervise drivers.

While Pennsylvania school districts are afforded some immunity under Pennsylvania’s laws. However, there are exceptions to this immunity although there are also caps on damages and other restrictions. Parents may be able to file a claim on behalf of their minor child if:

The child was injured as a result of the actions of a school district employee; and
Injuries were caused by someone who was not protected by immunity.

There is a Pennsylvania statute of limitations of two years after the accident date for filing a personal injury or property damage lawsuit. If a death is involved, this is figured from the date the victim died.

There are highly unusual circumstances in which a federal claim can be brought since children may be within the protective realm of a school district. This is sometimes referred to as “special relationship” criteria. This is an extremely complex area of the law and has many hurdles to overcome in order to be able to bring a claim under Section 1983 of 42 U.S. Code.

People Worry About Self-Driving Cars

Does the idea of self-driving cars on the road send shivers down your spine? You are not alone. According to three different surveys, while most Americans are resigned to the fact that autonomous cars will be common within 15 years, 74 percent do not expect to have one, and two-thirds say they wouldn’t want to walk or ride a bicycle near one.

The surveys show the misgivings people have about the expected increase in self-driving vehicles and the challenges that automakers face in marketing them. The results also point to a need for safety reassurances from federal regulators.

Recent crashes involving the new technology have made the public even more skittish. One highly-publicized example occurred when a self-driving Uber SUV struck and killed a woman walking her bicycle across a street in Tempe, Arizona. A test driver from Uber was behind the wheel of the car at the time, but the car was driving automatically. Also, in Arizona a Waymo test vehicle with a human at the wheel crashed when another motorist swerved into it last month.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a crash that involved a self-driving car or any other vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Contact us today by calling or by using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

How Safe Should Autonomous Cars Be?

A study published this month in the journal Risk Analysis found that people feel that self-driving vehicles must be 4 to 5 times as safe as human-driven vehicles to be accepted. This is because people’s demand for safety increases when an external factor is involved.

This demand is despite the statistic that human error is believed to cause 94 percent of traffic collisions in the United States. And one of the reasons self-driving vehicles were created in the first place was to help improve road safety and reduce crashes.

Unfortunately, it is neither technologically nor economically feasible to make a “perfectly safe” self-driving vehicle. And while researchers estimate that the current global risk of dying in a traffic accident is 17.4 per 100,000, this rate is 350 times greater than the frequency the study’s participants found acceptable for autonomous vehicles.

This means that while several dozen companies are currently working to develop autonomous cars, before the cars can become commonplace there must be a major change in people’s attitude. Right now, most of us are still unwilling to ride in an automated vehicle, although younger generations appear to have greater willingness to do so.

Currently, there are no commercially available fully autonomous vehicles. Still, prototypes are undergoing testing, and consumers will most likely regain confidence in the technology as vehicles are improved.

Legal Issues and Concerns

When an accident occurs with self-driving vehicles, numerous legal issues arise. There is no driver controlling the vehicle, so even if someone is sitting behind the wheel, that person is, in essence, a passenger, and the vehicle itself is the driver.

If an autonomous vehicle is at fault, questions arise as to who is liable for personal injury claims. Consider the following situations:

If car problems are the reason for a crash, the manufacturer and/or software companies may be held liable.
If parts break, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
If driverless software malfunctions, developers such as Google may be liable.

The problem with many claims is that there are various immunities for manufacturers, computer companies and software makers. The law is complex in this field, and unfortunately the legislature has not yet addressed the relative responsibilities involved.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently recognized Google software as the “driver” in their self-driving cars.

In cases where there is a function where a human driver can take over, drivers may still be responsible for an accident.

Contact Us For Help and a Free Consultation on Personal Injury Cases

If you or a loved one was involved in a crash due to someone else’s negligence, you have a right to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical costs, loss of life’s enjoyment, and property and other damages. To protect your rights and maximize compensation, it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to determine the cause of the accident and identify the responsible parties.

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. Our attorneys offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from vehicle crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Distracted Driving Enforcement Increases in Pennsylvania; Distraction Continues to Be a Problem

Pennsylvania is cracking down on anyone caught driving while distracted, and the number of distracted driving citations is climbing. Ticketed drivers pay a $50 fine plus $90 for court costs. According to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, citations increased by 52 percent statewide in 2017 and 172 percent since 2013.

The heightened emphasis on distracted driving is for good reason: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reports 1,188 total deaths on Pennsylvania roads in 2016, with distracted driving a contributing factor in 61 of them.

If you or a loved one was injured or if someone has died in a crash involving distracted driving, you may have a claim for compensation for your losses. This includes medical, hospital and rehabilitation bills that are not covered by first party personal injury protection, lost wages and future wage horizon and other economic expenses. You may also have a claim for noneconomic damages such as loss of life’s pleasures, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.

Attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts, the insurance companies, the system, and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our attorneys have successfully represented people who have been harmed in crashes involving distracted drivers throughout Pennsylvania. Contact Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters today by calling for a free consultation to evaluate the circumstances of your accident, or use our online contact form.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that has the potential to distract the driver from driving and increases the risk of a crash. Distractions can be visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), or cognitive (taking mind off what you’re doing). Since texting involves all three, it is particularly dangerous. Texting typically takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds, which is like driving the length of an entire football field with eyes closed.

Pennsylvania law prohibits all drivers from texting while driving, which includes sending, reading or writing a text-based message or e-mail, and from wearing or using headphones or earphones while the car is in motion. This is a primary law, which means that a police officer has the right to pull drivers over and give them a ticket for texting while driving, without having to witness another moving violation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) includes activities such as talking, eating or adjusting radios or navigation devices as distracted driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, talking with a passenger could be as distracting as using a phone, and using a speech-to-text system is even more dangerous than using a handheld or hands-free phone.

Pennsylvania Citations

Your chances of receiving a ticket for distracted driving depend on what county you are driving in. Montgomery County had the highest number of distracted driving citations from 2013 to 2017, with a total of 1,695 citations over those years.

Other top counties for citations are Chester, Bucks, Delaware and Berks counties. Chester County had a total of 963 citations given over that time period, while Bucks County followed closely with 859 citations, Delaware County with 659, and Berks County with 589.

Lycoming County and North Central Pennsylvania counties are crisscrossed by interstate roads, rural roads, and sometimes very bad driving conditions. Distracted driving is exacerbated by bad roads, speeding truck drivers and unsafe drivers who frequently drink and drive.

Lawsuits Against Distracted Drivers

When drivers devote their attention to anything other than the road, they must be held responsible for any injuries they cause. Evidence that a driver was on a cell phone at the time of an accident is admissible in a lawsuit and may support an award of punitive damages against the distracted driver. For punitive damages to be awarded, there must be outrageous conduct. Sometimes punitive damages are not covered by insurance.

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a crash that you suspect was caused by a distracted driver, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence. Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations of two years after the accident for filing a personal injury or property damage lawsuit, and the sooner you file, the easier it is for your attorney to find witnesses and evidence to help your case.

Achieving Results When it Counts

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania distracted driving accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to another driver’s negligence. Our attorneys offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service. We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from distracted driving crashes and have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years. Rieders was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice and is admitted in Pennsylvania, New York and the District of Columbia state courts and many federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s driving negligence, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling or using our online contact form. Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

ANTI-TRUST-INJURY-UBER

Philadelphia Taxi Ass’n v. Uber Techs, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 7606 (3rd Cir. March 27, 2018). Rendell, C.J. Philadelphia taxicab drivers, aggrieved by the influx of taxis hailed at the touch of an app on one’s phone, brought this antitrust action to protest the entry of Appellee Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) into the Philadelphia taxicab 4 market. The Philadelphia Taxi Association (“PTA”), along with 80 individual taxicab companies (collectively, “Appellants”), appeal the District Court’s dismissal of their Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) alleging one count of attempted monopolization under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2, and seeking injunctive relief and treble damages under Section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 15. Appellants urge us to reverse the District Court’s Order, contending that Uber violated the antitrust laws because its entry into the Philadelphia taxicab market was illegal, predatory, and led to a sharp drop in the value of taxicab medallions as well as a loss of profits. They contend that this is evidence that Uber’s operation in Philadelphia was anticompetitive and caused them to suffer an antitrust injury. However, the conduct they allege falls short of the conduct that would constitute an attempted monopoly in contravention of the antitrust laws. Thus, we will affirm the District Court’s dismissal of the SAC for failure to state a claim for attempted monopolization and failure to state an antitrust injury.

Helping Your Teen Navigate the 100 Deadliest Days

New teen drivers ages 16-17 years old are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a fatal crash, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, known as the “100 Deadliest Days,” is the time that is particularly dangerous for young drivers. Teen crashes are 15 percent higher during the summer when teens are out of school and on the road.

Statistics from the AAA study found that for every mile on the road, drivers ages 16-17 years old are:

9 times as likely as drivers 18 and older to be involved in a crash
6 times as likely as drivers 18 and older to be involved in a fatal crash
5 times as likely as drivers 30-59 to be involved in a crash
2 times as likely as drivers 30-59 to be involved in a fatal crash.

If you have lost a loved one or have been seriously injured in an auto accident involving a teen driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical, hospital and rehabilitation bills – present and future, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of wages, loss of future wages, and loss of life’s pleasures prior to death. The experienced and compassionate Pennsylvania vehicle crash attorney Clifford A. Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters can help by making sure you get the settlement you deserve.

Cliff Rieders knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases. Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in vehicle accident cases of all kinds.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases, so call or contact us online today.

Factors That Lead to Crashes

The AAA cites the following factors that lead to deadly crashes for teen drivers:

Distraction: Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of 10 teen crashes. The top distractions include talking to other passengers in the vehicle and using a smart phone.
Not Using Seat Belts: In 2015, 60 percent of teen drivers killed in a crash were not wearing a safety belt.
Speeding: Speeding is a factor in nearly 30 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers and is one of the top three mistakes teens make when learning to drive.

Teen Driving

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the state licenses young drivers through a three-stage program, reflecting the driver’s gradual progression in skill, experience, and decision-making ability.

1) LEARNER’S PERMIT — After successfully completing a physical examination, vision screening and knowledge test, young drivers may practice driving with adult supervision for one year, with extensions for those requiring more practice time. The young driver must be accompanied by an adult and may not be behind the wheel between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless for employment, volunteer or charitable service, with proper documentation.

2) JUNIOR LICENSE — This requires completion of all learner’s permit requirements, including the road test, and still carries restrictions, including the number of allowed passengers and seatbelt requirements.

3) UNRESTRICTED LICENSE — A regular driver’s license – typically issued at age 18 – provides unrestricted driving privileges to teenagers who have gone through the system with an established history of safe driving.

How to Increase Safety

1) Parental Input

The AAA feels that parents are the main defense for preventing teen crashes. Parents should:

Have conversations with their teens about distraction and speeding.
Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving.
Know the rules of the road.
Make sure the vehicle is well-maintained.
Know how to teach your teen to drive.
Start teaching in a low traffic area or a parking lot before more difficult driving.
Encourage as much practice as possible.
Make a parent-teen driving agreement with rules for teen drivers.
Use PennDOT’s guide for teaching teenagers to drive — The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program guidebook — available at dmv.pa.gov.

2) Teen Safety Tips

PennDOT offers the following safety tips for teenagers:

Always wear your seat belt.
Obey the speed limit and rules of the road.
Use your turn signals.
Don’t drink and drive.
Focus on the road and the conditions around you.
Do not use your cell phone or eat and drink while driving.
Plan ahead. Know where you are going and get directions.’
Give yourself plenty of time to get somewhere.
Watch other drivers on the roadway and communicate your intentions to them.
Follow other vehicles at a safe distance.

Just because a teenager is involved in an accident does not automatically make them negligent. Teenagers can also be victims of someone else’s negligence, but they may be blamed because of their age. Every case needs to be examined closely based upon its facts.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

Teens who were involved in a crash due to the negligent behavior of another driver may be entitled to compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages suffered. However, Pennsylvania laws are complicated, and it pays to have the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands the legal aspects of teen crashes to fight for your rights.

Cliff Rieders helped to write Pennsylvania’s Financial Responsibility Law, which governs automobile insurance issues in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders has written the book on the subject of the Financial Responsibility Law entitled, Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania. This book is available at www.amazon.com. Cliff Rieders teaches the subject of motor vehicle insurance laws to experienced attorneys in Pennsylvania.

Experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney Clifford Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, and aggressively fight for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome and have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Rieders is a Nationally Board-Certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years and was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice and was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state and teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. Cliff served on the American Law Institute Consultative Committee with respect to the Restatement (Third), Products Liability. The American Law Institute proposes rules that are used in many states, sometimes all states in the union. Being a member of the American Law Institute is a great privilege, and Cliff Rieders is a life member.

Motorcycle Safety Month – Why It Is Important for All Motorists

There are nearly 850,000 licensed motorcyclists in Pennsylvania, and warm weather brings more of them out on our roads. This increases the possibility of dangerous crashes that affect everyone sharing the road.

In 2014 there were 3,284 motorcycle accidents in our state, and 186 of these accidents were fatal. As a result, Pennsylvania has designated May as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”

If you have lost a loved one or have been seriously injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages you suffered. The experienced and compassionate Pennsylvania motorcycle crash attorney Clifford A. Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters can help by making sure you get the settlement you deserve.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases. Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in vehicle accident cases of all kinds.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases, so call or contact us online today.

How to Increase Road Safety

The following are suggestions for both motorcyclists and other drivers to help avoid accidents and increase safety on the road for all motorists:

1) Share the Road

All motorists should understand the basic motorcycle riding practices to know how to anticipate and respond to them.

To avoid accidents, motorists should:

Stay alert and never drive distracted or impaired.
Be aware of motorcycles hidden in a car’s blind spot.
Signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
Keep a safe distance behind motorcycles.
Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
Be aware that motorcycles are harder to see and react to.
Share the road responsibly.

2) Get Licensed and Trained

Pennsylvania requires a motorcycle license endorsement to supplement an automobile driver’s license. You need to pass written and on-cycle skills tests.

PennDOT provides free clinics to Pennsylvania residents who have a motorcycle learner’s permit or motorcycle license. Three clinics – the Beginning Rider Clinic (BRC), the Intermediate Riding Clinic (IRC), and the 3-Wheel Riding Clinic (3WRC) — offer a pathway to earning a motorcycle license. In addition, there is an Advanced Rider Clinic to increase decision-making abilities, riding strategies, risk management and rider behavior and choices.

3) Practice Operating

Get accustomed to the feel of a new or unfamiliar motorcycle by riding in a controlled area before taking it into traffic. Know how to handle your motorcycle in inclement weather or with hazards such as slick roads, potholes, and road debris.

4) Check Your Motorcycle

Before every ride, check the tire pressure and tread depth, hand and foot brakes, headlights and signal indicators, and fluid levels and under the motorcycle for signs of oil or gas leaks. Cargo should be secure and balanced, and the suspension and tire pressure adjusted to accommodate the extra weight.

Passengers should not mount until the engine has started. They should sit as far forward as possible, hold on firmly, lean with you, and should keep both feet on the foot rests at all times, even when the motorcycle is stopped.

5) Wear Protection

Always wear a helmet meeting the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. ANSI or Snell labels are voluntary indicators of helmet quality. Helmets with plastic face shields provide protection from wind, rain, insects, dust, and stones thrown up from cars. Wear goggles if you do not have a helmet.

Cover and protect arms and legs by wearing leather or heavy denim, and wear gloves and boots or shoes high enough to cover ankles. Wear brightly colored clothing with reflective material to make you more visible to other drivers.

6) Ride Responsibly

Do not take risks. Ride defensively, as the majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes are caused when drivers did not see the motorcyclist. Obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits, and lane markings; ride with the flow of traffic and leave room between your bike and other vehicles. Check behind you and use hand and turn signals before changing lanes. Intersections are particularly dangerous, so be especially cautious when approaching intersections and making turns. Increase your visibility by using reflective materials on your motorcycle and clothing and by using headlights.

7) Never Ride Distracted or Impaired

Do not drink or take drugs before driving or drive while tired or impaired. Alcohol and drugs, including some prescribed medications, impair alertness, reduce your reaction time and negatively affect your judgment, coordination, balance, throttle control, and ability to shift gears.

8) Use Common Sense

Keep a safe distance from other motorists to allow time to react to dangerous situations.
Ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible.
Avoid weaving between lanes.
Be courteous and responsible — respect other drivers, do not speed; know the local traffic laws and rules of the road.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

If you were involved in a crash due to the negligent behavior of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages you suffered. Claims for motorcycle accidents are complicated, and it pays to have the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands the legal aspects of motorcycle accidents to fight for your rights.

The experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, and aggressively fight for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome and have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years and was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Cliff Rieders wrote “the book” on financial responsibility law in Pennsylvania. Rieders has been instrumentally involved in the creation and development of that law since its inception. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice and was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state and teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s negligence or incompetence in a car crash, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling or using our online contact form. Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

It Is Worth Investing Time to Learn Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Car crashes kill, maim, and cause pain and suffering that may last a lifetime. According to AAA, the average cost of an injury crash in the United States in 2009 was more than $125,000, while the average cost of a fatal accident was close to $6 million.

Fortunately, safety technology keeps improving, and vehicle manufacturers are making every effort to install features that make driving an easier and safer experience. For years, automakers focused on making vehicles stronger and more able to withstand crashes, but this focus has now shifted to providing technology to avoid accidents and prevent a crash from happening in the first place.

If you or a loved one was injured or someone has died in a car crash, motorcycle, or truck accident on a Pennsylvania highway, road or street, you should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding your legal rights. If another party’s negligence or responsibility was involved in the accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property loss, and loss of life’s pleasures. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania auto accident attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience with many types of auto crashes and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases. Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in all kinds of vehicle crashes.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases so contact us online or at our office.

What Are Important Safety Features?

To increase your chances of avoiding a devastating crash, you should know what safety features your current vehicle has, and — if you are lacking important ones — consider upgrading to a safer model. If you do have these features, make sure you know how they work and how to use them.

The following are some of the most important vehicle safety features to look for:

1) Forward collision warning.

This system will provide an audible warning to alert you if you approach a slower or stopped vehicle and do not show signs of braking.

2) Automatic emergency braking.

This backs up the collision warning system by automatically applying the brakes to avoid or minimize an impact.

3) Automatic high beams.

Sensors automatically make lights brighter when it is dark and automatically switches the high beams off if a car is detected ahead.

4) Adaptive headlights.

These headlights pivot toward the direction in which you are traveling, improving visibility around curves.

5) Adaptive cruise control.

If you have set your cruise control and get too close to another vehicle, the system will apply the brakes in order to slow your car down so you can continue to follow the vehicle at a safe distance. The system accelerates back to the set speed when it is safe to do so.

6) Blind-spot monitoring.

This system monitors the vehicle’s blind spot and lights up the side mirrors when a vehicle is present. If you activate your turn signal to change lanes while a vehicle is in your blind spot, the lights flash and there is an audible warning.

7) Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist.

If your vehicle drifts out of its lane, this system warns you with a beep, vibration or visual cue on the instrument panel. If you also have lane keeping assist, it will make a steering correction to keep the car in its lane.

8) Back up cameras and rear cross-traffic alert.

Back up cameras show you what is going on behind you. When you are backing up, sensors on the rear bumpers detect an approaching vehicle, person or object and warn you that it is there.

9) Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS).

This electronic system monitors the air pressure inside a vehicle’s tires and reports when pressure is low.

Remember, while these safety innovations help, an alert driver who is free of distractions and is driving safely is still the most important factor in avoiding devastating crashes.

Achieving Results When it Counts

If you or a loved one is involved in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. To make sure you receive what you deserve, you should get legal assistance to protect your rights at every stage of your liability claim.

These devices may malfunction. We have seen that with airbags and other so-called safety devices. In fact, some of these can become a trap for the unwary. If a safety device malfunctions, just as if your vehicle malfunctions or is badly designed, then you or your loved one may have a strict liability case. Cliff Rieders has been instrumental in actually formulating strict liability law in Pennsylvania. Rieders served on the American Law Institute Restatement (Third) Project which suggested new liability laws in Pennsylvania and the 50 states. Rieders has written Friend of the Court Briefs in Pennsylvania as to what law should apply on products liability. In Pennsylvania, products liability law, as in other states, can be very complex and is different than ordinary negligence. You need to have somebody as your lawyer who is very familiar with this field of practice and the evolving legal developments.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from vehicle crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Do Sleep Aids Impair Driving Performance?

People who cannot sleep become desperate, so it is not surprising that sleep aids are used by approximately 60 million Americans each year. In addition to prescription drugs, there are many over-the-counter medications used for treating insomnia.

Most common sleep aids help people fall asleep easier and potentially remain asleep for longer. Unfortunately, sometimes the sedative effects last too long and impair functions during the night and the morning after. People can be harmed by nocturnal activities such as sleep-walking and sleep-eating when they do not know what they are doing, and lingering drowsiness during the day can make activities which require alertness, like driving, very hazardous.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a vehicle collision or other side effect from sleep-inducing drugs, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical and hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, lost future wage horizon, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of life’s pleasure. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Problems With Sleep Aids

While many people are helped by sleeping pills, there can be side effects to taking them, and some are serious. Among the most commonly prescribed drugs that may cause problems are Zolpidem tartrate, the generic name for best-selling Ambien, and Trazodone.

1) Zolpidem

Zolpidem is in the class of medications called sedative-hypnotics and is a common ingredient in the most widely prescribed sleep medications, including Ambien, Edluar, and the oral spray Zolpimist.

Side Effects of Zolpidem include:

Parasomnia — unusual behaviors during sleep, including sleep walking, sleep eating, sleep driving, sleep sex, and sleep violence, with no recollection of the behavior upon awakening
Depression and a suspected factor in suicide attempts
Hallucinations and dissociation or detachment from physical and emotional experiences
Addiction if taken too often
Worsening of insomnia
Increased risk of next-day car accidents.

Some zolpidem drugs, sold as generic or the brand name Ambien CR, contain an extended-release form of zolpidem that stays in the body longer. Studies have shown many people, especially women, who take extended-release zolpidem have drug levels that are high enough to impair driving and other activities the next morning.

As a result of these problems, on January 10, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public of the dangers associated with zolpidem and lowered the recommended dose from 10 to 5 milligrams and to 6.25 milligrams for Ambien CR. The FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System has approximately 700 reports of zolpidem use and impaired driving ability and/or traffic accidents. Although those incidents have not been conclusively linked to zolpidem, a number of lawsuits have been filed for personal injury the plaintiffs believe were the result of taking the drug.

2) Trazodone

Trazodone, another drug commonly prescribed for sleep, is even more likely to leave you feeling drowsy the next day, increasing the chance of accidents while driving.

Trazodone was actually approved as an antidepressant by the FDA in 1981. It has never been approved to treat insomnia; and while some studies have shown that trazodone may improve sleep during the first two weeks of treatment, little is known about how well it works or how safe it is past that point for treating chronic insomnia. Still, it is widely prescribed because it is inexpensive and it is not a controlled substance.

Risks of trazodone include:

Abnormally low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting, particularly in seniors
Heart-rhythm disorders
Priapism, or persistent erection, which may require surgery
Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents
Next day drowsiness, which increases the chance of having an accident while driving.

Sleeping Pill Lawsuits

The FDA has warned that patients who take zolpidem extended-release should not drive or engage in other activities that require complete mental alertness the day after taking the drug. This is because zolpidem levels can remain high enough the next day to impair these activities.

If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury from taking sleeping pills or from a vehicle crash caused by sleep medication, you may have the right to file a lawsuit for compensation for your damages. Some plaintiffs have already been awarded damages as a result of sleeping pill side effects which were not adequately addressed on drug warning labels. However, proving that damages were linked to sleep aids is difficult; to be successful, you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

The seasoned Pennsylvania personal injury attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on its Board for 15 years.

Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Rieders is a Nationally Board certified specialist for Civil Trial and Civil Practice and Procedure, a cum laude Phi Beta Kappa graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is admitted in Pennsylvania, New York State, District of Columbia and numerous federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States and is a life member of the American Law Institute which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States.

Based in Williamsport, Cliff Rieders and the other trial lawyers at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters serve clients throughout Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Motorcycle Safety Month – Why It Is Important for All Motorists

In 2014 there were 3,284 motorcycle accidents in our state, and 186 of these accidents were fatal. As a result, Pennsylvania has designated May as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases. Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in vehicle accident cases of all kinds.

We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases, so call or contact us online today.

How to Increase Road Safety

The following are suggestions for both motorcyclists and other drivers to help avoid accidents and increase safety on the road for all motorists:

1) Share the Road

All motorists should understand the basic motorcycle riding practices to know how to anticipate and respond to them.

To avoid accidents, motorists should:

Stay alert and never drive distracted or impaired.
Be aware of motorcycles hidden in a car’s blind spot.
Signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
Keep a safe distance behind motorcycles.
Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
Be aware that motorcycles are harder to see and react to.
Share the road responsibly.

2) Get Licensed and Trained

Pennsylvania requires a motorcycle license endorsement to supplement an automobile driver’s license. You need to pass written and on-cycle skills tests.

3) Practice Operating

4) Check Your Motorcycle

5) Wear Protection

6) Ride Responsibly

7) Never Ride Distracted or Impaired

8) Use Common Sense

Keep a safe distance from other motorists to allow time to react to dangerous situations.
Ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible.
Avoid weaving between lanes.
Be courteous and responsible — respect other drivers, do not speed; know the local traffic laws and rules of the road.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff Rieders was a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and served on same for 15 years and was a Law Clerk in the federal court system for one of the most well-known and longest serving federal judges in the country, the Honorable Malcolm Muir. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Cliff Rieders wrote “the book” on financial responsibility law in Pennsylvania. Rieders has been instrumentally involved in the creation and development of that law since its inception. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice and was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state and teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

ANTI-TRUST-INJURY-UBER

Drivers Are Addicted to Distracting Activities – Automakers Aren’t Helping

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Contact us today by calling or by using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Pennsylvania Distracted Driving

DRIVERS MUST BE RESPONSIBLE

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from vehicle crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Time for Transportation to Take Sleep Apnea Seriously

Sleep apnea can be a cause of vehicle crashes, so it has been a major concern for transportation safety advocates for years. The condition causes fatigue, and commercial drivers who are fatigued can doze off, a dangerous situation when they are driving large commercial vehicles or trains.

The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that 22 million Americans have sleep apnea and that 80 percent of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) cases are undiagnosed. A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco, concluded that 41 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers could have OSA. And a March 2016 study from the University of Minnesota, Morris, found that drivers who do not follow their prescribed treatment for OSA are five times more likely to be involved in a crash than other drivers.

Recently, sleep apnea led to two commuter railroad accidents within 13 weeks of one another. In September 2016, a New Jersey Transit train failed to stop and struck a wall of the terminal, killing one woman and injuring 110 other people. In January 2017, a Long Island Rail Road commuter train crashed into a room beyond the end of the track, leaving 108 people injured and damage estimated at $5.3 million.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that both accidents involved engineers who had issues with obstructive sleep apnea. The agency found OSA to be the probable cause of 10 highway and rail accidents investigated by the NTSB in the past 17 years.

What is Sleep Apnea?

The term “sleep apnea” refers to interruptions in breathing during sleep. During sleep, the brain normally instructs breathing muscles to take a breath. But muscles that hold the airway open relax during sleep, and sometimes tissue in the back of the throat collapses, blocking the airway and preventing air from getting to the lungs. Oxygen levels decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase, causing the person to awaken in order to breathe. Sleep is interrupted and fragmented, causing daytime fatigue.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Central sleep apnea (CSA) — the brain fails to send the signal to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — the brain sends the signal to the muscles, but the airway is obstructed and prevents an adequate flow of air.
Mixed sleep apnea — both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

Complications of obstructive sleep apnea include high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, insomnia and daytime sleepiness, anxiety, irritability, headaches, and difficulty concentrating, thinking, remembering and performing work duties. These complications can and do contribute to vehicle crashes.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated, but many people are unaware they have it. Sometimes a spouse or partner will observe a person stop breathing, then snore loudly and gasp for air. People who suspect OSA can be diagnosed and evaluated by history, physical examination and sleep studies called polysomnography.

There are nonsurgical treatments that include behavior therapy, weight loss, medications, dental appliances, and machines that provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to keep the throat from collapsing. Surgical treatments include nasal, throat, and bariatric surgery.

What Can Be Done

Unfortunately, although a regulation on OSA was proposed, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have withdrawn an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the condition. These agencies stated that current safety programs for fatigue risk management are appropriate avenues to address OSA.

The FRA endorses the voluntary North American Fatigue Management Program to commercial motor vehicle drivers and employers. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 states that railroads must institute fatigue management plans as part of Risk Reduction Programs or System Safety Programs.

The FMCSA requires that truck drivers be medically qualified before being certified to drive and that untreated OSA can serve as a basis for denying qualification. Carriers who allow their drivers to be on the road with OSA can and have been held liable for truck accidents caused by related driver fatigue.

Achieving Results When it Counts

If you or a loved one was injured or someone has died in a crash involving sleep apnea due to someone else’s negligence or responsibility, you should immediately consult an EXPERIENCED PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER regarding your legal rights and possibility of receiving financial compensation.

Preventing Crashes on Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday is traditionally a time when friends and family get together for great football, fun, food and drink. Unfortunately, the celebration can end in tragedy for the many people who wind up in drunk-driving crashes on their way home from a party.

According to Snopes, crash rates increase by 41 percent after the game is over, and as much as 70 percent in the first hour after the Super Bowl. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 40% of motor vehicle accident fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday stem from drunk driving. (NHTSA.gov/impaired)

Pennsylvania roads and highways abound with crashes, even without the extra impetus from the Super Bowl. Those who survive a crash can wind up with serious injuries that can main, disfigure, and cause pain and suffering that may last a lifetime.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE WAS INJURED OR SOMEONE HAS DIED IN A VEHICLE CRASH IN PENNSYLVANIA YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. If another party’s negligence or irresponsibility was involved in the accident, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation to cover your medical, hospital and therapy expenses, lost wages, property loss, disfigurement, and loss of life’s enjoyment. However, your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to.

Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our seasoned Pennsylvania vehicle accident attorneys have helped hundreds of people file successful personal injury lawsuits. With decades of experience with many types of crashes and an excellent reputation in the legal community, we are well positioned to handle even the most difficult cases.

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent a crash from happening in the first place.

Steps to Take to Prevent Problems

You can enjoy the Super Bowl fun — and help ensure that all ends well after the game — by being proactive and taking steps recommended by the NHTSA in its pre-Super Bowl campaign to fight impaired driving, “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” The following are some recommendations:
1) If you are attending a Super Bowl Party:

Plan your route ahead of time, including where to park, where you may encounter traffic, whether the weather will be a problem. Look for alternate, less-heavily traveled roads.
If you are drinking, designate your sober driver beforehand and give that person your keys. Help arrange rides for others.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Eat food, and alternate alcohol with nonalcoholic drinks such as soda and water.
If you have had too many drinks, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend or family member to come and get you; or stay where you are and sleep it off.
Take any impaired friend’s keys and make sure they don’t drive until sober.

2) If you are hosting a Super Bowl Party:

Serve lots of food, high-protein dishes, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Serve only one drink at a time and stop serving alcohol at the beginning of the third quarter, serving coffee and dessert instead.
Check on your drinking guests to make sure they have designated drivers. If not, arrange rides for them or offer to let them stay the night. Keep the numbers for cab companies and car services such as Uber and Lyft handy.
Take the keys away from anyone who is about to drive while impaired, letting them know that you are concerned for their safety.

What to Do In A Crash

Even if you take every precaution, you are still in a position of risk if you are driving on Super Bowl Sunday. If you wind up in a crash and are injured by a drunk, distracted, or negligent driver, you should seek the help of an experienced vehicle crash personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Pennsylvania laws are complex and include a comparative-fault rule and a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Insurance companies will try tactics such as trying to shift responsibility or getting you to accept the lowest settlement, and our attorneys have the skills and experience to help ensure you get the best settlement possible.

Achieving Results When it Counts

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania drunk driving accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our sizeable staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from vehicle crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s negligence or incompetence in a car crash, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling (570) 323-8711, or by using our online contact form. Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

A Look at Pet Peeves Over Pennsylvania Drivers

Driving on Pennsylvania roads can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but when other drivers do something that interferes with your safety, it may result in more than aggravation — it could end in a crash causing injuries or even death.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) annual Crash Facts & Statistics Report for 2014, there were five main causes of crashes that year:

Speeding, which caused over 32,000 auto accidents, with 434 fatal.
Distracted driving, which caused just under 14,000 auto accidents, with 49 fatal.
Improper turning, which caused over 12,000 accidents, with 72 fatal.
Drunk driving, which caused over 9,600 accidents, with 188 fatal.
Proceeding without clearance, i.e., failing to yield the right of way, which caused about 7,900 auto accidents, with 69 fatal.

If you or a loved one has been injured or if someone has died in a crash involving another person’s driving errors, you may have a claim for compensation for your losses. This includes medical and hospital bills, rehabilitation, future surgeries, lost past, present and future wages and wage horizons, and other economic expenses. Depending upon your rights under the Financial Responsibility Law, you may be entitled to money for non-economic damages such as loss of life’s pleasures, pain and suffering, disfigurement, humiliation, and the like.

Pennsylvania laws are complex, and your case must be handled correctly and competently, or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to. Insurance companies will try tactics such as trying to shift responsibility or getting you to accept the lowest settlement, it makes sense to get legal representation before you talk to an insurance company in order to protect your rights and maximize the compensation you receive.

Cliff Rieders is the author of the Financial Responsibility Law book in Pennsylvania available on amazon.com. This book is a compendium of laws and bills in Pennsylvania. We see many people who are not properly advised with respect to the reach and applicability of the Financial Responsibility Law, and hence do not get the coverage or reimbursement they deserve. We see it all the time. Knowledge of the Financial Responsibility Law and dealing with the insurance carriers for the party at fault, your own insurance company and for underinsurance, are crucial issues.

Attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts, the insurance companies, the system, and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement. Our attorneys have successfully represented people who have been harmed in crashes involving negligent drivers throughout Pennsylvania. Contact Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters today by calling 1-(570) 323-8711 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form

Driving Pet Peeves

Everyone has their own pet peeves about things drivers do on Pennsylvania roads that cause us to risk our lives each time we get behind the wheel. Here are some of the most common things that upset and endanger other drivers:

Speeding is the largest cause of crashes and fatalities. People who driving too fast for road conditions are courting disaster as any false move can cause speeding vehicles to get out of control. Stopping distances increase exponentially with increased speed, and speeding can make it impossible to stop or steer away from a sudden obstacle.
Distracted Driving. Anyone talking on the phone, sending text messages, fiddling with controls, eating and drinking, or applying cosmetics while driving is distracted and not paying attention to the road, traffic conditions, other drivers, so can easily lose control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10% (3,050) of S. fatal crashes in 2012 were reported as distraction-affected.
Fatigued Drivers. Drivers who are fatigued are not alert and can fall asleep while driving and run off the road and crash into other vehicles, objects and people. Most car accidents attributed to fatigued drivers happen between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., although people can be fatigued at any hour, depending on their life styles and work schedules. Truck drivers who work long hours or multiple shifts are often fatigued, and no one wants to be around them if they lose control.
Driving too close to another vehicle is a frequent cause of accidents if the leading vehicle has to make a sudden stop or maneuver. The safe distance for following another vehicle varies depending on speed, weather, visibility and other road conditions, and drivers must increase the distance between vehicles as speed increases or conditions worsen.
Driving too slowly in the left lane. Slow drivers should use the right lane. The middle lane is the truck passing lane and also used for other vehicles trying to pass slow vehicles. Slow drivers occupying passing lanes cause other drivers to become irate and attempt dangerous maneuvers like passing on the right.
Drunk driving. Drunk driving is a major cause of car crashes that kill and maim people throughout Pennsylvania. The department of transportation (PennDOT) reported 127,127 vehicular accidents in 2015 that resulted in 1,200 deaths, and 345 of these deaths resulted from crashes involving alcohol.
Moving violations, including unsafe merging, unsafe turning, failure to yield the right of way, unsafe or frequent lane changes. All of these moving violations are illegal, cause accidents, and lead to problems for drivers of other vehicles.
Social media distractions and equipment installed in vehicles themselves that provide information to drivers can be extremely distracting. Many cars these days permit drivers to access the internet, to make restaurant reservations, and to call their friends. These devices may be used improperly and at the wrong times by drivers, and oftentimes bad behavior is encouraged by the manufacturers and retailers of automobiles. Many of the new devices on cars to enhance safety do not always operate properly and can cause serious injury and death.

Pennsylvania Laws for Car Crashes

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, you should consult an experienced Pennsylvania car crash attorney as soon as possible.

Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations of two years after the accident for filing a personal injury or property damage lawsuit, so you must file a lawsuit promptly, and the sooner you file, the easier it is for your attorney to find witnesses and evidence to help your case. The statute of limitations may be different under the Financial Responsibility Law for claims against your own insurance company either for bad faith, underinsurance, or the rights which you may have. Talk to an attorney who knows what they are doing.

Achieving Results When it Counts

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania vehicle accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to another driver’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our competent staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service. We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from driving crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice and teaches at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice. Rieders is a Nationally Board Certified Trial Advocate, a cum laude graduate of New York University as well as Georgetown University Law Center. Rieders is admitted in Pennsylvania, New York State, District of Columbia and numerous federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States. Rieders is a life member of the American Law Institute which publishes recommended legal principles utilized throughout the United States. The attorney is an active trial lawyer, speaker and writer. He is also a founder of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, on which he served for 15 years and received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s driving negligence, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling (570) 323-8711, or by using our online contact form. Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all personal injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Are Construction Zone Dangers a Problem in Pennsylvania?

You Bet They Are!

Construction zones are disasters waiting to happen. People who speed through construction zones greatly increase the danger of being involved in a crash. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot) statistics, there have been 9,383 crashes, 6,249 injuries, and 101 fatalities reported in work zones in the past five years. While those injured are often workers, drivers and passengers are most likely to be the ones injured or killed in construction zone crashes.

PennDOT is responsible for 40,000 miles of roadway and 25,000 bridges and follows federal standards for setting up traffic control in a work zone. Pennsylvania has its own laws and regulations which must be complied with. Sometimes there are even private standards that apply. Most work zone crashes take place on state highways and interstates. Long-term makeovers, such as the current one at the Interstate 83/Mount Rose Avenue interchange, and numerous Route 80 repairs, are major danger points. Construction sites are potentially dangerous even on rural roads. During the day, crews work behind concrete barriers to allow traffic to flow, but at night, it’s often only cones that separate the vehicles from the workers. Truckers are some of the worst offenders. Some truck drivers will deliberately cut-off cars in order to race into a one-lane construction zone. Other times, truck drivers will deliberately slow down, acting in concert, to cut-off automobiles from passing the trucks as they enter a one-lane zone. Some behavior by truck drivers is absolutely criminal, literally criminal.

Motorists, construction companies and their workers who follow traffic rules and signs lessen chances of crashes, but those who speed or act unsafely endanger everyone. If their negligence results in serious harm, permanent damage or death, they must be held responsible. Construction companies often do not comply with sign and flagging requirements. Many construction companies are sloppy, negligent, or even deliberately indifferent. They may let or encourage truck drivers to enter highways without proper warning, signs, or other ways of alerting motorists to construction traffic.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a work-zone crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical and hospital bills, lost wages, future lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, disfigurement. Your case must be handled correctly, competently, and by someone who is experienced. You may never collect the compensation you are entitled to if the lawyer is not up to speed on the law. There are also issues of subrogation. Sometimes insurance companies are entitled to their money back that they have paid out for medical care. This could differ if the plan is a federal plan, under ERISA, as opposed to a state plan. This area of the law is extremely complex; do not fool around with it yourself.

Clifford A. Rieders wrote the book Financial Responsibility Law in Pennsylvania. It is the financial responsibility law which has a lot to do with responsibility when there are road collisions. However, there is much about the law beyond the Financial Responsibility Act which concerns rights and responsibilities in construction zones.

Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters knows the courts and the system and what you need to do to increase your chances of winning a good settlement or verdict. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to carefully examine the individual facts in your case and determine the best way to handle it. Contact us today by calling (570) 323-8711 or by using our online contact form to set up your free personal injury consultation.

Causes of Construction-Zone Crashes

Work-zone crashes may be cause by negligent motorists who are speeding or distracted by a phone, a passenger, eating, or fiddling with controls and equipment while driving, or who do not pay attention to signs. Crashes may also be caused by negligence from construction companies or independent contractors who fail to follow state or federal safety regulations. Trucking companies and truckers themselves are a major cause of crashes. Many truck drivers act as though the roads are their own personal domain and they have very little respect for drivers. Trucking accidents on the highway and in construction zones is a major cause of injury among Pennsylvania drivers. Common causes of collisions include:

Lack of advance warning signs; inadequate number or improper placement of barricades
Construction vehicles pulling out into traffic
Misdirection of traffic through a construction zone
Inadequate lighting or traffic buffer space
Construction debris, equipment, machinery or supplies in the roadway
Defective or improperly repaired roadways, uneven or shifting lanes, steep drop-offs, potholes and ruts
Poorly trained work-zone crew
Negligent, incompetent behavior of truck drivers, other vehicles, and those who do not respect construction zones.

Pennsylvania Work-Zone Safety (WZS) Laws

WZS laws punish drivers who disobey posted signs in areas with road construction, and they are strictly enforced. The following laws come from PennDOT’s website.

Headlights. All motorists are required to travel with their headlights on in all posted work zones, even if not active. Drivers in vehicles with daytime running lights must turn on their headlights to activate taillights.
Speed-monitoring devices. Interstate work zones with a project cost exceeding $300,000 will have a speed-monitoring device to alert motorists of their speed prior to entering the work zone.
Posting of Active Work Zones– Active work zones must tell drivers when they enter and leave a work zone. A flashing light on the “Active Work Zone When Flashing” sign should be turned on only when workers are present.
Fifteen-Day Loss of License for Driving Dangerously. Driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit sign or involvement in a car accident in an active work zone while speeding means losing your license for 15 days.
Fines Doubled/Jail Time Increased– Fines for certain traffic violations – including speeding more than 5 mph over the posted speed limit, driving under the influence, and not obeying traffic laws – are doubled for active work zones. Conviction for killing someone in a work zone while driving drunk means five additional years of jail time.
Causing serious bodily injury in a work zone brings fines up to $5,000 and a six-month license suspension, and if death is involved, up to a $10,000 fine and a one-year license suspension.

WORK-ZONE SAFETY TIPS

The following tips for drivers will help ensure work-zone safety:

Observe the posted work-zone speed limit.
Stay alert, avoid distractions, and pay close attention to signs and flaggers.
Turn on your headlights if signs instruct you to do so.
Maintain a safe distance around vehicles.
Use four-way flashers when stopped or traveling slowly.
Expect the unexpected and be patient.
Stay clear of construction vehicles and workers.
Stay off cell phones, iPads and available on many modern automobile systems.

What to Do In Case of a Collision

Construction companies, independent contractors and state and federal agencies involved in road construction are all obligated to provide a safe work-zone environment for both workers and motorists. If you or a loved one was involved in a construction zone crash due to someone else’s negligence, you have a right to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, medical costs, and other damages. To protect your rights and maximize compensation, it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to determine the cause of the accident and identify the responsible parties before you talk to insurance companies, which will try tactics such as trying to shift responsibility or getting you to accept the lowest settlement.

Achieving Results When it Counts

The skilled and experienced Pennsylvania work-zone accident attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome. With our sizeable staff, we offer strength in numbers while providing top-notch personal service.

We have years of experience dealing with the harm that results from construction-zone crashes. As a result, we have been successful in securing substantial recoveries for legitimate claims.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and a Past President of the Federal Bar Association, Central Pennsylvania region. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and he received the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority recognition award. Cliff has received the George F. Douglas Amicus Curiae Award, as well as the Milton D. Rosenberg Award from the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. He is Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate. The attorney has written many textbooks, including on the Financial Responsibility Law which governs truck and automobile accidents in Pennsylvania. The book is available on amazon.com. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

If you or your loved one has suffered harm from someone else’s negligence or incompetence in a construction-zone crash, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling (570) 323-8711 or by using our online contact form.

Is Pennsylvania Law Too Lenient on Dangerous Drivers?

Are Pennsylvania’s driving laws too lenient on dangerous drivers? Does this lead to increased numbers of driving accidents and fatalities? According to a study by online personal finance resource Wallet Hub, Pennsylvania was ranked as the third most lenient state in the country for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) penalties.

The study looked at 15 different categories and assigned points for factors such as jail time, fines and the use of an ignition interlock device in order to calculate a score. Out of a maximum 55 points, Pennsylvania tallied just 13 points. And according to the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reports data, between 2009 and 2013 the number of DUI arrests in the state decreased by 10.6 percent to 49,714 from 55,623. In addition, the study found that Pennsylvania does not have an administrative license suspension law which would allow authorities to confiscate a license before a driver’s conviction.

While this study makes it appear that Pennsylvania laws are too lenient, this may not really be the case. Part of the reason for the low rating is the way the study was done. The state received a zero rating for not having a minimum jail time for a first offense. However, the study did not take into account that Pennsylvania has a three-tier grading and sentencing system based on the offender’s blood alcohol content level (BAC). The higher the BAC, the stiffer the penalties and fines.

Whether or not you believe that Pennsylvania laws are too lenient, if you have lost a loved one or have been seriously injured in a vehicle accident where someone else was at fault, you are entitled to be compensated for the physical, emotional, and financial damages you suffered. The experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has a long history of results and can help you get the settlement you deserve. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to evaluate the circumstances of your accident and determine the best way to handle your individual case.

Driving Laws in Pennsylvania

The following are some of the major laws regarding drivers in Pennsylvania:

DUI Laws

Pennsylvania prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with .08 percent or above blood alcohol concentration (BAC). There are lower BAC limits for commercial drivers (.04 percent) and a “zero tolerance” or .02 percent BAC for drivers under the age of 21. There are a series of penalty tiers, depending on the driver’s BAC of .08, .10 to .159%, and .16 or higher. The law also includes controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.

While Pennsylvania has no minimum jail time for a first offense and only a $300 fine, a third offense brings up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, and a license suspension of one year. The lookback period for previous offenses is 10 years.

Pennsylvania law also calls for installation of an ignition interlock device for a year for repeat offenders and for first-time offenders who refuse to take a chemical test.

The Implied Consent Law

Pennsylvania has an “Implied Consent” law, stating that all drivers agree to submit to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine if an officer of the law suspects that they are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both. Refuse to take the test results in a driver’s license suspension for one year on the first refusal.

Controlled Substance Law

In Pennsylvania, people are guilty of DUI if they drive with any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance or a metabolite under the Controlled Substance Act in the blood, or under the influence of a drug or combination of drugs and/or alcohol to a degree which impairs ability to safely drive. 75 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 3802(d)(1)-(3) (West 2010).

Sobriety Checkpoints

Pennsylvania allows law enforcement to conduct sobriety checkpoints under the state and federal constitutions.

Moving Violation and Speeding

In Pennsylvania, points are added to a license for each conviction of committing a moving violation. Over 6 points means a suspended license until passing a safe-driving exam. A second 6 points means the license will be suspended for 15 days, and 30 days for a third 6 points. Driving 31 mph or more over the limit brings 6 points.

Anti-Texting Law

Pennsylvania law prohibits all drivers from texting while driving. It states that drivers are banned from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write text-based messages while their vehicle is in motion. This is a primary law, which means that a police officer has the right to pull drivers over and give them a ticket for texting while driving without having to witness another moving violation.

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

If you suspect your accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a negligent driver or one who violated Pennsylvania driving laws, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence.

Financial Responsibility Law

Pennsylvania’s laws in connection with recovery are more complex than the consumer may think. When a person is in an automobile or truck accident, there is a question of first-party medical benefits, insurance, possibly umbrella coverage, and either uninsurance or underinsurance motorist coverage. Cliff Rieders has written a book on the subject, Financial Responsibility Law Issues in Pennsylvania. The subject is difficult, and many adjusters will give you the wrong information. They are either misleading you, they are from another state, or they simply do not know. Cliff Rieders receives many phone calls from lawyers who find the complexities of the intertwined laws confusing. Sometimes people do not understand the difference between limited or full tort and when limited tort may not apply at all. Do not handle these matters yourself. Make sure you obtain, talk to and meet with an experienced and knowledgeable trial lawyer.

The experienced personal injury attorney Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, and aggressively fight for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome.

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling 1-877-962-9411 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Based in Williamsport, we serve clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, offering a free consultation on all injury matters. More than that, we offer you experience, knowledge, compassion, and a long history of results.

Mobile Phone Carelessness and Negligence Play a Role in Auto Collisions

Driving while distracted can be life-threatening, especially if the distraction involves a cell phone. According to new data collected by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) from hundreds of thousands of drivers using its app, more than half of all vehicle crashes included some form of distraction from a mobile phone. In nearly a quarter of the crashes, the driver was using a phone within a minute before the crash occurred, and perhaps even at the moment of the crash. This is not surprising, since composing a typical text message is like closing one’s eyes for nearly five seconds, during which time a vehicle going 55 mph covers more than the length of a football field.

The data supports the view that smartphones have made the nation’s highways more dangerous. And it also suggests that the laws that have been enacted so far against using phones while driving have not solved the problem.

How often have you been sitting in your own car and seen somebody flying around a corner, or driving down the road, while talking on their phone or playing with their phone? It is a fact of life, that while laws exist, too many people are addicted to their phones or somehow think they can use them while driving their cars. Insane!

If you have lost a loved one or have been seriously injured because of a distracted driver, you deserve to be compensated for the physical, emotional, and financial damages you suffered. The experienced and compassionate automobile/truck personal injury lawyer Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has a long history of results and can help. We offer a free consultation on personal injury cases to evaluate the circumstances of your accident and determine the best way to handle your individual case.

Pennsylvania Distracted Driving Laws

The National Safety Council states that texting while driving causes 1.6 million crashes per year. Fortunately, since March, 2012, Pennsylvania has a law that prohibits all drivers from texting while driving. It states that drivers are banned from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write text-based messages while their vehicle is in motion. This is a primary law, which means that a police officer has the right to pull drivers over and give them a ticket for texting while driving, without having to witness another moving violation. The law carries a $50 fine and nearly $90 in court costs.

Automobile Association of America (AAA) statistics show that during the first year of the texting-while-driving ban, some 1,302 citations were issued in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, while the texting ban is a step in the right direction, it is inadequate to protect people from drivers, especially teens, distracted by handheld devices since Pennsylvania law doesn’t prohibit drivers from talking on their cell phones while their vehicle is in motion. This is a problem that has caused some of our representatives to call for stricter laws, proposing bans on hand-held cell phones as well as texting.

According to a 2013 survey by The Governor’s Highway Safety Association, 2013, police officers are challenged by bans that apply only to teenage drivers; secondary enforcement laws that require police to have some other reason to stop a vehicle before citing the driver for cellphone law violations; and the difficulty of discerning whether a motorist is engaged in illegal texting compared with a behavior that is permitted, such as dialing a phone. Research from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found texting bans work best when they are accompanied by an overall ban on handheld phone use, making enforcement easier.

Since mobile phones have built-in GPS, they can actually “know” when they are being moved. They may not know who is driving the car, of course. It is possible to utilize an interlock device so that the person sitting in the driver’s seat would not be able to use the cell phone; the cell phone would shut down. This may be an absolute necessity as the carnage of driving while using cell phones increases.

Can smartphones modify driving behavior?

CMT believes that smartphones could modify driving behavior. The company’s apps accumulate driver data in six categories, including phone use while driving, speeding, braking, acceleration, cornering and time of driving. CMT claims that sharing this information with users makes them better drivers because they can achieve behavioral change through immediate and ongoing feedback.

By gathering the data and giving drivers feedback, the company says the app has reduced phone distraction by 35 percent after a month and by 40 percent after two months.

The risk of CMT is that it will not be used responsibly, or the data will not be gathered at the right time and place. It should never be used while driving, obviously. Unfortunately, not only mobile phones, but electronic equipment in cars encourages drivers to use them while they are driving. Many cars have not only cell phone access, but also internet, maps, and a variety of other distractions encouraging negligence and carelessness on the road.

Drivers Must Be Responsible

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the primary task of driving and increases the risk of crashing. Distractions can be visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), or cognitive (taking mind off what you’re doing). Since texting involves all three, it is particularly dangerous. (Source: Distraction.gov)

Being “responsible” is not enough. Manufacturers of automobiles, devices, apps and electronics must discourage and actually prevent their use by the person in the driver’s seat. All this is technologically feasible today. We are talking now about driverless cars and cars that can fly. Before such contrivances make their way out of factory doors, we should consider and pass laws that disable electronic equipment from being used at all by someone in the driver’s seat. Another danger is that, as cars become more autonomous, people will rely upon the electronic wizardry to protect them from a collision. Many times this makes the driver even more distracted, careless and negligent. Likewise, the equipment itself may fail. Airbags fail, and certainly electronic equipment designed to run the car, make it safer, or to avoid crashes may actually cause collisions to occur.

Injured in an accident? Get a free consultation.

If you suspect your accident and subsequent injuries were caused by a driver who was talking on their cell phone or texting, or was otherwise distracted, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence.

The experienced personal injury attorney Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, and aggressively fight for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome.

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling 1-(570) 323-8711 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form.

Cliff Rieders’ book on the Financial Responsibility Law, one of the leading texts on the subject, can be easily accessed from Amazon. While no book can be definitive in giving all the law and rules with respect to driving, Financial Responsibility Law Issues by Cliff Rieders is a handbook in connection with Pennsylvania’s complex Financial Responsibility Law. We are always amazed how many people do not have proper insurance or do not understand how underinsurance works. There are forms people sign when they obtain insurance. Some people think that they are bound to choices of less insurance regardless of what they sign or do not sign. There are occasions when people can obtain more coverage because the forms are not properly executed, saved, or utilized by the company. This is complex material, and you should obtain a consultation with a lawyer such as Cliff Rieders at Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters.

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Man Injured in One Car Crash

A Montoursville man in his 50s was being treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center after he crashed his Toyota Camry into an embankment on Lycoming Mall Drive, near the Bella Vista development, in Fairfield Township about 4 p.m. Monday, according to state police. A passenger in the car, who did not give his name, told a reporter at the scene he believed the driver had suffered some sort of medical problem, adding that the car hit a curb in Montoursville. The driver was taken in a Montoursville ambulance to the medical center.

Motorists Have To Share The Road

In a crash, a cyclist is much more vulnerable to suffering severe injuries than someone driving a car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 630 bicyclists were killed and another 51,000 were injured in traffic collisions in the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, 19 people died as a result of bicycle crashes in 2014. Although cycling is more popular among adults, especially in major cities like Philadelphia, 25% of all injuries involving bicycles and cars in Pennsylvania were suffered by children between the ages of five and 14. (visit this website) And serious injuries can happen close to home — recently a Williamsport High School student, Elijah Allen, died after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car on Pa. 416 in Montgomery Township.

Pennsylvania has a bike safety law, and both motorists and bicyclists should abide by it. Bicyclists should always wear a helmet; stay to the right of the highway; ride with traffic, not against it; ride defensively; and use hand signals to indicate turning or stopping. However, even so, an automobile is bigger, heavier, and much more dangerous than a bicycle, and drivers are negligent who do not look out for pedestrians and bicycle riders.

There are laws for motorists sharing the road. These include:

Yield to both pedestrians and bicyclists at all times.
When turning right at an intersection, painted bicycle lanes require yielding to any bicyclists in the vicinity of your vehicle or approaching from behind.
It is illegal to park or stop your vehicle in a manner that obstructs or blocks a bike lane.
Check your side-view mirrors before opening your car door.
Leave a 4-foot “cushion of safety” when passing a bicyclist.

Motorists are urged to pay extra attention when approaching busy intersections since eighty percent of all vehicle crashes involving bicycles occur at intersections when cars are turning. Drivers who are not vigilant can cause serious bicycle accidents.

Some drivers are simply nasty and disrespectful of pedestrians and people on bicycles. They feel that cars own the road, and drivers of cars can be aggressive and dangerous.

If you have lost a loved one or have been seriously injured in a collision, you may be entitled to be compensated for lost wages, medical bills, physical, emotional and financial damages and loss of life’s pleasures you have suffered. If you were struck in Pennsylvania while riding a bike, or if you had to veer off the road to avoid a car and you were injured, or even if you are a driver who was were forced into an accident because a cyclist was not following the laws, the experienced and compassionate Pennsylvania personal injury attorney, Clifford A. Rieders, of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has a long history of results and can help make sure you get the settlement you deserve.

Drivers And Cyclists Must Be Responsible

Liability matters, and fault is the basis for liability. In any legal case, it needs to be determined who is responsible for a collision. Sometimes, cyclists who do not follow road rules or do not keep a proper lookout might be found at fault in an accident and therefore may not be able to recover for injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures and other damages.

Both motorists and cyclists need to be aware of where the chances for accidents are greatest. Intersections pose the greatest risk for accidents, but there are other factors. Cars often underestimate the speed of a bike; cars often do not expect bikes to be on the road so drivers are not watching for bikes; and even if cars are on the lookout for bikes, they sometimes just do not see them because bikes are smaller and can blend into the background.

Injured in a crash? Get a free consultation.

Be aware that when it comes to accidents, prompt legal consultation can ensure the collection of relevant facts and the preservation of evidence. Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has spent decades honing his skills in successfully representing Pennsylvania families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, and aggressively fight for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome.

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Clifford A. Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling (570) 323-8711 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form.

Is Pennsylvania Law Too Lenient on Dangerous Drivers?

Driving Laws in Pennsylvania

The following are some of the major laws regarding drivers in Pennsylvania:

DUI Laws

Pennsylvania law also calls for installation of an ignition interlock device for a year for repeat offenders and for first-time offenders who refuse to take a chemical test.

The Implied Consent Law

Controlled Substance Law

Sobriety Checkpoints

Pennsylvania allows law enforcement to conduct sobriety checkpoints under the state and federal constitutions.

Moving Violation and Speeding

Anti-Texting Law

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? GET A FREE CONSULTATION

Financial Responsibility Law

Cliff Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Rieders has won numerous awards and recognition from the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. Rieders is on committees and organizations that write the law in many fields of practice. Cliff Rieders was involved in the writing of the Mcare Act, which governs medical liability actions in Pennsylvania. Cliff Rieders wrote the book on medical malpractice that lawyers use in the state. Cliff teaches the subject of medical malpractice at seminars attended by the leading lawyers in the state. Cliff Rieders is recognized as an outstanding authority in the medical malpractice field. Cliff has even testified before the legislature on medical malpractice laws. Cliff Rieders is the lawyer that other lawyers call for counsel and advice in the medical malpractice and pharmaceutical/vitamin supplement fields. Cliff Rieders is admitted in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Uber Launch in Williamsport, PA, Brings Complex Legal Questions

At the beginning of August 2016, the ridesharing company, Uber, announced its expansion into Williamsport, PA. The company proclaims that its services are now available to 93% of Pennsylvania’s residents, including those in DuBois, Gettysburg, Johnstown, and Altoona. Uber touts itself as the alternative to taxicabs because it offers flexible work opportunities and affordable rides. From its initial start-up in 2010 through December of 2015, the company provided one billion rides. In just six months after that, it reached another billion.

The concept is that both sides of the driver/rider equation sign up to access the Uber app. People in need of a ride access the app, provide details regarding pickup location and time, as well as drop-off point, and an independent driver shows up in their personal vehicle. Although there are basic pricing guidelines in place, surge pricing may increase costs during times of high demand. No cash is exchanged as part of this process, and riders and drivers have the opportunity to rate each other on the overall experience.

As an experienced personal injury law firm, we can foresee a number of complex legal questions. Here are some concerns that are being litigated about the ridesharing industry:

Drivers may be independent contractors or employees. We believe this may place the driver/rider relationship in a gray area when it comes to legal liability. If a rider is injured due to the negligence of the driver, the company may be insulated from legal actions because of this non-employee relationship. However, if it is found that there is an apparent agency relationship between the parties, the principal may indeed be liable. It is important to have an experienced attorney who understands the law in connection with when a principal, such as Uber, is liable for negligence or other misconduct.
Less regulatory oversight. Taxis and livery companies meet very strict regulations and local ordinances, but Uber often skirts this issue with its ridesharing definition. This concept is relatively new, so the legal system is still trying to put laws in place which govern these practices and protect rider safety. As of now, there is no permanent ridesharing legislation that covers the entire state of Pennsylvania. Standards need to be developed for vehicle maintenance and the amount of hours drivers can work without taking a break.
Most Uber drivers operate under their personal insurance policies, unlike the commercial policies of licensed taxi operators. Personal insurance companies may balk at covering a ride-for-hire incident if this was not indicated in the initial insurance application. Uber does carry an additional $1 million of liability insurance for accident purposes, if it can be determined that the driver was working at the time, although even that definition is debatable. For substantial injuries, the available coverage might not be enough to cover all medical and rehabilitation expenses and provide compensation for lost work time. Pennsylvania insurance law is highly specific and is governed not only by case law but also by statute and regulations.
Most people do not read the “Terms of Use” when they sign up for something online, and Uber is counting on that. Included under the limitation of liability section is a disclaimer that Uber does not guarantee safety and any riders assume the entire risk arising out of use of the services. Uber further states that it is not liable for personal injury resulting from use of the services. The law in Pennsylvania has addressed releases and hold-harmless clauses on a number of occasions. Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters has written extensively on the subject.

Clearly, accidents involving Uber and other rideshare arrangements present questions of fact which will require critical analysis and insight developed only through a thorough understanding of the law.

Achieving results when it counts.

Cliff Rieders, of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters, has spent decades honing his skills and successfully representing families who have suffered an injury or loss due to someone else’s negligence. We offer personal attention and loyalty to every client, aggressively fighting for their right to compensation. Whether in settlement negotiations or pursuing a favorable trial verdict, we are thoroughly prepared and committed to achieving a just outcome.

If you or your loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, your next step should be to consult Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters by calling (570) 323-8711, or by using our online contact form.

Area Car Accidents This Past Weekend

The man driving a Dodge Neon was taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries he suffered when his car and a pickup truck, which was hauling a boat, collided at Northway Road and Commerce Park Drive in Loyalsock Township about 3:30 p.m., one of three injury crashes to occur on Saturday. The identities of those involved in this crash were not available. Kelsey Bower, 19, of Cogan Station, was treated at the hospital for a head injury she suffered when her car struck the rear of a stopped car driven by Jaqueline Wertman, 69, of Trout Run, who was treated at the hospital following the crash in the 4000 block of Lycoming Creek Road about 1:40 p.m. In another crash, Mildred Sechrist, 78, of Jersey Shore, was treated at Jersey Shore Hospital after her car and a Jeep Cherokee driven by Camela Rooney, also of Jersey Shore, collided at Broad and Allegheny streets in the borough about 9:40 a.m. Tiadaghton Valley Regional police said.

Two People Killed In Potter County Crash

COUDERSPORT – Two women were killed and two others injured as the result of a two-vehicle collision in Potter County Friday night.

State police in Coudersport reported Collene Marie Ackley, 31, of Coudersport, and Jessica Lynn McKay, 34, of Port Allegany, were passengers in the vehicle that was traveling north on Route 872 just south of East Fork Road in Wharton Township at 7:22 p.m. when it struck a southbound vehicle driven by Steven Lee Wimer, 37, of Lancaster.

Upon impact, the Wimer vehicle overturned.

Ackley and McKay were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other vehicle, Derrick Michael Gleason, 30, of Coudersport, was flown by helicopter to Altoona General Hospital. Wimer was flown to Robert Packard Hospital in Sayre.

Police were assisted at the scene by Austin Volunteer Fire and Ambulance and Coudersport Ambulance.

Passenger in car injured

A 15 year old girl riding in this car was taken by ambulance to Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries she suffered when the vehicle and another collided at High and Campbell streets about 12:20 p.m. Thursday. She as a passenger in a car driven by Michaela McKenzie, of Williamsport, police said. The other driver was Diane Y. Kim of Collegeville.

Crash victim’s names released>

RALSTON – The two people injured in the one-vehicle crash on Rock Run Road on Monday were brothers from the Bellefonte area, according to Rich Glinski, district forester for the Loyalsock State Forest.

One brother was 23 while the other was 16, Glinski and emergency responders said.

“The driver was operating at an excessive speed for the road,” Glinski said. “The vehicle left the road, went airborne and slammed into a tree, crushing the roof,” he added.

Both brothers managed to climb out of the wreckage on their own following the 5:40 p.m. accident. Ralston fire officials said the teenager was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville while the other brother was taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center.

No names were released and Glinski said investigators still are trying to determine who was driving.

Crash victim’s names released

One brother was 23 while the other was 16, Glinski and emergency responders said.

“The driver was operating at an excessive speed for the road,” Glinski said. “The vehicle left the road, went airborne and slammed into a tree, crushing the roof,” he added.

No names were released and Glinski said investigators still are trying to determine who was driving.

Man injured in crash identified

By Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

City police on Thursday released the identity of the passenger who, along with the driver, was injured in a one-car crash at the Market Street bridge off-ramp to Interstate 180 West early Monday morning.

The passenger, Robert Vanemon, 38, of Linden, remained in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, while the driver, Damian Abbott, 22, of Lewisburg, was in serious condition at the same hospital, a nursing supervisor said Thursday night.

The two were injured when Abbott, traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control of his car and slammed into a bridge abutment at 4:50 a.m., police said.

4 injured, 1 killed in Pennsylvania car accident

According to police, one person was killed and four others were injured when a car struck a tree in Pennsylvania. This car accident reportedly occurred the morning of June 5, in Conemaugh Township. At this time, authorities have not released an official cause for this crash.

It was recently reported that a 21-year-old male was driving his vehicle when he missed a turn, lost control of the car and struck a tree. He and one of the passengers in the car were airlifted to a medical center for treatment. The details of their injuries has not been reported and their current conditions are unknown.

Two other passengers in the car apparently fled the accident scene on foot but were later found by police. It is believed that they too were injured, but the extent of their injuries have not been reported. A fourth passenger — a 21-year-old male — is said to have died at the scene of the accident.

Law enforcement authorities believe that speed and alcohol possibly contributed to this car accident. If this is the case, the driver may face criminal charges, and the family members of the deceased and the injured victims may be entitled to pursue compensation in a Pennsylvania civil court. Wrongful death and personal injury claims, if successfully navigated, may result claimants being awarded monetary relief for any economic and non-economic damages that they have sustained such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and loss of consortium — among various others.

Source: wtae.com, “1 killed in Indiana County crash“, Jeff Cousins, June 5, 2016

Teen Hurt in Crash and Other Area Accidents

A 17-year-old Williamsport-area girl was injured when she crashed the van she was driving into the home of Corey and Drema Hall at 64 Grimesville Road, destroying the front porch and damaging the structure’s foundation about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Old Lycoming Township police said. “We heard the tires squeal, then I heard and felt the impact. There was a boom, bang, crash, whatever you want to call it. The whole house shook. I ran downstairs, ripped open the driver’s door and checked on the girl’s condition,” Corey Hall said. The impact broke a set of pipes where the water main enters the home, but Hall said he was able to shut off the water fairly quickly. The girl was taken by ambulance to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for non life-threatening injuries. This was just one of four crashes that occurred in the county within a 30-minute period. An occupant was trapped in wreckage at Routes 44 and 973 in Watson Township. No details were were available. No injuries were reported when a car struck a fire hydrant in the 800 block of Route 287 in Piatt Township, fire officials said. In the fourth crash, a man was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, after his pickup truck struck a bridge abutment and went over an embankment in the 700 block of Beaver Lake Road in Penn Township, fire officials said. His identity was not available.

Injuries From Area Car Crashes

Volunteer firefighters in the northern part of county had a very busy Friday night handling two crashes that resulted in serious injuries.

The first accident involved a pickup truck that overturned on Route 14, one mile north of Ralston, about 9:15 p.m., trapping the female driver in the wreckage for about 10 minutes.

Firefighters from Ralston and Hepburn Township extricated the driver through the front windshield and loaded her into an ambulance that took her to a nearby landing zone, where she was placed onto a helicopter and flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Her identity and medical condition were not available Saturday night.

About an hour after the first crash, a customized Ford Bronco in which two men and three children were riding struck an embankment and overturned on Little Gap Drive near Route 973 West, about 2 miles west of Quiggleville.

The driver, David Meisel, 47, of 485 Little Gap Drive, Cogan Station, stopped and thought he had put the Bronco in park, but it was actually in neutral, Old Lycoming Township police said they were told. He then lost control of the vehicle.

Critically injured was passenger Dale Soules, 59, of Williamsport, who was admitted to the intensive care unit at Geisinger. Meisel was expected to seek treatment on his own at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, police said. The children were not injured.

Hepburn Township and Old Lycoming Township firefighters responded to the accident, but due to the remoteness of the crash site, the only way to get Soules to an ambulance was to use an all-terrain vehicle, which drove a quarter mile to reach the injured man.

After he was loaded into a basket and placed in the back of the ATV, Soules was driven to a staging area, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to a nearby landing zone, from which a helicopter flew him to Geisinger.

In an earlier crash on Friday near Montoursville, charges were pending against a 30-year-old Wyalusing, Bradford County, man after his Pontiac Aztek struck a utility pole on Route 87, 3 miles north of the borough, just before 4 p.m., state police said.

The driver, whose identity was not released, was not injured nor were the two children riding in the vehicle.

At a later date, the man will be charged with illegal drug possession, recklessly endangering and harassment for allegedly getting combative with an emergency responder who was trying to help him, police said.

The driver also could be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance pending the results of blood tests, a patrol supervisor said Saturday.

In one of two crashes on Saturday, one person was injured in an ATV accident in the 2600 block of Highland Lake Road in Shrewsbury Township about 6:45 p.m.

The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

No injuries reported in a two-car crash at East Penn and South Washington streets in Muncy about 8 p.m.

Man Dies in Tioga County Crash

WELLSBORO – A Tioga County man was killed from injuries sustained from a single-vehicle crash shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday in Delmar Township.

State police reported Corey A. Starkweather, 26, of Wellsboro, was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Tioga County Coroner Jim Daugherty.

Police said Starkweather was driving his car south on Stony Fork Road at an apparent high rate of speed when he attempted to negotiate a turn in the highway and traveled off the road onto the west berm.

After swerving back onto the road, the car slid across both lanes, striking a ditch and rolling before hitting a tree.

Police said the force of the impact was so great the car’s engine became dislodged from the vehicle.

Starkweather reportedly was not wearing a seat belt.

The car, a 2008 Ford Focus, sustained major damage.

Police were assisted at the scene by Wellsboro Volunteer Fire Co.

Tioga County Crash Claims Life of Wellsboro Man

WELLSBORO – A Tioga County man was killed from injuries sustained from a single-vehicle crash shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday in Delmar Township.

State police reported Corey A. Starkweather, 26, of Wellsboro, was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Tioga County Coroner Jim Daugherty.

After swerving back onto the road, the car slid across both lanes, striking a ditch and rolling before hitting a tree.

Police said the force of the impact was so great the car’s engine became dislodged from the vehicle.

Starkweather reportedly was not wearing a seat belt.

The car, a 2008 Ford Focus, sustained major damage.

Police were assisted at the scene by Wellsboro Volunteer Fire Co.

Route 220 Crash One Person Died

Authorities have released the identities of the three people involved in a fatal crash Friday on Route 220.

The driver of the Chevrolet GMC heading southbound who was pronounced dead at the scene Friday afternoon has been identified by the Lycoming County coroner as Joseph Aaron Newman, 56, of Muncy Valley.

Newman’s daughter, Amanda Newman, 21, of Muncy Valley, was treated at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for a broken leg, said Muncy Township police. She is in fair condition, a nursing supervisor said Wednesday night.

The driver of the Ford involved in the crash was identified as Richard Tebbs, 66, of Montoursville, police said. He remains in critical condition at the same trauma center, the supervisor said.

Rear-end car crash injures 5 in Pennsylvania

Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating an auto accident that left a family of four and the driver believed responsible for the wreck injured. The car crash reportedly occurred in the Youngwood area on May 8. The current conditions of all those involved have not been reported.

According to reports, the family was heading to church that Sunday morning when their vehicle was struck from behind by a pickup truck. The force of the impact sent the family’s car flying into a nearby field. The pickup truck is said to have continued through the field, coming to a stop in a grocery store parking lot. Three of the four family members are believed to have sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment, while one of the children is said to have suffered some bumps and bruises.

The driver of the truck also sustained critical injuries in the crash. At this time, police have not indicated if any charges are pending against this individual. A reconstruction team is still working on figuring out a cause for this incident. Authorities are also waiting on toxicity test results to determine if impairment was a factor.

The injuries this family sustained in this rear-end car crash are likely to affect them long-term. At least three members of this family are expected to need extended care and rehabilitation after they are released from the hospital. Not only will this be physically demanding, but it can be financially devastating as well. It may be possible for each of the victims to seek relief through legal means by filing personal injury claims against the driver believed responsible for the wreck. If successful, a Pennsylvania court could award monetary damages for any losses that are deemed recoverable.

Source: wtae.com, “5 injured in Youngwood crash, including 2 young boys“, Ashlie Hardway, May 8, 2016

2 Vehicles Collide Injuring 4

PENNSDALE – Four people were injured in a collision on Beacon Light Road near here on Monday afternoon.

The crash occurred around 2:50 p.m. when an SUV and a Buick LaSabre collided at the intersection of East Lime Bluff and Beacon Light roads.

There were two people in each car, said Trooper James Keeler, who was at the scene investigating the crash.

One person was taken by ambulance to Williamsport Regional Medical Center, a second was taken by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and a third injured person was taken to the same trauma center by a medical helicopter that landed in the middle of East Lime Bluff Road.

Keeler said the driver of the blue Buick who was transported to Geisinger by medical helicopter needed to be extricated from the vehicle by responders at the scene.

“The fourth person involved wasn’t seriously injured and declined medical care,” said Brad Nichols, chief of Muncy Volunteer Fire Co.

The names and other information about the four people involved were not released as of Monday night.

According to state Department of Transportation, the intersection on Route 2053 was closed between Chippewa Road and John Brady Drive for about an hour after the crash.

Lane Closed for Hours When Car Crashes Into Barrier

Scores of motorists may have been late for work Wednesday morning after a car crashed into a barrier in a construction zone of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 180 between the Maynard Street and Hepburn Street interchanges, city police said.

While no one was seriously injured in the 7:30 a.m. crash, the crash caused considerable delays since it occurred during rush hour.

Motorists were detoured off the interstate until the wreckage was cleared about 8:30 a.m.

Police could not provide the identity of the driver but confirmed no one was taken to the hospital.

One lane was reopened after the crashed vehicle was removed, but the second eastbound lane remained closed until about 4 p.m., when repairs to the work-zone barrier were completed.

Freedom Medical Supply v. State Farm Fire, 131 A.3d 977 (Pa. 2016)

Section 1797(a) of the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (“MVFRL”) states that a provider of medical products to automobile accident victims is entitled to reimbursement from automobile insurers, and where, as here, there is no federally-determined Medicare fee for a product, reimbursement is limited to “80% of the provider’s usual and customary charge.” 75 Pa.C.S. § 1797(a). The MVFRL does not define the phrase “usual and customary charge,” but the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance (“Department”) has promulgated regulations defining it as “[t]he charge most often made” by similarly-situated providers, 31 Pa.Code § 69.3, adding that:

In calculating the usual and customary charge, an insurer may utilize the requested payment amount on the provider’s bill for services or the data collected by the carrier or intermediaries to the extent that the data is made available.

31 Pa.Code § 69.43(c) (emphasis and footnote added). In this matter presented on certification from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, we consider whether this latter language requires insurers to calculate a provider’s usual and customary charge for a product predicated on the two bases provided for therein, or merely permits using those bases, among others. After careful review, we hold that it permits, but does not require, insurers to do so.

Driver Taken to Hospital

The driver of a Nissan Frontier pickup truck was taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries he suffered when he crashed into a series of mailboxes and a tree in the 200 block of Carey Hill Road in Upper Fairfield Township about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to emergency responders. Investigators were trying to determine if the man, whose identity was not available, might have suffered a medical episode moments before the crash. State police are investigating. Montoursville and Eldred Township volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians responded.

Motorcyclist in Collision Listed in Fair Condition

Jonathan Nelson, 45, of Williamsport, was reported in fair condition in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with injuries he suffered when his motorcycle and a car driven by Brian Lynch, of South Williamsport, collided on Hastings Street, just south of East Seventh Avenue, South Williamsport police said.

4 injured in Pennsylvania car accident

A car crash involving three vehicles has injured a total of four people. This particular car accident occurred in the southeastern portion of the state. Pennsylvania authorities are still investigating the cause of this incident.

It was recently reported that two pick-up trucks and a passenger car collided in North Whitehall Township. It appears that the car, which was heading southbound, stopped for unknown reasons, causing the driver of a truck to swerve to the left, hitting the left rear of the car and then striking another pickup in the northbound lane head-on. Fire crews had to use the Jaws of Life to free the individuals trapped in the pickup trucks. Four individuals were hurt, at least one of whom suffered life-threatening injuries.

At this time, police are unsure of why the driver of the passenger car stopped in the middle of the road. It is unknown whether the driver of that vehicle, or either of the other drivers, will be facing charges for the incident. This car crash occurred on April 19. As of the latest report, authorities have not yet completed investigating this incident.

A car accident that results in injuries is certainly a serious matter. The victims of this particular incident are likely to experience a number of losses as a result of the wreck. It may be possible for them to seek compensation for those losses by pursuing civil claims against the individual thought responsible for the crash. A Pennsylvania court may award financial relief for those claims which are successfully litigated.

Source: mcall.com, “‘That’s my kid’s truck’: Injuries reported in Rt. 145 head-on crash at Laurys Station“, Frank Warner, April 20, 2016

Crash Injures 2, Damages Home

Both drivers declined treatment for injuries they suffered when the vehicles they were operating collided at West Third and Howard streets just before 3 p.m. on Monday, Williamsport city police said. The woman, who was driving a Chevrolet Malibu, suffered a knee injury, while the other woman driver operating a Honda Accord suffered facial injuries, police said. Damage to a home located at 2143 W. Third St. was investigated and determined it was minor. Fire Platoon Chief Sam Aungst was also at the scene taking down information for his report.

What is considered distracted driving?

When driving, it does not take long to find other drivers who are not paying attention. Distracted driving is a big concern in Pennsylvania and elsewhere across the country. It is the cause of numerous accidents, resulting in hundreds of thousands of injuries and thousands of deaths every year.

What exactly is distracted driving? Distracted driving is performing other tasks when behind the wheel that take a driver’s full attention from operating his or her vehicle. So, basically anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mental concentration away from the primary task at hand is considered distracted driving. Such things include:

Eating
Cellphone use
Interacting with passengers
Grooming
Texting

These are just a few things that drivers are commonly seen doing; however, there are many more distractions that may lead to auto accidents. States are constantly enacting new laws to help reduce the number of distracted driving accidents. For example, most states ban cellphone use and texting when behind the wheel. Serious fines can follow if a driver is found to be using his or her cellphone.

When distracted driving leads to an accident, the victim or — in the event of fatality — his or her surviving family members may seek compensation through legal means. Civil claims, such as personal injury or wrongful death claims, may be filed in a Pennsylvania civil court. If sufficient evidence can be provided proving the driver deemed responsible was distracted at the time of the crash, the court may award monetary damages for any losses sustained that are legally recoverable in accordance with the laws of the state.

Driver Arrested in Fatal Hit-Run

MORRIS – State police in Mansfield arrested Devon Greeley, 24, of Wellsboro, and charged him in the death of a 12-year-old bicyclist who was struck and killed by a white SUV on Tuesday night.

According to Tioga County Coroner Dr. James Wilson, Sophia Campbell, of Morris, was riding her bicycle along Route 287 in Morris Township when she was hit, possibly a Chevy Traverse, that failed to stop.

The girl was transported by Morris Fire Department Ambulance to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro shortly after the 7:12 p.m. crash. She was pronounced dead at 7:40 p.m.

Greeley has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle, tampering with evidence and accidents involving death.

He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge James Edgcomb, of Elkland, and jailed in the Tioga County Prison in lieu of $650,000.

Wilson said Campbell died from head injuries, but an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday at Lehigh Valley Medical Center in Allentown.

Campbell was a student at Rock L. Butler Middle School in the Wellsboro Area School District, where counseling is being made available to her schoolmates.

Chain reaction car accident injures 2

A chain reaction auto collision in Pennsylvania involving a total of four cars is responsible for injuring two people. The car accident recently occurred in Lower Nazareth Township. The driver believed responsible for the incident is said to be one of the injured.

According to reports, the driver of a sedan failed to slow down for traffic that was stopped on Route 33. Authorities have not specified why traffic was not moving at the time of the crash. The driver’s failure to slow down and stop resulted in her striking the back end of one car, which then caused a chain reaction crash involving two more vehicles. The driver of the first car impacted suffered what are said to be moderate injuries. She was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The driver deemed accountable for this crash sustained minor injuries. It is unknown if she required medical care. At this time, authorities have not indicated if any charges are pending against this individual.

Chain reaction auto accidents occur for a number of reasons. Currently, it is not known as to why the driver deemed responsible for this particular car accident failed to stop; however, the injured victim may still have legal recourse. A personal injury claim may be filed in a Pennsylvania civil court in an effort to seek economic and non-economic damages. If negligence can be successfully established against the driver believed responsible, the court may award the victim financial relief for any losses she has suffered as a direct result of this wreck.

Source: lehighvalleylive.com, “2 hurt in 4-car Route 33 accident, police say“, Kurt Bresswein, April 7, 2016

Woman Dies in Collision With Truck

DEWART – A woman driving a Chevrolet Impala was killed Tuesday afternoon when she ran a stop sign and collided with a tractor-trailer truck at Route 54 and Musser Lane, about 2 miles north of here, in Delaware Township according to state police.

This was the second day in a row that a motorist was killed in a crash that occurred in the region.

The identity of the man killed in Monday’s one-vehicle accident on Route 442 near Clarkstown was Charles Chapin, 71, of Orangeville, Columbia County, state police said.

In Tuesday’s crash, the woman, whose identity had not yet been released, was traveling north on Musser Lane and struck the driver’s side of a truck driven by Curtis Ebersole, of Trevorton, who was traveling west on Route 54 when the crash occurred about 1:30 p.m.

The woman was killed instantly in the crash, according to Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley, who responded to the scene.

Police said the woman was not wearing a seat belt.

Ebersole was treated at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

When the collision occurred, the impact ripped open one of the truck’s two saddle fuel tanks, spilling about 30 gallons of diesel fuel on the road, according to Warrior Run Area Fire Chief Mark Burrows.

The Northumberland County Hazardous Materials team and the state Department of Transportation along with a private firm, the Northridge Group Inc., an environmental response team, helped with the cleanup.

A section of Route 54 was closed for at least two hours until state troopers completed their investigation and the vehicles were towed away.

Motorcyclist in Third Street Wreck Identified, Hospitalized

The motorcyclist who was injured in Saturday’s three-vehicle crash at East Third Street and Russell Avenue has been identified as Kyle B. Case, 27, of DuBoistown, who was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was reported Wednesday night in fair condition, according to a nursing supervisor.

The other drivers involved in the Loyalsock Township crash were Richelle M. Ross, of South Williamsport, and Paige A. Reeder, 47, of Williamsport, state police said. Reeder and two passengers in her car, Kayla L. Reeder, 26, and an infant, both of Williamsport, were treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, police said.

Concerning another crash in the township, Andre Wise, 28, of Philadelphia, remained in critical condition Wednesday night at Geisinger with injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident at Sheridan Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on March 14, a supervisor said.

Four others injured in the crash have been discharged either from Geisinger or the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, police said.

2-Vehicle Crash Seriously Injures 5

A two-vehicle crash in which five people were seriously injured occurred around 12:45 p.m. Monday afternoon at the intersection of Sheridan Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

All the victims were taken to Williamsport Regional Medical Center, and two were sent to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to Andrew Whelan, Loyalsock Township fire department captain.

The Sheridan Street and Pennsylvania Avenue area was closed off to allow state police to conduct an investigation and reconstruct the crash, he said. The road remained closed until 5 p.m.

One of the vehicles, a black van, had one occupant and the other vehicle carried four, Whelan said. A front-seat passenger was entrapped and unresponsive, he said.

“Their feet were trapped, we used our rescue tools to pull him out,” he said. “We had to remove the doors and roof and use hand tools to release their feet.”

All other occupants were conscious when attended to, Whelan said.

State police at the Montoursville barracks and Loyalsock Township and Montoursville fire departments responded to the scene.

Pennsylvania man struck by a car suffers severe personal injury

A Pennsylvania man is currently being treated for the injuries he sustain after being struck by a car. The gentleman was reportedly walking along the side of Route 61 in Perry Township when he was hit. He is said to have sustained severe personal injury as a result of the wreck.

This incident reportedly occurred around 3:30 a.m. on March 12. The victim — a 45-year-old male — claims to have been struck from behind while he was walking on the side of the road. Even though he is said to have suffered a severe broken leg, arm and head injuries, he was able to call 911 for assistance. Emergency crews transported the victim to an area hospital. Details about his current condition have not been released.

At this time, authorities do not know who was driving the vehicle involved in this incident. It has been reported that debris from the car was left at the scene which may help in identifying the driver. Police are asking anyone with information regarding this accident to please come forward.

The injuries sustained in an auto-pedestrian accident are usually pretty significant — such as in this case. Even though authorities may still be looking for the individual believed responsible for this incident, when found, the victim may have legal recourse. A personal injury claim, if successfully litigated in a Pennsylvania court, could result in the awarding of monetary compensation. This is something that could certainly help the victim, allowing him to focus on his recovery rather than financial concerns.

Source: wfmz.com, “Man severely injured in Perry Township hit-and-run”, Keleigh Gibbs, Derrick Krom, March 12, 2016

Woman Killed in Crash

A woman was killed and two men were seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash on Dewey Avenue, just south of Foy Avenue, about 2:10 p.m. Saturday, according to Old Lycoming Township police Cpl. Morris Sponhouse.

Their identities were expected to be released later today as authorities still were working late Saturday night to notify all family members.

The 61-year-old city woman was a front-seat passenger in a Ford Expedition that was traveling south on Dewey Avenue when the driver, a 57-year-old city man, “apparently lost control of the SUV, which struck multiple trees on the west side of the street,” Sponhouse said.

“The vehicle landed in the front yard of 1423 Dewey Ave.,” Sponhouse said, adding that the two front-seat occupants as well as a rear passenger, a man in his late 20s, were trapped in the wreckage.

City and Old Lycoming Township firefighters had both men extricated from the SUV in a matter of minutes.

Chief Deputy County Coroner Jerold Ross pronounced the woman dead at the scene. He said she was killed instantly in the crash.

After the men were extricated, they were loaded into ambulances and taken to the Old Lycoming Township firehouse parking lot, two blocks away, where two medical helicopters landed and then transported both to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

“I’ve been told that both men were in serious condition,” Sponhouse said.

Ross said investigators were looking into the possibility that the driver may have suffered a medical episode moments before the crash.

Volunteer fire police detoured traffic away from the crash for more than four hours from Foy Avenue to Lacomic Street.

Child Taken to Hospital for Evaluation

Both of the drivers involved in this two-vehicle crash at Washington Boulevard and River Avenue about 3 p.m. Wednesday declined treatment, but a child riding in the SUV, front, was taken by private vehicle to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center to be evaluated, state police said. The identities of the drivers were not available. Loyalsock Township volunteer firefighters and fire police responded to the crash. At least one person was reported injured in a second crash in the township, this one happening at Bloomingrove and Cemetery roads about 4:40 p.m. No information was available about this accident and yet another one that occurred at Newberry Street and Prospect Avenue in the city about 3:30 p.m.

4 injured in Pennsylvania car crash

A two-vehicle accident in Pennsylvania caused injuries to both drivers and two pedestrians. The car crash occurred in Chambersburg on Feb. 22. The roadway was closed for well over an hour while rescue and clean up crews worked the scene.

According to reports, a sedan was making a left turn when it was struck by a sports car. The force of impact caused the sedan to spin and strike two pedestrians, both of whom were walking on the shoulder of the street. The pedestrians — males, ages 29 and 53 — were severely injured and were flown to a trauma center for treatment. As of the last report, both of these gentlemen were listed in satisfactory condition.

The driver of the sedan — a 67-year-old female — and the driver of the sports car — a 46-year-old male — were also injured in the wreck. Both individuals were taken to area hospitals for medical care. At this time, authorities have not indicated which driver may have been at fault. It is unknown if any charges are pending against either of these individuals.

Those injured in this car crash may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses. Civil claims may be filed in a Pennsylvania court against the driver believed responsible for the incident. In order for personal injury claims to be successful, negligence will need to be established to the satisfaction of the court. If this can be accomplished, the victims may be awarded financial relief for any economic losses this incident has caused them, as well as compensation for any non-economic damages that are deemed recoverable in accordance with state laws.

Source: heraldmailmedia.com, “Four treated at hospitals following two-car crash near Chambersburg“, Dan Dearth, Feb. 23, 2016

Crash on Route 15 Spur Claims Life of Truck Driver

A New York State truck driver was killed Wednesday afternoon when his tractor-trailer truck crashed and overturned on the Route 15 South spur, just south of the Route 220 exit, according to city police.

Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. pronounced the 59-year-old driver from Cayuga County dead at the scene of “blunt force trauma injuries.”

The man’s identity was expected to be released later today after investigators are assured all family members have been notified, Kiessling said Wednesday night.

As he was traveling south on the spur around noon, the driver lost control of the rig for an unknown reason, Kiessling said.

As the rig overturned, the trailer split open, sending its cargo of coffee and food items down a steep embankment. An estimated 200 feet of guard rail was destroyed.

The victim was killed instantly in the crash, Kiessling said.

An undetermined amount of diesel fuel spilled from the truck’s saddle tanks.

Two heavy-duty tow trucks were needed to upright the truck.

In addition to city police and firefighters, representatives from the state Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Protection responded to the crash as did an accident reconstruction team.

All traffic was detoured at the Route 220 exit until the spur was reopened about 6:30 p.m., after all the agencies completed their on-scene investigations and the wreckage was cleared.

1 killed and 3 injured in Pennsylvania car accident

A crash between a bus and a passenger car in Pennsylvania resulted in one young woman losing her life and three other women suffering unspecified injuries. The car accident occurred on Feb. 9, in Monroe Township. The decedent was reportedly sitting in the front passenger seat when the automobile was struck.

Few details of this crash have been released. It is believed that the car with four young females was struck by the bus. One of the women died at the scene, and the other occupants of the vehicle were transported to an area hospital for treatment. As of the latest report, two of the women have been released from the hospital; however, one, whose injuries were more serious, remains in the medical facility.

It is unknown if the driver or any passengers on the bus were harmed in this incident. Authorities have not indicated if any charges are pending against either driver. Authorities are still likely investigating this incident.

This tragic car accident is one that has damaged many lives. The surviving family members of the deceased are now left trying to cope with their loss, while also having to handle all of the financial struggles that often come with taking care of the victim’s end-of-life matters. The surviving victims are also likely struggling as they work on recovering physically, emotionally and economically. According to the Pennsylvania laws, those negatively impacted in this crash may have legal recourse. Personal injury and wrongful death claims may be filed against the bus driver and/or his or her employer in an effort to seek compensation for any losses sustained in this wreck if negligence is proved.

Source: fox13now.com, “Memorial services announced for LDS missionary killed in Pennsylvania car crash“, Tiffany Demasters, Feb. 14, 2016

I-78 Huge Pileup Kills 3

A pileup involving dozens of vehicles near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania on interstate I-78 that killed three people and sent scores to hospitals appears to have been related to a passing snow squall, authorities said Saturday.

Trooper Justin Summa said three fatalities had been confirmed and an unknown number of critically injured patients were flown to hospitals. Seventy more were transported by ambulance to other facilities after the crash in Interstate 78 in Fredericksburg.

State police said more than 50 vehicles were involved in the crash, which happened around 9:45 a.m. The pileup left trucks and cars tangled together across three traffic lanes and into the snow-covered median about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Trooper Adam Reed said investigators believe that “passing snow squalls played a role in causing the crash.” PennLive.com reported some witnesses reported sudden whiteout conditions on the interstate before the crash.

The Penn State-Lehigh Valley men’s basketball team was heading to a game in New Kensington when the team’s chartered bus was hit by a tractor-trailer, the university said. Officials said there were no serious injuries to anyone, and the students were “on a warm, dry bus” but were being taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesman Cory Angell said an emergency operation center was activated and a special response team was at Fort Indiantown Gap to deliver stockpiled supplies such as food and water if they are needed.

Angell said drivers were being urged to use caution due to extremely cold temperatures and blowing snow making roads hazardous even though they have been plowed.

“You could be driving down the interstate and all of a sudden conditions change because the winds are drifting the snow,” he said.

Deadly Crash Closes Road in Towanda

TOWANDA — A deadly crash closed a road in Bradford County Wednesday.

Route 220 in Towanda was closed part of the day because of the fiery crash.

Firefighters tell us a tanker truck collided with a car around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and a person in that car was killed.

Police identified the victim as Richard Wilcox, 76, from Dushore, Sullivan County.

There is no word what led to the crash.

UPS Driver Involved in Fatal Buggy Crash Faces Charges

Charges have been filed against a woman involved in a fatal crash that took the lives of two passengers of a horse-drawn buggy last summer.

State police at Lamar reported Sherry Croak, 55, of Lock Haven, faces charges that include careless driving stemming from the collision in Loganton, Clinton County.

Rachel Beiler, 36, and her 8-year-old son, David, were killed in the crash that occurred when Croak’s UPS truck struck the buggy traveling in the opposite direction along West Winter Road, near Brother’s Lane, shortly before 7 p.m. July 10.

The buggy’s driver, Aaron Beiler, 36, and three of his children were injured in the collision.

Other charges against Croak are driving on the right side of of the road and meeting a vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction.

State police and a collision reconstruction unit conducted a lengthy investigation of the crash.

Charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge John Maggs after the case was reviewed by Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse’s office.

Tioga County Man Killed in 4-Wheeler Crash

MANSFIELD – Joshua L. Bailey, 28, of Mansfield died in a four-wheeler crash late Friday night, according to state police Mansfield barracks.

Bailey was traveling northbound on Welch Mountain Road on his four-wheeler at a high rate of speed, according to state police. He hit a ditch then hit a tree, which broke both left side wheels off the vehicle, according to state police.

The four-wheeler flipped onto its side hitting a group of trees, Bailey was thrown from the vehicle, according to state police.

He had not been wearing a helmet and had been drinking that night, according to Tioga County Coroner Ronald Hagar.

Van Overturns Trapping 2 Women

Firefighters work to extricate two women, an 85-year-old driver and a 34-year-old passenger, from this overturned van that crashed in front of the DuBoistown Borough Hall on Euclid Avenue about 11:50 a.m. Monday. Borough Fire Chief Paul McKinley was at the borough building and alerted a dispatcher after he heard the crash. Firefighters from the borough, South Williamsport, the city and Nisbet worked for about 20 minutes to free the two. While the passenger was treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center and released, the driver, who suffered serious injuries, was flown by helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Before overturning, the van struck a parked vehicle, police said. The identifies of those involved were not available Monday night.

Child injured in Pennsylvania auto-pedestrian car crash

Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating an incident that left a child injured. The auto-pedestrian car crash reportedly occurred in East Penn Township. The current condition of the child is unknown.

According to a recent report, a child — whose age and gender have not been released — was struck by a car the afternoon of Jan. 30. At this time, available details of this event are minimal. It is said to have occurred near a Carbon County intersection. The child was transported to an area hospital for the treatment of unspecified injuries.

Information about the driver involved in this incident has not been released. It is unknown if this individual will face any charges for this crash. Authorities are still in the process of investigating and will release more details about this wreck at a later time.

To a parent, few things in life seem worse than seeing one’s child suffering. Not only is this particular child likely to have a long physical and psychological recovery ahead of him or her as a result of this car crash, but the child’s parents or guardians are also likely to experience a number of losses as well. If desired, legal claims may be filed against the driver in order to seek to recoup any damages the child and his or her family has sustained. Negligence will have to be established in a Pennsylvania civil court for a claim to be successful, but if this can be accomplished relief for any documented damages may be awarded.

Car Crash Injures 71 Year Old Man

Gerald A. Brown, 71, of Williamsport, was taken by ambulance to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries he suffered when his vehicle crashed at Heller’s Market, 1941 Lycoming Creek Road, about 11 a.m. Tuesday, according Old Lycoming Township Police.

Brown was traveling north on Lycoming Creek Road when his car first struck a sign at Carpet One-Winner Carpet and then crossed the southbound lanes and struck a steel post, police said.

Bicyclist Injured After Being Hit By Jeep

City firefighter Kevin Breen holds Daniel Berberich’s head as Dana Bertin, an emergency medical technician, prepares to put Berberich on a back board after the 29-year-old city man was injured when his bicycle, at left, and the Jeep in the background collided in the first block of East Fourth Street about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. Berberich was taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, where he was treated. The driver of the Jeep, Christina Beiter, center, of the city, watched as emergency responders prepared to move the injured man.

Driver Crashes Into Guardrail

A driver of an SUV, along with his passenger, escaped injury when the driver’s vehicle crashed and overturned in front of Mason’s Used Car Sales on Route 220 in Woodward Township about 7:15 a.m. Saturday, state police said. Austin T. Shipton, of Williamsport, the driver who was traveling north, told police he fell asleep at the wheel. About 30 feet of guardrail was damaged by the Shipton vehicle. Township volunteer firefighters were getting ready to leave their firehouse to attend a fire training class in Jersey Shore when the crash occurred. Assisted by the state Department of Transportation, fire police closed one northbound lane until the crash was cleaned up.

Police: Racing WasCause of Motorist Death

PENNSDALE – When Matthew S. Edmondson lost control of the Audi he was driving on Lycoming Mall Drive and crashed into an SUV, killing him and injuring two adults in the other vehicle on Oct. 20, the 23-year-old Montoursville man was drag racing and traveling in excess of 80 mph, according to Muncy Township police.

Police allege that Edmondson was racing with 20-year-old Nathan Riley Hans, of 125 Henry Avenue, Hughesville, who was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when the crash occurred about 9 p.m.

Hans has been charged with five misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering as well as one count each of careless driving, reckless driving, racing on a highway and speeding.

A Montandon couple and their two children, ages 7 and 4, were in a Jeep Liberty when Edmondson’s westbound out-of-control car was coming right at them, skidding sideways in the eastbound lane, police said.

Township Police Chief Christopher McKibben said the driver of the Jeep, Lindsey Meyer, “really had no time to react at all.” While the children escaped injury, Meyer suffered facial injuries and her husband, Allen, suffered a cracked rib, Patrolman Bryan Bingaman said in an affidavit.

Hans, who told police he saw the crash, admitted that he and Edmondson, who was killed instantly in the crash, were racing after the two pulled out of the Halls Station Sub Station, Bingaman said.

When asked directly if the two were racing, Hans said “Yes, well sort of. It wasn’t like we planned to race, but we were both speeding,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.

Edmondson lost control on the curve where Lycoming Mall Drive intersects with John Brady Drive. Hans told police he believed Edmondson was going “at least 10 mph faster than me.”

While Edmondson was traveling in excess of 80 mph, Hans was driving in excess of 60 mph, where the speed limit is 45 mph, Bingaman said.

The excess speeds were determined by state police analysis of evidence collected at the scene, including videos from two businesses that recorded the alleged racing, Bingaman said.

Hans remained at the crash scene and the Jetta he was driving was impounded by investigators.

Hans has been sent a summons to appear before District Judge Jon E. Kemp for a preliminary hearing next week.

Crash on Lycoming Creek Road Kills Pedestrian

TROUT RUN – Richard Matthews, 47, of Poplar Street, was struck and killed instantly by a vehicle at 5:40 p.m. Monday on Lycoming Creek Road.

State police and representatives from the Lycoming County coroner’s office responded to the scene.

According to Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr., Matthews had been in the process of moving a dresser with his girlfriend. A drawer from the dresser fell out emptying its contents into the road.

As they were picking up the items, a car struck Matthews, according to Kiessling. The driver reportedly could not see Matthews due to the darkness and the fact that he was not wearing reflective clothing. The driver attempted CPR on Matthews but could not get any pulse, the coroner said.

A portion of the road was closed off by volunteer fire police as state troopers conducted an investigation.

Teenager Killed In Crash

McELHATTAN – Seth M. Shea, 17, of Loganton, was killed Thursday morning in a crash on Pine Loganton Road in Crawford Township.

A senior at Central Mountain High School, Shea was alone in his 1985 Volkswagen Golf when the accident occurred at 7 a.m., according to Trooper John Knepp of the Lamar State Police Barracks.

Shea was northbound when he lost control of the car while negotiating a right hand curve in the roadway, police said.

The car went off the west berm of the road and struck a tree before stopping, facing west, Knepp wrote in a prepared press release.

Initially, a call was made for a Lifeflight helicopter from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. However that call was cancelled shortly thereafter.

Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna pronounced the young man dead at the scene, which is about one-half mile north of the intersection with Shaw Mountain Road.

Hanna ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt force traumas due to a single motor vehicle accident and the manner of death was accidental.

Volunteers from Sugar Valley, Wayne Township and Nippenose Valley fire companies responded, along with a Lock Haven ambulance.

Central Mountain High School is providing counseling services to any students in need.

Another accident Thursday morning on Pine Loganton Road was not related to the fatal crash, police said. In that accident, police said, there were no injuries.

New Year’s Eve Crash Injures Three People

SALLADASBURG – Three people were injured, one seriously, in a two-vehicle crash on Route 287 in Mifflin Township on Thursday night.

According to state police in Montoursville, one person was Life Flighted to Gesinger Medical Center, in Danville, with moderate injuries and two others in another vehicle were sent to Jersey Shore Hospital with minor injuries, according to Trooper Daniel Schweitzer.

The state police have yet to release the names of those involved.

According to Schweitzer, the vehicle with two occupants was traveling north on the two-lane highway and the other was driving in their lane as they were coming around a curve.

The northbound car attempted to swerve in order to miss the on-coming vehicle but they met in the middle of the road where they crashed, according to the officer.

The operator of the southbound vehicle had to be cut out of the wreckage before being transported by helicopter, according to Ethan Goodbord, deputy fire chief for Citizen Hose Fire Co. in Jersey Shore, who also assisted at the scene.

Jersey Shore crash injures woman

JERSEY SHORE – An elderly woman suffered serious head injuries Monday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash and was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to Tiadaghton Valley Regional police.

Evelyn Martin, 90, of Avis, was a passenger in a car driven by Gladys Shope, also of Avis, when she was injured, police said.

The car and a pickup truck driven by Brian Simmers, of Jersey Shore, collided in the 1400 block of Allegheny Street about 2:15 p.m., police said.

Following the collision, Shope’s vehicle went up an embankment and struck a house, causing minor damage, police said. Martin, apparently trying to get out of the car, was thrown to the curb as the vehicle, now in reverse, struck a parked truck, police said.

A nursing supervisor at Geisinger said Wednesday night that there was no record of Martin being treated at the medical center. Firefighters from the borough’s two volunteer fire companies responded to the crash.

Route 442 Crash Claims Life of Bloomsburg Man

CLARKSTOWN – A Columbia County man was killed early Saturday morning in a one-vehicle crash on Route 442, according to state police.

Jeffrey Reichenbach, 30, of Bloomsburg, lost control of his vehicle as he was traveling west on Route 442 near Neufer Hollow Road about 2 a.m., police said.

The vehicle went off the road and struck a utility pole and a tree, police said.

The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene of “blunt force trauma injuries to his head and chest,” Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said.

Worker Killed; Hit by SUV

A trash hauler was killed early Wednesday morning when he was struck by a Chevrolet Suburban while emptying a dumpster in the 100 block of West Church Street, city police said.

Tyler J. Hamm, who turned 25 just three weeks ago, was killed when he was hit by a westbound vehicle driven by Ronald E. Hartley, of South Williamsport, about 4:40 a.m., police said.

Hamm, an employee of Kriners Disposal Service on Lincoln Avenue in the city, was standing at the back of a garbage truck that was stopped in the westbound lane of Church Street when he was hit, police said.

“For an unknown reason, Hartley failed to stop or navigate around the truck,” Patrolman Ryan Brague said in his crash report.

The Suburban struck Hamm head-on, he said. A deputy county coroner pronounced Hamm dead at the scene.

“Initial findings indicate there was decreased visibility due to rain and poor lighting as well as dark clothing being worn by the victim,” County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said.

The officer’s report stated that Hartley was “distracted,” but he did not elaborate.

Brague also said that Hartley’s vehicle nearly struck a witness to the crash.

“This tragedy should remind all public service personnel the importance of wearing high-visibility clothing and to always pay attention when working around moving traffic,” Kiessling said.

Police said the crash remains under investigation and that no charges have been filed.

Area Crash Injures Jersey Shore Woman

Volunteer firefighters work to free a 55 year old Jersey Shore woman from her van after it overturned on Route 654 about a mile west of DuBoistown, in Armstrong Township, just after 3 p.m. Wednesday. State police said the woman was traveling west on the two-lane road when for an unknown reason she went up a slight rock embankment, causing the van to flip. After she was extricated from the van, the woman was taken by ambulance to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, where she was treated for a neck injury. Firefighters

After City Crash 21-year-old Man is Arraigned On 10 Charges

Several drug and weapons-related offenses on Wednesday after a one-car crash at the corner of High Street and Park Avenue.

City police Officer Joseph Ananea Jr. said in an affidavit he saw Watson crash into a fire hydrant. Watson said somebody “ran him off the road,” according to the affidavit.

The officer said Watson had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and had a bag of marijuana in his jacket pocket.

According to the affidavit, police then searched Watson’s car and found an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol, a digital scale, suspected marijuana, a backpack with “numerous narcotics” and pistol ammunition cartridges.

The narcotics consisted of three “bundles” of heroin, 30 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of hash, the affidavit stated.

Upon arrest, Watson allegedly tried to run away but was immobilized by a stun gun fired by Lt. Brian Womer.

Watson was transported to Williamsport Regional Medical Center, where he consented to a blood test. Police said he tested positive for heroin. Watson told police he was a user, according to the affidavit.

Watson was charged with firearms not to be carried without a license, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, resisting arrest, possessing an instrument of crime, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked and careless driving.

A video arraignment was held before District Judge Jerry C. Lepley, who set bail at $75,000.

Watson was incarcerated in lieu of bail. His preliminary hearing is Dec. 18 in front of District Judge James G. Carn.

Woman Injured When Her Car, State Police Cruiser Collide

A woman suffered minor injuries when her car and a state police cruiser whose driver was responding to on an emergency call collided at Washington Boulevard and Franklin Street about 1:20 p.m. Sunday, according to state police.

Patricia A. Sinclair, 74, of Williamsport, was traveling south on Franklin Street and the cruiser, driven by Trooper Robert H. Williamson, was traveling west on Washington Boulevard when the collision occurred.

Although the traffic light was red for motorists on Washington Boulevard, Williamson had his cruiser’s emergency lights and siren activated as he was responding to assist another trooper, who was trying to stop another driver who was threatening to commit suicide, police said.

After the two cars collided, the cruiser struck two parked cars, police said.

An ambulance responded to the crash, but police did not say if Sinclair needed medical treatment. Williamson escaped injury.

No additional information was provided concerning the emergency call involving the driver threatening suicide.

Man Crashes Car and Is Charged With DUI

After Donald E. Saricks crashed and overturned his car in the 900 block of Sheridan Street about 10:45 p.m. on July 25, the 54-year-old city man told emergency responders that he had “12 vodka drinks” since 3:30 that afternoon, according to city Patrolman Brian McGee.

Saricks, who declined treatment for minor injuries, had “slurred speech” and McGee detected an “extreme odor of an alcoholic beverage on the man’s breath” and he was “unsteady on his feet,” court records state.

Saricks, of 925 Ellinger St., was taken to the county’s DUI Center, where he submitted a blood test, which revealed he had a blood-alcohol content level of .14, McGee said.

Arraigned late Thursday afternoon before District Judge Allen P. Page III on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants, Saricks was released on $2,500 bail.

Family of 5 injured in car accident in Pennsylvania

On behalf of Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters posted in Car Accidents on Monday, November 23, 2015.

A car crash in Pennsylvania resulted in the death of one man and caused five others to suffer unspecified injuries. According to reports, this car accident occurred on Nov. 13 in Lackawannock Township. Authorities have yet to release information as to the cause of the collision.

This incident is said to have occurred on Interstate 80, on the eastbound side. The driver believed responsible for the accident — a 53-year-old male from out of state — was allegedly driving the wrong direction when he collided head-on with the victims’ vehicle. Unfortunately, the force of impact was so great that the driver thought to have been at fault died shortly after impact.

A family of five was in the car that was struck. Each of them was injured and required medical treatment. The entire family was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital. Their current conditions are unknown.

When the driver believed responsible for a car accident does not survive, victims may feel that they have no legal recourse. Thankfully, this is not the case. This family may pursue civil claims against the decedent’s estate in an effort to seek compensation for any losses they may have experienced as a direct result of the crash. Personal injury claims can be filed on behalf of each of the victims. Those claims that are successfully litigated in a Pennsylvania civil court may result in an award of monetary damages, which can help this family recoup any economic losses this accident has caused them, assist them on their road to recovery and help them move forward from this terrible event.

Source: wkbn.com, “Man dies in car accident on I-80 in Mercer Co.“, Nov. 14, 2015

From car accident to compensation, how long does it take?

Those in Pennsylvania who have been injured or lost loved ones in auto collisions may have a myriad of questions, which is completely understandable. Of the many thoughts that may be floating through someone’s mind, one may involve achieving compensation. A car accident can leave a victim or — in the event of fatality — his or her surviving family members burdened in numerous ways. By taking legal action in an effort to seek damages, those burdens may be eased.

While a car accident can happen in the blink of an eye, the moments afterwards can seem to drag on forever. Recovery time or coping with the loss of a loved one can be excruciating, with little relief in sight. What can make this even worse is having to deal with insurance providers failing to fully compensate for any damages sustained.

Thankfully, victims of auto collisions, or their surviving family members, may have legal recourse. Civil claims may be filed in court against those believed responsible for accidents. In order to achieve compensation, negligence will need to be successfully established against the party or parties thought responsible for the incident. If this can be accomplished, the court may grant a monetary judgment.

Getting from the car accident to receiving compensation can take awhile. This is not something that will be accomplished overnight, as these cases require time for investigation. Unfortunately, this process can take months, if not longer. However, those residing in Pennsylvania can seek legal assistance as they fight to achieve monetary relief in a timely manner.

One is Dead, One Hurt in Crash

MILTON – One driver was killed and another hospitalized with injuries following a two-vehicle crash at Swengel and Orchard roads in Union County’s Lewis Township about 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, state police said.

John T. Shellenberger, 63, of Mifflintown, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Union County coroner, Trooper Jason Caccia said.

Driving a Nissan Pathfinder, Shellenberger was traveling west on Swengel Road when he ran a stop sign at Orchard Road, Caccia said. The vehicle collided with a Dodge Stratus, driven by William F. Smith Jr., 54, of Mount Pleasant Mills, who was traveling north, the trooper said.

Shellenberger’s SUV then crashed into a tree, Caccia said, adding that the driver was not wearing a seat belt.

Smith, who was wearing a seat belt, was admitted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, in fair condition, a nursing supervisor said.

SUV Crash Brings Down Wires

Brouse Road in Clinton Township was closed for much of Thursday after an SUV cashed into this utility pole, just off Route 405, at 10:45 a.m., according to state police. The woman driving the vehicle declined treatment for minor injuries. Her identity was not released. Representatives from PPL, Windstream and Comcast worked together to make necessary repairs and restore service to affected customers. Although just one utility pole needed to be replaced, wires from three other poles were pulled down by the crash, according to township fire officials.

Bus Driver Sentenced in Tioga County Court for March Crash

WELLSBORO Six people were sentenced in Tioga County Court on Monday, including the driver of a school bus that crashed while he was under the influence of intoxicants.

Robert E. Soyka, 74, of Westfield, was sentenced to 12 months probation under the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, and his driver’s license was suspended for 60 days.

Soyka was charged with DUI after he crashed the school bus he was driving on Burrell Road, with eight students, ages 6 to 15, on board whom he had picked up for school around 7 a.m. March 27.

Soyka hit a utility pole and stopped when the bus hit a guide wire. Soyka also was charged with reckless endangerment at the time.

No one was injured in the crash.

Also sentenced to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for driving under the influence of intoxicants were:

Eric R. Johson, 35, of Blossburg, 12 months probation, 60 days driver’s license suspension.

Brandon M. Wheeler, 22, of Tioga, nine months probation, 30 days driver’s license suspension.

Wayne K. Hudgins, 57, of Lawrenceville, nine months probation, 30 days driver’s license suspension.

Sentenced to 90 days probation plus court costs on an amended summary charge of harassment was John C. Thompson Sr., 30, of Lawrenceville.

Pennsylvania car crash: Driving appropriately for road conditions

Road conditions change with the seasons. In the fall, Pennsylvania residents have to worry about falling leaves, glare from the sun and fog — among various other hazards. Unfortunately, far too many drivers fail to adjust their driving habits to account for seasonal road conditions which can lead to auto collisions. If injured in this type of car crash, victims may have legal recourse.

One of the greatest things about the fall is watching the leaves change colors. It is a beautiful sight to behold. Unfortunately, not long after the colors change, leaves fall on roadways. They get wet and slippery, and driving on them can be just as dangerous as driving on ice. They also cover road markings, making it more difficult for drivers to navigate unfamiliar areas.

Fog and sun glare are also particularly troubling this time of year. Using low beam headlights can help drivers see other vehicles in foggy conditions. It is also advisable that drivers take their time and slow down when fog is present. When glare from the sun is an issue, having sunglasses and keeping windows clean can assist drivers during times when sun glare is at its worst — at sunrise and sunset.

Sadly, car accidents related to road conditions occur quite frequently in Pennsylvania. When they do, injured victims may seek compensation through legal means. Personal injury claims can be filed against those believed responsible for these collisions. If negligence can be established in court successfully, monetary relief may be awarded for any monetary losses a victim has experienced as a result of a car crash.

Source: justdrivepa.org, “Fall Driving“, Accessed on Oct. 24, 2015

Woman Injured In Chase Crash Dies

UNIONTOWN (AP) – A woman injured in a crash that occurred as police were chasing another driver has died, police said.

Police in Fayette County alleged that a male driver swerved out of his lane shortly before noon Friday on Route 119 and nearly hit a patrol car in the passing lane.

“Initially, the vehicle did pull over on the side of the roadway when he pulled over behind him,” Trooper Stephani Lucas told WTAE. “That’s when the vehicle basically fled.”

Officials said the ensuing pursuit reached speeds of 70 to 80 mph, and another trooper joined the chase. Police said the driver went around another vehicle and the first trooper followed, but the driver of the other car then turned in front of the second trooper and was struck.

“Whether she didn’t realize there was another car or whatever the reason was, she was attempting to make that left-hand turn once the initial two vehicles went through and it just happened to be in front of the trooper,” Lucas said.

The driver, identified as Bendetta Miller, sustained a head injury and was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, where she was pronounced dead Saturday, police said.

Officers called off the pursuit after the crash, but later tracked the vehicle to an alley in German Township and arrested the driver, who was expected to face charges including aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding and resisting arrest, police said.

A trooper was taken to Uniontown Hospital for treatment of a hip injury, police said.

Man Found Dead in Burnt Truck

A man was found dead in a burnt pickup truck that crashed along Buckhill Road near Hughesville.

State police reported Peter Crawford, 47, of Hughesville, was pronounced dead at 8:12 p.m. Friday at the scene of the wreck.

Firefighters were reportedly called to the crash to extinguish a fire that had ignited in the truck hauling a trailer and skidsteer.

Crawford was found in the vehicle along with two dogs that reportedly perished in the blaze.

The crash remains under investigation by state police and the Lycoming County Coroner’s office.

Four Injured in Crash, Montoursville Man Dies

PENNSDALE – The speed of an out-of-control Audi A-4 was a contributing factor in causing Tuesday night’s violent two-vehicle crash on Lycoming Mall Drive that killed the driver of the car and sent four members of a Northumberland County family riding in a Jeep Liberty to a hospital, according to Muncy Township Police Chief Christopher McKibben.

Killed instantly in the 9 p.m. crash, which occurred just west of the Fort Muncy Garden Center, was Mathew S. Edmondson, 23, of Montoursville, McKibben and Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said.

Edmondson was traveling west at a high rate of speed on Lycoming Mall Drive when he lost control of the vehicle as he rounded a curve where John Brady Drive intersects, McKibben said.

The speed limit for that section of the road is 45 mph, but Edmondson was believed to be traveling well above that when the crash occurred, he said. The Audi’s exact speed will not be known until a state police accident reconstructionist completes his investigation.

Edmondson’s car “was already skidding sideways in the eastbound lane when it collided with a Jeep Liberty driven by Lindsey Meyer, of Montandon,” McKibben said.

“She really had no time to react at all,” McKibben said of the 31-year-old driver, who was riding with her 33-year-old husband, Allen, and the couple’s two children, a 7-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.

The four, who were wearing seat belts or in child safety seats, were taken by ambulances to the Muncy Valley Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and later released, McKibben said he was told.

The impact crushed the driver’s side of the Audi. A tow truck was needed to pull the vehicles apart, and firefighters had to use extrication tools to free Edmondson’s body from the wreckage.

Muncy Township and Muncy Area volunteer firefighters responded to the crash as did volunteer fire police and representatives from the state Department of Transportation.

A section of the road was closed for at least five hours as township, Muncy Borough and state police worked together on investigating the crash.

Farm Accident Claims Life Of Muncy Man

A Muncy man was killed in an apparent farming accident in Franklin Township Wednesday.

State police reported Jay Schwenk, 64, was operating a tractor on a hilly patch of rough terrain in an 80-acre field when it flipped, pinning him beneath the tractor.

The accident occurred sometime between 9:45 a.m. and 7 p.m., police said.

In addition to police, personnel from Lairdsville Volunteer Fire Co. responded to the accident.

Two People Killed In Potter County Crash

COUDERSPORT – Two women were killed and two others injured as the result of a two-vehicle collision in Potter County Friday night.

Upon impact, the Wimer vehicle overturned.

Ackley and McKay were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other vehicle, Derrick Michael Gleason, 30, of Coudersport, was flown by helicopter to Altoona General Hospital. Wimer was flown to Robert Packard Hospital in Sayre.

Police were assisted at the scene by Austin Volunteer Fire and Ambulance and Coudersport Ambulance.

Two Girl, 14, Injured When SUV Collided with a Car

Two teenage girls riding in an SUV driven by Billie Sheeby, of Coudersport, were injured when the vehicle and a car driven by Leonard Wertz, of Williamsport, collided at West Fourth and Elmira streets about 1:20 p.m. Monday, city police said.

The two 14-year-olds were taken by ambulance to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

One Person Dies in Crash

PENNSDALE: One person was killed and a family of four were injured in a two vehicle crash on Lycoming Mall Drive, near the Fort Muncy Garden Center in Muncy Township about 9 Tuesday night, Township Fire Chief Scott Oldweiler confirmed.

Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr., arrived at 9:45 p.m. and pronounced the male victim dead at the scene.

The victim was driving a passenger car and he was the sole occupant of the vehicle, investigators said. His identity was expected to be released later today.

A mother and father and their two children were all riding in the SUV that was involved in the crash.

The family of four was already out of their vehicle when firefighters arrived.

All four were taken by ambulance to the Muncy Valley Hospital, where they were being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Their identities were not released.

Car Crash Claims Life of Woman From New York and Her Grandson

ASHLAND, N.Y. – An upstate New York woman has died following a car crash that also killed her 3-year-old grandson.

The Star-Gazette of Elmira, reported 57-year-old Theresa Benjamin, of Newfield, died at the hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania, as a result of injuries she sustained in the wreck.

Authorities said Benjamin’s husband was driving north on state Route 14 Friday afternoon when the truck veered into the southbound lane, left the roadway and crashed down an embankment in Ashland, on the Pennsylvania border.

Her grandson from Rome, Pennsylvania, died at the hospital on Friday. He was one of four grandchildren in the car at the time of the accident. The other three were treated for injuries.

Initial investigation indicates that child restraint seats weren’t being used at the time.

Route 15 Crash Injures 5

MONTGOMERY – Five people were injured when a car driven by Wade Hutchinson, 52, of Palmyra, New York, and a SUV driven by Kevin J. Markle, 38, of Hanover, collided on Route 15, just north of Allenwood Camp Lane about 5:45 a.m. Saturday, state police said Tuesday night.

Besides the two drivers, also injured were three passengers riding with Market: Nicole Markle, 36, also of Hanover; Sheri Becker and Brian Becker, both 32, of Hanover, police said.

All five were taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, but no medical conditions were available Tuesday night.

65-Year-Old Man Dies in Wreck on Route 15 Near Blossburg

A Tioga County man died in a two-vehicle crash on Route 15 near the Blossburg exit Friday, according to Blossburg Borough Police.

Though identities of those involved in the fatal crash will not be released until families have been notified, authorities did say the man who died was 65 years old.

The occupants in the second vehicle involved in the incident were a 25-year-old man and three children.

The crash occurred when the car that held the three children crossed over the center lane and struck the vehicle of the 65-year-old man, eventually coming to rest on its roof, according to Cpl. Robert Scott, Blossburg Police.

All four occupants of that overturned vehicle were transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville to be treated for injuries. Their condition is unknown.

Route 15 was closed for almost six hours following the crash and was reopened around 5:47 p.m., Scott said.

The crash still is under investigation and Scott said more information should be released to the public this afternoon.

1 killed in Pennsylvania car crash, several others injured

Police in Pennsylvania have been investigating an accident that occurred on Interstate 283 near the end of September. The multi-vehicle car crash reportedly resulted in the death of one individual and caused several others to suffer unspecified injuries. At this time, it is unknown as to whether any criminal charges will be filed in this case.

This particular crash occurred the morning of Sept. 29, in Dauphine County. According to a recent report, the accident involved a total of five vehicles. The Pennsylvania State Police had a section of the Interstate closed for upwards of seven hours as they worked to recreate the collision. Authorities have not released information regarding who may have been responsible for this tragedy.

A 23-year-old woman of Biglerville was killed in the chain-reaction collision. Others were injured; however, police did not indicate how many people were hurt or if they required transportation to medical facilities for treatments. The current conditions of the surviving victims was not reported.

This car crash is certainly devastating in a number of ways. For the family members of the deceased, this tragic loss of life can be emotionally and economically challenging; for the other victims, any physical injuries suffered can be life-changing. Those negatively affected by this incident may be entitled to seek compensation for any losses experienced. Personal injury and/or wrongful death claims may be filed against the party or parties believed responsible for the wreck. Claims which are successfully litigated in a Pennsylvania civil court may result in financial judgments for any economic and non-economic damages.

5 Injured in Crash on Route 15 North

Besides the two drivers, also injured were three passengers riding with Market: Nicole Markle, 36, also of Hanover; Sheri Becker and Brian Becker, both 32, of Hanover, police said.

All five were taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, but no medical conditions were available Tuesday night.

Police: High-Speed Chase Ends in Crash

What started with a city patrolman attempting to stop a motorist for a non-functioning license plate light resulted in a high-speed chase that ended on Sulpher Springs Road in Armstrong Township, where the fleeing driver crashed, according to an affidavit.

Brandon David Hill, 18, of 59 Gap Road, Montgomery, fled from the officer in the 100 block of Maynard Street about 12:15 a.m. on Sept. 15, police said.

Hill traveled east on Interstate 180, across the Market Street bridge and into South Williamsport, where he drove through an active work zone at 60 mph, Patrolman Ryan J. Brague said in the affidavit.

Hill continued south on Sulpher Springs Road, where his car crashed a few miles south of the borough. Apparently unhurt, he bolted from the scene and called 9-1-1 to report that his car had been stolen, Brague said.

The diver soon returned to the scene, telling police what he told the 911 dispatcher, Brague said. However, shortly after he was taken into custody, Hill admitted that his initial statements about the theft were false. He said he fled because he did not have a license, Brague added.

Two in Two Car Crash Face DUI Charges

By Cliff Rieders of Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters posted in Car Accidents on Monday, October 5, 2015.

TROUT RUN – Both drivers involved in a two-vehicle crash on Route 14 in Lewis Township about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to state police.

Jennifer Lynn Gies, 28, of 593 Pleasant Stream Road, had a blood-alcohol content level of .13 while Kevin Lane Patt, 24, of 154 Bush Hill Road, Eldred Township, had blood-alcohol content level of .08, police said.

The two have been sent summonses to appear before District Judge James H. Sortman.

Woman Killed In Off-Ramp Wreck Identity Released

The passenger killed in Tuesday’s one-vehicle crash on the West Third Street off-ramp of Route 15 North in the city was identified as Dawn M. Milheim, 48, of the city, according to Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr.

She was a passenger in a car driven Jodie Walker, 29, also of the city, when the vehicle slammed into a series of concrete barriers about 11 a.m. Walker declined treatment for minor injuries.

Milheim was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car, which “landed on top of her,” Kiessling said, adding that woman died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Betzer’s Funeral Home in Muncy.

Passenger is Killed When Car Hits Road Barriers

A 48-year-old city woman was killed late Tuesday morning when she was ejected from a car and was then run over by the vehicle as it crashed on the West Third Street off-ramp of Route 15, city police said.

The victim, whose identity was expected to be released later today, was a passenger in a Ford Taurus driven by Jodie Walker, 29, of the city, who suffered minor injuries in the 11 a.m. crash, police said.

Speed was believed to be a possible factor in the crash, Capt. Michael Orwig said.

Pedestrian Struck on Route 220

A 21-year-old man was struck by a car as he was walking along Route 220 near the Mountain View Deli in Woodward Township on Monday evening, according to Richard Whalen, Woodward Township fire chief.

Authorities responded to a call just before 5 p.m., the victim was transported from the 6,000 block of Route 220 to the Woodward Township Fire Hall and then put onto a medical helicopter that took off about 45 minutes after the crash.

Whalen was unsure of the victim’s condition, and no details on his injuries were made public as of press time.

Potter County Crash Claims The Life Of 2

COUDERSPORT – Two women were killed and two others injured as the result of a two-vehicle collision in Potter County Friday night.

Upon impact, the Wimer vehicle overturned.

Ackley and McKay were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other vehicle, Derrick Michael Gleason, 30, of Coudersport, was flown by helicopter to Altoona General Hospital. Wimer was flown to Robert Packard Hospital in Sayre.

Police were assisted at the scene by Austin Volunteer Fire and Ambulance and Coudersport Ambulance.

12-year-old Injured In Jersey Shore Crash Dies

Jacob Walters, a 12-year-old boy from Jersey Shore, died Thursday after colliding with an SUV while on his bicycle the day before.

Tiadaghton Valley Regional police are investigating the collision near the 200 block of Calvert Street that occurred around 6 p.m. in Jersey Shore and resulted in Walters’ death.

He was initially rushed to Jersey Shore Hospital emergency room and then flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to emergency responders.

A Gofundme account was created in support of the Walters family that had raised more than $1,000 by presstime.

Repeated attempts to reach Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police for further information were unsuccessful.

Collision Injures Teen Driver

A 17-year-old city girl was treated at the scene for minor injuries she suffered when the Jeep Laredo, she was driving and a Dodge Caliber collided at Washington Boulevard and Penn Street about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Williamsport police said. The other driver, whose identity also was not released, was not injured. In addition to Williamsport police, city firefighters and paramedics from Susquehanna Health also responded to the crash.

Man Dies In I-80 Crash When Jeep Rolls Over

LOCK HAVEN – A 22-year-old man was killed when he was ejected from his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee as it crashed on Interstate 80 in Greene Township about 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to state police.

Christopher Loren Dixon, of Dalton but living in State College, was thrown from the vehicle as it overturned two to three times after he lost control of the vehicle as he was traveling west on the interstate, police said.

Dixon was pronounced dead at the scene of multiple traumatic injuries, police said.

Motorcycle Crash Causes Major Injuries to City Man

Steven Alberts, 62, of Williamsport, is recovering at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center from major injuries he suffered when his motorcycle crashed and went over an embankment on McNamee Road in Cascade Township about 6 p.m. Sept. 5.

Concerning another accident, Joshua M. Haagen, 22, of Lock Haven, was treated at the hospital for injuries he suffered when his car slammed into a tree and caught fire in the 3800 block of West Fourth Street in Woodward Township about 6:50 a.m. Friday, police said.

Motorcycle Crash on Route 54 Claims Life of Danville Man

A collision involving a motorcycle resulted in the death of a Danville man late Friday afternoon near Danville.

State police reported that the driver of the motorcycle, Joshua L. Jones, 40, was traveling south on Route 54 in Derry Township when it struck a vehicle entering the highway driven by Debra J. Derr, 59, of Selinsgrove.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The crash remains under investigation.

Two Teens Lose Lives in Crash

WYALUSING – Two young men were killed and three other people were injured in a head-on vehicle crash that occurred on Route 706 in Wyalusing Township on Saturday around 9:15 p.m. State police said the two vehicles collided with one another about a half-mile east of the intersection with Route 409.

The men who died, Colin M. Flynn, 18, and Brendan T. Hall, 18, were two of three passengers traveling east in a vehicle operated by 19-year-old Troy A. Stone, of Wyalusing.

State police said Stone crossed the center line of the roadway to pass another vehicle and collided with a westbound vehicle driven by Stacy L. Short, 33, also of Wyalusing. Short’s vehicle spun clockwise into the eastbound lane after impact and left the north shoulder of the road before striking several trees and ending up down an embankment.

Short, Stone and Stone’s other passenger, Kara J. Johnson, 20, of Wyalusing, all were sent to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre to be treated for their injuries.

State police said none of the individuals involved in the crash were wearing seat belts.

According to the television station WNEP, speeding and underage drinking may have contributed to the crash.

Vehicles collide on I-180 injure two

Two people were injured when this pickup truck, driven by Nanette M. Briel, of 604 Walnut St., slammed into the back of an SUV that was then pushed into a stopped van at the Basin Street off-ramp of the westbound lanes of Interstate 180 just before noon Thursday, city police said. The SUV was driven by Althea M. Eschback, 48, of 5957 Lycoming Creek Road, Cogan Station, and the van was driven by Paul E. Watson, of Turbotville, police said. Eschback suffered injuries as did a passenger in the truck, Jonathan Briel, 22, also of 604 Walnut St., police said. In the photo assisting at the crash site is Patrolman Donald Barrett.

Several injured in Pennsylvania car accident

Police in Pennsylvania are still in the process of determining what led to a crash in which five people were injured. One of the victims is said to be in critical condition. According to reports, this car accident occurred the morning of Aug. 20, in a town just north of Philadelphia.

A portion of Route 611 was shut down after a pickup collided head-on with a minivan. The van was heading south when it was hit by the truck, which was in the northbound lane. Four people in the van were injured — the 44-year-old driver, two of her children — both girls — and a family friend. The driver was flown to a medical facility with critical injuries; her current condition has not been reported.

The truck driver, a 49-year-old male, also suffered serious injuries in the wreck. At this time, police are still unsure as to how this incident occurred. It is unknown if any charges will be filed against anyone involved.

A car accident that results in injuries can leave a victim not only hurting physically, but financially as well. The road to recovery is not always easy to traverse, and it can be difficult to know for some time how one’s injuries will affect him or her in the future. In an effort to seek relief for any damages sustained, victims may pursue legal actions against those believed responsible for the losses. Those whose claims are managed successfully in a Pennsylvania civil court may be awarded a monetary judgment for any documented losses that are recoverable in accordance with applicable laws.

Pipeline Worker Killed When Bulldozer Rolls Over

ROARING BRANCH – A pipeline worker is dead after the bulldozer he was operating rolled over in northern Pennsylvania.

It happened just before noon Tuesday in Union Township.

State police say 54-year-old Ricky Dettman was driving a bulldozer on steep grade when it rolled down the hill, turning over several times before coming to a rest in an upright position.

The Nebraska man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dettman was part of a construction crew working on a 36-inch natural gas pipeline for Energy Transfer Partners. A spokeswoman for the company says the pipeline will take natural gas from the Utica Shale and deliver it throughout the country.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

Man Suffers Injuries In Third Street Crash

A 77-year-old Loyalock Township man is recovering from multiple fractures and other injuries he suffered last week in a three-vehicle crash in the 1800 block of East Third Street.

James Hill was initially admitted to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with injuries he suffered in the July 31 crash, but has since been transferred, according to Theresa Michael, his daughter.

She said her father was extricated from his car by volunteer firefighters, who had to cut off the vehicle’s roof in order to free him.

State police were investigating the crash, but further details were not available Thursday night. Fire officials said only person was injured in the crash.

Wreck Near Salladasburg, 1 Dead and Passenger Injured

A teenager was killed Monday morning in a one-vehicle crash north of Jersey Shore and in a second wreck, this one outside Muncy. Hours later, an elderly man, who may have suffered a medical episode behind the wheel, died when his van drifted down an embankment and into the Susquehanna River.

Wire Rope Works retiree Terry Seese was watching television in his living room about 10:30 a.m. when he heard tires squealing in front of his home on Route 287, near Salladasburg.

“I then heard what sounded like dirt and gravel flying. There was just a big boom and then everything went silent,” Seese said as he sat on his front porch.

“The minute I heard it, I called 911,” Seese said.

State police said 19-year-old Joshua A. Robbins was killed and a passenger in his vehicle, a 16-year-old girl, both from York County, was critically injured when their southbound Ford Explorer went off the two-lane road, flipped on its passenger side and slammed into a tree, state police said.

“The roof basically crashed into the tree and collapsed around the driver,” one investigator at the scene said.

Seese and his 23-year-old daughter-in-law, Brittnie, who lives in the same house, then heard the screams of a girl.

“She was yelling ‘Help me, help me,’ ” said Brittnie as she held her 9-month-old daughter, Abigail, in her arms, in front of the house.

The SUV, covered by brush and tree branches, was not visible from the road, but Brittnie followed the tire marks left from the crash and got as close to the vehicle as she could in an attempt to calm down the girl.

“I couldn’t get back to the car, but I could hear her. I told her that help was on the way,” the young mother said.

“The girl said she couldn’t see her boyfriend,” Brittnie said, referring to the driver.

Initially, it was believed that Robbins may have been ejected from the SUV because at first he could not be seen inside the wreckage.

Volunteer firefighters from Jersey Shore responded to the crash, about two miles south of Salladasburg, and worked for nearly 90 minutes to free the victims.

A heavy-duty tow truck, which was dispatched to the scene, was needed to help emergency workers extricate Robbins and the girl.

A call went out for two medical helicopters, both from Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, which landed in a field along Canoe Run Road, about two miles south of the scene.

Once extricated, the girl was loaded into the back of an ambulance that rushed her to one of the helicopters. Attempts to save Robbins, of Etters, were unsuccessful, police said, adding he was pronounced dead at the scene by Chief Deputy County Coroner Jerold Ross.

Volunteer fire police closed part of Route 287 for several hours.

Multi-vehicle car crash kills 2 in Pennsylvania

Police in Pennsylvania are in the process of investigating an accident that reportedly resulted in the deaths of two people. A few other individuals also suffered injuries in the car crash. The current conditions of the surviving victims are unknown.

This incident recently occurred on Route 65 in the eastern part of the state. It is believed that, for reasons unknown, the driver of a northbound car crossed the center line and struck a semi trailer in a southbound lane. This set off a chain reaction of sorts, with the accident ultimately affecting four vehicles. The driver of the semi, a 52-year-old male, died in the crash, as did a 69-year-old male. It was not specified whether the second individual was the driver believed responsible for the incident or a victim from one of the impacted vehicles.

In total, three automobiles caught on fire, and two of the drivers involved were injured. Reports have not indicated if any passengers were in any of the vehicles. Authorities have not released any further information regarding a suspected cause of the crash.

A car crash as serious as this one is bound to have an abundance of negative consequences for all affected, both directly and indirectly. The family members of the deceased and those who were injured will likely face emotional and financial repercussions from which they will struggle to recover. Any physical harm inflicted will also present numerous obstacles. Legal help is available to assist the victims of this incident, or their surviving family members, seek compensation for their losses by filing any appropriate civil claims in the Pennsylvania court system. Monetary relief may be awarded to those whose cases are managed successfully.

NEGLIGENCE-MOTOR VEHICLES-PERMITTING UNAUTHORIZED PERSON TO DRIVE

In this case it was permitted to amplify general allegations of negligence to claim that unauthorized person operated vehicle especially where the fact as to why was driving the vehicle was withheld. Also the court found that there was a civil cause of action for permitting an unauthorized person to drive the car so that both the driver and the person who permitted it were responsible. Finally, the court found that serious back injuries were enough to satisfy the threshold of limited tort alternative in Financial Responsibility Law. Graham v. Campo, 990 A.2d 9 (Pa. Super. 2010).

1 Killed, 2 Injured in Crash in Milton

MILTON – A 72-year-old man was killed and another man was injured in a three-vehicle accident that occurred on Route 147 in Milton on Saturday afternoon.

According to state police, a motorcycle driven by Collar Reese, 72, of Lewisburg, and a car driven by Richard Crittenden, 80, of Northumberland, were traveling in the left lane while a motorcycle driven by Steven Ayers, 66, of Milton, was traveling in the right lane.

Reese and Ayers were traveling together at a slower-than-normal pace while searching for an item that had fallen off Reese’s bike earlier, police said. Reese’s motorcycle started to have mechanical problems and he signaled to Ayers, who pulled onto the berm.

Crittenden moved into the right lane to avoid Reese’s motorcycle when Reese suddenly changed lanes in front of Crittenden’s vehicle. Crittenden’s vehicle struck Reese’s, causing the motorcycle to travel farther to the right and strike Ayers’s motorcycle.

Reese was thrown from his motorcycle and landed in the grass median between the southbound lanes of Route 147 and the ramp from Route 147 to Route 254.

Emergency personnel responded and closed off the road.

Reese was transported via medical helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, where he died two days later as a result of injuries suffered in the crash.

Ayers was transported via ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center for minor injuries.

Crittenden was not injured.

Teen Receives Minor Injury in Crash

A 17 -year-old Old Lycoming Township boy was treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for a minor hand injury he suffered when he crashed this Toyota Corolla as he was traveling west in the 1300 block of Fox Hollow Road about 4:15 p.m. Monday, according to township police. City and township firefighters responded to the crash as did volunteer fire police

Talking on cellphones is just one of many driver distractions

Distractions can be found anywhere and during any activity that should require one’s full attention. Seemingly small or common activities that people in Pennsylvania or elsewhere do every single day, when combined, can have severely negative consequences. For example, talking on cellphones and driving at the same time results in numerous accidents a year — some of which have fatal outcomes.

Cellphone use while driving is a major public safety concern, so much so that public education campaigns warning of its dangers are constantly taking place. Whether texting or talking, using a hands-free set or not, nearly 700,000 people nationally — teens and adults — are believed to use cellphones while driving on a daily basis. The average time a person spends looking away from the road when using one of these devices is five seconds, which is more than enough time for an accident to occur.

Cellphone use is not the only distraction drivers face. Eating, grooming, interacting with passengers and adjusting music — among various other activities — can also lead to collisions. Even if one’s eyes are on the road while doing any of these other things, that person’s reaction time can be affected dramatically.

With thousands of people killed a year, and hundreds of thousands injured, distracted driving is an issue that cannot be ignored. Pennsylvania residents who have been negatively affected due to individuals talking on cellphones or being otherwise distracted while driving can take legal actions for any resulting damages. Compensation for things such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, disability, mental anguish and numerous other losses may be awarded if civil claims are successfully litigated.

Trout Run Teen, 18, Dies in Crash

A teenager from Trout Run died after losing control of her vehicle while traveling south on Route 287 in Tioga County Sunday.

Jordan Emert, 18, died as a result of blunt force trauma after her vehicle rolled over on the state road, according to Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr.

State police were called to the scene and shut down Route 287 to investigate the crash for a few hours

Emert was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m.

Kiessling said Emert was wearing a seat belt.

Police: Woman Who Crashed on I-180 Was Using Heroin

PENNSDALE – Before getting into her van and losing control of the vehicle on Interstate 180 near the Lycoming Mall on June 4, Bobbie Jean Blair “injected two bags of heroin,” according to state police.

The 27-year-old Milton woman made the admission to Trooper Troy Hansen shortly after she arrived at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, where she was taken by ambulance after the 10:45 a.m. crash.

Blair was traveling east on the interstate when she apparently “passed out,” the trooper said.

The 2000 Chevrolet Venture she was driving went across the median, both westbound lanes as well as an off-ramp before traveling down an embankment, crashing through a fence and bouncing off a barrier near Pond Road in Muncy Township.

Hansen, who arrived within minutes after the crash, said Blair still was in the vehicle when he reached the scene.

“She was very confused and disoriented. She related that she could not recall the crash and that she just passed out,” Hansen said in an affidavit.

Later at the hospital, the trooper discovered in her purse seven empty baggies and a syringe.

Blair was treated and later released. A blood test revealed she was under the influence of heroin at the time of the crash, police said.

Charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, careless driving and related offenses, Blair has been sent a summons to appear before District Judge Jon E. Kemp.

Penn Dot Employee Dies In Crash

CANTON – A state Department of Transportation employee from Linden was killed and four other PennDOT workers were injured Thursday morning when the Dodge Caravan they were in crashed south of here on Route 14, according to investigators.

Christopher Kerns, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene following the 7:30 a.m. crash at Leonards Road in Tioga County’s Union Township, according to James Daugherty, the county’s chief deputy coroner.

Kerns, who was driving the state-owned van, lost control of the vehicle as he was heading north on Route 14, police said.

“He failed to negotiate a left curve and traveled onto the east berm,” Trooper Craig Wharton, a member of the patrol division at the Mansfield barracks, said in a news release.

The van first struck a reflector pole and then a section of guardrails, Wharton said.

“The vehicle traveled over the guardrail, down an embankment and rolled over on its roof,” Wharton said.

Kerns and the others in the van “traveled together as a team” and were en route to PennDOT’s photo and driver exam center in Monroeton, near Towanda, when the crash occurred, Daugherty said he was told.

He said the five employees worked at the driver exam centers in Lycoming, Bradford and Tioga counties, doing various jobs.

“One does the training, another gives the exam and another takes pictures for the licenses,” among other assignments, he said.

Riding with Kerns were Jill Phlegar, 53, and Emily Brewer, 56, both of Williamsport; David Carver, 67, of Watsontown, and Ashley Carter, 31, of Selinsgrove, Wharton said.

The front seat passenger was startled and “hollered” to Kerns as the vehicle veered off the travel lane and over a set of rumble strips, but there was nothing more the passenger could do to prevent the crash, Daugherty said.

All four passengers were able to climb out of the van on their own, Daugherty said. They were taken by ambulances to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

Kerns went into cardiac arrest moments after the crash, Daugherty said.

Canton volunteer firefighters responded to the crash. Police and PennDOT officials took photos of the crash scene.

Daugherty ruled that Kerns died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries.

In a news release issued to WNEP, a PennDOT spokesman said “We would like to extend our heart-felt condolences to all the families impacted by this tragic event.”

WNEP also reported that due to the tragedy, PennDOT employees at the driver exam center in Monroeton were turning people away, telling them that ‘We don’t have the examiners here today,” a member of the public told the news station.

Man Dies in Jersey Shore Crash

Steven M. Shutts, 34, of Jersey Shore, was killed around 7 p.m. Sunday when he lost control of his vehicle, a 1983 Ford Mustang, and struck a tree at 238 Shadle Road in Limestone Township.

Shutts was ejected from the vehicle upon impact and died at the scene, according to state police.

State Trooper Brian Evarts said Shutts was traveling east on Shadle Road when he lost control and traveled across the westbound lane. The vehicle then hit a wooden fence post before striking the tree.

Jersey Shore Man Dies in Crash

Steven M. Shutts, 34, of Jersey Shore, was killed around 7 p.m. Sunday when he lost control of his vehicle, a 1983 Ford Mustang, and struck a tree at 238 Shadle Road in Limestone Township.

Shutts was ejected from the vehicle upon impact and died at the scene, according to state police.

Truck-Buggy Crash Claims The Lives of Two

LOGANTON – A mother and son were killed in Clinton County Friday evening after their buggy collided with a UPS truck.

State police in Lamar reported that Rachel Beiler, 36, and her son, David, 8, both of Loganton, were traveling west along West Winter Road in Logan Township when their buggy was struck by the eastbound truck about 6:45 p.m.

Police reported the truck’s front struck the left horse shaft, or rail, next to the horse, causing the buggy to overturn and hit a tree.

Both Rachel Beiler and David Beiler were pronounced dead on the scene by Clinton County Coroner Zach Hanna. Death in each case was ruled accidental due to multiple blunt force trauma.

The buggy’s driver, Aaron Beiler, 37, of Loganton, and several unidentified passengers listed as 11-, 13- and 14-years-old, each were seriously injured in the crash.

The truck’s driver, Sherry L. Croak, 55, of Lock Haven, sustained moderate injuries.

The horse pulling the buggy was killed in the crash.

Assisting at the scene were Sugar Valley EMS and Fire, Goodwill Hose, Miles Township EMS and Fire, and Jersey Shore EMS.

The crash remains under investigation.

Crash on Interstate 180 Claims Woman’s Life

PENNSDALE – A 32-year-old North Carolina mother was killed and her two children, including her 9-month-old son, were injured in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 180, just west of the Lycoming Mall interchange, about 11:20 a.m. Thursday, according to the Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr.

It is believed that Brittany L. Snauffer, of Dunn, was ejected through a side window as the Ford Explorer she was driving rolled several times in the median, Kiessling and state police said. Dunn is a city in south central North Carolina with a population of about 10,000.

Both the infant and his 7-year-old sister were flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, in a helicopter that landed near the crash scene. There was no information Thursday night on their medical conditions.

Police said Snauffer, who was not wearing a seat belt, was traveling west in the passing lane when she failed to negotiate a curve in the road and lost control of the vehicle.

“We believe the SUV rolled three, possibly four times in the median,” a trooper at the scene said.

As Muncy Township volunteer firefighters and other emergency personnel began arriving on the scene, they immediately began performing cardiopulomonary resuscitation on Snauffer as well as attending to the medical needs of the two children.

The baby suffered a head injury while the injuries to his sister were not serious, but first responders wanted to keep the two together so they both went to Geisinger, police said.

Efforts to revive Snauffer were unsuccessful. Kiessling pronounced her dead at the scene of “multiple blunt force trauma injuries.”

Numerous items, including clothing, shoes, and a stroller covered much of the median after falling out of the SUV.

When asked if the daughter was wearing a seat belt and if her brother was in a child-retraint seat, Kiessling said “That is still under investigation. We don’t know that for sure.”

Firefighters said the children already were out of the vehicle when they arrived on the scene.

Kiessling said the driver’s chances of surviving the crash were greater had she been wearing a seat belt.

“Seat belts save lives. We say it all the time, we see it all the time,” Kiessling said.

Representatives from the state Department of Transportation were on the scene and assisted with the investigation.

Volunteer fire police assisted with traffic control since traffic in both directions was down to one lane for more than 90 minutes.

Police Chase Ends With Car Crash, 5 Teens Hurt, 1 Runs Away

Police in Pittsburgh say one teen has been critically injured and four others hurt in a crash that ended a brief chase police.

Police began pursuing the car about 4:20 a.m. Monday after an officer saw it being driven without headlights.

Police spokeswoman Sonya Toler said one boy ran from the scene after the car crashed.

The 16-year-old driver was pinned by the crushed dashboard and was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in critical condition.

Four other teens were taken to other hospitals with lesser injuries, including a broken leg, broken ribs and a spinal injury.

Police said the teen driving the car didn’t own it, but police have stopped short of saying whether the vehicle was stolen.

Two Injured in Collision

Two people were injured when their vehicle collided with a pickup truck at routes 87 and 973 in Upper Fairfield Township. The injured were the male driver of the car and his female passenger, both of whom bolted from the scene, according to off-duty Williamsport police Assistant Chief Tim Miller. Miller came upon the crash just seconds after it occurred. The woman was bleeding from the mouth. Miller said he chased the two for more than a half a mile, but lost sight of them as they “ran south through some woods and climbed fences.” The driver of the truck was not hurt. State police are investigating the crash and trying to locate the fleeing car driver and his passenger.

Man, Woman Hurt in Motorcycle Crash

A man operating a motorcycle and his female passenger suffered serious injuries when the bike they were riding on and a Dodge Neon collided in front the Christian Church at Cogan Station on Lycoming Creek Road in Hepburn Township about 8:40 p.m. Monday, Old Lycoming Township police said. The two people injured were flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville by helicopters that landed in the church parking lot. A third vehicle was involved, but it sustained only minor damage. Employees of Sick’s Garage, of Trout Run, were helping to remove the demolished cycle.

2 Injured Motorcyclists Identified in Lycoming Creek Road Collision

The two motorcyclists who were injured Monday night in a three-vehicle crash in front of the Christian Church at Cogan Station in Hepburn Township were James G. Clabaugh, 31, of South Williamsport, and Jessica M. Welch-Hetzel, 30, of Linden, according to Old Lycoming Township police.

Clabaugh, who was the operator, was reported in fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, while Welch-Hentzel, a passenger on the same motorcycle, was reported in serious condition at Geisinger, a nursing supervisor said.

Their southbound motorcycle and a northbound car driven by Cody M. Roan, of Ralston, collided in the southbound lane after Roan’s car struck a stopped car ahead of it in the northbound lane driven by Kaitlin M. Kelley, of Williamsport, police said.

Car, Big Rig Collide

The man driving this car was treated at the scene for an arm injury when the vehicle and a tractor-trailer collided in the 5000 block of Lycoming Mall Drive, just east of Montoursville, at 10 a.m. Friday, state police said. The truck driver was not hurt. The drivers’ identities were not released. Montoursville volunteer fire police assisted with traffic because the crash closed one lane of the road until the accident was cleared.

Fatal auto accident in Pennsylvania still under investigation

Police are currently trying to determine what caused a fatal car crash that occurred recently in Pennsylvania. According to reports, two people died in the auto accident and another individual was injured. There is no doubt that the injured victim and the family members of each of the deceased are in need of answers in order to help cope with the losses they have endured as a consequence of this terrible tragedy.

In mid-June, in the western portion of the state, two vehicles are said to have collided, resulting the deaths of both drivers and injuries to a passenger. One of the drivers, a 20-year-old male, was transported for emergency care, but he died about an hour after the crash. The other driver, a 68-year-old female, was taken to a different facility, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries in the early morning hours the following day. A passenger in the car with the young man also required medical attention. The current condition of this individual is unknown.

At this time, police are trying to pinpoint what may have led to the wreck. Weather conditions may have been a factor. The stretch of road on which the accident occurred is not believed to be dangerous; however, several other minor accidents have occurred in the same location.

Losing a loved one in an auto accident and not having any answers as to why the wreck occurred can be hard on families. In this particular case, police are doing their due diligence to investigate and come to conclusions as to why this accident happened. If, upon the completion of a full investigation, negligence can be established against one of the drivers, according to Pennsylvania laws, the injured victim and the family members of the other driver may be entitled to legal recourse. Personal injury, wrongful death and survival action claims can be filed against the estate of the person deemed responsible for this incident. Successfully litigated cases may be awarded monetary judgments as a result.

Injured Driver Identified By State Police

Injured driver identified by state police

The driver hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Lycoming Mall Drive, just west of Fairfield Road, in Fairfield Township about 10 a.m. Friday was Brian W. Cohick, 29, of Williamsport, who was treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, state police said.

His car and a tractor-trailer driven by Michael E. Freezer, of Muncy, collided, police said.

Coroner: Motorist Killed in Wreck Drunk, Likely Texting

When 41-year-old Diane L. Sanner, of Hughesville, fatally crashed her Ford Mustang into an embankment along Interstate 180 near Montoursville on Dec. 19, she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15, according to investigators.

Sanner, who was killed in the 11 p.m. crash near Cemetery Road in Fairfield Township, was not wearing a seat belt, Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said.

Investigators suspect that Sanner was texting at the time of the crash, Kiessling added.

Man Injured in Crash

Firefighters and paramedics work to free 48-year-old Ronald Shaner, of Muncy, from his Suzuki after it was struck in the rear by a car driven by Roger Zamora-Zeledon, of Kenner, Louisiana, in the 1900 block of Lycoming Creek Road about 9:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Old Lycoming Township police. Township and city firefighters responded to the crash. Shaner was treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for neck injuries, police said.

Man Spared Jail Time in Triple-Fatal Crash

ALLENTOWN – A Pennsylvania man who sped through a red light that caused a crash and killed his mother, another woman and her teenage son was spared jail time.

John Mayer was sentenced to two years’ probation following his conviction last month on three counts of recklessly endanger another person in the February 2013 crash in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County.

Mayer, 34, of Slatington, was acquitted of more serious counts of vehicular manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

“That night was the worst night of my life,” he told the victims’ family. He also told the judge that he has no desire to ever drive again.

Authorities say Mayer’s pickup was going 86 mph in a 30 mph construction zone when he ran a red light and hit a sedan, killing 16-year-old George Gonzalez and 42-year-old Sharon Gonzalez. Virginia Mayer, 60, died five months later.

1 of 6 Injured in Route 15 Crash Still Hospitalized

One of six people injured in Tuesday’s two-vehicle head-on crash on Route 15 near the Hepburnville interchange remains hospitalized at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Damian Walker, 26, of Mansfield, was reported in serious condition, a nursing home supervisor said Wednesday night.

He was a passenger in a southbound pickup truck driven by his brother, Kenneth Walker, 29, also of Mansfield, according to Old Lycoming Township police. Both brothers were flown to Geisinger, but the older brother has been discharged.

Police said the truck crossed the median and crashed into a northbound SUV driven by Cinda Stayer-Warner, 51, of Allegany, New York, about 3:50 p.m. The driver and three passengers in her vehicle, Mary Cornish, 66, of Olean, New York; Christeen McNeil, 59, of Portsville, New York, and Mary Stayer-Jandrew, 74, of The Villages, Florida, were treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, police said.

Tour Bus Collides With Big Rig Leaving 3 Dead

TOBYHANNA – A charter bus taking Italian tourists to Niagara Falls collided with a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning on an eastern Pennsylvania highway, killing the bus driver and two others on the bus and leaving four people in critical condition, authorities said.

The crash occurred on Interstate 380 in the Pocono Mountain region as the bus, which departed from New York, was about a quarter of the way to its first destination.

The mangled front end of the bus was upright on the highway but wedged into the side of the tractor-trailer, which was sheared in half. The cab of the truck came to rest on its side in the woods next to the road, one of its axles torn off.

Authorities investigate the scene of a fatal collision between a tractor-trailer and a tour bus on Interstate 380 near Tobyhanna on Wednesday.

It appeared from a wide swath of grass scraped away in the median that the tractor-trailer was southbound when it crossed over the divided highway and into the path of the northbound bus. State police said a second tractor-trailer was involved, but they still were investigating what led to the accident.

Monroe County coroner Robert Allen, who confirmed the three deaths, said there were 17 people aboard the bus. Italian tour operator Viaggidea said there were only 16; 14 passengers, a tour guide and a driver.

The bus owner, Academy Bus, identified its driver as one of the three dead. It said the driver had more than a decade of experience with the company, but it declined to comment further.

More than a dozen people were injured and taken to hospitals, where most were being treated for mild to moderate injuries.

Allen said the truck driver didn’t appear to have been severely injured.

Viaggidea spokeswoman Simona Nocifora said she did not have any information on the passengers, including where they were from in Italy.

After sightseeing in New York, the group was headed to Niagara Falls, then Toronto, Washington and Philadelphia, before returning to New York, according to an itinerary for the eight-day trip.

The tractor-trailer was owned by the Xtra Lease company.

The company’s attorney said officials did not know who was leasing the vehicle.

Crash in Wolf Township Injures 16-year-old

PENNSDALE – A 16-year-old Muncy girl suffered moderate injuries when she lost control of her Volkswagen Jetta, which crashed on Rabbittown Road in Wolf Township about 7:40 a.m. Monday, state police said.

The teen, who was treated at Muncy Valley Hospital, failed to negotiate a curve as she traveled south at an excess speed, police said. The car first rotated 180 degrees, traveled off the road and struck a guardrail, police said.

The vehicle then rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and slammed into an embankment, police said, adding the girl was not wearing a seat belt.

Woman Hurt in I-180 Crash

A woman driving an eastbound van on Interstate 180 suffered injuries late Thursday morning when it went out-of-control between 300 and 400 yards before crashing into a guardrail along Pond Road, near the Lycoming Mall interchange, in Muncy Township, according to emergency responders. The woman, whose identity was not available, was being treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center after the 10:50 a.m. accident. The vehicle went across the median, both westbound lanes as well as an off-ramp lane before going down an embankment, crashing through a fence and bouncing off a barrier, township fire officials said. The state police were investigating the crash.

Crashes Causing Injuries Investigated by Police

PENNSDALE – A man and a woman were injured and taken by ambulances to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center after their pickup truck was involved in a two-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 180 at the interchange here about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to Muncy Township Fire Chief Scott Oldweiler.

No one was injured in the other vehicle, he added.

Firefighters and emergency medical technicians from Muncy Township, Muncy Area and Montoursville responded to the crash. State police investigated.

No other details were available Wednesday night.

State police did release details Tuesday night of a crash that involved two motorcycles on Route 44 in the Waterville area about 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

Kenneth D. Grumbling, 50, of Blairsville, and a passenger, Joni Corridoni, 53, also of Blairsville, were treated at Jersey Shore Hospital for injuries, police said.

Their cycle and another driven by David Lavan, 34, of Home, Indiana County, collided after Lavan lost control of his unit, police said. Lavan and a passenger, Sarah Lavan, 31, ofthe same address, declined treatment for minor injuries, police said.

Teenager Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Lycoming County

Jordan Township — State Police said a 19-year-old man from Lycoming County died Saturday night after a motorcycle crash near the Lycoming and Columbia County line.

According to troopers, Albert Burkhart of Unityville was driving north along Route 42 when he hit a minivan.

Burkhart died at the scene.

The driver of the minivan was taken to Geisinger Medical Center with moderate injuries.

State Police said Burkhart was not wearing a helmet at the time of that deadly crash in Lycoming County.

Route 118 Crash Claims Life of Teen

LAIRDSVILLE – The teenager who crashed his pickup truck on Route 118 near here on Monday morning died of his injuries at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, state police said.

Anthony S. Gennusa, 18, of Sweet Valley, Luzerne County, lost control of his truck as he was traveling west on Route 118 about 7:50 a.m., Trooper Blake Brown said.

The teenager went off the road and then back on, crossing the eastbound lane before striking an embankment, Brown said.

Gennusa was not wearing a seat belt, Brown added.

Concerning another crash in the region, Levi A. Miller, 19, of Hughesville, was treated at Muncy Valley Hospital for moderate injuries he suffered when he was ejected from his pickup truck when it overturned, landing upright in the median along Interstate 180 in Muncy Township about 5:10 a.m. Thursday, state police said.

Driver Is Hurt In Rt. 44 Crash

ANTES FORT Charles Styers, 58, of the Mill Hall, was reported in serious condition after suffering injuries when his pickup truck crashed on Route 44. He is currently in Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Tiadaghton Valley Regional police said the crash happened when he swerved to miss a deer in the middle of the road just north of the Limestone-Nippenose township line about 10:55 p.m. Friday.

Firefighters from Antes Fort, Nippenose Valley and Jersey Shore responded to the one-vehicle crash.

19 Year Old Man, Dies In Motorcycle Crash

A Lycoming County man was killed when he crashed his motorcycle into a vehicle along Route 42 in Jordan Township Saturday night.

State police reported that Albert Monroe Burkhart, 19, of 173 Sheets Road in Unityville, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lycoming County coroner.

Police said Burkhart was traveling north on the road just south of Route 118 when he struck a minivan driven by Alicia Beth Bennett, 35, of Unityville.

Burkhart was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to police.

Bennett was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for injuries described as moderate.

The crash remains under investigation.

20 Year Old Union County Man Killed In Crash, Sunday In Mifflinburg

A Mifflinburg man was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Kelly Township, Union County, late Sunday night.

State police reported Austin Craig Miller, 20, was driving west on Col. John Kelly Road when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree at about 11:35 p.m.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by the Union County coroner.

Assisting at the scene were firefighters from William Cameron Volunteer Fire Co. and White Deer Township Fire Co.

Man Jailed After High-Speed Chase

An Iowa man was charged following a high-speed chase with police Tuesday that started in Williamsport, included a crash with another vehicle and ended in Lock Haven.

Williamsport Police were dispatched early in the afternoon to the American Rescue Workers shelter at 643 Elmira St. after receiving a report of Alex Bell, 23, holding a knife to his arm.

Upon arrival, Bell fled the scene by car with police in pursuit.

A short distance from the shelter, Bell’s vehicle drove off the street and into a yard at 659 Hepburn St.

At Hepburn and High streets, Bell’s vehicle struck a car driven by Brittany Weaver but continued on without stopping. Weaver, who was taken by ambulance to Williamsport Regional Medical Center, reportedly suffered minor injuries.

The police pursuit continued on Interstate 180 and west out of the city where Bell reportedly drove in excess of 100 mph.

Other law enforcement departments became involved in the chase which finally ended in Lock Haven, where Bell was taken into custody.

Bell was arraigned before District Magistrate James G. Carn on charges that included speeding, reckless driving, accidents involving death or personal injury, and fleeing or attempting to elude police.

He was placed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Police: Lawmaker Injured in Crash May be DUI Case

A motorcycle crash on an eastern Pennsylvania interstate that injured a powerful state senator is being investigated as a possible case of driving under the influence, authorities said.

Sen. Patrick Browne, who previously had his license suspended following two DUI crashes, was operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that went out of control on an Interstate 78 off-ramp Saturday afternoon in Allentown. The motorcycle fell on its side and slid along the roadway until it came to rest, according to investigators.

State Senate Republican leaders said Browne, 51, was in stable condition Sunday but is expected to remain in the hospital “for several days.”

“Pat has suffered considerable injuries,” Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Majority Leader Jake Corman said in a statement.

“We have spoken with Pat’s wife, Heather, who is with him,” they said. “Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Pat, Heather and their family during this very difficult time.”

State police said they were investigating the possibility that intoxication was a factor in the crash.

Browne’s license was suspended after drunk-driving crashes in 1995 and 1999, and he told The Associated Press in 2010 that the experiences have influenced his approach to legislating.

“I’ve become more familiar and more adept on the issues related to addiction and recovery,” Browne said. “It’s something that’s faced me personally and something I live with every day.”

Saturday’s crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed. Browne, R-Lehigh, and his chief of staff didn’t immediately return messages left Sunday seeking comment.

The Allentown resident was elected to the state Senate in 2005 after a decade in the state House and served as the Senate majority whip, responsible for rounding up votes, from 2010 to 2014.

After November’s election, Browne was named chairman of the Senate appropriations committee and has taken the lead on legislation that would overhaul the state’s two major public employee pension systems in light of their huge debts, shifting all new state and school employees into a 401(k)-style plan.

Car Crashes Around The Area

Truck closes road after flipping

Part of Route 654, about a mile east of Route 44, in Limestone Township was closed for nearly three hours Tuesday after a dump truck, loaded with 22 tons of limestone, overturned after it and a car collided about 1:30 p.m. The truck driver was trapped for about 40 minutes.. Volunteer firefighters from Nippenose Valley, Jersey Shore and DuBoistown used a variety of tools to free the truck driver. Once extricated, the man was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville with serious injuries. Three people in the car suffered minor injuries, Nippenose Valley Chief Dean Miller said.

Car crash injures 2

The driver of a Honda CRV, Denise Koch, 58, of 532 Pine St., along with an unidentified male passenger were treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for injuries they suffered when the SUV and another vehicle collided. The other driver, Matthew Hunt, 27, of 1208 Isabella St., collided with the Koch vehicle at Park Avenue and Campbell Street about 11:10 a.m. Tuesday. Hunt declined treatment for minor injuries.

2-vehicle crash injuries 1
A woman driving a Chevrolet Equinox was treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for injuries she suffered when her vehicle and a Dodge Durango driven by a 17-year-old girl collided at Four Mile Drive and Warrensville Road in Loyalsock Township about 12:20 p.m. Sunday. The identity of the injured woman was not known Sunday night. Warrensville Road was closed until the crash was cleared.

Woman Charged After Her Alleged Attempted Suicide

MONTGOMERY – A Clinton Township woman faces charges for deliberately driving her SUV into an oncoming truck tractor with a double trailer on Route 15 in attempt to commit suicide, state police alleged in court papers.

“She wanted to kill herself and intentionally caused the collision,” Trooper John Knepp said of Consuella May Figueroa, who turned 36 today, of 6324 Route 15. She is accused of crashing her southbound vehicle into a rig driven by Troy Mohney, of Harrisburg, about a mile north of her home, in the township about 8 p.m. on Jan. 27.

Seeing the SUV come directly at him, Mohney quickly took evasive action in attempt to avoid a crash, Knepp said.

However, Figueroa still managed to plow her vehicle into Mohney’s second trailer, Kemp said. Both drivers escaped serious injuries.

The woman made “a suicidal statement,” to Montgomery Patrolman Nathan Moyer, the first officer to reach the scene, Knepp said.

Charged with recklessly endangering, criminal mischief, reckless driving and careless driving, Figueroa has been sent a summons to appear before District Judge Jon E. Kemp.

Man Charged With Leaving the Scene Following Crash

George D. Grieco, 56, of 1320 Walnut St., has been charged with accidents involving damage to attended property (hit-run) for allegedly fleeing the scene after his 2004 Lexus struck the rear of a vehicle at Washington Boulevard and Elizabeth Street. about 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, city police said. The other driver was Thad Meckley.

Grieco waived his preliminary hearing on the misdemeanor offense last week before District Judge Allen P. Page III and was free on $2,500 bail.

Police: Woman Sets Fire To Her Car After She Intentionally Crashes Into City Radio Station

30-year-old woman who crashed her rental car into the Clear Channel Broadcasting building at 1559 W. Fourth St. on March 5 set a fire in the back seat of the vehicle moments before it slammed into the structure, according to city police Agent Trent Peacock.

Crystal Michele Glantz, who has a “history of mental health issues,” also had a blood-alcohol content level of .16 at the time of the wreck, which occurred about 10:50 p.m.

The fire was set using fire starters and charcoal briquettes; there was also an empty plastic gas can on the back seat.

Police suspect that Glantz, 30, likely targeted the building because she had “filed a civil suit against Clear Channel Radio” two years ago.

The fire was quickly extinguished when firefighters reached the scene. Glantz, who was not hurt in the crash, was taken to the county’s DUI center because she showed signs of intoxication.

The car sustained in excess of $12,000 damage while damage to the building was $6,800.

Glantz was arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge James Carn on charges of arson, felony mischief and driving under the influence of intoxicants. She was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Man Hit By Car Improves Says Hospital

The condition of critically injured pedestrian Jeffrey Willis, 52, of Delaware, has been upgraded to fair, a nursing supervisor at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, said Sunday.

Willis was struck by a driver while walking along Route 414 near Cammal on March 22.

Concerning another crash investigation, Alyssa M. Erb, 35, of Williamsport, remains a patient at Geisinger, but the hospital no longer is providing condition updates on her. She was injured when her car crashed on Cemetery Road near Wildwood Cemetery in Loyalsock Township on March 26.

2 Vehicle Crash on Route 15 Injures One

After declining treatment at a crash scene on Route 15 a 24-year-old Mifflinburg man was handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser on Saturday afternoon. He suffered minor head injuries. The man’s vehicle and a second car collided head-on in front of the Lycoming County landfill in Brady Township just before 4 p.m. The second driver, a woman, was taken by ambulance to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center with minor injuries, Clinton Township emergency responders said. Montgomery police said charges were pending against the male driver. Identities of those involved were expected to be released later this week.

Area Crashes – SUV Flips After Collision

A man driving an SUV escaped serious injury after it and a car collided at Heshbon Road and Hays Lane in Loyalsock Township about 9:10 a.m. Saturday, according to emergency responders. Both drivers declined treatment at the scene for minor injuries. State police were investigating the crash. Concerning two other victims from other incidents, Alyssa M. Erb, 35, of Williamsport, remained in critical condition and Jeffrey Willis, 52, of Delaware, remained in serious condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, a nursing supervisor said Saturday night. Erb was injured in a one-vehicle crash near Wildwood Cemetery on March 26 and Willis was struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking on Route 414 near Cammal.

Police: Man facing several charges after pursuit, crash

As he exited Interstate 180 at the Basin Street interchange during a high-speed chase that began in Montoursville early Thursday morning, 27-year-old Jamal Malcom White lost control of the Chevrolet Lumina he was driving.

The car first struck a utility pole and then overturned several times about 3 a.m., Montoursville Patrolman Douglas A. Litwhiler said in an affidavit.

White jumped out of the car and over a fence. He was found hiding in some bushes, where he was caught by a city police officer, the affidavit stated.

Litwhiler said he coould detect a strong odor of burnt marijuana and alcohol on White.

White, of 618 Pine St., fled from Litwhiler when the officer tried to stop him in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 1015 N. Loyalsock Ave. because the license plate on the car had been suspected of insurance cancellation.

“I had a couple of shots of liquor before I drove and I don’t have a license,” White told Litwhiler after the officer asked him why he failed to stop, according to the affidavit.

White was taken to the county’s DUI processing center, but refused to provide a blood sample, Litwhiler said.

During the pursuit in the westbound lanes of the interstate, Litwhiler said he saw White throw some bags out a window. Officers later found a bag of marijuana that is believed to have been thrown from the vehicle by White.

Already on probation for dealing drugs, White was arraigned before District Judge Jon E, Kemp on charges of fleeing police, driving under the influence of intoxicants, possession of marijuana, reckless driving, driving without a license, speeding and related offenses.

He was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Market Street Crash
The driver and a passenger riding in a Chevrolet Malibu were injured in a two-vehicle crash at Market Street and Oakland Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Monique L. Taylor, 39, of 633 Campbell St., and her passenger, Tyeshia Redding, 35, of 653 Hepburn St., were taken by ambulances to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center. Following the collision, the Malibu slammed into a utility pole. The other driver was Char L. Fredericks, of 2520 Dove St.

Distracted driving, a common issue with young drivers

It is not uncommon to see drivers focused on other things when behind the wheel. In fact, distracted driving can be seen every day on Pennsylvania roads. As April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a study was recently conducted to show just how large an issue this truly is and how many young people it affects.

Accidents caused by distracted drivers can have serious to fatal consequences, and while these incidents seem to be declining in frequency, the number of incidents that do occur is still concerning. According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, when it comes to crashes involving teenage drivers, six of 10 collisions occur due to some form of distraction. The most common focus interferences are reportedly cell phones, passengers, grooming and simply not looking ahead.

According to the most recently provided statistics, young drivers in Pennsylvania — those under 20 years of age — were involved in just over 24,000 accidents in the year 2013. For those between the ages of 16 and 17, the fatality rate associated with these collisions was 27 percent. Car accidents are simply considered the leading cause of death of young drivers across the country, and Pennsylvania is no exception.

Distracted driving tends to affect a lot of people beyond the driver. Legal remedies may be available to those who have been injured or lost a loved one due to this inattentive behavior. Assistance is available in filing and litigating any appropriate legal claims in a Pennsylvania civil court. Fair and full compensation can be awarded if negligence is successfully established against the driver and/or vehicle owner deemed responsible for a collision.

Source: post-gazette.com, “Study asks: Just how distracted are motorists?“, Jon Schmitz, March 30, 2015

Woman Identified in Cemetery Road Crash and Updates On Several Other Area Accidents

The woman who was injured last week in a one-car crash on Cemetery Road near Wildwood Cemetery in Loyalsock Township has been identified as Alyssa M. Erb, 35, of Williamsport. She was reported in critical condition in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with major injuries.

As Erb was heading north on Cemetery Road, she went down an embankment for 45 yards before striking a tree about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

However, the crash was not discovered until about 12:45 p.m. the next day. Firefighters from Loyalsock Township, Old Lycoming Township and the city worked for an hour to extricate her from the wreckage.

Concerning another crash investigation, the condition of Jeffrey Willis, 52, has been upgraded from critical to serious, a nursing supervisor said Tuesday night.

Willis, from the state of Delaware, was recovering from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a hit-run vehicle while walking on Route 414 near Cammal about 1:50 a.m. on March 22. Investigators still are trying to track down the driver.

Regarding another crash, police have identified the injured drivers involved in three-vehicle accident at routes 287 and 973 in Mifflin Township on March 23 as Neil F. Dunkle Jr., 71, of Jersey Shore, and Sandra A. Probst, 24, also of Jersey Shore. The two were treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center for moderate injuries. The third driver was not hurt.

In another crash, Ashley L. Coleman, 21, of Lock Haven, was treated at the same hospital also for moderate injuries she suffered when her Jeep Liberty struck an embankment on Route 973 near Mosteller Road in Eldred Township about 11:20 a.m. on March 20.

On the same day, Kyle A. Fitzgerald, 22, of Trout Run, suffered moderate injuries when his car and an SUV driven by Sara R. Crissman, also of Trout Run, collided on Route 14 near Hutchinson Road in Lewis Township about 9:45 a.m.

Also on March 20, Daniel J. Leister, 42, of Wellsboro, was treated at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro for moderate injuries he suffered when his pickup truck struck a tree on Route 660 in Tioga County’s Delmar Township.

Sunday Night Crash Injures Woman

An unidentified woman sustained minor injuries following a crash along Interstate 180, just west of the Market Street Bridge, in Williamsport shortly before 8:30 p.m. Sunday. She was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. One car was severely damaged in the incident. No other information was available.

Rt. 287 Crash Injures 2

About 4 p.m. Monday a 34-year-old Salladasburg woman driving a Jeep Cherokee was trapped inside her vehicle for nearly 40 minutes after it and a pickup truck collided on Route 287, just north of the Salladasburg Elementary School. Volunteer firefighters had to remove the Jeep’s roof and lift its dashboard in order to free her. The driver of the truck and the woman were taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center by ambulance. A third vehicle, which was stopped, was hit but sustained minor damage.

Recent Vehicle Accidents Around the Area

Sunday night crash injures woman

One car was severely damaged and an unidentified woman was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries following a crash along Interstate 180. The accident occurred just west of the Market Street Bridge, in Williamsport shortly before 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening. No other information was available at press time.

Car collides with city bus

A sedan and a River Valley Transit bus collided around 6:15 p.m. Thursday evening. The car involved in the collision wound up in a yard at the corner of Sixth and Park avenues. The car’s driver was unconscious immediately after the crash but woke up and was able to get out on his own witnesses said. Responding to the accident were city police and fire personnel.

Car Accidents Around the Area

Route 15 Crash claims life of truck driver near Watsontown

WATSONTOWN – On Monday, a 51-year-old truck driver was killed when his rig crashed into concrete barrier and overturned on Route 15, just north of the Watsontown interchange, in White Deer Township.

Interstate 80 Crash claims life of Watsontown woman

LEWISBURG – According to state police, a 26-year-old woman was killed Friday morning when her car and a tractor-trailer truck collided on Interstate 80 in Northumberland County’s Turbot Township.

Weather related Wrecks

Responders were called to countless accidents on snow-covered and slushy roads Friday. A van was removed after a two-vehicle crash at Fifth and Park avenues in the city about 2:15 p.m. The van’s driver was treated at Williamsport Regional Medical Center for minor injuries, while the other driver declined treatment for a neck injury. On Fox Hollow Road, an 18-year-old woman’s car went over an embankment in Old Lycoming Township at about 1:45 p.m. The teen was not injured.

Sycamore Road closes after 2 crashes

Tuesday afternoon on Sycamore Road saw two crashes within a two-hour period which forced the temporary closure of part of the Loyalsock Township street.

Two City Vehicle Accidents

Drivers in crash identified

Drivers in a two-vehicle crash on Via Bella are identified as Max Edgar Ameigh, 80, of 58 Marvin Circle, and Carly N. Smith, 26, of 428 S. Main St., Jersey Shorcrash. They were both treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center and discharged.

City accident victim released from hospital

City accident victim, Anna R. Kent, 30, of 300 Grampian Blvd., who suffered serious burns when she was struck by a car in front of her home on Feb. 25, has been discharged from the Lehigh Valley Hospital burn unit.

Group Policy – Blue Cross v. Platt, 3 Pa. D.&C. 4th 561, aff’d. 576 A.2d 1129 (Pa. Super. 1990)

Blue Cross v. Platt, 3 Pa. D.&C. 4^th 561, aff’d. 576 A.2d 1129 (Pa. Super. 1990). Blue Cross Blue Shield paid medical benefits on a group policy arising out of a motorcycle accident. The insurance company notified the injured victims of their subrogation interest. The insurance company sued based upon their claimed subrogation interest. A group policy is a contract between the insurance company and the victims’ employer and not with the victims as individuals. As third party beneficiaries, the victims are not parties to the contract and are not bound by any provision provided for subrogation rights. In a Memorandum Opinion the Superior Court affirmed, albeit on somewhat different grounds. In a lengthy Opinion, the court stated as follows:

“Therefore, we would not reach an equitable result if we permitted an insurer to unilaterally bind the insured by the outlay of a benefit, where the insureds were unaware that acceptance of this benefit could encumber further settlement negotiations with the tortfeaser.” Opinion Page 7 & 8

The victims specifically deny any prior knowledge of Blue Cross’ subrogation rights. Blue Cross admits that the victims had no knowledge of their parents signing subrogation documents or the circumstances under which those documents were signed.

Blue Cross “utterly” failed to plead that they gave Platt and Coffman notice of their subrogation rights or that Platt and Coffman were otherwise made aware of these rights. Opinion Page 8 & 9. “There is nothing in the record to suggest that they were notified prior to the extension of benefits, and it remains questionable that they were notified before the settlement of their claims with Berrigan.” Opinion Page 9

The court found that Blue Cross had the ability to protect its subrogation rights by requiring the execution of the subrogation documents by the insureds before paying their medical bills. This they did not do.

“Having failed to take this minimal step to protect its rights, Blue Cross may not seek relief in equity to the prejudice of the insureds who accepted the benefits without notice and proceeded to settle their claims. We therefore hold that in order for Blue Cross to establish a right of subrogation against their own insureds, Blue Cross must allege not only the payment of the tort-feasers debt and a subsequent recovery from the tort-feaser by the insureds, but also knowledge on the part of the insureds that the extension of benefits was being made subject to the insureds agreement not to prejudice Blue Cross’ subrogation right.” Opinion Page 9 & 10.

The Superior Court thus affirmed the Order of Summary Judgment.

Irey v. Commonwealth Department of Transportation, 72 A.3d 762 (Pa. Commw. 2013) Case Summary

In this case the accident happened and suit was against PennDOT for leaving water on the roadway. The jury found that there was negligence but no causation. There was no evidence that anything other than the water caused the accident. The court in posttrial motions said that maybe the driver was negligent but the jury never reached the question of contributory negligence. Therefore a new trial was warranted.

Williamsport School Bus Crash Injures 3 Students

Three students from the Williamsport Area School District riding in a bus suffered minor injuries in a five-vehicle crash in the 2200 block of West Fourth Street about 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, city police said.

The students, whose names were not released because of their ages, were treated at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center.

Also injured in the crash was a driver of one of the other vehicles, Becky Randall, 31, of Muncy, police said, adding that she, too, went to the hospital.

Randall’s SUV and a car driven by Derrick Palski, of Jersey Shore, collided which caused Palski’s car to hit the school bus. Other drivers involved were Ashley Sampsell and Anna Colyer, both of the city. Damage to the bus, Sampsell’s car and Colyer’s car were minor while damage to the two other vehicles was moderate.

One Vehicle Crash Kills Allenwood Teen

MONTGOMERY According to state police a 16-year-old girl was killed Monday night and two other people were injured in a one-vehicle crash in the 700 block of Brouse Road.

Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said Dionna Satteson, of Allenwood, lost control of the 2000 Ford Explorer she was driving as she was traveling west on Brouse Road about 7:30 p.m. The vehicle she was driving drove onto a patch of snow along the north berm which a struck a wooden fence and then rolled several times.

Satteson, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene of blunt-force trauma injuries.

Riding with Satteson were Tyler J. Marshall, 23, of Montgomery, and a 17-year-old Muncy girl, both of whom were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

Rodriguez v. Commonwealth, Department of Transportation, 59 A.3d 45 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013) Case Summary

There is no obligation to erect a median barrier. Prior case law is dispositive of this appeal. PennDOT is immune because the purpose of a highway is to travel on the roadway and the lack of barrier does not render the highway unsafe for that purpose. The court has specifically held that PennDOT has no duty to install the median barrier or maintain the median in any way that will prevent crossover accidents. The median is not meant for travel.

Stermel v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, 103 A.3d 876 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014)- Case Summary

Claimant was a police officer who pulled somebody over for speeding. As he sat in his cruiser by the side of the road, he was rear-ended by an intoxicated driver and sustained a back injury. The employer is self-insured for workers’ compensation. It accepted liability. Claimant received salary continuation in lieu of PA workers’ compensation under the Heart and Lung Act. Plaintiff pursued a third-party action against the driver who hit the cruiser and the tavern that served the driver alcohol when he was visibly intoxicated. Total recovery from both defendants was $100,000. The employer filed a petition to review compensation benefit offset seeking subrogation against the claimant’s third-party recovery. The claimant argued that heart and lung benefits are not subject to subrogation under Act 44 and as a government employee he enjoys immunity from the employer’s subrogation claim. When a compensable work injury has been caused by a third party, the Workers’ Compensation Act gives the employer a right of subrogation against the employee’s tort recovery. The Heart and Lung Act contains no such provision, but it has been construed as giving the employer the right to subrogate. In 1984, the Financial Responsibility Law abolished the employer’s ability under Section 319 of the Workers’ Compensation Act to subrogate its compensation payments against a claimant’s motor vehicle tort recovery. The court has interpreted the Financial Responsibility Law to designate Heart and Lung benefits as a type of benefit not eligible for subrogation where the injury arises from a motor vehicle accident. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that Section 25(b) of Act 44 restored an employer’s right of subrogation for workers’ compensation payments but did not impact in the anti-subrogation mandate pertaining to Heart and Lung Act benefits. The current established law is that Section 25(b) of Act 44 applies only to workers’ compensation benefits. The Act did not shift responsibility for Heart and Lung benefits, which remained with the employer. The legislator’s rationale is irrelevant. The employer is simply not entitled to subrogation under Section 25(b) of Act 44. Stermel v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, 103 A.3d 876 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014).

Phillips v. Lock, 86 A.3d 906 (Pa. Super. 2014) – Case Summary

In this case, plaintiff failed to sue the corporation that employed the bus driver. The court said negligent entrustment did not apply. Krapf & Sons did not employ the bus driver and did not entrust the vehicle to him. The party could not be substituted late after statute of limitations ran. 13.80 of SJIC Negligence per se did not apply; instead assured clear distance rule. No new trial should have been granted to plaintiff who lost. Medical treatment exception to hearsay rule did not apply to let in social security determination. The determination was properly kept out.

Head-On Collision in Lock Haven

LOCK HAVEN – An elderly man died and another critically injured following a two-vehicle head-on collision on Route 64 on Friday afternoon.

Paul Eggler, 83, of Lock Haven, died at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, as a result of traumatic injuries he suffered in the crash, which occurred south of Heltman Road, in Porter Township.

Eggler, who was not wearing a seat belt, lost control of his southbound pickup truck on the snow and ice-covered road. The truck began to slide counterclockwise and traveled into the path of a northbound SUV driven by Thomas Auman, 73, also of Lock Haven.

After both vehicles collided, Eggler was ejected from the truck. Auman was reported in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center.

Pennsylvania drunk driving accidents: 2 on-duty officers hurt

Police officers can face a number of frightening situations while on-duty — more than most people ever have to experience. Vehicle collisions are just one example. Recently, two officers in Pennsylvania were injured in two separate accidents involving drivers who are believed to have been impaired. These alleged drunk driving accidents landed each officer in the hospital.

Both accidents occurred in the early morning hours over a weekend. In the first accident, the officer had been assigned to construction detail and was blocking traffic with his vehicle when his car was struck by a car driven by a 34-year-old male. In the second accident, the officer’s vehicle was rear-ended by an automobile driven by a 39-year-old woman. In both cases, the officers were taken to a medical facility for neck and back injuries, while one also complained of knee pain. Their current conditions are unknown.

It was not reported whether the other individuals involved in these accidents also suffered any injuries. Both of the drivers deemed responsible for the collisions were arrested and charged with DUI and other related charges. It is unknown if any court dates have been scheduled for either case.

As these officers were on-duty at the time of these drunk driving accidents, they will likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits to help cover the costs of their care, recovery and lost wages. However, it is possible that these benefits may not sufficiently cover the financial losses these accidents have caused them and their families. Each officer may file a personal injury claim against the person believed responsible for his injury. Financial relief can be awarded for civil claims that are successfully litigated in a Pennsylvania court.

Source: philly.com, “Phila. officers injured in separate car crashes“, Linda Lloyd, Jan. 26, 2015

Full Tort Election

If a written election is not returned to the insurance carrier, it is presumed that the insured has elected the full tort option.
Under this option, an injured part need not satisfy ANY threshold in order to be entitled to bring a lawsuit for non-economic losses.
Non-economic losses include monetary compensation for pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disruption of lifestyle, and a loss of consortium claim for the spouse of the injured party.
Jury charge and verdict interrogatory, in which judge listed pain and suffering separate from loss of pleasures, enjoyment of life, and loss of feeling of well-being, was in error as being duplicative of each other. Carpinet v. Mitchell, 853 A.2d 366 (Pa. Super. 2004)
A lawsuit can be brought for monetary damages, irrespective of the nature and duration of the injury.
Insured party who is injured in a car covered by full tort cannot be denied full tort because he also owns an uninsured vehicle. Progressive Halycyon Ins. Co. v. Kennedy, 908 A.2d 911 (Pa. Super. 2006). Insured had full tort on vehicle in which he was injured, and also owned another vehicle that was not insured under any policy.

Procedure in Obtaining Insurance Under the Financial Responsibility Law

Insurance carrier must send notice to all insureds at least 45 days prior to the first policy renewal after July 1, 1990.
Notice must describe the limited tort option and the full tort option.
Notice must contain a premium quote for basic coverage under both options. Policy holders existing prior to July 1, 1990 amendments are entitled to receive notice of the cost comparisons between the premium differentials of the two types of insurance coverage under the MVFRL Kelly v. Ziolko, 734 A.2d 893 (Pa. Super 1999).
Any person who signs a tort option is precluded from claiming liability from any person for being inadequately informed about the options.
If the insurance company has not received a response to the mailed notice within 20 days after the notice is first sent, the insurance company must send a second notice.
If no response is received ten days prior to the renewal date, there is a conclusive presumption that the named insured has elected the full tort option.
Those electing a full tort option are to receive a 10% reduction in total premium, whereas those selecting a limited tort option are to receive a premium deduction of at least 20%. THEREFORE, IN EXCHANGE FOR GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO SUE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, YOU ARE SAVING AT LEAST 12% OF THE TOTAL PREMIUM CHARGE.
Once a particular option has been elected, that elected option will apply to all renewal policies and replacement policies.
At the time of renewal or replacement, after the initial election, the insurance company must send a notice each year reminding the insured which election was made, describing both elections, and advising the insured that they are entitled to change the election.
Prior to enactment of Section 1731 (b), self-insured entities, which offer optional Liability Insurance Supplement, were not required to meet the statutory requirements mandated by the MVFRL. Saunders v. Jenkins, 717 A.2d 561 (Pa. Super. 1998) Injured party, a passenger in a rental van when driver fell asleep causing accident, had negotiated for a “Hertz” rental van and initialed the contract declining LIS. Injured party sought to recover excess liability insurance coverage. Self-insured entity was not required to comply with notice and rejection provisions of MVFRL. (Saunders was decided prior to enactment of Section 1731(b.1), which added mandatory language for rejection of UM coverage.
Collective bargaining agreement between insured Township and defendant employee did not expressly bind Township to assume liability for defendant’s torts and therefore it was not an “insured contract.” Brooks v. Colton, 760 A.2d 393 (Pa. Super. 2000). Pedestrian, stuck by employee’s vehicle, sued township.

Limited Tort Option

Premium Reduction. Insured will receive an additional premium reduction of at least 12% for making this election.

Tort Election. If this option is elected by an “insured,” the election applies to and is binding on other individuals who are not named insureds under a separate policy. Thus, the option election would apply to any individuals residing in the household of the named insured who are spouses or other relatives of the named insured, a minor in the custody of the named insured, or a relative of the named insured. The elected option applies to the insured, or others bound by the insured’s election, with respect to any private passenger motor vehicle accidents. What this means is that if you have elected a limited tort option and you are a passenger in someone else’s private passenger automobile, and you are injured as a result of the negligence of that driver or some other driver, you are not allowed to sue for non-economic losses except if you suffer a serious personal injury.

2.1 Children of Owners. Children of owner of a registered, uninsured vehicle are not bound by limited tort election that owner was deemed to have chosen under Section 1705 (a)(5). Holland v. Marcy, 883 A.2d 449 (Pa. 2005); however, children of owner of a registered vehicle who has elected limited tort are bound by that election. Hobbs v. Ryce, 769 A.2d 469 (Pa. Super. 2001). This distinction makes little sense, but the courts will not change the wording of the statute. See concurring opinion by Justice Newman in Holland.

2.2 Resident Girlfriend’s Limited Tort Election. Owner of vehicle may be bound by election made by others with regards to the vehicle. Schwartzberg v. Greco, 793 A.2d 945 (Pa. Super 2002). Owner is bound by resident girlfriend’s “limited tort” election on his own vehicle, where he gave her consent to purchase coverage. Pedestrian, who had suspended driving privileges, was struck by a motor vehicle while walking on roadway. Pedestrian’s own vehicle was insured by his resident girlfriend, who had elected “limited tort” coverage and listed pedestrian/owner as an “excluded driver”.

2.3 Fiance’s Selection of Limited Tort. McWeeney v. Estate of Strickler, 61 A.3d 1023 (Pa. Super. 2013). Auto accident occurs in which Sally McWeeney was injured and institutes a lawsuit. The question is whether she is bound by her fiancé’s selection of limited tort. Ms. McWeeney was listed as another driver on the policy but not a named insured. The court found that under Section 1705(f) involving application of tort options, the limited tort selection by the named insured did not bind listed principal drivers. Only the one who is identified by name as insured on the face of the policy is a “named insured” for purposes of tort election. Another question was whether a policy may properly define an “insured” more broadly than the MVFRL for purposes of binding permissive drivers to the owner’s election of limited tort. Where an insurance policy would bar more drivers from claiming non-economic damages against third party tortfeasors than was contemplated in Section 1705, it runs afoul of the statute and is not enforceable. Therefore to the extent that Mr. Brandt’s policy would preclude permissive drivers from filing full tort claims against third party tortfeasors when they otherwise have the expressed right to do so under the MVFRL, the policy is unenforceable.

Right to Sue. If an eligible claimant elects limited tort remedy, that person cannot sue for non-economic losses unless the “serious injury” exception or another exception under the Act applies.

Serious Injury. “Serious injury” is defined as a personal injury resulting in death, permanent serious disfigurement, or serious impairment of body function.

Impairment of Body Function. What constitutes serious impairment of body function depends on the specific plaintiff. Long v. Mejia, 896 A.2d 596 (Pa. Super 2006). The language in the Pennsylvania Act is identical to the language in the Michigan No-Fault Act, and therefore our courts will look to Michigan decisions for purposes of defining “serious impairment of body function.” Under Michigan law, courts have held:

5.1 The impairment need not be permanent to be deemed serious.

5.2 You must look to the particular body function which was impaired.

5.3 You must look to the extent of the impairment.

5.4 You must look to the length of time the impairment lasted.

5.5 What treatment was required to correct the impairment.

5.6 Any other relevant factors.

Under Michigan law, a person who suffers an injury of short duration and who is able to return to full or nearly full activities after a limited period of time cannot recover for non-economic damages.

See Washington v. Baxter, 719 A.2d 733 (1998), adopting Michigan definition from DiFranco v. Pickard, 398 N.W. 2d 896 (1986) and see Long v. Mejia, 896 A.2d 596 (Pa. Super 2006); Graham v. Campo, 990 A.2d 9, 16 (Pa. Super. 2010), appeal denied, 609 Pa. 703, 16 A.2d 504 (2011).

Pedestrians. A limited tort election does not apply to pedestrians. L.S. v. Eschbach, 874 A.2d 1150 (Pa. 2005). Minor child, whose mother had elected limited tort option, was walking across the street when struck by vehicle. Section 1705 does not apply to pedestrians and minor child’s right of recovery is not restricted by limited tort election.

Jury Information. The jury should not be informed of the plaintiff’s election of limited tort and that the election resulted in lower premiums. Price v. Guy, 735 A.2d 668 (1999)

Summary Judgment. The threshold determination as to whether a “serious injury” has been suffered is not to be made routinely by a trial court judge but rather left to the jury unless reasonable minds could not differ on the issue of whether a serious injury had been sustained. The factors to be considered in determining if a claimed injury is “serious” are:

(1) the extent of the impairment;

(2) the length of time the impairment lasted;

(3) the treatment required to correct the impairment; and

(4) any other relevant factors.

The focus is not on the injuries themselves, but on how the injuries affected a particular body function. The impairment need not be permanent. Summary judgment was improperly granted to insurance company where claimant had shown that she was diagnosed with no less than eight (8) ailments, which her treating physician stated to a reasonable degree of medical certainty were a direct result of the accident. The claimant described at length how her daily life had changed because of the pain she has and continues to endure. Medical treatment was not continued because the claimant did not have health care insurance. Cadena v. Latch, 78 A.3d 636 (Pa. Super. 2013).

Definitive objective medical opinion identifying the cause of injured party’s pain is not necessary to overcome motion for summary judgment. Wilson v. Fisher, 21 Lyc. 1 (1999). Plaintiff, seeking noneconomic damages for “serious injury” introduced evidence that he continued to seek treatment and medication for back injury since accident; however, there was evidence of no “disc herniation or significant disc disease.”

Financial Responsibility Law – First Party Benefits

Change in mandatory first-party benefits. Under the present law, there is mandatory insurance requiring all motor vehicles to provide first-party benefit coverage of $10,000.00 in medical expenses, $5,000.00 in income loss, and $1,500.00 in funeral benefits.

First-party benefits as “no-fault.” First-party benefits are the “no-fault” concept, meaning that without regard to the question of fault, the injured party, at a minimum, has the first $10,000.00 in medical expenses covered, the first $5,000.00 in income loss covered, and the first $1,500.00 in funeral expenses covered under the applicable insurance policy covering the accident in question.

Minimum policy. If the minimum policy is in force, and any of these economic losses are exceeded, the plaintiff retains the right to sue for the economic losses in excess of those minimum limits.

Medical benefits. Effective July 1, 1990, required insurance coverage is limited to $5,000.00 in medical benefits. There no longer is any requirement for income loss or funeral benefits. Income loss and funeral benefit expense coverage will be available to insureds as options, but no longer are mandatory.

4.1 Lack of coverage for income loss benefits under an insured’s policy does not entitle insured to those benefits from a car policy in which he is not a named insured, but was the driver. Wheeler v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 905 A.2d 504 (Pa. Super. 2006).

4.2 Injured employee who had opted not to purchase no-fault income loss coverage with her automobile insurance company was not “eligible” to receive income loss benefits under Section1712(2) merely because she could have chosen to purchase them. A person is “eligible” under MVFRL, Section 1722 to receive income loss benefits when he has actually purchased such benefits. Carroll v.Kephart, 717 A.2d 554 (Pa. Super. 1998).

4.3 Income loss benefit cannot be considered payable when coverage is denied; therefore, Section1722 does not preclude a claim for the same. Eberhart v. Zemko, No. 03-01733, CCP Lycoming, Kieser, J., Opinion and Order 10/27/04.

4.4 Chiropractors may delegate certain non-specialized aspects of performing adjunctive procedures to unlicensed support personnel. The question is whether those procedures require specialized, chiropractic education or training. Where delegation is permitted, reimbursement will be provided under the medical payments portion of the coverage. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Cavoto, 34 A.3d 123 (Pa. Super. 2011).

Optional benefits. Since these other types of first-party benefits are options, an additional premium will be charged for those benefits.

Adequate coverage. We are suggesting that serious consideration be given to an adequate first-party benefit package. Those who have minimum first-party benefit coverage should give serious consideration to purchasing at least the medical and income loss first-party benefits. The reason for this suggestion is twofold:

6.1 It is conceivable that an accident will occur in which one of our clients is at fault, or in the situation where no one is at fault. Since first-party benefits are paid irrespective of fault, the higher the first-party benefit limits, the greater the protection against an economic loss for which there is no coverage.

6.2 Assuming that there is a liability situation so that ultimately these economic losses could be recovered from the responsible party, it usually takes at least a year to file, process, and bring to conclusion a liability lawsuit, and during that interim period, incurred medical expenses in excess of $5,000.00 would have to be paid out of the client’s pocket, and there would be no reimbursement for income loss if higher first-party benefit limits are not elected.

Provider Remedy.

7.1 Chiropractors have a private cause of action for interest as a result of late payments, even though law does not specifically create a private remedy. Schappell v. Motorists Mutual Insurance Company, 934 A.2d 1144 (Pa. 2007).

7.2 Section 1797 of the MVFRL authorizes insurance companies to pay less than medical providers’ customary charges if those charges exceed statutorily defined thresholds. Pittsburgh Neurosurgery Assoc. v. Danner, 733 A.2d 1279 (Pa. Super.1999). Insured’s medical bills were paid by his insurance company pursuant to the MVFRL cost containment provisions. After insured’s first party medical benefits were exhausted, provider sought additional sums from insured for the fair market value of its services. Court held it would be against public policy to allow provider to receive fair market value.

Statute of Limitations.

8.1 Statute of limitations begins to run on date the injury is sustained, and not when injured party knew or should have known that medical costs would exceed first party medical benefits. Injured party had elected limited tort with first party $10,000 medical benefit. After the two-year statute of limitations had expired, she sued driver of second car involved in accident for compensatory damages for medical expenses in excess of her 1^st party medical benefits. Summary judgment for second motorist affirmed. Haines v. Jones, 830 A.2d 579 (Pa. Super. 2003)..

8.2 “Choice of law” analysis does not apply in determining the applicable state statute of limitation law because it is a procedural law issue. Pennsylvania passenger riding in car belonging to Pennsylvania resident, was injured in an accident in New Jersey. New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations applied to passenger’s claim for additional first person medical benefits from driver’s insurer’s under New Jersey’s “deemer” statute. Wilson v. Transport Ins. Co., 889 A.2d 963 (Pa. Super. 2005).

8.3 The statute of limitations begins to run on the date of the accident, and not on the last day of payment. A general release is not a payment under Section 1721 when an injured party is precluded from recovering first party medical benefits. Accident occurred on June 1, 1995. Provider unsuccessfully argued that statute of limitations began to run on June 9, 1997, the date the injured party, her employer and its insurer signed “general release of all claims” for consideration of $45,000. Court held the statute of limitations expired on June 1, 1999. Philadelphia Ambulatory Care Center, Inc. v. Rite Aid Corp., 805 A.2d 613 (Pa. Super. 2002).

8.4 The statute of limitations to recover first party benefits filed by pedestrian shall be commenced within four (4) years from the date of the accident giving rise to the claim. If first party benefits have been paid, an action for further benefits shall be commenced within four (4) years from the date of the last payment. 75 Pa.C.S. § 1721(a), Glover v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 950 A.2d 335, 338 (Pa. Super. 2008). The insurance company sued was that of the tortfeasor. The tortfeasor could no longer be sued because the statute of limitations had already expired as to him because plaintiff sued decedent without suing his estate.

9. Insurer’s Payment.

9.1 Insurer’s payment of first-party benefits under medical payments coverage does not constitute admission of causation. Pantelis v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 890 A.2d 1063 (Pa. Super 2006).

Who is entitled to First Party Benefits?

10.1 Owner of a registered but uninsured vehicle is not entitled to recover first party benefits when such owner is injured in an accident which does not involve the owner’s uninsured vehicle. Swords v. Harleysville Ins. Co., 883 A.2d 562 (Pa 2005). Son was driving father’s registered and insured vehicle, when he was involved in an accident. Son’s own vehicle, not involved in the accident, was registered but uninsured. See also Bryant v. Reddy, 793 A.2d 926 (Pa. Super. 2002). Owner of registered, but uninsured vehicle cannot recover medical expenses and wage losses from other driver. But see, Corbin v. Khosla, 42 A.3d 254 (Pa. 2012), for the proposition that uninsured driver may sue a responsible party for economic losses.

10.2 Owner of vehicle currently registered in another state, who does not have financial responsibility, may not recover first party benefits. Santorella v. Donegal Mutual Ins. Co, 905 A.2d 534 (Pa.Super. 2006). Insured, who moved from California to Pennsylvania, did not obtain insurance or register his car in Pennsylvania because he did not intend to drive it in Pennsylvania during the winter. Car was still registered in California when insured was injured in another person’s vehicle. Insured’s claim for first party benefits denied due to failure to maintain financial responsibility over California registered car.

10.3 Former foster child was entitled to first party benefits as a “ward” under insured’s policy, even though there was not a court order regarding foster child status. Donegal Mut Ins. Co. v. Raymond, 899 A.2d 357 (Pa. Super. 2006). Former foster child returned to live with insureds, his former foster parents, at his request, hours before he was injured in accident.

10.4 Insurance policy cannot narrow the MVFRL’s definition of “insured”. Walker v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 21 Lyc. 243 (2002). Decedent pedestrian, who was co-owner of covered vehicle, was listed by name on the policy, and identified by sex, marital status, and birth date by insurer records, did not come under policy definition of “named insured”; however she did come under the MVFRL’s dentition of “insured”.

10.5 Minor passenger on snowmobile, which was struck by car as it crossed the highway, cannot recover first party benefits, as snowmobile is recreational vehicle not intended for highway use. Gallo v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 791 A.2d 1193 (Pa. Super. 2002).

First party benefits under ACP (Assigned Claims Plan).

11.1 Uninsured Occupants of an Illegally Uninsured Motor Vehicle. Uninsured occupants of an illegally uninsured motor vehicle, who are not entitled to first party benefits under any insurance policy, are entitled to seek benefits from the ACP. Hester v. Pa. Financial Responsibility, 743 A.2d 926 (Pa.Super. 1999). Injured parties were passengers in an uninsured vehicle, which was required to be insured. See also Ortiz v. Gamble, 759 A.2d 408 (Pa. Super. 2000).

11.2 Occupant. Uninsured pedestrian transferring from one SEPTA bus to another is struck by an unidentified and presumably uninsured vehicle. SEPTA is self-insured and obligated to carry first party benefits and uninsured motorist coverage. The coverage requirements should be provided by the Assigned Claims Plan (ACP) and not SEPTA since when the passenger was transferring from one SEPTA vehicle to another she was not to be considered an “occupant.” Jones-Molina v. SEPTA, 29 A.3d 73 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011).

Lack of Counsel.

Pennsylvania Insurance Guaranty Association (PIGA) had a right to set aside any default judgment that was entered against the insolvent insurer while it was in rehabilitation or receivership and was unable to defend a claim on the merits. Ascher v. Pennsylvania Ins. Guar. Ass’n, 722 A.2d 1078 (Pa. Super. 1998). Insurance Company had been declared insolvent and was in receivership when class action suit was brought against it. Insurance Company was not represented by counsel at trial, and jury verdicts were returned against it.

Peer Review.

13.1 Insured’s Standing. An insured under an insurance policy has a direct, immediate, and substantial interest in enforcing the terms of the policy and in judicial resolution of a dispute over coverage for medical expenses, regardless of determination of peer review organization. Kuropatwa v. State Farm, 721 A.2d 1067 (Pa. 1998). More than two years after accident and medical treatment, insured received additional medical treatment. Insurer denied benefits on basis of PRO, which determined additional treatment was not medically necessary.

13.2 Attorney’s Fees.

13.2.1 Submission to Peer Review Organization. In this case, provider was a chiropractor whose bills were not entirely paid after State Farm submitted the bills to a peer review organization pursuant to Section 1797(b) of the law. The PRO determined that certain chiropractic treatments were not necessary or reasonable. The insurer therefore refused to pay for such treatments. The provider chiropractor who commenced a civil action for his bills together with a request for attorney’s fees and triple damages. The court ruled that the attorney’s fees section of 1797(b)(4) only applied where the insurance company did not first submit the bills to a peer review organization. If a peer review organization was utilized first, then attorney’s fees cannot be collected by the provider when they sue and win. The legislature has provided for fee awards only in relation to matters pursued under subparagraph (b)(4), 75 Pa.C.S. § 1797(b)(6), which applies only to insurer refusals-to-pay for treatment “the reasonableness or necessity of which the insurer has not challenged before a PRO,” § 1797(b)(4). Herd Chiropractic Clinic v. State Farm, 64 A.3d 1058 (Pa. 2013).

Travelers refused to pay for physical therapy in connection with 2008-2009 claims based upon 2003 peer review. The parties agreed that the fees were reasonable and necessary. The insurance company had done a defense medical examination in ’03 in connection with whether the physical therapy was as a result of an automobile accident. InHerd, supra., the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that an insured cannot recover attorney’s fees pursuant to § 1797(b)(4) and (6) of the Financial Responsibility Law if the charges and treatment at issue were submitted to a PRO for a determination of whether they were reasonable and necessary. Here, the court determined that Travelers Insurance Company did not avail itself of the peer review process and hence attorney’s fees were properly awarded to the insured. The claim that Travelers denied payment of the 2008-2009 bill based upon 2003 peer review is not supported by the record. A defense medical examination is not the equivalent of peer review, even if it was run through a peer review organization. The insured pled a violation of the Financial Responsibility Law. The trial court did not err or abuse its discretion in awarding attorney’s fees pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S. § 1797(b)(4) and (6). Levine v. Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, 69 A.3d 671 (Pa. Super. 2013).

13.2.2 Completed Review. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania determined that the trial court erred in determining that Doctor’s Choice could not recover attorney’s fees pursuant to Section 1797(b)(6) of the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law based on Travelers’ mere referral of disputed bills to a peer review organization when no valid peer review was performed. The legislature intended that there be a successfully completed peer review process before an insurance company can avoid paying attorney’s fees in a situation where they did not pay medical bills. Doctor’s Choice v. Travelers Personal Insurance, 92 A.3d 813 (Pa. Super. 2014).

Release.

There is no valid settlement agreement when insured fails to comply with condition of signing and returning the general release. Cawthorne v. Erie Ins. Group, 782 A.2d 1037 (Pa. Super. 2001).

Cost Containment – Section 1797(a).

Self-insurers such as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, are subject to the cost containment provisions found in § 1797(a) of the Financial Responsibility Law. Self-insurers, like all other insurers, must provide a medical benefit in the amount of $5,000. SEPTA paid the medical providers’ bills without adjusting them first, and capped payment for each accident victim at $5,000. The injured parties, after they settled their tort cases, filed a class action alleging that SEPTA was required to mak