Car Accident Round-Up – Accidents Claim Young Lives Along East Coast

Four Die in Fiery South Carolina Crash
Four friends died in a fiery car crash around 5 a.m. last Wednesday morning in Columbia, South Carolina.  The four, who had been out celebrating a birthday, were traveling together in a Dodge Charger on George Rogers Boulevard when their car slammed into the Farm Bureau Insurance building at the Shop Road intersection.  The car became engulfed in flames, but the coroner reports the four died upon impact. The friends were in their early 20’s.  Police are continuing to investigate the accident, however, they believe speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors in the accident.

One Teen Dies, Four Injured in VA Accident
A five-car accident Monday afternoon near Rocky Mount, Virginia has claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy and left three other teens and an adult injured.  According to news reports, a Mercury Cougar carrying four teenagers was traveling north on Route 122 when the 17-year-old female driver apparently lost control.  The car crossed the center line striking two oncoming vehicles before swerving off the road and hitting two parked cars.  Virginia State Police are continuing to investigate the accident, but believe speed may have been a factor.  

Alcohol Suspected in Fatal Florida Car Accident
The Florida Times-Union reports two men died and two others were seriously injured when the Chevy Impala in which they were traveling crashed around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.  The car was traveling on State Road A1A near Jacksonville, FL when it crossed the center line, left the roadway and struck a tree. The car then overturned and caught fire.  The 23-year-old driver and a 24-year-old passenger died in the accident.  The two other passengers, aged 22 and 24, were able to crawl to safety, and were listed in fair condition at the local hospital.  The Florida Highway Patrol report alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.

New York Accident Claims Three Lives
Fox23News.com reports all three men in one vehicle died when their car crashed early Saturday morning in Red Hook, New York.  The men, aged 21, 22 and 24-years-old, were driving on State 9G when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and swerved off the road hitting a tree.  Police reported that speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today 
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

FL Nursing Home Hit With Largest Nursing Home Neglect Verdict

According to an article in the Tampa Bay Pines, Trans Health Management has been ordered to pay the largest nursing home neglect verdict in Florida history.  The $200 million verdict was awarded to the family of a 92-year-old woman who was found dead at the bottom of a stairwell at Pinellas Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Pinellas County, Florida in 2004. 

The staff at the Center did not notice the woman was missing for over an hour.  They then found her still strapped in her wheelchair at the bottom of 10 steps at the open emergency exit stairwell. She died shortly before the paramedics arrived. 

Trans Health Management Inc., which oversaw the nursing home at the time of the accident, did not present a defense in the case.  During the trial, former employees at the home testified that the door to the stairwell was supposed to be locked, but the staff disabled the alarm so they could go outside for a smoke break.  Former aides also testified the nursing home was often understaffed.  The facility also had a history of deficiency citations and abuse complaints, according to news reports. 

The jury deliberated less than an hour before coming to the verdict.  They awarded $60 million in compensatory damages and $140 million in punitive damages. 

If you or someone you love has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact our experienced attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright today.  For a free consultation call us toll free at 1-800-318-LAW1 or contact us online.

Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney Supports Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving

Pennsylvania car accident attorney Caroline Munley today applauded a federal agency’s recommendation for the prohibition of cell phone use by drivers of all personal and commercial vehicles.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in December that all drivers be prohibited from using cell phones and other electronic devices behind the wheel.

The proposal grew from the NTSB’s investigation of a multi-vehicle collision in Missouri in 2010 that was caused by a pickup truck driver who was distracted by a text-messaging conversation. The wreck killed two and injured 38.

“We support the NTSB’s recommendation for a complete ban on cell phone use by drivers of all motor vehicles,” said Munley of the Pennsylvania personal injury firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., which represents victims of car crashes and truck accidents throughout the Northeast.

“The growing trend in Pennsylvania and across the nation of wrongful deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving needs to become a thing of the past,” Munley continued.

“A ban that applies to private drivers makes perfect sense alongside the newly implemented prohibition on using handheld cell phones while operating interstate trucks and buses.”

Munley pointed to a final rule posted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that prohibits interstate truck and bus drivers from using handheld cell phones while operating their vehicles. The rule took effect January 3.

Also, in November, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed a statewide ban on text messaging while driving, which goes into effect in early March.

The NTSB said 3,092 Americans died last year in motor vehicle crashes attributed to drivers’ use of cell phones and other distractions.

Munley said her firm, which has investigated thousands of automotive accidents in Scranton and across Pennsylvania as part of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, has increasingly seen accidents attributed to distracted driving.

“We’re glad to see that laws and regulations are beginning to catch up with the need to curb the negligent and reckless practices involved in distracted driving,” she said.

According to Munley, anyone harmed in an accident caused by a distracted driver should contact an experienced Pennsylvania accident attorney.

“Insurance companies can easily take advantage of unsuspecting accident victims after a collision,” Munley said. “That’s why it’s important to seek the assistance of a lawyer who has dealt with insurance companies in accidents involving private vehicles and commercial trucks and buses.”

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or use the firm’s online contact form.

Car Accident Round-Up – Two Dead After KY Police Chase

Police Chase in KY Leaves Two Dead
Police in Louisville, KY chased a stolen vehicle down Dixie Highway near the Watterson Expressway Friday morning, according to WHAS 11.com.  The driver of the stolen vehicle crashed the car into a utility pole causing the driver and his teenage passenger to be ejected.  The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.  The car also fatally struck a passenger.  The policeman involved in the chase has been placed on routine leave during the investigation.

Ohio Accident – 2 Dead, 2 Injured
An early morning car accident on Saturday left two people dead and two injured.  The four were riding together when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, ran off the highway striking a sign post and overturning.  The accident on I-71 in Deerfield Township, about 15 miles northeast of Cincinnati, resulted in the two back-seat passengers being ejected from the vehicle.  They were pronounced dead at the scene. Police report that the driver did not have the car’s lights on making it difficult for others to see the accident.  The driver and front-seat passenger were taken to the hospital for their injuries.

Loose Musical Case Causes Fatal Head Injuries
 According to the Salt Lake Tribune, a Colorado man died in an accident on I-70 near Richfield, UT after the SUV in which he was a passenger was rear-ended in stopped traffic. The westbound SUV was stopped in traffic while crews conducted power line work.  A driver in a Honda Element did not stop in time, and rear-ended the SUV, then struck another vehicle before running off the road.  The passenger in the SUV was struck in the head by a musical case inside the vehicle that was propelled forward upon impact.  The man died the next day from his injuries.  Police report the driver in the Element showed signs and symptoms of drug use. Minor injuries were reported for the others. 

Poor Weather to Blame for Fatal Crash
WIVB.com reports a Hamburg, NY woman died in a two-car accident on Camp Road between St. Francis and Victory in Hamburg around 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.  The woman apparently lost control of her vehicle and spun out into the northbound lanes where she was then struck by a pick-up truck.  Police are continuing to investigate, however they believe the accident was caused by bad weather conditions. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Florida Company Sued in Car Accident Over Driver’s Poor Record

According to NaplesNews.com, the parents of a teen who died in a vehicle accident as he and others were being driven back to their school after competing in a flag football game have filed a lawsuit against the driver’s estate and his employer.  The driver had a poor driving record with over 18 tickets, and the lawsuit alleges the company should not have allowed the man to drive the students. 

The accident occurred last month when the driver lost control as he approached a 90-degree turn on Wagon Wheel Road, about three miles west of Turner River Road in Ochopee, Florida.  The vehicle struck a traffic sign and flipped into a canal.  The driver and the teenager died in the accident.  The six other passengers suffered minor injuries. 

The lawsuit points out that the driver’s license had been suspended six times, and on the night of the accident his license had been suspended three months.  The lawsuit also claims the driver’s employer, a state Department of Juvenile Justice contractor, was aware of his past driving and criminal history.  The suit claims the employer also knew that his license was suspended and in fact, the company had warned him in a February 2011 memo that he was not fit to operate company vehicles. 

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Minnesota Family Seeks Damages in Fatal Car Crash

The trustee of a teenager who died in a car crash near Claremont, MN, in 2010 is suing the driver and father of the car the teen rear-ended.  The lawsuit seeks compensation for loss of aid, medical expenses and funeral expenses, as well as other compensation, according to the PostBulletin.com. 

The deceased teen was in the second car traveling in a “caravan” of four cars on their way to a football game.  When the driver of the lead car came upon a deer in the roadway he slammed on his brakes causing a chain-reaction collision.  The injuries the teen sustained in the accident were fatal. 

The lawsuit alleges the driver of the lead car was driving too fast and should have tapped his brakes to warn those following him of the obstacle in the road. 

The suit seeks over $100,000, including $50,000 for “the loss of aid, comfort, advice, support, guidance and income which decedent would have provided for his next-of-kin during his lifetime,” and nearly $75,000 in medical expenses. 

The family named in the suit has not yet filed a reply. 

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Car Accident Round-Up – Fatal Teen Accidents in Maine and North Carolina

Fatal Maine Accident Attributed to Texting and Drinking While Driving
A night of partying for a group of Maine teenagers turned tragic when the car in which they were riding drifted off the roadway and struck a driveway causing the car to go airborne.  The car then hit a group of trees before coming to rest. According to the Bangor Daily News, a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old, both passengers, died instantly in the accident.  The 18-year-old driver and a 22-year-old passenger were taken to the hospital for treatment.  Police report, “Alcohol and distracted driving are the primary causation factors,” for the accident.  Police are investigating the accident as well as the underage drinking party the teens had been attending. 

NC Teen Charged in Fatal Accident
 A 16-year-old Raleigh, NC boy has been booked on numerous charges including driving while impaired, felony death by motor vehicle and careless and reckless driving after the car he was driving crashed, killing his 17-year-old passenger.  The News & Observer reports the early Saturday morning accident occurred when the driver apparently lost control of his SUV and ran off the road and struck a tree on Rainwater Road in Raleigh. 

Tragic NY Accident Claims Four Lives
Two adults and two young children lost their lives in a tragic automobile accident Saturday afternoon on Airport Road near Binghamton, NY.  Apparently, a minivan carrying three children crashed head-on into an SUV.  The driver of the minivan, the grandfather to the three children, died at the scene of the accident, and two of the children died later at the hospital.  The third child is in stable condition in the hospital.  The SUV driver succumbed to her injuries shortly after the accident.  Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident. 

Three Die in Florida Accident When Car Crashes in Retention Pond
Three elderly people died when the SUV in which they were riding drifted off I-95 in Jupiter, FL and landed in a water runoff drainage ditch.  The retention pond was filled with water causing the vehicle to become completely submerged.  The driver and the two passengers, ranging in age from 73 to 80-years-old, all died in the hospital shortly after the accident.  According to the Palm Beach Post, the Sunday afternoon accident occurred north of the Donald Ross Road exit after the southbound car swerved off the road, struck a light pole and a cement culvert sending the vehicle into the pond. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Kentucky High School Settles Lawsuit Over Football Player Who Died During Practice

A 2006 lawsuit filed by the parents of a Henderson County, KY high school football player who died during practice has finally been settled.  Although the terms of the settlement are sealed, both parties said they were glad to put the dispute behind them. 

The lawsuit claimed negligence against several school personnel and a doctor, but the suit dragged on while the insurance companies continued to argue over which one bore the most responsibility, according to Kentucky.com. 

The 16-year-old football player died during practice on a hot, humid day in July.  The defendants claimed the teen died due to an underlying cardiac condition.

The father said his son’s death had played a part in changes to state law and athletic regulations that deal with heat.  While he said the settlement was a “bitter pill to swallow,” he also said that without filing the suit they would not have gotten the details surrounding their son’s death. 

If you have been injured or a loved one died in a personal injury accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 877-918-1198 for a free assessment of your case or use our free online case evaluation.

Ohio Oral Surgeon Faces Second Lawsuit

The Chronicle-Telegram reports a retired Lorain, Ohio oral surgeon is being sued for an undisclosed amount by a patient who claims she “was injured and was caused to suffer seizures, neurological damage and other severe and debilitating injuries, some of which were permanent in nature,” during treatment in Dec. 2010.

According to the article, a motion attached to the lawsuit seeks a 90-day enlargement of time to file an affidavit of merit, stating “there is strong reason to believe a cause of action exists” against the surgeon and unnamed nurses, dental assistants and/or health care professionals that the suit lists as defendants.

The physician had previously been sued when a 13-year-old patient died after receiving sedation prior to oral surgery in December 2010.  The doctor’s insurance company paid $1 million to the family of the deceased girl, and the 81-year-old physician stopped giving intravenous sedation and agreed to retire in September.  The girl’s death was ruled accidental.

The dentist claims the pending lawsuit is groundless.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a form of medical negligence you may have a medical malpractice claim.  Our attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are experienced and successful medical malpractice litigators and we fight to protect the rights of patients.  Contact us at 1-800-318-LAW1 or fill out our free Claim Evaluation Form.

Car Accident Round-Up – Massive Pile-up on I-10 Leaves Two Dead, Dozens Injured

Deadly Louisiana Accident Closes Road for More Than Twelve Hours
 A massive pile-up on I-10 near New Orleans, LA early in the morning last Thursday left two people dead and dozens more injured. According to WWLTV.com, the crash involved over 40 vehicles and took investigators, emergency responders and clean up crew over 12 hours to clear the wreckage and reopen the highway.  Twenty-five people were hospitalized, several critical, and 37 others were injured but were treated at the scene. Poor visibility due to fog or smoke may be to blame. 

GA Trooper Crashes into SUV Leaving One Dead
A Georgia state trooper rushing to help another policeman ran through a red light and crashed into an SUV near Atlanta, Georgia on New Year’s Eve.  The collision that occurred at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Memorial Drive killed the wife of the Atlanta Braves head trainer and injured him, his son and his son’s friend.  The trooper’s car struck the passenger side of the SUV, where the deceased woman was riding.  The SUV then struck a utility pole.  The trooper was placed on leave while police investigate the accident. 

Pedestrian Struck, Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in NC
 A 32-year-old woman walking from her home to a convenience store across the street was struck by a hit-and-run driver Sunday night in Raleigh, NC.  The woman was crossing South Saunders Street near Maywood Driver around 7:15 p.m. when a pickup truck traveling southbound hit the woman.  The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.  Police are still searching for the driver.

Buggy Accident in PA Requires Horse to be Euthanized
WPXI.com reports a horse-drawn buggy in Marion Center, PA was struck by an ambulance early Wednesday morning.  Apparently, the driver of the buggy dozed off or was distracted when the horse instinctively pulled on the reins and veered into the path of the oncoming vehicle.  No one was injured in the accident, but he horse hit the ambulance’s windshield causing severe enough injuries that it had to be put down. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.