Pennsylvania Injury Lawyers & Accident Attorneys: Injuries, Workers Comp: Scranton PA

Pennsylvania Parents Urged to Keep “Button Batteries” Out of Reach of Children

Your Lawyer — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:24 +0000

In March we published an article regarding the choking hazards posed to children that swallow “Buckyballs,” or small, round magnets from an adult stress-relieving desk toy. Now, health officials are targeting a new choking hazard for children – “button batteries.”

“Button batteries” are common, coin-sized batteries that are found throughout the house. These batteries are found in electronic games and toys, flashlights, calculators, remote controls, key fobs and even in electronic greeting cards. Unfortunately, children find the small, shiny objects appealing and are swallowing the batteries, holding them in their mouths, or inserting them in their ear canal or nasal cavity.

According to a study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, an estimated 65,788 patients under 18-years-old have visited a hospital emergency room due to a battery-related exposure incident between 1990 and 2009. That equates to nearly 3,289 battery-related emergency room visits annually.

An article in Reuters Health reports that the batteries can become lodged in a child’s esophagus and push against its walls. Older batteries can potentially leak acid damaging the tissue in the child’s throat and esophagus. There is also a potential that the battery will generate an electrical current flowing through tissue and burn a hole in the trachea or the esophagus. This can occur even with batteries that have been discarded after being deemed “dead.”

Fortunately, however, according to the study, 92 percent of the children who came to the emergency room were treated and released.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that many times parents don’t realize that a child swallowed the battery and discount their symptoms as just a temporary illness. A child that has swallowed a battery that begins to leak will have symptoms similar to a common viral illness, or potentially none at all. However, it takes just two hours for serious damage to result.

CPSC recommends the following steps to prevent unintentional battery ingestion:

Keep remotes and other electronics out of your child’s reach if the battery compartments do not have a screw to secure them. Tape may be used to help secure the battery compartment.
Keep button batteries out of your child’s reach. Discard button batteries carefully.
Do not allow children to play with button batteries.
Never put button batteries in your mouth for any reason; they are slippery and easily swallowed accidentally.
Always check medications before ingesting them. Adults have swallowed batteries mistaken for pills or tablets.
Caution hearing aid users to keep hearing aids and batteries out of the reach of children.

Our Pennsylvania product liability attorneys encourage all parents and adults to follow the CPSC’s advice and to keep a close watch on the potential for small, lithium batteries to fall into your young child’s hands. If you believe your child has swallowed a battery, do not hesitate to take him or her to the nearest emergency room. Immediate care may make the difference in the recovery of your child.

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 visit the firm’s website.

PA Teen Drivers Encouraged to Participate in Global Traffic Campaign Focusing on a Safe Summer

Your Lawyer — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:52 +0000

Just Friday we presented information from a study that shows that teenage drivers are in denial that they will be the cause of a distracted driving accident. That may not be the case for all teens, however, and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is hoping to rally teen safety advocates to help spread the word to other teens to drive safely.

NOYS announced Tuesday the start of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. With a focus on a safe summer, the campaign is “targeting young drivers to commit to the safest summer ever to put an end to motor vehicle crashes.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers aged 15- to 20-years old are especially vulnerable to death and injury on U.S. roadways. In fact, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America with approximately 5,000 teenagers killed every year. The NHTSA also notes that, mile-for-mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

“Summer is the deadliest time of year on the roads for teens,” said Sandy Spavone, Executive Director of NOYS, pointing to NHTSA data that an average of 422 teens die in traffic crashes during each of the summer months as compared to a monthly average of 363 teen deaths during the non-summer months.

The events for the month kicked-off with a rally in Washington, D.C., with activities to encourage teens to sign pledges and participate in distracted driving and impaired driving prevention activities. Teen drivers were asked to take a pledge signing links to represent a student’s commitment to promote safe driving. The links were to be constructed into a chain to be displayed at a school or community center.

Speakers included U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt and Peter Kissinger, CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

“National Youth Traffic Safety Month is an important reminder of the obligation we all share to help keep our youngest drivers safe behind the wheel,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I’m tremendously grateful to the young leaders across the country who are stepping up to raise awareness about traffic safety in their communities.”

Various competitions among schools have been conducted throughout the year and will continue through the duration of the campaign. Act Out Loud is one competition encouraging youth to raise their voices in their school and communities for stronger teen driving safety laws. Act Out Loud is sponsored by NOYS and The Allstate Foundation, and offers a grand prize of $10,000. See NOYS for a full list of events.

Some of the PA schools participating include Central Mountain HS in Mill Hall, PA; Central Tech, Erie, PA; Fayette cCounty Career and Technical Institute, Uniontown, PA; James M Coughlin HS, Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Deer Lakes HS, Creighton, PA.

In Pennsylvania in 2010, there were 121,312 total automobile accidents. Of those, 27,351 involved drivers under the age of 21.

Our PA car accident attorneys encourage all teens to be actively involved in all educational campaigns aimed to educate about safe driving behaviors. Following the activities of NOYS throughout the month may just help you prevent an accident this summer.

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-568-6024.

Young Drivers In Denial That Distracted Driving Affects Them

Your Lawyer — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:10 +0000

Just last week we reported on a study from the University of Leeds that found drivers with just one hand on the wheel that are engaged in a “secondary task” are at increased risk of an accident. Now, researchers at Bridgestone Americas report that while teenage drivers realize distracted driving is dangerous, they don’t see everything that takes one hand off the wheel as a distraction.

The survey, that underscores the findings by those at the University of Leeds, found that even though many teenagers and young adults claim they understand distracted driving, they are in denial that it affects them. In fact, one-third of those surveyed admit to reading text messages while driving, and nearly 25% surveyed do not believe that talking on the phone while driving is dangerous.

The company surveyed 2000 drivers aged 15- to 21-years-old. Among the findings, the researchers found that the young drivers measure their level of safety as a driver by the fact that they haven’t been in an accident or ticketed.

In an effort to raise awareness among teens of the hazards of distracted driving, Bridgestone has initiated the “Teens Drive Smart” scholarship contest. The contest has students, age 16-21, create a short automotive safety-themed video to be used as a public service announcement that encourages their peers to make better decisions behind the wheel. Winners will receive college scholarships: first place receives $25,000; second place receives $15,000 and third place receives $10,000.

“We need to help the public understand exactly how dangerous it is to drive while talking on the phone or texting,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his Fast Lane blog. “We did it for drunk driving. We did it for seat belt use. And, with help from safety partners like Bridgestone and Teens Drive Smart, we will do it for distraction.”

Our Scranton car accident attorneys have seen the tragedy distracted driving accidents can cause. And the statistics are clear: 15 people die, and 1,200 more are injured, nationwide every day due to an accident caused by a distracted driver, according to government data. We encourage all Pennsylvania drivers to stay focused while driving.

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-568-6024.

NHTSA Campaign Warns of Risk of Heatstroke Death When Children Are Left in a Parked Car

Your Lawyer — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:00:40 +0000

In anticipation of another hot summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has kicked off a campaign warning Americans of the dangers of leaving children unattended in a hot car. The NHTSA reminds adults that children left alone in a car, even in the most moderate temperatures, can be seriously injured or die from the heat in the vehicle.

To educate the public, the NHTSA announced its first-ever national campaign to prevent child heatstroke deaths in cars, urging parents and caregivers to think “Where’s baby? Look before you lock.”

The NHTSA reports that 33 children died due to hyperthermia (heatstroke) in 2011. Two children have died due to hyperthermia thus far this year. According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, since 1998 there have been at least 529 vehicle-related hyperthermia deaths. More than half of the deaths occurred in children under 2 years of age, with 30% of the deaths in children less than one-year-old.

An unknown number of children are also injured each year due to heatstroke in hot cars, suffering ailments including permanent brain injury, blindness, and the loss of hearing, among others, according to the NHTSA.

In Pennsylvania in 2011, one toddler died from heatstroke after being found inside a car, according to the report. On August 17, a 2-year-old died in Alsace Township after crawling into a car in the driveway. The child was found just one hour later, but he had already succumbed to the heat. The outside temperature was 87 degrees.

Children’s body temperatures can rise up to five times faster than that of an adult, and heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80° day, for example, a car can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.

According to the NHTSA, more than half of all vehicle-related heatstroke deaths in children are caused by a child accidentally being left in the car, and more than 30 percent are from a child getting into a hot car on their own. Changing up even a small part of a daily routine can result in forgetting a child is in the car back seat. This can and does happen when one breaks a well-established routine.

“Everything we know about this terrible danger to children indicates heatstroke in hot cars can happen to any caregiver from any walk of life – and the majority of these cases are accidental tragedies that can strike even the most loving and conscientious parents,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

SafeCar.gov, a website by the NHTSA, offers the following important tips for preventing heatstroke accidents:

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open.
Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.
If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan.

Our Scranton personal injury attorneys urge all parents and caregivers to review the NHTSA’s information carefully. Please make sure you take a second look before locking your car to ensure no one has been left behind.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer Marion Munley Inducted To International Society of Barristers

Your Lawyer — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:29 +0000

Scranton, PA, May 04, 2012 — Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer Marion Munley was inducted as a Fellow to the International Society of Barristers during the organization’s recent annual convention in Newport Beach, California.

Munley is a board-certified civil trial lawyer with more than 24 years of experience in complex personal injury litigation, including representing victims of truck accident and car accident cases in Pennsylvania, New York and across the Northeast.

She joins two other attorneys from the Pennsylvania personal injury firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., as Fellows of the prestigious society of civil trial lawyers – Robert W. Munley and Matthew A. Cartwright.

The International Society of Barristers (ISOB) was created in 1965. The organization is dedicated to preserving trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. The organization also promotes civility by bringing together members of both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ side of the bar.

“The International Society of Barristers is committed to promoting the highest standards of excellence and integrity in advocacy and in promoting fellowship in the legal profession,” Munley said. “I am deeply honored to be a member.”

Munley, who recently conducted a seminar on truck accident litigation on April 27 at the New Jersey Association for Justice’s Boardwalk Seminar 2012 in Atlantic City, is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New York, including the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

She is Board-Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal named Munley to its list of Top 25 Women Business Professionals for 2011. Every year since 2004, she has been among the 5 percent of Pennsylvania lawyers named a Super Lawyer by Pennsylvania Magazine.

In 2006, Lawdragon Legal Rankings rated Munley as one of the 500 leading plaintiffs’ lawyers in the country. In 2007, she was named by Lawdragon as one of the 2,500 leading attorneys in all practice areas in the U.S.

Munley serves on the Executive Committee of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group.

She frequently lectures across the U.S. on trial skills, trucking litigation and other legal topics, giving presentations for organizations that include the American Association for Justice, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Lackawanna County Bar Association.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Pennsylvania Drivers Urged to Keep Both Hands on the Wheel for Improved Safety

Your Lawyer — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:45 +0000

Studies on distracted driving seem to be dominating the news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 15 people die, and 1,200 more are injured, nationwide every day due to an accident caused by a distracted driver. While cellphone use is the primary focus of distracted driving campaigns, a new study found that when a driver has just one hand on the steering wheel the risk of an accident increases.

In a study conducted using a driving simulator in Great Britain, researchers at the University of Leeds found that people who eat while driving have a reaction time that is 44 percent slower than those who have both hands on the wheel. The report, “Two Hands are Better Than One,” also found that drivers who sip coffee while behind the wheel are 22 percent slower in their reaction speed and were 18 per cent more likely be unable to maintain a steady central lane position.

“Results from these driving simulator tests give great cause for concern and indicate how dangerous it is for motorists to engage in activities that involve driving with just one hand on the wheel,” said Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at Esure car insurance, sponsors of the study.

The researchers found that when drivers had just one hand on the wheel but were not engaged in a secondary task, they were able to maintain the same level of performance as when driving with both hands. The findings indicate that the poor performance was due to the additional visual demand experienced with drinking and eating such as unwrapping the food or tipping the bottle up in order to drink from it.

Texting while driving is illegal in Pennsylvania now. It is doubtful that activities such as eating, drinking or applying makeup while driving will be outlawed, but it is critical that motorists be aware that anytime they look away from the road they introduce the possibility of crashing.

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys urge all drivers to keep both hands on the wheel while driving and stay focused. Taking a few extra minutes to grab a bite to eat before getting behind the wheel may keep you from being involved in an accident.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Pennsylvania Motorists Asked to Share the Road With Motorcyclists During Motorcycle Awareness Month in May and Throughout the Year

Your Lawyer — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:08 +0000

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Each year, the NHTSA runs campaigns to help raise the public’s awareness about dangers on the highways, such as drunk driving and distracted driving. This month it announces its latest campaign – Motorcycle Awareness Month.

Citing the fact that motorcyclist fatalities increased nationwide in 2010 to 4,502, accounting for 14 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year, and that the increase is part of a 13-year trend, the NHTSA has launched the campaign with a goal to change the driving habits of motorists and motorcyclists alike to help decrease the numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured in crashes. The safety campaign is aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other.

Pennsylvania has nearly 900,000 registered motorcyclists, and according to Just Drive PA, that number continues to rise. In 2010, there were 4,018 crashes and 223 motorcycle fatalities in the state. Over half of the motorcycle deaths involved alcohol.

Although Pennsylvania law does not require motorcycle riders over the age of 21 who have been cycling for more than two years to wear a helmet, the NHTSA estimates that helmet usage is 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 41% for the passengers. As of 2009, the NHTSA estimates that 67% of motorcyclists wear safety helmets.

Pennsylvania also runs a motorcycle awareness campaign, “Live Free. Ride Alive.” The campaign notes that while many motorcyclists ride for the freedom it gives them, educating riders about the rules of the road and safety tips is critical for allowing them to stay alive when riding Pennsylvania highways.

The campaign’s website contains important safety messages relating to getting properly licensed, reducing aggressive driving behaviors, avoiding drinking and riding and encouraging the use of wearing all protective riding gear. The PA campaign also asks riders to take it easy on the roads and in the bars. A pledge is available for riders to sign to commit to being one less statistic by driving sober.

Motorcyclists should do their part to stay safe on Pennsylvania highways. In addition to wearing a helmet, motorcyclists should obey all traffic rules, be alert to other drivers and never ride while impaired or distracted.

Motorists are urged by Just Drive PA to follow these safety tips when sharing the road with motorcycles:

Look out for motorcyclists – be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see. Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections. Large vehicles can also block a motorcycle from a motorist’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Allow more following distance – leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.

Our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys strongly encourage motorcyclists to wear a helmet when traveling Pennsylvania highways. In addition, we ask all motorists to become familiar with the material offered by the NHTSA and Just Drive PA for safely sharing the road with motorcyclists. Motorcyclists have the same rights to the highway as all other motorists – please do your part to keep them safe.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

OSHA Campaign Focuses on Preventing Construction Site Falls

Your Lawyer — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:10:00 +0000

Earlier this month we highlighted two tragic construction site accidents and the role the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plays in keeping workers safe when on the job. In its ongoing effort to keep American workers safe, OSHA announced a new campaign focused on preventing deadly falls in the construction industry.

On Workers’ Memorial Day, observed April 28 across the country to remember workers who lost their lives as a result of preventable injuries, OSHA unveiled its latest campaign to “provide employers and workers with life-saving information and educational materials about working safely from ladders, scaffolds and roofs.”

According to OSHA, more than 10,000 construction workers were injured as a result of falling while working from heights, and another 255 workers were killed in 2010. In Pennsylvania, 219 workers died in workplace accidents in 2010. Of those fatalities, 46 were caused by falls.

“Falls are the most fatal out of all hazards in the construction industry, accounting for almost one in every three construction worker deaths. Our simple message is that safety pays, and falls cost,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in a press release announcing the campaign.

The campaign is a joint effort with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Agenda program.

In support of the campaign, OSHA has developed a new fall prevention Web site with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards. In addition, NIOSH and NORA also created new web pages on the Centers for Disease Control. The links for the sites are:

Our Pennsylvania construction accident attorneys applaud the efforts of OSHA for focusing on the dangers of falls at construction sites. We encourage all construction employers and workers to review the material and follow safety regulations when working.

Contact Our PA Construction Accident Attorneys Today

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are experienced in worksite accident lawsuits and will evaluate your case and explore all possible sources of recovery. Our lawyers know how to handle hearings; we know the laws and we know how to work with the laws to get you compensation for lost wages and medical benefits. Workplace accident cases are very complicated and relying on a workplace accident attorney at Munley, Munley and Cartwright can help you get the best compensation possible.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in an accident on-the-job, you may have a legal claim. Contact us at 1-800-318-LAW1 or submit an online free claim evaluation

Pennsylvania’s Bike Safety Law In Effect

Your Lawyer — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:00:53 +0000

March saw the enactment of Pennsylvania’s anti-texting law. Continuing the effort to improve safety for all Pennsylvania residents riding the state’s highways, Governor Tom Corbett enacted another safety law in April – the bike safety law. Noting that biking is great exercise and an efficient mode of transportation, state Rep. Ron Miller, R-York sponsored the law that went into effect April 2.

“We need to do all that we can to promote the activity and protect bike enthusiasts through legislation that makes it safer for them to enjoy their sport,” said Miller in an article in the Morning Call.

The bike safety law requires motorists to leave a 4-foot “cushion of safety” when passing a bicyclist. The motorist can cross the center line when passing the cyclist as long as it is safe. In addition, the new law calls for bicyclists “to use all reasonable efforts to avoid impeding the normal flow of traffic.” The law notes that when there is only one travel lane, bicyclists may use any portion of the lane to avoid hazards on the roadway, including maintaining a safe distance from stopped and parked cars.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, the most current year of statistics, 630 bicyclists were killed and another 51,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. In Pennsylvania in 2009, 15 cyclists died in a crash with an automobile. Bicyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities, and made up 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year.

“Adopting the ‘safe passing’ amendment to the state’s traffic laws is certain to reduce injuries and save lives among Pennsylvania cyclists,” said Caroline Munley of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

While the law focuses on ensuring motorists give bicyclists sufficient room to maneuver, and will fine motorists for non-compliance, the law also calls for cyclists to follow all appropriate traffic laws and to give motorists ample room when they pass.

A cyclist injured in a crash with a motor vehicle may have the right to compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering and other related damages. Contacting an experienced bicycle-car accident attorney immediately is critical to ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

North Carolina Plant Explosion Settlement Reached

Your Lawyer — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:09 +0000

At the end of March there was a natural gas explosion at the compressor station near Springville, PA. Apparently, natural gas was leaking from the line before the explosion that tore off much of the roof on the metal building. According to news reports, gas detectors triggered an emergency valve to close and alerted workers to evacuate before the explosion. Thankfully, no one was injured in this workplace explosion.

Unfortunately, workers at the North Carolina ConAgra plant were not so lucky during a June 2009 explosion. Four people died and 38 workers were injured in the explosion itself and in the following chain-reaction events that led parts of the roof to cave in, fires to start up and ammonia to leak throughout the building. 300 workers were in the building at the time of the explosion.

The explosion forced the shutdown of the plant for over a month, and the company laid off over 300 employees in November as production levels slowed. Production at the plant never recovered, however, and the company closed the plant in May, 2011 leaving hundreds more out of work.

Since the explosion, investigators found that purging of a natural gas line during the installation of a commercial water heater led to the explosion. One of the deceased was a contractor working on the installation.

Last week some of the workers reached a settlement with Jacobs Engineering, an international firm with an office in North Carolina that was hired to install the heater, and one of its employees. ConAgra was not named in the lawsuit. According to the News & Observer, a Superior Court jury in Johnston County awarded $14.6 million in damages for medical care, lost wages and other factors to seven people injured in the June explosion.

The civil lawsuit claimed that the company and employee violated safety standards “in order to get the project done faster and cheaper,” and “placed their own desire to finish the hot water heater project as fast as possible, ahead of the safety of the public.”

Two of the most seriously injured workers were awarded $7.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively. The other five workers were awarded damage amounts ranging from approximately $315,000 to close to $1 million. The panel will reconvene in June to determine punitive damages.

A workplace accident such as this is not only tragic for the families of the injured and deceased, but also for the hundreds of hard-working employees left without a job. An accident of this magnitude impacts the employees and their families as well as local businesses. Companies responsible for this should be held accountable.

Contact Our PA Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today