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

Iowa Sledding Accident Lawsuit Settled for $2.75 Million

Your Lawyer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:44:08 +0000

The Sioux City Journal reports a man injured in a sledding accident and his family will be paid $2.75 million to settle a lawsuit.

The man was paralyzed from the waist down after he slid into a sign while sleigh riding in Sertoma Park in Sioux City. He injured his spinal cord when he was unable to stop before hitting the sign.

Sioux City will pay $487,632, the city’s insurance company will pay $1.97 million and “a third party” will pay $300,000.

The accident occurred on Jan. 11, 2008, and the lawsuit was filed in January 2010.

If you have been a victim of personal injury accident due to the negligence or carelessness of another, you may be eligible for compensation. Although money cannot restore a livelihood or bring back a loved one, it can ease the burden that Pennsylvania families face in the wake of a catastrophic accident, workplace injury or devastating medical error.

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.

Car Accident Round-Up –Three Teens Die in Maryland Car Accident

Your Lawyer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:18 +0000

Four Die in Wrong-Way MD Crash
A sedan carrying three teenagers traveled the wrong way, against traffic, on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, MD, leading to a crash resulting in four fatalities. The 19-year-old driver of the car crashed head-on into another car, killing the teen and both teenaged passengers, as well as the driver of the other car. The police are continuing to investigate the crash and are relying on 911 tapes, where other drivers reported the wrong-way vehicle, and witnesses for information. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

One Teen Dies, Three Injured in Ohio Accident
A Waynesville, OH automobile accident last Thursday left one teenager dead and three others injured. The vehicle in which the teen was traveling was struck by a Chevy Blazer at the intersection of South Main St. and Ohio 73. Police believe the 17-year-old driver of the car failed to yield to the Blazer. The driver and two other passengers, aged, 18 and 19-years-old are all listed as critical at the hospital. No one was injured in the Blazer. Police are still investigating and said charges are pending.

Fatal Florida Car Accident
A Friday morning car crash on I-75 near Naples, FL, left one woman dead and two others injured. The 5:30 a.m. accident occurred after a driver fell asleep at the wheel of his Buick LeSabre and rear-ended the Nissan Sentra where the deceased was a rear-seat passenger. The LeSabre went off the road, crossed a ditch and stopped at a barbed wire fence. The Sentra spun out across the southbound lanes and came to a stop in the median. The driver of the Sentra was not injured. The driver of the LeSabre and a passenger in the Sentra were treated for minor injuries. I-75 was closed for nearly three hours.

Multi-Vehicle Pileup in Florida
Still days later, the Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate a massive 19 vehicle pile-up that happened early Sunday morning near Gainesville, Florida. In the chain-reaction crash, eleven people died and at least 21 people were injured, according to the Gainesville Sun. The accident occurred when smoke from a nearby fire and heavy fog converged over I-75. The series of crashes began around 3:45 a.m. Sunday morning when drivers on both sides of the interstate were blinded by the thick smoke and fog. Passenger cars, SUVs, tractor-trailers and motor homes were all involved in the accident.

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 Teen Awarded Millions in Medical Malpractice Case

Your Lawyer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:15 +0000

A teenager who lost all four limbs due to an expired vaccine she received at birth has been awarded $12.6 million by a Miami-Dade jury. The infant had to have her spleen removed, and was given the vaccine to prevent infections, according to the Miami Herald.

The infant was taken in October 1998 to the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine for a checkup. At the time, a medical assistant injected the girl with the vaccine that is used specifically to protect against infection for people whose spleens have been removed.

The medical error impacted the child nearly eight months later when she developed a bacterial infection throughout her body. Blood clots formed in her arms and legs leading to gangrene in all limbs. The doctors amputated her arms and legs above the joints.

The jurors, however, found the mother 40 percent at fault. The defense claimed she did not give her child enough medication to help stave off the infection, and she would have been infected even without the vaccine. The doctor was found 5 percent liable. The award will be lowered due to the mother’s fault.

The University is expected to appeal.

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.

$1.8 Million Lawsuit Awarded in Oklahoma Birth Injury Case

Your Lawyer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:16:10 +0000

According to a press release, an Oklahoma family has been awarded nearly $2 million as the result of a birth injury during a 2008 delivery. The jury awarded $1.2 million for past and future medical bills, as well as potential lost wages because of the injury. $600,000 was awarded for pain and suffering.

The lawsuit alleged the doctor made critical mistakes during the delivery, including using a vacuum and pulling on the baby’s head when it became stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone.

The girl suffers from severe nerve damage and she cannot use her shorter, left arm. The damage is likely permanent. The girl has endured multiple surgeries aimed at restoring movement in her arm and several more are planned.

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

Your Lawyer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:58 +0000

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.

FL Nursing Home Hit With Largest Nursing Home Neglect Verdict

Your Lawyer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:36 +0000

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

Your Lawyer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:37 +0000

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

Your Lawyer — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:40 +0000

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.

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

Your Lawyer — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:00:48 +0000

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

Your Lawyer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:36 +0000

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.