Another Fatal 15-Passenger Van Crash – And Another Inadequate Response from A Government Safety Agency

In the wake of yet another fatal crash involving a 15-passenger van – this one related to an alleged tire failure – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has again issued a consumer advisory about those vans.

A safety advocacy group notes that it is the eighth warning the agency has issued about those vans and says the information is too little and too late.  Studies have shown these vans are prone to deadly rollovers. At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., we agree. The agency needs to take a much firmer stance than issuing safety notices.

The advocacy group Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., speculated that the advisory was issued in response to a recent fatal rollover of a passenger van:

“On March 1, the Epicenter of Worship Church held a prayer vigil for Omberi Erasto, the 18-year-old East Lansing High School student who died in a 15-passenger van rollover crash last month. Erasto was one of 17 occupants in a 2002 Chevrolet Express homeward bound on I-96 after a choir performance in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The left rear tire of the Express failed, leading to a loss-of-control crash that left several passengers severely injured, including Erasto’s younger sister, who lost her leg.”

On March 22, the NHTSA issued this consumer notice:

WASHINGTON, DC – As the spring driving season gets under way, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging colleges, church groups, and other users of 15-passenger vans to take specific steps to keep drivers and passengers safe — including buckling up every trip, every time.

Recognizing that 15-passenger vans are particularly sensitive to loading, the agency warns users never to overload these vehicles under any circumstances. NHTSA research shows overloading 15-passenger vans both increases rollover risk and makes the vehicle more unstable in any handling maneuvers.

Tire pressure can vary on front and back tires that are used for 15-passenger vans. This is why the agency urges vehicle users to make certain the vans have appropriately-sized and load rated tires that are properly inflated before every trip. Taking into account the fact that tires degrade over time, NHTSA recommends that spare tires not be used as replacements for worn tires. In fact, many tire manufacturers recommend that tires older than 10 years not be used at all.

Following are safety tips for anyone planning a trip in a 15-passenger van:

• Never overload the vehicle.
• If you are a passenger, make sure you buckle up for every trip.
• If you are an owner, make sure the vehicle is regularly maintained.
• Owners should have suspension and steering components inspected according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and replace or repair these parts as necessary.
• Owners should ensure that vehicles are equipped with properly sized and load-rated tires.
• Owners should also make sure drivers are properly licensed and experienced in operating a 15-passenger van.
• Before every trip, drivers should check the tires for proper inflation, and make sure there are no signs of wear or damage. Correct tire size and inflation pressure information can be found in the owner’s manual and on the door pillar.

SRS criticized the agency’s advisory for containing little information of value and being overly vague:

“The agency is, once again, urging “colleges, church groups, and other users of 15-passenger vans to take specific steps to keep drivers and passengers safe.”

This is the agency’s eighth consumer advisory about the dangers of 15-passenger vans since 2001. The number one tip? Never overload a 15-passenger van because they “are particularly sensitive to loading.”

Funny, though, the agency neglects to define “overload” for the consumers they presumably want to warn. Fifteen-passenger vans have the dubious distinction of being a vehicle that is inherently unsafe if used for its intended purpose.”

The SRS blog post also notes that “[back in 2001], the agency issued specific information related to overloading, and emphasized the deadly consequences of failing to heed this warning:”

“The results of a recent analysis by NHTSA revealed that 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk that is similar to other light trucks and vans when carrying a few passengers. However, the risk of rollover increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five occupants to over ten passengers. In fact, 15-passenger vans (with 10 or more occupants) had a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly three times the rate of those that were lightly loaded. NHTSA’s analysis revealed that loading the 15-passenger van causes the center of gravity to shift rearward and upward increasing the likelihood of rollover. The shift in the center of gravity will also increase the potential for loss of control in panic maneuvers.”

According to the SRS post, older vans without electronic stability control are especially prone to rollovers.

We applaud our fellow bloggers at SRS for alerting us and the general public about the dangers of these 15-passenger vans. We urge the NHTSA in the future to issue clearer and more forceful advisories about the dangers those vans pose.

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident you should contact our office to learn your legal rights and options. At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our attorneys have helped Pennsylvania car accident victims 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.

Teen Girls and Binge Drinking Could Lead to Crashes on Pennsylvania Highways

ABC News Nightline uncovered a disturbing trend among teenage girls – binge drinking.  Monday night the network reported that one in every four teen girls binge drinks.  Faced with enormous pressure to fit in, Ju Ju Chang reports teenage girls are turning more and more to alcohol. 

Unlike social adult drinkers who may drink a glass or two of wine to “unwind,” teenage drinkers drink to get drunk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a study released earlier this year that 90% of the alcohol consumed by teens is consumed while binge drinking.  That means that teens are drinking four to five alcoholic drinks per occasion, two or three times per month. 

While any amount of drinking by teens can be dangerous, binge drinking comes with additional dangers. Beyond the immediate effects of alcohol that can cause sickness, and more seriously, alcohol poisoning, large amounts of alcohol makes girls more promiscuous and more vulnerable. In fact, 80% of teenage pregnancies occur to girls that are drunk. 

Teenage drinking also has an “intellectual price” according to a report by Bob Hirshon of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  Girls’ brains are permanently damaged when they binge drink as teens, impacting their memory, spatial awareness and decision-making skills. 

According to Shelly Campbell, RN, trauma nurse at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, three-fourths of the injuries she treats as a trauma nurse are alcohol related.  She sees injuries as minor as a sprained ankle from tripping on a curb to stabbings and gunshot wounds triggered when drinking gets out of hand, resulting in violent reactions.  Emergency rooms have also had their share of teenaged accident victims. 

Unfortunately, many of these teen binge drinkers end up behind the wheel causing death or injury to themselves or others.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 31% of driver fatalities in the 16-20 age group were drivers who had been drinking alcohol.  This increased from 27% in 2009. Alcohol-related crashes, according to PA DOT, were 4.5 times more likely to result in death than those not related to alcohol. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys ask that teens not drink alcohol – it’s not healthy, it’s not safe and it’s against the law.  We also ask others to find a designated driver if you will be out drinking.  Please do not drink and drive. 

Contact Us for Your Legal Needs

If you have been a victim of a Pennsylvania car accident caused by a teen drunk driver, talk to a knowledgeable drunk driving lawyer to understand your legal rights. 

Contact the PA car accident attorneys of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. by calling 1-800-318-LAW1, or contact us online. For more information about our lawyers and law firm, we invite you to visit www.munley.com.

Pennsylvania Woman Continues Campaign Against Texting While Driving

Even though Pennsylvania just enacted its anti-texting law, Jacy Good won’t stop spreading the word that texting and driving is a deadly combination.  The Pennsylvania woman knows firsthand the devastation a distracted driver can cause.  She is using her personal tragedy to urge Americans to put down their phones when driving. 

Jacy and her parents were driving home after Jacy’s graduation ceremony at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in May 2008, when an 18-year-old driver who was talking on his cellphone ran a red light, according to an article in the Reading Eagle.  A tractor trailer had to swerve to avoid the teen, but then slammed head-on into Good’s car.  Jacy’s parents both died instantly.  Jacy ended up in the hospital with just a 10 percent chance of surviving. Jacy did survive, and she wants to make sure no one else suffers the way she has. 

Since the accident, Jacy has devoted her life to raising awareness about the dangers of cell phone use behind the wheel, and she serves as one of the NHTSA’s “Faces of Distracted Driving” spokespersons.

“Distracted driving has caused so much physical and emotional pain in my life, and I never want anyone to go through what I’ve been through.  Deaths and injuries from cell phone use behind the wheel are senseless and one hundred percent preventable,” said Good.

The Herald-Mail reports that Jacy had a national stage when she appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2010. 

“There’s just nothing that can possibly be that important that, everyone on the road around you, that you have to take their lives at risk,” she told Oprah.

Good also travels the country taking her story to high schools in an effort to encourage teenagers to change their behavior. In a recent stop at Dobbs Ferry High School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, one student said, “Definitely changes my mind now that it’s put into a real life situation.” 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports there were 13,806 distracted driver-related crashes in 2010.  There were sixty-five fatalities in those crashes. 

The NHTSA has declared April as National Distracted Driving Month and is focusing its efforts on getting drivers to put their cell phones down when driving.  The campaign encourages all drivers to “Take the Pledge” by signing their name to the following pledge. 

Distracted driving kills and injures thousands of people each year. I pledge to: 

• Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
• Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.
• Encourage my friends and family to drive phone-free. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys continue to encourage teens and their parents to follow the law and to drive safely and defensively.  We also ask all drivers to “take the pledge,” and stop texting and driving. 

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 – Four Elderly Women in Fatal PA Crash

Two Women Die, Two Injured in PA Car Accident
WETM-TV reports four elderly women traveling in a Buick Century were on the way to their monthly “Garden Club” meeting at a nearby Perkins restaurant Thursday around noon when they were in a tragic car accident.  The women were at the intersection of Rt. 6 and Dorset Heights in Mansfield when their car collided with an F-250 Ford pickup truck.  Two of the women, aged 81- and 89-years old both died in the accident. The two others were seriously injured and were airlifted to the local hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident. 

Motorcyclist Dies in Accident in FL
A 77-year-old Florida woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI and DUI with property damage after killing a motorcyclist in a head-on collision.  The woman was traveling northbound on Ocean Shore Blvd. Saturday night around 9 p.m. when she apparently crossed into the southbound lanes.  Three motorcyclists were traveling southbound at the time. Two cyclists were able to avoid the collision, but the third man was hit by the van and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Wrong-Way DUI Driver Kills Rhode Island Man
A Providence, RI man has been charged with driving while intoxicated resulting in death and driving to endanger resulting in death after a head-on collision resulted in the death of another driver.  According to news reports, the victim was traveling northbound on I-95 near Exit 22 around 2 a.m. Sunday morning when another car traveling the wrong way slammed into him.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver charged with DUI was treated for minor injuries at Rhode Island Hospital.  The interstate was closed for more than two hours while police and crew cleared the scene. 

Two Family Members Die, Five Injured in Iowa Accident
News Channel 5 reports seven family members were traveling together on I-29 in Percival, Iowa Sunday morning when the driver of the SUV apparently lost control of the vehicle causing it to cross into oncoming traffic then roll several times.  Several of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle.  A tractor-trailer could not stop in time, and drove through the accident area striking at least one of the victims.  Two of the family members died and five others were injured.  

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.

Pennsylvania Makes it Illegal to Text While Driving

You better think twice before texting when behind the wheel in Pennsylvania or you will be ticketed.  It is now a primary offense for texting while driving, thanks to the new anti-texting law that took effect on March 8. 

The provisions of the law, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania State Police, are as follows:

• It is a primary offense to use an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message.
• Violators will be fined $50 for convictions.
• This law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is to blame for 3,092 fatalities in 2010. In Pennsylvania, there were nearly 14,000 automobile accidents where distracted driving played a role, with 68 people dying in the accidents. 

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that nearly one-fourth of all crashes, or approximately 1.3 million auto accidents each year, can be attributed to cell phone use while driving. The NSC also found that distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in all automobile accidents. 

“Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving. Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that’s how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said.

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys applaud the efforts of the state lawmakers for enacting this law to help keep those traveling our highways safer.  We also encourage all Pennsylvania drivers to obey the new law and put down your cellphones while driving. 

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.

Pennsylvania Graduated License Program Aimed at Saving Teen Lives

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for teens. Last month we urged teenagers in Pennsylvania to focus on driving carefully and following the laws when taking to the local highways to help prevent other teens from becoming a statistic.  Last Thursday, the USA Today, also hoping to get the message out that teen drivers are at risk on America’s highways, published a special report entitled “Making Teen Driving Safer.” 

Although the USA Today points out that nationwide deaths for 16- and 17-year-old drivers declined between 2007 and 2010, the special report hones in on the fact that every day, an average of 11 teenagers die in car crashes in the United States.  The teen driving section is, in part, sponsored by Allstate Insurance that is sponsoring the “Save11” campaign to encourage Congress to pass the STANDUP Act. 

The Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, according to the Save11 Facebook page, is a national law currently awaiting Congressional approval. It would require states to pass and enforce minimum standards for Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) laws. 

According to the USA Today, all 50 states have some form of GDL law, although the regulations and requirements vary.  In Pennsylvania, teens must be 16-years-old before applying for a learners permit.  Most states only require an age of 15-years-old.  Prior to getting the restricted license, a PA teen must wait six months, have 65 hours of supervised driving time and be 16.5-years-old.  The restrictions limit the teen from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and to carrying no more than one passenger younger than 18. (Family members are an exception.)  The restrictions may be lifted on the drivers 17th birthday, assuming the conditions are met. 

The GDL program was tightened up in 2010 when Governor Tom Corbett signed into law a bill aiming “to reduce the amount of fatal car accidents involving teen drivers.”  The bill established a primary offense law requiring everyone under the age of 18 to be properly restrained.  It also increased the instructional hours from 50 to 65 and restricted the number of passengers under 18-years-old to one, and after six months, to three until the teen is 18. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports there were 57 car crash deaths in accidents in 2010 that involved a 16- or 17-year-old driver.  This number is 43% higher than 2009.  Further, over half of the teen driver and passenger deaths were caused by the drivers not wearing a seatbelt. 

“Inexperienced teen drivers are prone to peer pressure, take risks, tend not to wear seat belts, attempt to multi-task behind the wheel and are increasingly distracted by young passengers.  We believe this new legislation will result in fewer teen crashes and ultimately save lives,” said Ronald W. Kosh, VP of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic upon Corbett signing the bill. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys applaud the government for focusing on teen driving laws and regulations.  Keeping our younger generation safe behind the wheel is critical.  We encourage teens and their parents to follow the law and to drive safely and defensively. 

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 – One Child Dead, Seven Family Members Injured in Wyoming Accident

Seven Family Members Injured, One Dies in Hit-and-Run Rollover Accident
An SUV carrying a family of nine traveling on I-80 near Cheyenne, Wyoming, was rear-ended by another vehicle resulting in a rollover accident.  Upon impact, the SUV went off the road and rolled over.  All of the occupants of the SUV were ejected, except the driver.  A six-year-old died in the crash and seven others were injured. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene, but was apprehended later. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Friday morning as the family traveled from Chicago, IL to California. 

Two Die in I-95 Accident in FL
The Florida News Journal reports two men are dead after an accident on I-95 in Palm Bay, Florida.  The men were traveling near mile marker 168 in a Volkswagen Jetta when their vehicle rear-ended another car.  Both vehicles spun out-of-control and the Jetta was subsequently struck by a tractor-trailer, when the driver did not have time to react after seeing the accident. The driver and passenger of the Jetta both died.  Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident. 

Wrong-Way Accident in WV Kills Two, Injures Five
Early Friday morning, the driver of a pickup truck was traveling the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-64 near Huntington, WV.  The vehicle, carrying two men in their late 20′s, ran head-on into a GMC Yukon carrying a family of five.  The two men died instantly.  All five members of the family were taken to the local hospital with serious injuries.  Three children, between the ages of three and seven, were traveling with their parents to Chicago, IL.  Police report the westbound lanes of I-64 were closed for more than seven hours on Friday. 

Fatal Single-Car PA Accident
According to WHPTV.com, a Honda Civic Coupe traveling on Schoolhouse Road in Londonderry Township, PA went out of control while taking a curve, struck an embankment then rolled over several times.  The rear-seat passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and died after being taken to the local hospital.  The driver and front-seat passenger were not injured.  The PA State Police report the car was traveling at excessive speed.  The accident occurred Saturday around 3:30 p.m.

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.

Pennsylvania Drivers Urged to Slow Down

Many of our articles have focused on the dangers of distracted driving and drunk-driving.  However, with key safety campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the hazards of these two dangerous behaviors, drivers are beginning to put down their cell phones and drive only when sober.  Now, according to a new study, speed-related crashes are on the rise. 

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States in 2010 were caused by a speeding driver.  Further, speeding is the “one highway safety area where progress has not been made in almost three decades.” 

According to the 2010 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics, 1,324 people died in auto accidents during the year.  Of those, 459 were alcohol-related and 404 were speed-related.  Just as the GSHA reports of the nationwide data, accidents caused by speeding drivers in PA accounted for 31 percent of the fatal accidents in the state. 

The report, “Survey of the States: Speeding and Aggressive Driving,” released last week, cites driver indifference to speeding and the perception that speeding tickets are simply another means for jurisdictions to raise revenue as the primary obstacles for states’ ability to crackdown on speeders. 

In a separate study reported in “The Police Chief” magazine in 2006, researchers found that most drivers who regularly drive a familiar route determine what speeds they feel comfortable with under ideal conditions and tend to drive at that speed – regardless of the posted speed limit. 

The GHSA made the following recommendations to states to ramp up speeding enforcement across the U.S.: 

• Explore addressing speed concerns through aggressive driving enforcement, since the public believes that aggressive driving is a more serious threat to safety.
• Target speed enforcement in school and work zones, as this approach has a higher degree of public support and is largely viewed as non-controversial. 

The GHSA suggests the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsor speeding and aggressive driving campaigns; promote best practices in automated enforcement strategies; and sponsor a forum on speeding and aggressive driving by bringing together experts in the field. 

“We need to bring the same level of federal and state energy to addressing speed that was brought to tackling seat belt use and drunk driving. More than 10,000 families are losing a loved one every year because of speeding-related crashes. It is time for action,” said GHSA Chairman Troy E. Costales.

Our PA car accident attorneys urge all drivers to heed the posted speed limits.  The limits are imposed for a reason, and when followed, have been shown to save lives.  As always, please buckle up before heading out.

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 online contact form.

Widows File Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Bars for Serving Drunk Driver

July 1, 2011, two men leading the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, a group of riders who have overcome alcohol and drug addictions, were ironically struck head-on by a drunk driver, resulting in the death of two men and injuries to four others.  Now, the injured men and the widows of the deceased men have filed a lawsuit against the driver responsible and three bars that served alcohol to the drunk driver.

The group of motorcyclists was traveling from New Jersey to a friend’s funeral in Pennsylvania.  As they traveled on Route 512 in Bangor, PA, a pickup made a wide turn, crossed the center line and plowed head-on into the group traveling in the opposite direction. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide while driving drunk and aggravated assault.

Under Pennsylvania’s “dram shop law,” business owners can be held liable for the sale of alcohol to patrons who are clearly and visibly intoxicated. Dram shop laws require that workers at the businesses be aware of visible signs of intoxication such as slurred speech and lack of coordination.  They are required by the law to stop serving alcohol to patrons who display such signs.

According to The Morning Call, the lawsuit alleges the man caused the deaths and injuries because he was drunk, and the bars contributed to the crash by serving him too many alcoholic drinks.  The suit further claims the servers at the bars should have known the man was drunk, and they were “grossly, willfully and wantonly negligent” to continue to serve him alcohol.

If you or a loved one has been injured by another motorist in a drunk driving automobile accident and need knowledgeable legal help, contact the PA car accident attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright.

The Scranton, Pennsylvania attorneys of Munley, Munley & Cartwright have years of experience representing the survivors of wrongful death victims.   For a free consultation of your legal claim throughout the state of Pennsylvania, please submit an online form or call us at: 1-800-318-LAW1.

Car Accident Round-Up – Three College Students Die in Tragic Ohio Accident

Four Die in Wrong-Way Accident in Ohio
A 69-year-old woman traveled over seven miles the wrong direction on I-75 near Toledo, Ohio, before slamming head-on into a car carrying five college students.  The woman and three of the college students died in the Friday morning accident.  The two other college students were seriously injured.  A caravan of four cars was carrying 16 Bowling Green State University students to the airport for a spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic.  Police are investigating to determine why the woman was on the wrong side of the road. 

Police Chase Leads to Fatal Car Crash in Pennsylvania
A driver and his passenger died early Monday morning when their car crashed into a wall in Wilkinsburg, PA after a police chase.  Pittsburgh police officers recognized the car from being stolen at gunpoint last month and attempted to stop the driver.  The driver sped away on Oakwood.  After a short pursuit, the police lost sight of the vehicle and ended the chase.  Police are continuing to investigate, and do not know whether the driver stole the vehicle. 

DUI Accident Claims Two Lives in Altoona, PA
According to the Altoona Mirror, two people died and five others were injured in a two-car accident near Altoona, PA, when a driver with a .33 BAC crossed the center line.  The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle going around a curve on Route 36, south of St. Augustine Road in Clearfield Township, causing the oncoming vehicle to strike the passenger side of the other car. The second car was carrying five high-school students who had been out for a night of bowling. Three of the students remain hospitalized. 

Ohio Crash Leaves Three Dead, One Injured
A Sunday morning single-car crash near Marseilles, Ohio left three people dead and one injured, according to the Marion Star.  Police report the driver apparently lost control of her vehicle on Ohio 67 going around a curve south of Township Highway 94. Alcohol and excessive speed are reported factors in the crash. None of the occupants of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, and they were all ejected upon impact.  The condition of the injured passenger is not known. 

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.