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SNOW ISN’T EXCUSE FOR DOZENS INJURED IN PENNSYLVANIA BUS CRASH
By Drake Hileman of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted inCommercial Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, February 12, 2014. Southwestern Pennsylvania was covered in snow on Feb. 9. All day long flakes fell onto the trees, the rooftops and the roads in the area. WTRF-TV reported that David Cubbison, the Bedford County Director of Emergency Services, said that the snow was a factor in a large number of motor vehicle accidents that day. One of these accidents involved a tour bus that was traveling on Route 220. At approximately 2:20 in the afternoon the bus careened out of control and crashed into an embankment just five miles shy of the Maryland border. The report wasn’t clear about how the determination was made, but police said that the driver had been going too fast at the time of the collision. The driver was the one that operated the vehicle, but there was an entire group of passengers on the bus as well. At least 20 of these individuals suffered some level of injury as they were thrown about in the collision. A total of 15 patients were brought to Western Maryland Health Systems and another 10 were taken to UPMC Bedford. Some were expected to be treated and released. Does thick snowfall or an icy roadway give a driver an absolute excuse from liability after a commercial vehicle accident? The answer is absolutely not. Drivers have a duty to act as a reasonable person would under the circumstances. Snowfall may make roads […]
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. When a driver is negligent or distracted, a collision can ensue on any road, regardless of whether that road is in a rural or heavily populated area. A driver who is speeding, texting while driving or failing to use turn signals creates a dangerous environment on the road. Those traveling near the negligent driver could be at risk, and a driver or passenger could be seriously injured or even killed. Police were recently dispatched to a fatal accident in Lawrence County that occurred near the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line. The accident took place in the evening at the intersection of West Poland Road and State Line Road. The two-car crash resulted in one death, one injured and a damaged house. According to preliminary reports, a vehicle traveling north toward the intersection failed to stop at the stop sign he was approaching. This resulted in the vehicle colliding with another automobile in the intersection. The impact of the crash caused the second vehicle to collide with a nearby house. Emergency crews arrived to the scene of the crash and assessed those involved. The passenger in the struck vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle suffered injuries and was flown to the hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing and no citations have been issued at this time. Following the investigation, authorities should be able […]
TRUCK ACCIDENT RESULTS IN FATAL INJURIES
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, January 10, 2014. Drivers in Pennsylvania often encounter large vehicles on the roadway. Semi trucks and tractor-trailers frequent the roads and are often used to make large shipments long and short distances. Most drivers are used to making long trips in these massive vehicles, but even the most experienced drivers could become involved in a truck accident. These vehicles are often more difficult to control and could be especially challenging to control in bad weather, when they are traveling at high speeds or are involved in a collision. Authorities in Coraopolis recently responded to a fatal truck collision that involved an SUV. According to preliminary reports, the SUV was out of control and collided with the tractor-trailed traveling in the westbound lanes on Interstate 376. The crash happened around 9:45 a.m. and caused the tractor-trailer to hit a guardrail, flip over onto its side and slide down a slope on the side of the Interstate. Emergency crews responded to the massive crash and assessed those involved. The driver of the tractor-trailer was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV suffered unspecified injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment. The crash is still under investigation and the westbound lanes of Interstate 376 were closed for several hours during investigation and clean up. Once completed, authorities should be able to determine cause and liability. If a driver was negligent and caused a […]
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Although useful, roadways can be a very dangerous place. Drivers might underestimate the amount of care and caution that is required to travel safely on the road. This could lead to speeding and distracted driving such as texting while driving. Drivers in Pennsylvania are also aware that the winter months could be dangerous road conditions due to the weather. Drivers who do not adjust their driving for inclement weather could cause an accident. This could affect numerous drivers and result in serious injuries and even death. The Pennsylvania State Police were recently dispatched to a fatal multi-vehicle collision that occurred in Franklin County. The fatal accident took place on Interstate 81 going southbound near mile marker 21. The accident happened around 3:15 p.m. Emergency crews rushed to the scene and the coroner was summoned to the scene of the accident as well. Details surrounding the crash were not immediately available at the time of this report. It is not clear at this time how many vehicles were involved, how many victims were in the accident or what caused the crash. Police did confirm that two deaths resulted in the crash and investigation is still ongoing. The road remained closed until 4:30 p.m. so proper investigation and clean up of the scene could be completed. Following investigation, authorities should be able to determine cause and if a driver was liable for the accident. […]
FATAL CAR CRASH KILLS TWO AND INJURES TWO
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, January 3, 2014. Although they are a vital means of transportation, the roadways can be the stage for tragedy. If a driver fails to abide by the rules of the road, they could collide with another vehicle. This is often due to a driver speeding, following too closely, failing to use a turn signal or texting while driving. A negligent driver could cause a deadly collision resulting in serious injuries and even death. A head-on collision recently occurred in Morris Township. Authorities responded to this fatal accident that occurred on Christmas night on Route 128. The accident involved two SUVs and occurred around 6:40 p.m. Initial reports indicated that the crash occurred when an SUV that was traveling northbound on Route 128 crossed the centerline. This resulted in the head-on collision with the other SUV. Emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash. Both drivers died as a result of the crash. One was pronounced dead at the scene while the other died later at the hospital. Two were injured in the crash, and the 30-year-old woman and 8-month-old baby were flown to the hospital for treatment for the injuries they suffered. Details of the fatal crash are still under investigation. Once completed, authorities could determine causes and liability. Even when the party at fault does not survive the crash, those affected could still have a cause of action. A wrongful death suit could be filed […]
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. It is common for Pennsylvania residents to experience bad driving conditions during the winter months. Icy and snow covered roads could be the stage of a multi-vehicle collision. If a vehicle is traveling too fast or the driver is not properly paying attention, a serious car accidentcould ensue. During inclement weather, it is important that resident avoid driving if possible, but if driving is required, they should take extra precaution. Authorities were recently called to multiple accidents on the Pennsylvania Turnpike caused by a sudden snowstorm that affected the area. Due to the accidents caused by the winter storm, Interstate 78 was closed between mile marker 35 and 40 going eastbound. The westbound side of the Interstate was shut down around mile marker 40 as well. Emergency crewmembers that arrived at the scene assessed everyone involved in the massive wreck. It was reported that 44 people were injured in the multi-vehicle crash. Of those injured, 25 were transported to the hospital for treatment. Details about the collisions and the causes were not immediately available. Although the winter weather played a huge role in the massive and multiple crashes, it is not clear whether a negligent driver caused the crash. Dangerous road conditions can often cause a car accident, but a driver who speeds or is not attentive could also cause a crash. If a driver is at fault, they could be liable […]
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Saturday, December 28, 2013. The winter weather often means changing driving habits. Drivers in Pennsylvania often experience traffic and difficulty driving when the roads are covered in snow or ice. A driving who is traveling too fast for conditions or does not properly slow down in time for a stop sign or signal could collide with another vehicle or even a person. Because driving in winter weather poses many risks, residents will often travel by foot to avoid dangers. Although they seek to avoid an accident, pedestrians who travel near busy roads could be at risk if a driver is not driving safe for conditions. A tragic pedestrian accident recently occurred in Altoona. Authorities presume that the winter conditions and slippery roads contributed to the crash that took the life of a 91-year-old woman. According to preliminary reports, the elderly woman was struck on 17th Street near the intersection with Grant Street. At around 11:30 a.m. a pickup was traveling towards the pedestrian on 17th Street. When the driver saw the elderly woman, the driver attempted to slam on the brakes. This caused the truck to slide due to the wet conditions. This resulted in the truck colliding with the pedestrian. Emergency crews were called to the scene where they assessed everyone involved. The elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries were reported to the driver and no charges have been filed at this […]
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, December 26, 2013. Driving at night or during the early morning hours is not uncommon for some drivers in Pennsylvania. This is especially true for truck drivers. During the holiday season these massive vehicles are utilized to make long distance shipments to deliver packages containing presents and other holiday shopping deals. This not only increases the amount of trucks on the road but the likelihood of being involved in a collision. The holiday season does not only mean sending a receiving gifts but also means winter weather. Snow and ice covered roads can make it very dangerous for any driver and a truck accident could result in very serious injuries and damage. Authorities in Bensalem recently reported a major multi-vehicle collision that shutdown traffic going eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for several hours. According to preliminary reports, the crash occurred around 6:00 a.m. just beyond the exit for Route 1. Three commercial trucks were involved in the accident and two cars in the vicinity of the crash were affected by it but were not part of the incident. The impact of the collision in the eastbound lanes caused one of the trucks to hit the Jersey barrier, which is used to separate the east and westbound lanes of traffic. This caused pieces of concrete to fly into the westbound lanes. Traffic had to be reduced to one lane to avoid additional accidents. Emergency crews arrived […]
TWO ACCIDENTS IN SALEM INJURE AT LEAST ONE
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. Driving in the late night hours can make a driver more vulnerable to accidents. Truck drivers tend to travel throughout the night and into the early morning, and the dark road conditions could increase the chances of a truck accident. These massive vehicles usually carry large loads or deliveries. When they are in a collision, the accident site is usually large also, causing much damage to other vehicles. In addition, a tractor-trailer accident can cause a larger accident by involving other vehicles in a chain-reaction manner. Two accidents in Salem recently occurred on the same night and police responded to both incidents in order to provide emergency aid. The first accident involved a tractor-trailer and another vehicle. The accident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on Route 22. The status of the drivers and any passengers in the vehicles has not yet been reported. The second incident involved a pick-up truck and a car. The collision occurred around 8 p.m. near the intersection of Middletown and Bus Garage roads. Emergency crews responded to the incident and at least one person was transported from the scene to the hospital. Both incidents are still under investigation. Details surrounding the collisions and any purported causes have not been released at this time. A person injured in accidents like these might have a personal injury claim, as serious injuries are not unusual when cars and trucks come […]
A CARING ACT IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDY
By Jonathan Russell of Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Two selfless acts on a Pennsylvania highway lead to two very different outcomes; one tragic, one joyful. The story begins with the tragedy. It happened on December 26 on an icy stretch of Interstate 78. A Florida handyman was driving cautiously down the highway with his dog in the seat next to him. He saw a motorist spin out, and the man got out of his car to give the other driver a hand. Seconds later, another car spun out, hit the handyman, and killed him. In the confusion and investigation of the accident, the dog was left on the side of the highway, a thousand miles from home and without the caring owner he had known for the past 12 years. The black Labrador retriever, named Rancid after a punk rock band, was found alone in his master’s car by a tow truck driver who came to haul away the wreckage. The driver took Rancid home and says he would have kept him had the owner’s family not been located back in Florida. Rancid, meanwhile, waited patiently for eight days for his master to return. Another dog lover decided it was time to take Rancid back to his home in Hollywood, Florida, so she volunteered to make the 21 hour drive. Well-wishers made contributions to help pay for the gas. The woman says she was about two miles from her destination when Rancid […]
