Jeep that Killed Actor Anton Yelchin was Under Recall
Posted June 21st, 2016 by Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.
What may appear to be a freak accident may actually be the result of a widespread safety problem that has caused hundreds of crashes across the United States in recent months.
The vehicle that killed actor Anton Yelchin, 27, was part of a safety recall issued two months ago. Yelchin was crushed to death when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backward down his driveway and pinned him against a fence.
Yelchin’s Jeep was included in a recall that was issued after hundreds of similar – but nonfatal – accidents were reported. Due to a gear shift problem, drivers can mistakenly believe their car is in park, when it is actually in drive or neutral. The confusion stems from a monostable gear shift lever, which rests in a default position, unlike the traditional gear shift, which moves to a different position for each gear. […]
Read MorePosted in Product Liability & Recalls.
OSHA Helps Trucker Fired for Refusing to Break Safety Rules
Posted June 17th, 2016 by Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.
It’s a tough call that truck drivers are often forced to make.
A trucker was assigned to transport a load of Poland Spring water from Massachusetts to New Jersey. A severe thunderstorm causing flooded roads and heavy traffic slowed him down considerably, and he realized he would not be able to complete the delivery and return home without violating the federal hours of service regulations intended to prevent overworked truckers from becoming a danger on the highways. So, he delivered the shipment to a closer facility; the trucking company and the customer approved the arrangement, and another driver carried the shipment to its final destination.
He was fired the next day for insubordination.
The driver filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who stepped in to help. According to one of their administrators:
“The law is clear: Drivers have the right to raise legitimate safety concerns to their employer – including refusing to violate safety regulations – without fear of termination or other retaliation. […]
Read MorePosted in Truck Accidents.
The 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers Have Begun
Posted June 13th, 2016 by Bernadine Munley, Esq..
Memorial Day marks the start of the 100 most dangerous for teen drivers
The 100 deadliest days for teen drivers have begun.
Beginning on Memorial Day, the summer months mark the “100 deadliest days” for teen drivers in the U.S. According to AAA: The average number of deaths from crashes involving teen drivers ages 16-19 increased by 16 percent per day compared to other days of the year.
Several factors combine to create these dangerous conditions. When school is out, teenagers have more free time and drive more often. It is also a celebratory time, as prom and high school graduation tend to see an increase in fatal car crashes involving teenagers. These celebrations will often include underage drinking, drug use, and late-night driving – all factors tied to fatal accidents. Texting and use of social media behind the wheel is another disturbing and unnecessary trend contributing to fatal crashes at an unprecedented rate. […]
Read MorePosted in Car Accidents.
Teen in jail, Snapchat speed filter blamed for 107 MPH crash
Posted June 8th, 2016 by Bernadine Munley, Esq..
A 19-year-old girl is in jail after allegedly causing a 107 MPH car crash outside of Atlanta, GA, while using Snapchat to record her speed.
Snapchat has a filter that allows users to record how fast they’re traveling when they take photos or videos with the app.
As personal injury lawyers who handle car accidents on a daily basis, we can’t help but see the Snapchat speed filter as inherently dangerous, and as an accident waiting to happen. In a society already marred by distracted driving, this filter seems to contradict every effort to deter cell phone use behind the wheel. While representatives of the app claim that the speed filter includes a warning not to use it while driving, that seems contradictory to its very function and offers little comfort to the families of those who have been hurt in other accidents involving a speeding, […]
Read MorePosted in Car Accidents.
Fatal Hit and Run Accidents on the Rise in Philadelphia
Posted June 3rd, 2016 by Bernadine Munley, Esq..
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, hit and run accidents in the city have reached almost epidemic levels in recent months.
Nonfatal hit and run incidents have increased by 30%, while fatal hit and runs have gone up 55% compared to this time last year.
The most recent fatal hit and run in Philadelphia took the life of 18-year-old Kevin Maldonado, who was struck by a woman driving a stolen white Toyota Prius. After hitting Maldonado, the woman abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Incidents like this one leave many people wondering how someone can run from the scene of an accident and leave a person to die. In 2014, Pennsylvania law was amended to ensure that the minimum legal penalty for fleeing the scene of an accident would be the same as the minimum sentence for DUI, […]
Read MorePosted in Car Accidents.
Tagged DUI
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