What is a Loss?
A loss is the monetary value assigned to an injury or damage in a personal injury claim, including pain and suffering, past and future income, future medical care, at-home assistance, current medical bills, etc.
According to Black’s Law Dictionary, “loss” is defined as “the harm or damage resulting from an injury; the deprivation or detriment to an owner or possessor as a result of a judgment or voluntary transfer of property.” As such, loss is often a broad term in law, encompassing both tangible and intangible impacts as loss can come from a variety of forms of damages.
Legal principles governing loss aim to provide remedies, compensation, or restitution to individuals or entities adversely affected by wrongful acts, accidents, or adverse events. Loss can include economic loss, personal loss or property loss. The assessment of loss often involves evaluating evidence, calculating damages, and applying legal standards to determine liability and appropriate remedies in civil litigation or legal disputes. As a legal term, loss underscores the importance of addressing and mitigating the impacts of losses through legal recourse and equitable remedies in accordance with applicable laws and judicial principles.
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Portable Generators Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
This is the season for portable generators in Pennsylvania.
But anybody who owns or uses one should check to make sure it isn’t a Champion Power model, which can leak fuel and explode into flames.
On November 2, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a nationwide voluntary recall of close to 9,000 portable generators made by Champion Power Equipment.
Fuel can leak from the generator’s carburetor, creating a fire hazard. There have been 11 reported cases of leakage, including eight fires and two incidents of property damage.
Portable generator usage soared in the wake of Hurricane Sandy – as did awareness of their potential dangers. To date there have been four reported deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators, although it is uncertain that the generators in those cases were the recalled Champion models.
The Champion Power Equipment recall involves two models of portable generators sold at Costco Wholesale stores nationwide between December 2011 and July 2012 for about $699. […]
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7 Ways to Fast-Track Your Sandy Insurance Claim
Claim your insurance protection for damage done by Hurricane Sandy
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, thousands of Pennsylvanians are filing insurance claims under homeowners, auto, health and even life insurance policies.
Many will face long waits and daunting paperwork.
Some insurance slowdowns are inevitable following a disaster of Sandy’s proportions. Damage estimates range from $7 billion to $50 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
But by taking a few simple steps Pennsylvania residents can improve the odds of their claims getting fast-tracked for approval:
- Do your homework. Take pictures or video of the damage. Before-and-after photographs, purchase records and contractor estimates for repairs are especially valuable.
- Hurry up and file your claim. “Experts say that many homeowners hesitate because they aren’t really sure if they have enough damage to merit a claim—or at least a claim that is more than the value of the policy’s deductible,” the Wall Street Journal reported. […]
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Sandy Death Toll in PA Reaches 12
At least 12 people in Pennsylvania have died as a result of Superstorm Sandy, while two other deaths have been unofficially linked to the storm.
The variety of causes – falls, fires, poisoning, even suicide – is a stark reminder that tragedy can strike in different ways.
Following are summaries from the Philadelphia Inquirer of the fatalities:
- Four people died, including a 90-year-old woman in Upper Merion Township, from carbon-monoxide poisoning from portable generators.
- An eight-year-old child died when a tree limb struck him outside his family home.
- A Berks County man was killed when a tree crashed onto his house.
- Two Lehigh County residents died from exposure to the cold.
- Two people were killed in vehicle accidents related to the storm.
- An 88-year-old Wayne County woman fractured her neck and died when she fell down the stairs in her home, […]
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Pennsylvania State Trooper Dies in Accident
State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan announced the tragic death of 47-year-old Trooper First Class Blake T. Coble of Troop D, Beaver Station after he was killed in an automobile wreck last Thursday. Coble was on duty Oct. 4 when he was struck by a semi at 10 a.m. at Black Hawk Road near Route 168 in South Beaver Township.
According to news reports, Coble’s patrol car was struck by the tractor-trailer when the truck driver went through a stop sign at the intersection. No charges have been filed against the driver of the truck, who has been cooperating with investigators, state police said.
In a press release announcing Coble’s death, Noonan said:
“He [Coble] died serving the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police mourn his loss and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends. […]
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New Jersey Bus Driver Arrested after Causing Death of Passenger
The driver of a New Jersey Transit bus has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a passenger at an intersection in Passaic last month. The collision occurred after the man exited the bus and tried to cross in front of it as the driver accelerated through the intersection, according to a news report. Documents filed in the case allege that the bus driver ran a red light, hit the passenger and refused to stop despite that fact that passengers were yelling for her to stop. The driver has been a New Jersey Transit driver for 25 years.
Bus Accidents Are Common
Bus accidents are far more common than most people realize. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were more than 11,000 bus accidents across the country in 2008, injuring about 24,000 people. For those who depend on buses for transportation, […]
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