Archive for March, 2011

Car Crashes #1 Cause of Teenage Deaths

Posted on: March 31st, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A recent article in The Pottstown Mercury reviewed a January 2011 report authored by Dennis Durbin. Dr. Durbin is co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Doctor Durbin is also an emergency room physician at that prestigious Pennsylvania hospital.

The research report states that 24% of all teenage deaths are caused by motor vehicle accidents – the greatest single cause of death to our youth. More teenagers die in auto accidents than from homicide, cancer and suicide combined. These fatalities will continue to mount so long as teen drivers speed, consume alcohol, text while driving and fail to wear their seatbelts.

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury in a PA motor vehicle crash, you should immediately contact a Pennsylvania auto accident attorney. Please call me at 800-980-4842 to schedule your free home consultation. Put my 30 years of legal experience to work for you. My website of NewellLaw.com provides detailed information regarding my representation of PA personal injury victims since 1981.

Lehigh Valley Pit Bull Owner To Be Re-Sentenced

Posted on: March 29th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On March 21, 2011, a Northampton County PA prosecutor filed a motion requesting that Judge Leonard Zito reconsider the sentence he imposed on a negligent pit bull owner. As described in The Morning Call, on Oct. 29, 2010 a Plainfield Twp. police officer was called to a home on Frable Street. The property owner refused to restrain his pit bull and it attacked the officer.

The police officer sustained a significant dog bite wound to his wrist. He was treated at Easton Hospital and his medical bills totaled nearly $7,000.00. The PA pit bull owner plead guilty to reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. His sentence was merely a $275 fine and court costs. The Northampton County DA’s Office has requested that the trial judge impose a stiffer sentence at the April 1, 2011 hearing.

If you have been victimized by a negligent dog owner, I suggest you contact an experienced Pennsylvania dog attack lawyer to aggressively represent your legal interests. Please call 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. Please review my website of PADogAttackLawyer.com to obtain more information regarding my representation of Pennsylvania personal injury victims since 1981.

Another PA Bill to Ban Texting & Cell Phone Use

Posted on: March 24th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

Pennsylvania State Representative Josh Shapiro recently discussed House Bill 330 which is another legislative attempt to reduce the number of fatal Pennsylvania automobile accidents. Drivers under the age of 18 would not be permitted to use any type of cell phone and would be prohibited from text messaging.

Restrictions on adult drivers would include a ban on using hand-held devices and text messaging. Violations would be viewed as a primary offense. This would permit police to stop the driver even if this was the only violation of the PA Motor Vehicle Code. Quoted in the Pottstown Mercury, Shapiro argued that it was critical that Harrisburg “pass comprehensive distracted driving legislation like the one I’ve proposed.”

If you have sustained a serious injury in a Pennsylvania auto accident, you should promptly consult with a PA car crash attorney. Call me at 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. Let my 30 years of legal experience work for you. Please visit my website of NewellLaw.com to obtain more information about my background of aggressively representing PA personal injury victims.

Hospitalizations From Dog Bites Up 86% in 15 Yrs.

Posted on: March 23rd, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A Feb. 22, 2011 article from Health Day News reviewed the latest dog bite information published by the U. S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. In 1993, there were 5,100 reported cases of hospital admissions from dog bite attacks. By 2008 that number had increased by 86% to 9,500!

In 2008, an average of 26 dog bite victims per day were admitted to U.S. hospitals. Approximately 866 people each day received medical care in hospitals for dog bite wounds. These numbers do not include those dog bite victims treated by pediatricians, family doctors or non-hospital emergency care centers.

If you have been seriously injured in a dog attack, please consider hiring an experienced Pennsylvania dog bite attorney to protect your legal interests. You may reach me at 800-980-4842 to schedule your free home consultation. My website of PADogAttackLawyer.com details my 30 years of experience aggressively representing PA personal injury victims.

Teens Killed in Manheim PA Crash Were Texting

Posted on: March 17th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A March 8, 2011 report from wgal.com described the latest investigative information released by Manheim Police regarding the Jan. 16, 2011 fatal car crash. Police Chief Jeff Arnold said the car occupied by the 4 teenagers was traveling between 80 and 90 mph when it crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and collided with a Mercedes Benz.

The Lancaster PA car crash took place on Mount Wilson Road in South Londonderry Township. The teenagers had texted friends telling them they were “ready to get some air” just before the fatal collision. It is not clear as to whether or not the teenage driver was also texting. Excessive speed, driver inexperience and a distracted driver are apparent factors that led to this tragedy. The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is expected to conclude its criminal investigation next month.

If you or a family member/friend have been seriously injured in a PA car crash, you should immediately consult with a Pennsylvania auto accident lawyer. I have 30 years of experience representing PA car crash victims. Please call 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. My website of NewellLaw.com provides more specific information you should have regarding my litigation background.

PA Legislators Debate Bill For Service Dog Protection

Posted on: March 15th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is currently debating proposed legislation that would give additional protection to service dogs. As described on abc27.com, House Bill 165 would impose both civil and criminal penalties on PA dog owners if their dog kills or maims a service animal.

Typically, service animals such as seeing-eye dogs are trained to be obedient and docile and might not be able to defend themselves from an animal attack. Fines, jail time and restitution are the penalties offending dog owners would face.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite attack, you should hire a Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer to aggressively represent your legal interests. Please call me at 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. My 30 years of experience representing Pennsylvania personal injury victims is detailed at PADogAttackLawyer.com.

Bucks Co. Lawmaker Advocates For New Teen Driving Law

Posted on: March 10th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On Feb. 28, 2011, Bucks County Pennsylvania State Representative Katharine Watson held a press conference promoting House Bill 9 which would place additional restrictions on teenage drivers. As described on philly.com, the legislation would limit drivers under the age of 18 to one non-family passenger under 18 and would require 15 more hours of driver training.

As a Pennsylvania car accident attorney, I am very familiar with the mounting death toll caused by inexperienced and reckless teenage driving. The Bucks County legislator said accident statistics showed that the risk of a teen driver fatality increases from 39 percent with one teenage passenger to 182% for three or more.

If you or a loved one have sustained serious injuries in a PA auto accident, please call me at once at 800-980-4842. I will come to your home for a free consultation. My website of NewellLaw.com provides details regarding my 30 years of personal injury litigation experience.

Dog Owner’s Insurance Company Pays $ 101,000.00 to Northumberland County Victim

Posted on: March 3rd, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A Good Samaritan who was badly injured due to a neighbor’s violation of the PA Dog Law received the defendant’s insurance policy limits of $101,000.00. The dog owner let the dog run loose in the neighborhood and it ran into the victim’s home as she tried to help the dog owner. The victim tripped over the dog and badly broke her right leg.

The Northumberland County personal injury victim underwent surgery with a plate and screws installed to keep the fracture site stable. Unfortunately, the right leg became infected and multiple surgeries were required to try and save the leg. Your Pennsylvania dog bite attorney obtained the dog owner’s liability policy limit of $100,000.00 as well as the medical payment limit of $1,000.00.

If you have been injured due to a negligent dog owner, I ask you that you immediately contact me at 800-980-4842. Dog bite victims throughout Pennsylvania have entrusted me to protect their legal interests.  Please call to set up a free home consultation.    My website of PADogAttackLawyer.com details my 30 year legal career.