Archive for April, 2011

PA House Approves Tougher Hit and Run Penalties

Posted on: April 29th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 4, 2011, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 208. If this bill becomes law, drunk drivers who flee the scene of an accident will not be able to receive less prison time than those who stop and provide aid to the injured victim. A loophole in PA’s current laws actually encourage drunk drivers to flee the scene of an accident according to the bill’s author, Rep. Dave Reed.

Currently, a fatal hit and run conviction is a 3rd degree felony with a mandatory minimum prison term of 1 year. A drunk driver who is engaged in an accident that results in serious injury or death is guilty of a 2nd degree felony with a 3 year minimum prison sentence. This discrepancy encourages drunk drivers to flee the scene of serious accidents. The proposed bill would make the prison sentences identical in either fact situation.

If you or a family member have been seriously injured in a PA car crash, please consider hiring an experienced Pennsylvania auto accident lawyer. I have been representing PA car crash victims for 30 years. Please call 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. My website contains valuable information regarding what to do after you’ve been injured in an accident – NewellLaw.com.

Roaming Pit Bull Seriously Injures Carlisle Man

Posted on: April 26th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On February 24, 2011, a 43 year-old man from Carlisle PA was attacked by a white pit bull. As described on wgal.com, the Carlisle PA dog bite victim was walking on Fairground Avenue. The Cumberland County resident was the victim of an unprovoked dog attack.

The pit bull was not confined but instead was running loose in the neighborhood in violation of the PA Dog Law. The Carlisle resident was treated at a local hospital for dog bite wounds to the face and hands.

If you or a family member has been the innocent victim of a dog attack, please contact a PA dog bite lawyer. For 30 years, I have aggressively represented personal injury victims in Pennsylvania. Please call me at 800-980-4842 for a free home consult. My website of PADogAttackLawyer.com provides dog bite victims with valuable information regarding the PA Dog Law.

89 Year-Old Driver Kills Lancaster Biker

Posted on: April 22nd, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 9, 2011, a Lancaster PA motorcycle rider was killed when an 89 yr. old woman turned left directly into his path. According to wgal.com, the 43 year-old biker was riding westbound on Columbia Avenue in Manheim Township. The elderly driver was eastbound when she suddenly made a left turn causing this fatal PA motorcycle accident.

The Lancaster PA biker was taken to Lancaster General Hospital where he was pronounced dead from head trauma. All indications point to the conclusion that this fatal motorcycle crash was 100% the fault of the 89 year old driver.

As a Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney, I have represented many innocent bikers who have been injured because drivers negligently turned in front of them. If you have been seriously injured in a PA motorcycle crash, please contact me at 800-980-4842 to set up a free home consultation. My website of NewellLaw.com describes my litigation background of 30 years representing PA personal injury victims.

Criminal Case Proceeds vs. Berks County Pit Bull Owner

Posted on: April 19th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 11, 2011, a Berks County pit bull owner waived his right to a preliminary hearing as his criminal case proceeded to trial. As described in The Morning Call, on March 17, 2011 the Berks County resident began to tailgate a car and then rammed into it three times. The victim pulled into the driveway of a home in Lehigh County to seek help.

The defendant got out of his truck, punched the victim several times in the face and then ordered his pit bull to attack – all the while yelling at the victim “your mom is Satan.” Pennsylvania State Police arrived and promptly arrested the defendant charging him with multiple crimes including aggravated assault. He remains in Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.

If you or a loved one have been attacked by a dog, please consult with an experienced Pennsylvania dog attack lawyer. Since 1981, I have represented personal injury victims in PA. Call 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. More information re the PA Dog Law can be found at PADogAttackLawyer.com.

2010 PA Fatal Accidents with 16/17 Yr. Old Drivers Up 42%

Posted on: April 14th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A March 24, 2011 report from The Morning Call detailed the latest disturbing trend involving teenage drivers in Pennsylvania. In 2009, 40 drivers aged 16 or 17 were involved in fatal crashes. The figure rose 42% in 2010 to 57 such accidents causing deaths with 16 or 17 year old drivers behind the wheel.

In contrast, fatal PA accidents involving all drivers 65 and older dropped nearly 4% from 276 to 266. A PennDOT spokesman theorized that the increasing use of cell phones to text or call by inexperienced teenage drivers is a leading factor in the rise of fatal crashes.

If you or a family member have sustained a significant injury in a PA car crash, please immediately contact me to be represented by an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney. Call 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. My website of NewellLaw.com details my 30 years of PA personal injury litigation experience.

Bethlehem Cop Kills Pit Bull After It Attacks 2 Victims

Posted on: April 12th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On March 4, 2011, a Bethlehem PA pit bull owner was arrested and charged with multiple crimes by the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. According to bethlehem.patch.com, the dog owner assaulted a woman and her brother came to her aid. The pit bull owner then instructed his dog to attack the brother who was bitten on the foot.

As the sister tried to pull the pit bull off her brother, the dog also attacked and bit her. The Bethlehem police arrived shortly thereafter. The officers attempted to take control of the pit bull to quarantine it. However, the dog was allegedly out of control and one of the officers shot and killed the pit bull. Tests will be performed to check for rabies. Both dog bite victims were treated for dog bite wounds at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem.

The PA Dog Law requires all dogs to be confined and/or under the responsible control of their owners. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a dog bite attack, I recommend you hire an experienced PA dog bite lawyer. I have been aggressively representing Pennsylvania personal injury victims for 30 years. You can contact me at 800-980-4842 to set up a free home consultation. More details regarding my dog bite cases can be viewed at PADogAttackLawyer.com.

PA NE Turnpike Fatality in Montgomery County

Posted on: April 8th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 6, 2011 a fatal car accident on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike claimed the life of a Lehigh Valley man. As described in The Morning Call, a Freemansburg resident was driving a pick-up truck northbound on the NE Extension when his left rear tire blew and his truck slammed into the concrete center barrier.

After striking the barrier, the vehicle flipped and tossed the Lehigh County man onto the PA TPK road surface. A member of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office pronounced the driver dead at the scene of the fatal PA crash. A passenger from Bethlehem and another from Whitehall were medevaced to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

If you or a family member have sustained a significant injury in a Pennsylvania automobile collision, you should promptly contact a PA car crash lawyer. Call 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. I have spent the last 30 years representing personal injury victims in Pennsylvania. More details about my experience can be found at NewellLaw.com.

Criminal Charges Filed After Blair County Pit Bull Mauling

Posted on: April 5th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A March 3, 2011 report on Altoonamirror.com detailed the filing of criminal charges against an Altoona pit bull owner. On Feb. 18, 2010 a 10 year-old boy knocked on the defendant’s front door to play with his friend. The pit bull, which had a past history of vicious propensities, jumped thru the front glass door and began to attack the helpless boy.

The Altoona PA dog bite victim instinctively put up his left arm to protect his face. This action may have saved his life. The pit bull tore into his left biceps. Altoona police reported that the pit bull destroyed the boy’s biceps muscle. He was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where the PA pit bull attack victim underwent major reconstructive surgery.

Criminal charges include recklessly endangering another person and attacks causing severe injury or death. If you or a family member have been attacked by a pit bull or other vicious dog, please contact your Pennsylvania dog bite attorney as soon as possible. Call my toll free number of 800-980-4842 to schedule your free home consultation. Put my 30 years of experience to work for you. More detailed information regarding dog bite attacks can be found at PADogAttackLawyer.com.