Archive for May, 2011

May is Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Posted on: May 27th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

Governor Tom Corbett proclaimed May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. PennDOT records indicate that there were more than 4,000 motorcycle accidents on Pennsylvania roads in 2010 with 223 fatalities. The number of registered motorcycles in PA increased by nearly 5,000 in 2010. Licensed motorcycles rose by approximately 10,000.

Motorists are reminded to allow a motorcyclist a full lane width and to be vigilant for motorcycles on the roads. Motorcycle safety courses are available to Pennsylvania riders thru the PA motorcycle safety program.

If you or a family member have been seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, shouldn’t you be represented by an experienced PA motorcycle accident lawyer? Attorney Thomas Newell has been an aggressive advocate for accident victim’s rights in Pennsylvania since 1981. Please call 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. His website of NewellLaw.com reviews the rights of PA motorcycle accident victims.

USPS Announces Top Dog Bite Cities

Posted on: May 25th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On May 12, 2011, the United States Postal Service released statistics showing that 5,669 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year in more than 1,400 geographic locations in the United States. Medical expenses for those 2010 postal worker dog bite victims totaled approximately $1.2 million.

The report identified Houston as the city with the most postal dog bite incidents with 62. Philadelphia finished eighth on the list with 31 postal employees attacked by dogs. Overall, it is estimated that 4.7 million Americans are bitten each year – the majority of them children.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a dog bite attack, shouldn’t you be represented by an experienced PA dog bite attorney? Attorney Thomas J. Newell has been an advocate for victim’s rights in Pennsylvania since 1981. Call 800-980-4842 to schedule your free home consultation. His website of PADogAttackLawyer.com reviews your rights under the PA Dog Law.

PA House Commitee Approves Teen Driver Safety Bill

Posted on: May 20th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On May 3, 2011, the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee approved HB9. According to prnewswire.com, those drivers under the age of 18 who are testing for a junior driver’s license must have 65 hours of supervised practical driving experience. In addition, 10 hours must be at night and 5 during inclement weather.

Furthermore, drivers would not be able to have more than 1 passenger under the age of 18 with them in the car without parental approval. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash risk with 3 or more passengers is nearly 3x higher than when an inexperienced driver drives alone. The bill still must be approved by both the full House of Representatives and Senate, as well as signed into law by Governor Corbett.

If you or a family member have been seriously injured in an automobile accident, don’t you deserve to have an experienced PA car accident lawyer fighting for your legal rights? Thomas J. Newell, Esq. has been representing PA car crash victims since 1981. Call today at 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. More information regarding PA car accidents can be found at NewellLaw.com.

4.7 Million Americans Bitten Each Year

Posted on: May 17th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

A May 12, 2011 press release discussed these grim statistics as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced that May 15-21 was “National Dog Bite Prevention Week.” According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 32,961 reconstructive surgical procedures performed in 2010 to repair dog bite wounds. It is estimated that a majority of those dog bite victims are children.

The AVMA offers these tips to reduce the possibility of being bitten:

* Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch you.
* If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
* Don’t approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
* People choosing to pet dogs should obtain permission from the owner first and always let a dog see and sniff them before petting the animal.
* If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.

If you or a family member have been injured in a serious dog attack, please consider hiring an experienced Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer. Attorney Thomas J. Newell has been representing personal injury victims in Pennsylvania since 1981. Please call him at 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation. Information regarding the PA Dog Law can be found at PADogAttackLawyer.com.

Doylestown PA Driver Faces Criminal Charges After Fatal Bucks Co. Crash

Posted on: May 13th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 29, 2010, a Doylestown PA man was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI after a New Britain Township crash which killed an East Rockhill woman. According to phillyburbs.com, the defendant’s SUV slammed head-on into the Bucks County accident victim’s Toyota Camry. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office claims that the defendant crossed over the double-yellow lines into oncoming traffic when the crash occurred.

At the defendant’s arraignment, evidence was presented that his blood alcohol content was .225 percent from an analysis of his blood sample taken at Doylestown Hospital. The East Rockhill woman was flown directly from the scene of the Limekiln Pike crash to Temple University Hospital. She died several hours later due to “blunt impact trauma.” The Coroner’s report noted that there were multiple fractures and lacerated organs.

Attorney Thomas J. Newell has been representing seriously injured victims in Pennsylvania since 1981. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, you should hire an experienced Pennsylvania car crash attorney to represent your legal interests. Please call 800-980-4842 to set up your free home consultation with Attorney Newell. For more information regarding his expertise, please visit NewellLaw.com.

Rabies in Pennsylvania

Posted on: May 10th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has published the 2010 rabies statistics. According to an April 21, 2011 article from the Beaver County Times, 410 animals tested positive for rabies in PA in 2010. 217 raccoons, 56 cats and 56 skunks topped the list. Only 4 dogs were found to have rabies.

Allegheny County Health Department officials are requesting that the owner of a black lab contact them immediately. An April 23, 2010 article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review discussed an April 19 fight between a raccoon and the black lab. The raccoon was killed by a state wildlife officer after it tested positive for rabies. Rabies exposure normally happens through a break in the skin that comes in contact with an infected animal’s saliva.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a dog attack, I suggest you immediately contact a PA dog attack lawyer. For 30 years I have fought for victims’ rights in Pennsylvania. Please telephone me at 800-980-4842 to schedule a free home consultation. Additional dog bite information can be found at PADogAttackLawyer.com.

Montco Pedestrian Fatality Hit & Run Driver Identified

Posted on: May 6th, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

On April 28, 2011, the attorney for a 74 year-old Gilbertsville PA driver admitted that his client was driving a car that killed a Royersford PA pedestrian in Upper Providence Township. As described in the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 27, the pedestrian had just finished her shift at Kohl’s when she was hit on Township Line Road near the border with Limerick Township.

The negligent driver claimed that she did not realize that she had hit anyone until she arrived home and observed damage to her car. She called her adult children who contacted the police and her auto insurance company. The Montco pedestrian was taken from the scene of the accident to Pottstown Memorial Hospital where she was later pronounced dead by the Montgomery County PA Coroner.

If you or a loved one have been hit by a car while a pedestrian, please contact an experienced PA pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. I have been representing Pennsylvania personal injury victims for 30 years. Please call me at 800-980-4842 for a free home consultation. My website of NewellLaw.com provides valuable information for PA pedestrian accident victims.

Beaver County Rabid Dog Bites Owner

Posted on: May 3rd, 2011       Attorney Thomas Newell

An April 21, 2011 article in timesonline.com detailed the facts of a rabid dog bite attack in Beaver County PA. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reported that an unvaccinated dog in New Sewickley Township had an encounter with a skunk earlier this year.

The dog was confined to a patio room where it continuously threw itself against a glass door. The dog owner was bitten while trying to aid the rabid dog. It was euthanized and tested positive for rabies. The dog owner is being treated with post-exposure rabies vaccinations. Two other family dogs are under a lengthy quarantine.

If you or a family member has been attacked by an aggressive dog, please contact a Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer. Since 1981, I have represented PA personal injury victims. Call 800-980-4842 to set up a free home consultation. Dog bite victims can obtain additional information at PADogAttackLawyer.com.