Category: Car Accidents

We’ve all either been the driver or been near the driver that is going too fast down a road or interstate. Whether impatient, running late, or some other reason, speeding drivers are commonplace. While we all may have gotten used to speeding or being around speeding vehicles, it remains a dangerous driving behavior. There are thousands of people dying each year due to speeding vehicles and these are all preventable tragedies.

The Dangers of Speeding

Speeding is illegal in every state. Going above the posted speed limit can land you in legal trouble, to be sure. There can also be serious, even fatal consequences of speeding. Speeding is particularly dangerous because it not only impairs a driver’s ability to control a vehicle and increases the time needed to effectively react to other things on the road, such as cars in front slowing down or stopping, but it also means that the force of impact should the speeding vehicle collide with something will be more severe and, therefore, more likely to cause serious injury or death.

There are many factors that have been considered to the persists and pervasiveness of speeding despite these apparent dangers. Traffic congestion, for instance, can quickly bring out the worst and most impatient sides of people causing them to overcompensate by slamming down on the gas pedal whenever possible. Running late for an appointment or meeting is also a commonly cited reason for speeding. The bottom line is that far too many of us are in a rush and will engage in dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, to get where we are going as fast as possible.

There are, however, a number of things we can do to help counteract our own inclination to speed as well as to guard ourselves against other drivers who are speeding. Should you find yourself often rushing when behind the wheel, make sure you give yourself extra time to get where you are going. Allow for enough time to travel to your appointments safely. If you are running late or might run late, reach out to the person you are meeting to inform them of this.

If you are on the road and encounter a speeding driver, as many of us are likely to do, give them as much space as possible. Remember that speeding can contribute to a driver losing control of their vehicle. Speeding also means that a driver will need more time to react to other cars reducing speeds or coming to a stop. You should also be sure to allow speeding drivers to pass you freely and safely. If you are in the left lane and there is a car going faster than you and wants to pass, move over as soon as you can do so safely and let them pass.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys

Speeding can have tragic consequences. If you have been injured by a speeding driver, the team at Cooper, Schall & Levy is here to not only hold that driver accountable for the damage done, but will also fight for your legal right to be monetarily compensated for your injuries. Contact us today.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019 alone. Far more people suffered injuries due to distracted driving on top of this staggering number of fatalities. States have finally realized just how dangerous distracted driving can be and enacted laws accordingly. Here, we will go through Pennsylvania’s distracted driving laws.

What Are Pennsylvania’s Distracted Driving Laws?

Driving while distracted means that a driver has taken their full attention away from the road, whether it be eyes, hands, or mental focus. Common driver distractions include:

• Eating and drinking
• Smoking
• Adjusting music or audiobooks
• Talking with other passengers
• Looking for an item in the vehicle
• Hair brushing and makeup application

Pennsylvania’s distracted driving laws, however, only pertain to one main form of distraction for drivers across the state. This distraction is the cell phone. The law is actually broader than simply referencing a cell phone. In fact, the exact wording in Pennsylvania’s distracted driving law restricts motorists using an “interactive wireless communication device” to write, send, read a text communication while driving. This means that, likely, not just cellphones are included in the ban. It could also extend to tablets and other wireless devices that can be used for text-based messaging. It should be noted that the written communications ban under Pennsylvania’s distracted driving law does not include using a GPS device which is physically integrated into the vehicle.

You will also notice that the law references “text-based messaging.” This means that it includes more than a ban on texting while driving. Pursuant to the state’s distracted driving law, emails, and instant messages, among other written communications composed on a wireless device are also included. There is no ban or restrictions on talking on a phone while driving. Some states have banned use of handheld devices while driving and drivers must, therefore, use hands-free or Bluetooth devices if they want to talk on the phone while driving.

There are fines associated with Pennsylvania’s distracted driving law. It is a summary offense that comes with a $50 fine. The driver found in violation of the law, however, usually ends up paying over $100 due to court costs and additional fees. Violators do not get points assigned to their driving records and the violation will not be added to their record at all. For commercial drivers, however, it is recorded as a non-sanction violation.

On top of fines, drivers cited for distracted driving may also be convicted of reckless driving. Furthermore, if distracted driving caused a fatal accident, then the violator could also be charged with homicide by vehicle. If distracted driving led to an accident that led to injury or even death, the driver could also be held civilly liable for any damages that result from the accident. This means that the driver, or the driver’s insurance company, may be held responsible for paying for the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages incurred by victims of the accident.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have been injured in an accident caused by distracted driving? You are not alone. The dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper, Schall & Levy. Contact us today.

Knee injuries are common in a wide variety of motor vehicle accidents. The type of accident, as well as the force of impact, may result in different types of injuries, but all of them can be very painful and require extensive medical intervention in order to properly heal. Ranging from strains and sprains all the way to tears, fractures, and dislocations, immediate and continuous medical treatment for knee injuries should be a priority after an accident to help avoid long-term consequences of the injury as well as to help ensure your injuries are properly documented for personal injury claim purposes

Possible Treatment for Car Accident Knee Injuries

The type and extent of treatment for a knee injury will largely depend on the type and extent of the knee injury that has been sustained. The treatment for a sprain will likely look different than treatment for a dislocation, although there may also be some similarities. Let us review some of the more commonly sustained car accident knee injuries and possible courses of treatment for them.

Muscles in the knee can be sprained, strained, or torn, when the muscles and ligaments are suddenly stretched beyond what they are normally limited to. Most muscle strains and sprains will only require conservative treatment such as rest and icing, as well as compression and elevation of the injured leg. Should a ligament such as the ACL be torn, it may not only be very painful but may also necessitate surgery and extensive recovery, such as physical therapy and follow-up procedures.

The meniscus is also commonly damaged in car accidents. The meniscus is comprised of two pads of cartilage that act as cushions between the thigh and shin bones. When torn, surgery might be needed in order to remove the damaged cartilage, or a simpler procedure involving sewing the cartilage tissue back together may alternatively be merited. In many cases, a knee brace may be required while there is weakness in the injured knee. Fortunately, meniscus tears usually only require a somewhat brief recovery time and there is not likely to be any permanent damage.

With the jarring impact of a motor vehicle crash, specifically those high-speed crashes, the force of impact can cause the bones of the knee joint to be pushed out of their regular positions. This is referred to as a “dislocation.” A dislocation is a complex injury that may also involve torn ligaments as well as cartilage damage. Surgery may be necessary to repair any damage done.

In knee injury cases where surgery is necessary and in other knee injury cases where surgery is not recommended, there will likely be other interventions recommended to address pain and encourage proper recovery. Those with knee injuries will likely be ordered to rest, the injured leg specifically, as well as ice the area and utilize compression which will help increase blood flow to the area and, thus, spur recovery and repair of any damage sustained.

Elevation of the injured leg will also likely be necessary at one point or another in the recovery process, as well as physical therapy. Physical therapy can help build back strength and mobility to the impacted area. Prescription medication and pain management medication are also likely to be recommended in order to reduce inflammation surrounding the injury and address the pain commonly associated with knee injuries.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney

Have you injured your knee in a car accident? Get the medical help you need and get the legal help you need. At Cooper Schall & Levy, we take on the legal burden of your case so that you can focus on recovering your health. Contact us today.

Unfortunately, joints like the shoulder can bear the brunt of force in an accident. Whether it be the force of impact in a car accident or trying to catch yourself after you trip and fall from a hazardous property condition, your shoulders can be particularly vulnerable to injury. Shoulder injuries can have a serious impact on your arms’ range of motion and mobility. Furthermore, shoulder injuries can be incredibly painful, require invasive medical treatment, and have lasting consequences for a person’s health and well-being. Here, we will take a look at some of the treatment options you may be presented with should you sustain a shoulder injury

Shoulder Injured in an Accident? Possible Treatments

The type of injury will likely dictate the recommended course of treatment for your shoulder injury as will the extent of the injury. For instance, a torn rotator cuff is not an uncommon shoulder injury to sustain in an accident. The rotator cuff refers to the group of muscles in the shoulder that help the shoulder move and allow for a broad range of motion. A torn rotator cuff may require surgery. In some cases, surgery may be deemed unnecessary. An injury victim with a torn rotator cuff will likely, however, be recommended for extensive physical therapy to help strengthen the area and work towards improving range of motion as the injury heals. Additionally, massage therapy might be recommended in order to ease muscle tension, let the muscles relax, and reduce pain. A doctor may also prescribe pain medication to reduce swelling and pain.

Injury victims may also have sustained a shoulder fracture. The shoulder is comprised of a group of bones that work in concert to allow for shoulder and arm movement. This group of bones includes the humerus, clavicle, and scapula. The humerus is the upper arm bone, the clavicle is the collarbone, and the scapula is the shoulder blade. Surgery for shoulder fractures may involve bone grafting and soft tissue repaid or even, in more severe situations, a total shoulder replacement. Radiographic studies such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs will be used to diagnose the extent of a shoulder injury. Surgery may not even be required, but a doctor may recommend things like icing, use of a sling, prescription pain medication, and physical therapy. Once the bones have started to heal, physical therapy, as well as range-of-motion exercises, can help not only repair the area but strengthen it once again.

If you have dislocated your shoulder in an accident, you may also be recommended for surgery. More likely, however, is that you will not need surgery, but will be recommended for use of a sling to help immobilize the shoulder as it heals. You are also likely to be recommended for physical therapy, massage therapy, and other palliative care.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have sustained a shoulder injury or other injury type in an accident, do not wait to call the dedicated personal injury team at Cooper Schall & Levy about your options. Waiting on hiring an attorney risks your legal rights and the strength of your case. Contact us today.