7 Tips for Sharing the Road with Pedestrians

With Spring weather inching closer and closer more people are getting out and enjoying the sun. This includes pedestrians walking around neighborhoods and towns and bicyclists trading in their keys for a helmet.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 3 pedestrian groups most at-risk for accidents are seniors 65 and older, kids ages 5–9, and people under the influence of alcohol.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were roughly 65,000 pedestrian injuries due to car accidents in 2014.

With these sobering facts in mind, here are some tips to pedestrians and drivers safe.

Know where the kids are

Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are at the greatest risk of being hit by a vehicle. Children are smaller and less visible and they can be unpredictable. The law imposes a higher duty of care on drivers when it comes to children. The presence of children is a warning of danger to the driver to exercise greater care. Thus, a driver must exercise a greater degree of care when they know or should know that small children are at play in the area; for example, while driving by schools, parks, and residential areas.

Also remember to never pass a stopped school bus, as kids could be crossing the street from a number of hard-to-see angles.

Slow down for crosswalks

Crosswalks, particularly in big metro areas, don't always command respect from drivers. But the truth is crosswalks aren't just for those who are walking, jogging, or rollerblading. They're also for you, the driver. Crosswalks protect you by designating a safe area for pedestrians to cross — which cuts down on jaywalking and unexpected pedestrian crossing.

When you approach a crosswalk, always give the right-of-way to the pedestrian. If you're making a turn, scan the road closely before turning.

Practice driveway safety

Backing out of your driveway is one of those simple things you do a million times until you can do it with your eyes closed — which is exactly what makes it dangerous.

Take your time when backing out of your driveway. You should check the mirrors first but not rely solely on them. Actually turn and look behind your car. It can also help to roll down your windows so you can hear approaching footsteps or smaller kids and give your horn a light honk so pedestrians know you're there even if they can't see you.

Beware the parking lot

An alarming 52%of all back-over injuries happen in parking lots, according to data cited by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. When a car backs into a pedestrian, it's considered a back-over accident.

Parking lots are breeding grounds for accidents because they're full of both cars and pedestrians and they're often unclear on who should go where. Drivers and pedestrians should keep their guard up when navigating parking lots.

Consider driving conditions

Weather and road conditions add to your stopping distance, which means if you're driving a tad fast during not-so-nice weather and a pedestrian runs into the street, you're going to have a harder time stopping. Pedestrians don't always have reflective material like cars and cyclists, so always adjust your speed according to the weather. This is especially true at night.

Leave your smartphone alone

It's well-known that distracted driving puts pedestrians at greater risk. A lesser-known problem is distracted walking. Avoid the temptation to multitask behind the wheel and while crossing the street.

Stay alert for pedestrians with special needs

As a driver, keep an eye out for pedestrians who are at greater risk in crosswalk scenarios, including those who use a wheelchair, a cane, or any other type of assistive device. Also be aware of blind pedestrians.

If you have suffered injuries as a pedestrian, contact our pedestrian accident attorneys today for your free consultation by calling 1-800-444-5309.

Hoverboard Injuries Continue Despite Recent Recall

While hoverboards have been growing in popularity in recent years, the electronic scooters have caused concerns due to the explosive risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission last year recalled more than 500,000 of the devices from 11 different companies. Many airlines have banned them on flights, and several local colleges do not allow hoverboards in university buildings.

The latest incident occurred March 11, 2017 in Harrisburg, Pa., when a recharging hoverboard set a row house ablaze, killing a 2-year old and a 10-year old while leaving a 3-year old and 4 year-old with injuries.

Fire officials say the family heard a “sizzling or crackling in the hoverboard” and suspect it caused the fatal blaze.

In the wake of the tragedy, the federal government is once again warning consumers about the dangers of hoverboards and associated safety hazards.

In some cases, the lithium-ion batteries were found to overheat, reportedly starting dozens of fires in homes across America. Homes have been destroyed as a result of hoverboard fires in Washington, D.C., Nashville and elsewhere.

If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries or burns as a result of a malfunctioning hoverboard, you should contact one of Pisanchyn Law Firm’s experienced hoverboard lawyers now for a free consultation by calling 1-800-444-5309.

Welcome Workers' Compensation Attorney Michael Brady

The Pisanchyn Law Firm is proud to announce that we have hired Attorney Michael Brady. Attorney Brady brings a wealth of experience with him, especially in the area of workers' compensation. He has over 30 years experience and has primarily focused his practice in getting injured workers the compensation that they deserve.

Attorney Michael Pisanchyn commented, "I am very excited to bring Attorney Brady's talent and tenacity to the firm. Both have dove tailed perfectly with the other aggressive, skilled and excellent attorneys already at the Pisanchyn Law Firm."

Visit our website, www.pisanchynlawfirm.com, to read more about Attorney Brady's qualifications as well as all of the other attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm.

If you or a loved one is or has been injured, please do not hesitate to contact us as we never charge a fee until we win your case.

What Happens after Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?

You've suffered a serious injury. You've found an injury attorney – what happens next?

Every case will not be the same. What happens immediately after hiring an attorney largely depends on the type of case, when you hire an attorney, and how severe your injuries from the accident are.
Generally speaking, the first thing an attorney usually does is send out representation letters to everyone involved to let them know you have legal counsel. This is very important, especially if the other driver’s insurance company has already contacted you. If the other insurer hasn't yet, we can prevent them from doing so with this type of letter.

Once an insurance company receives a representation letter, they can no longer contact you. An attorney will provide the insurance company with basic information about you and about the case. (Watch this video regarding providing recorded statements to insurers.)

If you are contacted by an insurance adjuster, investigator or anyone after hiring an attorney, you need to get the person’s name, and immediately inform your attorney. You should never give the person any information, other than your attorney’s name and phone number.

Representation letters will also be sent to any medical providers involved, letting them know that they will need to send your attorney a full set of medical records and bills once treatment is finished.

Accident Investigation & Property Damage

Next, an attorney will investigate the accident, if necessary. This includes contacting witnesses to obtain statements and taking photographs of the scene of the accident. This sometimes includes utilizing an investigator and other experts.

If the property damage to your vehicle has not been finalized by this time, your attorney will also assist in this area if need be. Usually, property damage is resolved fairly easily if there is enough insurance. If you pursue a diminished value claim, this will take longer and will be much more involved.

What You Should Do

While your attorney is doing all of the above and more you have one job: Get the appropriate medical care and get better. Follow your doctor’s advice and keep your appointments.

Remember, each case is different and what's described here is general information. To get all of your questions answers you can call our personal injury attorneys at 1-800-444-5309 any time for a free consultation.

Defective Baby/Children’s Product Attorneys

Baby injuries associated with nursery products like carriers, strollers and cribs are on the rise, a study shows.

The study found a 23.7 percent increase in injuries to young children related to nursery products between 2003 and 2011.

Overall, the injuries in the study weren't associated with one particular product:

• 19.5% were associated with baby carriers, with seat-type carriers most likely to be implicated in injuries.
• 18.6% were associated with cribs or mattresses
• 16.5% were associated with strollers
• 16.2% were associated with walkers, jumpers or exercisers

The numbers came from a public database of emergency department records across the United States. Researchers ultimately looked at 48,653 cases of patients younger than three years between 1991 to 2011.

Based on these cases, researchers estimate that a child 3 years old or younger is treated in a United States emergency department for a nursery-product-related injury every eight minutes.

The increase in injuries calls for changes in both how caregivers are using baby products and in the design of the products. For parents and caregivers, the authors suggest following the "four Rs" to keep their kids safe:

• Research the product
• check for Recalls
• Register the product
• Read the manual

Typically, a product recall will be put into place by the government or by the manufacturer if it becomes aware of a safety issue — like these recent nursery product recalls:

• Summer Infant bathtub because it has a drowning risk
• Chimparoo Baby Carrier which puts children at risk of falling

While recalls and studies like this do help protect children they are sadly sometimes too late. If your child has been injured as a result of a recalled or dangerous product call our experienced baby product liability attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm for your free consultation at 1-800-44-5309. You could be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer, the retailer, or even the wholesaler.

Distracted Driving - Eating while Driving

70% of drivers eat and drink while operating a vehicle and 83% of the drivers usually drink a beverage behind the wheel. Taking our meals on our travels is so common that we may not even realize how it impacts our driving ability.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) study, The Impact of Driver Inattention on Near-Crash/Crash Risk, explores how tasks that may seem insignificant to motorists (e.g. eating and drinking) could divert drivers' attention and potentially cause car accidents.

According to the study, inattentive driving contributes to over 45% of all motor vehicle accidents. The study found participants to be inattentive when they attempted to engage in "secondary tasks" while driving.

Many of us are familiar with the substantial effect that the secondary task of operating a cell phone has on our driving ability. But the study identified another secondary task, that hasn't received as much media attention, as a potential risk-factor to drivers: eating and drinking while driving.

Eating and drinking while driving causes a similar strain on a driver's attention as does using a cell phone because both activities cause cognitive, manual and visual distractions. Eating in our cars doesn't just involve putting food in our mouths—it involves manipulating packaging, inserting straws, and avoiding spills.

These actions aren't inherently dangerous by themselves, but a driver's ability to process new information becomes much less efficient when additional demands require their attention. Someone who has just spilled a hot beverage on themselves may not be able to react as quickly to an unexpected hazard in the road.

The study went on further to identify the types of car snacks that require the most attention.

The most risky foods to eat behind the wheel:

1. Hot beverages and liquids
2. Messy foods
3. Drinks without lids
4. Greasy and salty foods

Cruising through the drive-thru when you're swamped for time is convenient, but try to wait until you've reached your destination to enjoy your meal. If you must eat behind the wheel choose a less complicated car snack than what's listed above.

If a distracted driver ever injures you, contact the Pisanchyn Law Firm's accident attorneys for a free consultation at 1-800-444-5309.

Who is Responsible for Paying Medical Bills After an Injury?

Serious injuries require costly and sometimes even life-long medical treatment, and unfortunately, when those bills pile up, recovery is often an afterthought.

No matter the type of accident that caused your injury, if you have concerns paying your medical bills, and aren't sure who should be paying these bills, we can help you.

Remember, all cases are different and this is just general information. What is covered here is not legal advice and it is always best to contact our attorneys for a free consultation to have your specific questions about your specific case answered. 

Car Accidents

If you or someone you care about were injured in a car accident, the details related to the crash will largely determine not only if you have a case, but who is liable for paying associated medical bills.

Typically, after an accident your auto insurance coverage is always your first line of payment, regardless of whether you are the victim or the driver at fault. Your own auto insurance covers you, whether you were injured in your own car, in a friend's vehicle, or as a pedestrian. When those benefits max out, your health insurance benefits kick in. Don't have insurance? You could be eligible for Medicaid and/or Medicare.
Things get more complicated if you don't own a car and nobody living in your home has car insurance coverage. In these cases, the auto insurance company insuring the vehicle in which you were a passenger may apply.

Pennsylvania insurance rules are confusing and complex, which is why we recommend car accident victims never try to settle their claim alone. Our car accident injury attorneys can get you the money you deserve for lost wages, medical bills and more. Our team can also advise you on the best way to handle these bills and debts while your case is still active.

Work Injuries

If you've been hurt on the job, who is liable for paying your medical bills and compensating you for lost wages depends on the details surrounding your injury. In most cases, you will be eligible for Pennsylvania workers' compensation benefits, and in others you may be entitled to compensation from a personal injury case.

Workers’ Compensation is a very complex area of law and not having an expert in this field on your side could result in the loss of your rights as an Pennsylvanian worker.

If a company other than your employer caused your work-related injury, you could have a third-party claim. Examples could be the manufacturer of a defective machine or another contractor working on your job site. These are accidents that result in an injury that occurs at a work site, but are not the responsibility of your employer.

Don't attempt to handle workers' compensation or third-party claims by yourself. Instead, rely on our personal injury and workers' compensation attorneys. Contact us today for a free case review.

Slip-and-Fall Injuries

Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to emergency room visits, time off work and even life-long medical appointments, which is especially frustrating when it was due to the negligence of someone else.

Property owners need to ensure their facilities are free of hazardous conditions such as:

• Wet floors
• Improperly lit areas
• Tripping hazards

This is called premises liability, and there are three different kinds—homeowner liability, business owner liability, and renter and landlord liability.

Our skilled Personal Injury Attorneys understand the ins and outs of these different types of insurance policies and continuously help injured people get the money they deserve. If you or someone you care for has been seriously injured because of someone else's negligence, call our experienced slip-and-fall attorneys today for a free consultation.

Call Our Attorneys Now

When you're hurting, the last thing you want to do is navigate insurance, get hassled by insurance companies, or handle collections calls. The Pisanchyn Law Firm will take these burdens on for you so you can focus on recovery.  Call 1-800-444-5309 for your free consultation today.