Pisanchyn Law Firm Settlement March 22

Family settles fatal motorcycle accident suit for $1.5 million

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker
The Times-Tribune (TNS) 

 

The family of a Scranton man killed when a tractor- trailer struck his motorcycle reached a $1.5 million settlement with the trucking firm.

 

Thomas M. Burke Sr., 65, of Park Drive, Scranton, was riding his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County on Oct. 4, 2013. The driver of a tractor-trailer owned by Lily Transportation Corp. of New Jersey moved into Mr. Burke’s lane and struck his motorcycle, pushing it into a barrier. Mr. Burke was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Michael Pisanchyn of Scranton, attorney for Mr. Burke’s wife, Lela Mattern-Burke, initially filed suit against the company and the driver, Joh Hatterer, in Philadelphia County Court.

 

The case was later transferred to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In a press release, Mr. Pisanchyn said evidence showed Mr. Hatterer, who died while the lawsuit was pending, was previously involved in several collisions and had a long history of driving violations.

A settlement was reached following a meeting with a mediator on March 22. The agreement sets aside $600,000 in attorneys fees to be split evenly between Mr. Pisanchyn’s firm and Jason Provinzano, who represents Mr. Burke’s estate.

 

“The Pisanchyn Law Firm believes that this settlement sends a message to other trucking companies that if they do not follow the rules … putting our community in danger, there will be severe consequences,” the release says.

Nursing Home Abuse Victims

When you have an elderly family member or friend at a nursing home the last thing on your mind should be their safety. When the news comes in that they were physically or mentally harmed by the nursing home staff it will come as a shock. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more common than most people think. A recent study shows that 1 in 14 residents of a nursing home have admitted to being abused either mentally, physically, or sexually by nursing home staff. This results in over 20,000 residents being abused in some form each year. This is not only a disgusting fact, but also unacceptable. If someone you love or care for is a victim of nursing home abuse do not hesitate to fight back. Contact the attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm today to get the compensation you deserve! Call or fill out a form today for a free consultation!

http://www.pisanchyn.com/contact.html

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The Silent Killer.

Commercial vehicles such as school buses, a semi-truck transporting goods, or a company van, a great deal of trust is placed into the driver of the vehicle. When the driver breaks this trust by being negligent of other drivers some of the worst accidents on the road occur. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident involving a commercial vehicle contact the expert attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm today to fight back and get the compensation you rightfully deserve! Call today to get a free consultation!

http://www.pisanchyn.com/commercial-vehicle-accidents/commercial-vehicle-accident-lawyers.html

Come On In, The Water's Fine- Or Is It?

One of our employees came into the office today and detailed her weekend, spent at her parent's home, by the pool, working on her tan. Just as jealousy was about to overcome us on this rainy, cool, dreary Monday it hit us that we don't often discuss swimming, pool, and other water related injuries, so we turned our envy into an opportunity to bring awareness to the possible dangers and common mishaps that could lead to injury while swimming or at a pool.

As mentioned, swimming and pool injuries are somewhat of a neglected practice area. Unfortunately, this fun and healthy summertime activity can be very dangerous, and even fatal. Our attorneys have handled numerous cases involving pool and swimming injuries. Faulty parts on the swimming pool itself, inattentive lifeguards/guardians, and slip and falls are all common causes of serious injuries as a result of a pool or swimming activity.

A recent study found that for every 100,000 people that swam on an annual basis, 18 injuries occurred in children ages 7-17, and 9 injuries in adults 17 and older. The study also found that swimming injuries in children have increased over the last 20 years and continue to rise.

The most common injury sustained at a pool or while swimming is a head injury. In children 7 and younger these injuries were often fatal.

It's extremely important to be cautious when swimming, especially if they are children present. Keeping a close eye on children, never swimming alone, and refraining from alcohol while swimming are the most common and most sensible recommendations to avoid swimming or pool injuries.

Sadly, even when all precautions are taken, injuries still happen. Our swimming pool/ drowning attorneys can and will help you or your loved one get the justice they deserve after suffering a serious injury or fatality as a result of negligence at a pool or while swimming. Visit our website for more information or call us now at 1-800-444-5309. Our attorneys are on-call 24/7 and offer free consultations.

Do You Have to Follow the Rules of the Road?

Yesterday was a beautiful day in downtown Scranton. The temperature was in the high 80's, the sun was shining, and there were numerous people out for walks and bike rides, some of our staff included.

Our attorneys have been bringing awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and the dangers motorcyclists face, now we want to focus on bringing awareness to the dangers bicyclists face.  Bicycle accidents account for over 600 deaths annually. Sadly, our attorneys have witnessed the devastation bicycle accidents and injuries cause victims and their families. We want to help prevent as many of these accidents as possible. Below we've listed the top four common causes of bicycle accidents and brief tips on how to avoid these types of accidents.

1. A bicycle enters the roadway from an alley, driveway, parking lot, etc- without stopping to look for traffic. Just as you stop and look both ways before walking across a street, and before driving through an intersection you should the same on your bicycle
2. A bicyclist riding the wrong way in traffic- When you are walking on the street it’s common to walk facing traffic. This rule changes when you are on a bicycle, though. Why? Because bicycles are considered to be vehicles, too, and therefore should follow the same rules of the road as all other vehicles. Ride on the right side of the road, going with the flow of traffic to avoid head on collisions.
3. Motorists passing bicycles- Motorists often pass out bicycles and sometimes misjudge the room they have and by the time they see or realize that they may hit the bicyclist it is often too late to react. These collisions happen most often on narrow roadways, at night, and are usually caused by distracted or impaired drivers. If possible, avoid cycling in dark conditions, on narrow roads, and roads with a speed limit of 35 mph. If you do ride at night be sure to wear reflective gear or have lights on yourself or your bike.
4. Bicyclists failing to obey traffic lights and signs- As mentioned above, bicycles are considered vehicles and as such, must, by law, obey the rules of the road. This includes obeying traffic lights and stop signs. Bicyclists must stop at stop signs, stop at red lights, yield at yellow lights, and yield when there is a yield sign. Watch out for traffic signals and for extra precaution consider walking your bicycle across busy intersections.

Enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having and if you ride a bicycle, please be careful. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle accident, we can help. Call our bicycle accident attorneys at 1-800-444-5309 or fill out the form on our bicycle accident page on our website to email an attorney directly.

RUI? More Common Than You Think

Happy May, and welcome to Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month! Just as we brought you facts, statistics, and tips to avoid distracted driving last month, we are going to do the same for Motorcycle Safety this month.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers have handled numerous cases involving an injured motorcyclists. Victims of motorcycle accidents face a higher chance of fatalities, more severe injuries, and higher medical bills than those in regular passenger vehicle accidents. These risks are increased when the motorcyclist, or another driver, is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.



The NHTSA urges all motorcycle riders to ride sober.

A shocking recent study shows that the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes in greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on the road. We always try and bring awareness to drunk drivers as well as encourage people to have a designated driver if they plan to be out celebrating, and this is no different if you are operating a motorcycle.

If you were a passenger on a motorcycle operated by an intoxicated driver, or were on a motorcycle and injured by a drunk driver, we can help you. Our Pennsylvania accident attorneys are experienced with these types of cases and can get you the compensation you deserve.

Enjoy the beautiful weather, riding, and yourself this Spring/Summer, but please be safe. Watch for motorcycles, have a designated driver, and don't fall victim to distractions while driving.

Call 1-800-444-5309 for a free consultation or contact our motorcycle accident attorneys directly through our website if you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident or as a result of a drunk driver.

For more information about Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month visit the NHTSA's (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) website.

Motorcyclist Invisibility is Not an Excuse for Other Drivers

While there are numerous scenarios that can cause a motorcycle accident, the most common cause is the "invisibility" of motorcycles to drivers of normal passenger vehicles.

Motorcyclists are somewhat undetected by other drivers, especially distracted drivers. Due to how small motorcycles are it is often common that bikes and the riders on them end up in many drivers' blind spots. This is a common cause of accidents, and a common excuse used by other drivers after an accident happens. All drivers should be aware of their surroundings and should drive with extra caution, especially in nice weather, in the event a motorcyclist is on the road.

Cut-offs, violation of the motorcyclist's right-of-way, and contact between the two vehicles are the most common accidents that occur due to motorcycle invisibility. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by a car, truck, or SUV making a left turn in front of a motorcyclist's right of way at an intersection.

In almost half of all motorcycle accidents, the driver's view of the motorcycle is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles. In these cases, the motorcyclist has less than two seconds to successfully react and maneuver to avoid an accident. Motorcyclists can not always be expected to make up for driver error.

 

If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, you should be focusing on one thing – getting better. Aside from our free consultations, no win no fee representation, and 24/7 on-call assistance, our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys will be on your side every step of the way and will take the worries and stress off your hands. From the moment you hire us to get your compensation we will:

• send investigators to the scene of the accident.
• have experts reconstruct the accident when needed.
• gather evidence to support your motorcycle case.
• most importantly, fight the insurance companies that don’t have your best interest in mind.

Call us now at 1-800-444-5309 or visit our website for more information.