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Interesting Legal Cases

Motorcycle Accidents Cause The Worst Injuries – 8/31/11

 

In over 35 years of representing accident victims, the worst injuries I have seen involve motorcycle accidents.  I have handled death cases, amputations to legs and arms, fractures of every part of the body, as well as serious infections caused by road debris in open wounds.  The reason, of course, is due to the fact that a motorcycle operator who is tossed from his bike has no protection other than his helmet and clothing.  I still marvel at the resilience of my motorcycle clients.  Even after serious trauma, they still have the urge to get back on their bikes.  I have had more than a few clients who have purchased new motorcycles with the proceeds of their settlements.

If You Get Caught Up In A Funeral Procession, Can You Go Through A Stop Sign Or Red Light? – 10/5/2011

While on his way to work, Richard drove through a stop sign and collided with another person’s car.  Richard admitted driving through the stop sign, but claimed that he inadvertently joined a funeral procession and followed several cars in the procession through the stop sign because he was going in the same direction.   

  Can he get away with that?  

 The Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code permits cars in a funeral procession to proceed through a red light or stop sign if each of the cars in the procession has its headlights and flashers on, is marked by a flag or insignia and the lead car in the procession comes to a complete stop at the intersection. 

 Since Richard admitted he was not part of the funeral procession; was on his way to work; and had no such lights or flashers on, the court concluded “the inadvertent happening upon a funeral procession and cutting into the procession line of vehicles” does not afford Richard the same protection as someone who was actually in the funeral procession.

Tip – let the funeral procession go by – don’t join it.    Stephen Karp

 

 

 

How You Get Screwed By A Screw? – 9/27/2011

 

I have a client who recently underwent back surgery in which a fusion at two levels in the lower back was performed.  Pedicle screws were used to secure metal rods to bone in the back.  How much do these screws cost?   Apparently, some screws cost more than others.  When the hospital bill came in, I did a double take as to the amount.    At one level, there were six screws costing $11,264 each screw for a total of $67,587.  At the next level, there were two screws at $28,161 a piece for a total of $56,322.   I don’t know how much the insurance company actually paid for these items but you can bet that somebody got screwed.        Stephen Karp

Great News !!! Your Car Insurance Rates Should Be Coming Down – 9/14/2011

 This headline would be true if insurance companies were being honest with the business community in Pennsylvania.  Recently, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill limited joint and several liability.  This means that if two people cause an accident, they are only responsible to pay their proportionate share of the verdict.  Previously, the injured victim could look to any one of the defendants for the full verdict.  This is important, as in some cases, one of the defendants might have no insurance.           The bill which was signed into law by Governor Corbett is supposed to be helpful for the business community in Pennsylvania by lowering the amount of car insurance and products liability insurance that businesses and individuals pay.             Don’t hold your breath – if it’s like any other tort reform bill that has been passed in this state, the only parties that will be saving money are the insurance companies.  The odds of them passing on any type of considerable savings to their insureds are slim to none.  Steve Karp