Berks County, Pennsylvania is located in Central Pennsylvania and is one of the ten most populated counties in the Commonwealth. It also has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the ten counties in Pennsylvania with the most reported traffic crashes and traffic related fatalities, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. More than 4,800 crashes occurred in Berks County during 2008 alone. (more…)
Berks County, Reading, State Police Department Offices
Friday, March 19th, 2010Kutztown University Student Seriously Hurt in Accident
Friday, March 19th, 2010A Kutztown University student was seriously hurt in an on campus accident late yesterday afternoon. The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday March 18, 2010 in the 15100 block of Kutztown Road.
The accident happened when a motorcycle traveling eastbound collided with a car that was traveling westbound and pulling into a private driveway.
The driver of the motorcycle suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Lehigh hospital. The name of the victim has not yet been released. Both the driver of the motorcycle and the driver of the car involved in the accident have been identified as Kutztown University students.
An accident reconstruction team was working at the accident scene for several hours yesterday and is encouraging witnesses of this serious crash to call 610-683-8740.
Bernville Jogger Struck by Car and Killed in Early Morning Accident
Thursday, March 18th, 2010Yesterday morning at approximately 6 a.m. 39 year old Mark Eberly of Bernville was out for a morning jog. His jogging route took him along Route 183 (Bernville Road).
While Mr. Eberly was jogging southbound on Route 183 near Washington Street in Jefferson Township, Berks County, PA, a driver veered off of to the shoulder of the road and struck him from behind. Mark Eberly was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The driver of the car, 60 year old Mark L. Clark, and was not injured in the accident. It is not yet known what caused Mr. Clark to drive on to the shoulder of the road. Pennsylvania state police from the Reading barracks and the Berks County Coroner’s office have been investigating the cause of the accident.
Tuesday Night Crash Injures Two in Mercersburg
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010Last night two 53 year old residents of Martinsburg, West Virginia were involved in a serious car accident in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.
The accident happened at approximately 6:30 p.m. The two Martinsburg residents, whose names have not yet been released, were travelling together in a car that was going southbound on Fort Loudon Road (PA 75). At the same time, a vehicle pulled out of a parking lot along Fort Loudon Road and the two vehicles collided.
Both Martinsburg residents were hurt in the accident. The male driver of the car was flown to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey for treatment. The female occupant of the vehicle was taken to Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg.
The 18 year old driver of the other car was not injured. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
NHTSA Introduces Model Law to Prohibit Texting While Driving
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Last month, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a model law that is intended to make it easier for states to craft laws that prohibit texting while driving.
Approximately, 19 states have already passed such laws and several employers have implemented policies that prohibit employees from texting while driving. For example, in October 2009, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving in the course of their employment. The Department of Transportation has also issued rules that prohibit drivers of trucks and commercial vehicles to stop texting or face significant financial penalties.
The model law would allow police officers to pull over drivers who are texting while driving and issue a ticket. Drivers who are in accidents while they are texting may already be found liable for negligence if serious injuries or fatalities resulted from their texting. Texting is considered to be an especially dangerous form of distracted driving because it involves taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the steering wheel, and your mind off of the potential hazards in front of you. Texting is a popular, and frequent, form of communication for people under 20 who are relatively new and inexperienced drivers. The combination of these factors makes texting while driving a serious concern nationwide and right here in Pennsylvania.
NHTSA estimates that 6,000 people died and more than half a million people were injured in 2008 because of distracted drivers, including drivers who texted while driving.
PA Law Prohibiting Texting While Driving
Pennsylvania is currently considering a law that would ban texting while driving. While it is a move in the right direction, it is likely that texting while driving will continue despite any new laws, and that, unfortunately, people will continue to be hurt and killed.
If you have been hurt, or lost a loved one, because of a driver who was texting while driving or who was otherwise distracted from driving safely then please contact a Pennsylvania car accident attorney for help recovering the damages to which you may be entitled under Pennsylvania law.
Social host liability and underage drunk drivers
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Underage drinking is not just a teen problem.
The term, social host, refers to adults who knowingly or unknowingly host underage drinking parties on property that they own, lease, or otherwise control. Through social host liability laws, adults can be held responsible for these parties, regardless if they served the alcohol or turned a blind eye when alcohol was brought in by others.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey have social host liability laws. Social host ordinances give communities a practical tool for holding adults accountable by permitting law enforcement to cite the person who hosted the underage drinking party on their property.
Statistics of teen drunk driving suggest that a teenage boy with BAC levels of 0.05 percent is 18 times more vulnerable to crash his vehicle than a teenage boy who hasn’t consumed any alcohol. In girls, this vulnerability increases to 54 times over her non-drinking counterparts.
When adults purchase alcohol for the under-21 crowd or host teenage drinking parties in their homes or look the other way when teens talk about their drinking exploits – underage drinking becomes an adult problem.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ statistics
According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ statistics (MADD), access to alcohol for teenage parties is easier than you might think. In a 2005 study conducted by the American Medical Association, of teenagers between 13 and 18 showed:
- Nearly half of the teenagers surveyed reported having obtained alcohol.
- Two out of three teenagers said it was easy to get alcohol from their homes without their parents knowing.
- One-third of teens reported it was easy to obtain alcohol from consenting parents.
- For teens who obtained alcohol in the past six months, parents were the supplier an average of three times in a six-month period.
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) drinking and driving statistics, more than half of the drunk driver accidents involving teenagers were reported on weekends. About half of these accidents occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight. Teens are less likely to drive after drinking, but when they do, they are more likely to end up crashing due to the fact they are inexperienced in driving and driving drunk.
Drunk Driving Fatality Lawsuits
If your son or daughter has been seriously injured or died because an adult recklessly allowed underage drinking on their property, don’t hesitate to contact a Pennsylvania personal injury law firm to help you determine what your legal options are and how to move forward on your journey to justice.
Putting on the brakes: Toyota recalls
Monday, March 1st, 2010Toyota Cars and Trucks Recall Accidents
“I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda during his televised testimony before Congress.
Sorry means nothing to the San Diego family of four who were on their way to soccer practice when they couldn’t stop a loaner Lexus that had previously been turned in at the same Lexus dealer for the same problem of unintended acceleration to high speeds and the inability to stop using the brakes.
America’s most popular car brand has lost its luster. Sorry means nothing to the millions of Toyota drivers who are concerned with consumer safety.
Last year in 2009, Toyota recalled 3.8 million cars, due to faulty floor mats. Toyota ordered dealers to inspect all cars for mismatched floor mats.
The affected Toyota models recalled were:
- 2007-2010 Toyota Camry (sedan)
- 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon (sedan)
- 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (hatchback)
- 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma (pickup truck)
- 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra (pickup truck)
- 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 (sedan)
- 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350 (sedan)
A few months later Toyota recalled more than a million cars because of a sticking accelerator pedal problem as well as halting sales on several models. Consumer confidence has hit rock bottom. Toyota is working quickly to remedy the problem but there are always incidents that fall through the cracks while waiting to be recalled.
The cars and trucks affected by the recall and suspension of sales include:
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- Certain 2007-2010 Camry
- 2010 Highlander except hybrid models
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
In February 2010, Toyota announced a voluntary safety recall to inspect the front drive shaft on a small production run of certain 2010 model year Tacoma 4WD trucks. The front shaft in approximately 8,000 vehicles may include a component that contains cracks developed during the manufacturing process. As those vehicles are used, the cracks may eventually lead to the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion.
Toyota Recall Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been injured in a defective Toyota car or truck, please contact the auto accident lawyers at Anapol Schwartz law firm in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Let them put the brakes on bad business practices and product negligence.
“I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in,” said Tiger Woods in a staged televised apology.
Tiger Woods’ apology sounds as insincere as Toyota President Akio Toyoda but at least in Woods’ case – nobody dies.
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