Texting Legislation Passed in State Senate This Week

As mentioned in the blog post yesterday, legislation officially making texting a primary offense while driving moved on to the State Senate on Tuesday of this week.  Both the Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives officially passed this piece of legislation, which Governor Corbett also reviewed earlier this fall.  Our blog has been highlighting the progression of this process since June of this summer and are happy to see the piece of legislation progressing into law.  The most recent update on this progression shows that the State Senate officially voted for the texting ban this Tuesday after some revisions were made to the earlier version of the ban.  Governor Corbett still needs to sign the legislation, and the law will take effect 120 days after he signs it.  If caught, texting drivers will face a $50 fine.  Recent surveys show that, although 96% of drivers see texting as a safety threat on the road, 30% still admit to doing it themselves.  Some Pennsylvania legislators are also considering forming a new piece of legislation that would also ban or limit cell phone use while driving.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving the western and central Pennsylvania area.  One of his major areas of practice is injury or death due to motor vehicle accidents.  He has noticed a trend of accidents involving cell phone usage, both talking or texting, and urges you not to use your phone while driving and be wary of other drivers on the road who may be using their phones.  For more information on his law firm, please click here.

Texting Teen Dies In Car Crash

Yesterday, a Butler County teenager died in a car accident.  Alexis Summers, a 17-year-old teenager from Saxonburg, PA was texting while driving when she drove over an enbankment.  Her car crashed into a tree near the road and Summers died at the scene.  This accident occured on the same day that the legislation officially passed in the Pennsylvania State Senate which bans texting while driving. Both the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives have been in conversation since June about the possibility of banning texting while driving, making it a primary offense in the state.  Once Governor Corbett signs the legislation, the law will take effect after 120 days.

Distracted driving is one of the major causes of motor vehicle accidents, especially with young and inexperienced drivers. Distracted drivers may also swerve off the road, hitting stop signs, telephone poles, and most seriously, other people walking or biking. Additionally, they are a danger to others in the car with them, since they may cause an accident in which the passengers in their car are also injured.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving the western and central Pennsylvania area.  One of his major areas of practice is injury or death due to motor vehicle accidents.  He has noticed a trend of accidents involving cell phone usage, either talking or texting, and urges you not to use your phone while driving and be wary of other drivers on the road who may be using their phones.  For more information on his law firm, please click here.

Teen Driving Bill Moves On To Governor

New drivers and teenage drivers in Pennsylvania are seeing many new changes come into effect after the passing of a House bill today.  State representatives voted in the House this week to approve many changes to Pennsylvania's driving laws as they apply to teenage and new drivers.  Some of the major changes that will take effect once Governor Corbett signs the bill into law (which he states that he intends to do)  are:

-For the first six months after a new driver receives their license, they are not allowed to carry more than one passenger in the car if a parent is not present.  After the driver has been accident-free for six months, the passenger limit increases to three passengers.

-For drivers and passengers under the age of 18, failure to wear a seatbelt will be made a primary offense.  This means that a police officer can pull over a teen driver for not wearing their seatbelt, even if they are obeying all other traffic laws.

-The number of driving experience hours to receive a permit will be 65, which is a significant increase of the previous amount (50 hours).  10 of those hours must be night driving, and 5 hours should be in inclement weather conditions.

Inexperienced driving is a major component in many motor vehicle accidents. Teenage drivers are arguably the most likely group to cause a car accident, due to a lack of experience, a tendency to talk on their cell phones and text while driving, and distractibility by other friends in their vehicle. Our law office hopes that these changes in driving laws will lead to a decrease in accidents and will result in more responsible and experienced teenage drivers. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury attorney serving western and central Pennsylvania.  Please contact our office if you would like more information about a potential claim. 

Most Dangerous Times To Be On The Road

As most of us know, there are periods throughout the year when it seems to be more dangerous than normal to be traveling in your car.  Forbes Magazine researched this phenomenon using statistics from AAA and the National Highway Safety Administration to figure out which times actually are statistically more likely to result in car accidents.  Their results?  August is the most dangerous month in which to drive, and Saturday is the most dangerous day of the week to drive, especially in the evening.  The reason was attributed to driver distractability, intoxication, and speeding.

Our law firm has seen several serious accidents involving driver fatigue and driver distractability, which led to severe injuries. While you may be responsible, safe, and focused on the road, this does not mean that everyone you are sharing the road with is as well. Defensive driving is especially important on truck-heavy roads and highways. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident and have suffered significant personal injuries, please contact our office for a free consultation.

State Legislation Offers Opinion into Highmark-UPMC Dispute

This summer, a major medical insurance company and a largehealthcare provider in western Pennsylvania have been in the midst of tense contract negotiations.  If negotiations fail, many patients in western Pennsylvania may lack the access to healthcare that they had previously relied upon.  Earlier in the summer, our blog had highlighted the larger points of this dispute and recently, PA congressmen have stepped in to add their perspective and opinion on the matter.  Both State and House members have offered to meet with both parties to discuss options and reach a favorable solution for both parties.  Highmark and UPMC have both agreed to meet with the lawmakers.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania who specializes in personal injury. If you would like to set up a consultation with him involving a possible personal injury claim, please contact our law office.

New Legislation for Underage Athletes Suffering from Head Trauma

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is considering a bill that would change how student-athletes compete and practice following a concussion.  This bill, sponsored by State Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) would require all students to be examined and cleared by a doctor following a head injury before they can practice or compete in their sport.  Additionally, coaches will have to undergo concussion training certification courses, and parents will have to sign and review a concussion checklist sheet at the beginning of every new sporting season that their child is participating in. The House is currently examining this bill under their House Education Committee.

Those suffering from brain and spinal cord injuries, especially as a result of an accident at the fault of another may find themselves with lingering, unexpected medical problems that only worsen over time. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon in the world of student-athletes at schools across the country; this is especially true as athletes are pressured to return to the playing field before they are completely healed. Attorney Doug Stoehr has dealt with claims involving brain and spinal cord injuries, and recently settled a case for over $1.5 million involving a severe brain injury. If you would like to consult with him about your case, please contact our law office.

PA Legislators Crack Down on Drunken Boating

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is proposing an amendment to House Bill 78, which would allow prior drunken boating convictions to be taken into account when reviewing a current drunken boating conviction. The major proponent of the amendment, Representative Mike Hanna (D-Clinton/Centre) proposed this amendment in part to correct the inequity between sentences for DUI in vehicles and DUI in boats, with the latter currently carrying a much lighter sentence.

Boating accidents see an expected and marked increase in the summer, especially involving intoxication while driving a boat.  In this area, Glendale and Raystown lakes are arguably the most susceptible places in our local area for such occurrences.  Victims of boating accidents injured due to the fault of another may have lasting and extensive injuries that result in compounded medical bills and significant changes in mobility and ability.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is an attorney serving western and central Pennsylvania that handles cases involving personal injury. If you would like to consult with him about your case, please contact our law office.

AARP Members Lobby for Legislation for Caregiver Reimbursement in PA

Members of the Pennsylvania division of AARP are lobbying for legislation in Pennsylvania that would increase caregiver reimbursement for expenses. In addition to increasing the amount of reimbursement per month, currently at $200, it would also extend the reimbursement to apply to non-relatives and those relatives who do not reside with the person needing caregiver services. This increase in funds would supposedly come from the Pennsylvania Lottery fund, which benefits older Pennsylvanians.

Caregivers have a very difficult job in taking care of the needs of elderly or disabled patients. However, negligent caregivers may also frequently neglect or abuse those in their care emotionally, physically, sexually, or financially. When looking for caregivers for your loved ones, especially those not related to you, take care to choose a responsible and respectful worker who will appropriately address the needs of your family member. If you feel that you or a loved one have been a victim of caregiver abuse and neglect, especially in a nursing home or hospital and would like a consultation at no cost to you, please contact our law office to schedule an appointment with Attorney Stoehr.