Financial Scams and the Elderly

Financial abuse and fraud against the elderly appears to be on the rise, especially in Pennsylvania as much of our population ages.  Altoona area attorney Douglas Stoehr has been keeping an eye for this issue and his law firm has compiled a useful group of blog posts that may help you spot the signs of elder financial abuse and how to potentially stop elder financial abuse from occurring in your home. There are also several real-life stories to browse that highlights elder financial abuse in the PA area.

Here are some of the useful resources our blog has highlighted:

Elder Scam: Money Stolen by Family Members
http://altoonainjurylawyer.blogspot.com/2012/09/elder-scam-money-stolen-by-family.html

Financial Fraud and the Elderly
http://altoonainjurylawyer.blogspot.com/2012/11/financial-fraud-and-elderly.html

Elder Financial Abuse in York, PA
http://altoonainjurylawyer.blogspot.com/2012/10/elder-financial-abuse-in-york-pa.html

Protecting Loved Ones from Financial Abuse
http://altoonainjurylawyer.blogspot.com/2012/09/protecting-loved-ones-from-financial.html

Ways to Lighten The Financial Load for Elderly Relatives
http://altoonainjurylawyer.blogspot.com/2013/04/ways-to-lighten-financial-load-for.html

Attorney Doug Stoehr also represents elder abuse victims and their loved ones in the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on his personal injury practice, please click here or call his office at814-946-4100.

Does Your State Allow Elder Abuse Claims After Death?

In some states, elder abuse claims cannot be pursued after the victim has passed away.  In one recent case, a Minnesota nursing home was under attack after there were 15 alleged physical and/or sexual assaults of residents.  Many of the victims and their family members pursued lawsuits, but three years later, all of the lawsuits had been dismissed because the victims had died. This law known as Survival Law, mandates that a personal injury lawsuit can be dismissed if the victim dies of unrelated cases.  There are only three other states with this law.

Although this may appear unusual, the backers of this law claim that the law was created to compensate the victims for their suffering, not their family members.  Fortunately, Pennsylvania does not have any such law.  Personal injury lawyer Douglas Stoehr understands that family members suffer along with the victims when such incidents occur.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  He takes cases for older Pennsylvanians who have been abused or neglected in nursing homes or hospitals.  For more information on his Altoona, PA area practice, please call his office at 814-946-4100 or visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com.  Attorney Stoehr takes cases in Blair and the seven surrounding counties.

Nursing Home Abuse Is a Nation-Wide Problem

Recently, a Long Island area nursing home has come under public scrutiny for charges of alleged abuse at the hands of the facility's workers.   According to an article by the Long Island Press, several workers in a Medford nursing home were accused of covering up the death of one of their residents.  An alarm which alerts workers that a resident may be in distress was ignored for over two hours, according to some reports.  The death is proposed to have been caused by a failure of one of the workers to connect the resident's ventilator machine in at night.

Do you want to know how to spot the signs of a bad nursing home?  Our blog ran an article highlighting some tips and signs to watch out for if you suspect that your loved one is receiving substandard care in a nursing home.  Check out our blog post here for nursing home warning signs!

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer who  takes nursing home abuse and neglect cases in the western and central Pennsylvania areas.  He takes cases in Blair and the seven surrounding counties, and his practice is based in Altoona, PA.  For more information on his firm, please call his office at 814-946-4100 or visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com

To read more from the original article by the Long Island Press, please click here. 

Pennsylvania Winter Driving-Be Safe!

We have had an unusually high amount of snowstorms here in Pennsylvania this winter.  Consequently, the number of potential road-related accidents will also increase.  Are you prepared to effectively and safely drive in the winter?  Pennsylvania's driving safety website, JustDrivePA.org, has posted some tips to keep you and other travelers safe on the road this winter.

Some important things to consider, as listed on their website, may be second nature to most native Pennsylvanians, but all the tips are worth checking out to see if there is anything you're missing!  Things you may wish to double-check in your car are: making sure your car's radio works properly, making sure your wiper blades don't streak, and having an emergency kit in your car.  Some things you should put in that emergency kit include a flashlight, jumper cables, blankets, and a first aid kit.

Winter car accidents are frightening, expensive, and time-consuming.  These accidents may also result in injuries that are extensive, painful, and long-lasting.  If you suffered an injury due to a car accident caused by another, it might be time to consult with an attorney.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania. For more information on his Altoona, PA law firm, please visit his website athttp://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his office at814-946-4100.



To read more about JustDrivePA.org's website and to take their winter driving safety quiz, please click here.

You Could Be Responsible For Your Parent's Unpaid Nursing Home Bills

Did you know that you could potentially be responsible for your parent’s unpaid nursing home and assisted living bills? This may be a scary thought, but in many states with filial support laws, many families are faced with this problem. 

            According to a recent Forbes.com article, filial support laws were originally derived from 16^th century New England’s “poor laws” and, at one time, 90% of the states had such laws.  Now 29 states still have filial support laws on the books, including Pennsylvania.  Although throughout time many of these laws were not exercised, they are being enforced at a higher rate more recently.  Many people that this is due to the rising and extended cost of healthcare for the elderly. In one recent Pennsylvania case, a nursing home successfully received over $90,000 in payment from the son of a resident who was unable to pay for her care and fled the country.

One of the ways in which Pennsylvania assesses the ability to apply filial support laws is when the elderly parent has been abused or neglect by their care-providing institution, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities. It also assesses whether the child of the non-paying parent has the financial resources and ability to pay the providing institution all or part of the bills.

In cases of elder abuse or neglect, it is very important to consult with a lawyer before making any decisions that may result in large legal and/or financial ramifications.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania who takes cases for older Pennsylvanians who have been abused or neglected.  For more information on his Altoona, PA area practice, please call his office at 814-946-4100 or visit  his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com.  Attorney Stoehr takes cases in Blair and the seven surrounding counties. 

Want to know more? Check out the original Forbes.com story here.

Do you know Pennsylvania's snowmobiling laws?

If you are interested in using a snowmobile in Pennsylvania this summer, there are some rules and regulations that you need to know before you begin! 

For example, did you know that it is illegal to operate or be a passenger a snowmobile without wearing a properly fitted helmet? Also, no children aged 10-16 can operate a snowmobile except on family land.  This case is only changed if the child has taken a state-approved safety course and has received a certificate.

Also, many people may not realize that all snowmobiles that require general registration all need liability insurance coverage.  Proof of this coverage needs to be carried by the snowmobile operator.  If you fail to register your snowmobile and/or fail to obtain liability coverage, you may be fined up to $300.  There are also very specific regulations in Pennsylvania regarding brake systems, mufflers, sound levels, and visibility equipment.  So, the bottom line is: enjoy your snowmobile, but make sure to follow the state laws!

As fun and enjoyable as snowmobiling can be, all-terrain and off-road vehicles such as ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles are a leading cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians, especially among our state’s youth.   Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.

For more information about Pennsylvania's snowmobiling laws, please visit the original PDF handout here: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_015958.pdf.

PennDOT Snowmobile Tips and Facts

Are you a snowmobile user in Pennsylvania?  PennDOT has addressed the high number of growing snowmobile enthusiasts by adding some very important safety information to their website, which can be found here.

Some of the most important tips and facts from the website our law firm noted from the website were the following:

• All snowmobile users should take a safety course before they begin riding.
• Clear snow debris off your snowmobile tail lights often so the lights can be seen.
• Always ride at a safe speed, and only on designated areas.

There are also important tips and regulations aimed specifically at Pennsylvania’s youth, such as:

• All children aged 10 -15 must take a mandatory, state-approved snowmobile training course if they wish to use their snowmobile off of their family’s property.
• No person under the age of 10 years old is allowed to operate a snowmobile on public land.

It is also important to note that, according to the PennDOT website, “If you are involved in an accident that results in the injury or death of any person, or property damages to the estimated amount of $100 or more, you must report the matter in writing within seven days to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, PO Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 17105. It is a violation of the Snowmobile/ATV Law not to report an accident.”.

Off-road vehicles, such as snowmobiles, are also a significant cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians.  Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.

Snowmobiling: A Common Way To Enjoy Winter Landscapes

During our wintry Pennsylvania weather, many residents enjoy outdoor activities such as snowmobiling.  Although snowmobiles are a fun way to enjoy our many outdoor spaces, all riders need to address potential safety concerns before enjoying the trails.  Here are some fast facts about snowmobiles that you might not know!

• In 2013, over 48,000 snowmobiles were sold in the United States.
• Currently, there are 1.4 million registered snowmobiles in America.
• For the 2012-2013 year, there were 38,500 snowmobile registrations in Pennsylvania.
• According to the source below, Pennsylvania ranks among the top 10 states for the number of snowmobiles registered in 2012-2013.

**All facts come from SnowMobile.org.

As you can see, snowmobiling is a very common winter sport in the United States.    It is an enjoyable way to get outside in cold weather and can be a way for families to spend time together. As stated on SnowMobile.org, “Historically individuals who snowmobile at a young age continue to snowmobile with their parents throughout their lives, sharing great experiences as a family. In many winter regions, snowmobiling is simply the main form of winter outdoor recreation and in some cases the main method of transportation available.”

However, off-road vehicles, such as snowmobiles, are also a significant cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians.  Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.