It's back to school season in PA. Are you aware of the statewide rules and regulations regarding bus safety? According to PennDOT, here are some important rules and regulations you need to know this school year:
Community Agency Vehicles May Be Unsafe
Although they're providing a service to local families, many community service agencies often use vans and cars that are older and potentially unsafe for use. Organizations like churches, halfway houses, and shelters sometimes use vehicles to transport goods and people that are in serious need of repair, lack the proper safety mechanisms, and/or are not maintained in proper working condition. These car issues can lead to an increased risk for accident. and potentially more significant injuries if the car is involved in a wreck. If you're a passenger in one of these community service car and you're involved in an accident, you may find yourself in an unusual and somewhat complicated situation. If you're hit by one of these cars, the situation could be equally as complex. In these situations, ou will need an attorney who is experienced with handling such claims. Not only is Attorney Douglas Stoehr an experienced accident attorney, he also used to work for auto insurance companies and, as a result, has a large amount of knowledge relating to insurance claims from an insider's perspective. For more information on his practice and to schedule your free initial consultation, please call his Altoona, PA area practice at 814-946-4100.
Dog Bite Injuries Can Be Deadly
Dog bites are scary, messy, and potentially fatal. In recent months, dog bites have been getting a great deal of press due to several cases in which dog bite victims have died as a result of their injuries. Sometimes, these injuries are directly due to the injuries sustained in the attacks, while other times these deaths are due to infections caused by bacteria transferred from the dog to the human victim. Of course, these attacks are largely avoidable if pet owners remember to be smart, responsible, safe, and considerate of others.
State Guardrails and Your Car Accident
In recent news, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that PennDOT, our state's transportation department, can be held liable for vehicular injuries caused by dangerous guardrails on our state's highways. Usually, the state cannot be sued for damages due to negligence under an act called the Sovereign Immunity Act; however, it was ruled that exemptions can be made for state guardrails that were installed negligently and whose design creates a dangerous situation. This new ruling came after a case in which a person was in a car accident during winter. The snowy and icy conditions caused the driver to spin out and hit a guardrail. The guardrail ended up spearing the car and also caused injuries to the driver. Although this exemption cannot be assumed in all car accident cases on our highways, it is an important ruling to keep in mind.
Pain After Your Car Accident
Car crashes and chronic pain sometimes go together more commonly than you might think. In some studies, car crash victims have an over 80% increased risk of chronic pain in the future. As a result, although some people may like to "tough it out" after their car crash and minimize any post-accident pain, it is not helpful and may lead to increased medical and emotional difficulties in the future.
