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Motorcycle accidents are among the deadliest on our roads. As such, it’s imperative that you make safety your top concern every time you ride. Choosing a bike that’s not only right for you but that’s also safer for you is a great place to start.
Before choosing your ride, carefully consider the dangers inherent to motorcycles. The Insurance Information Institute shares the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) motorcycle accident statistics based on overall miles traveled in 2015:
In addition to not wearing a helmet, factors that significantly increased the odds of being injured in a bike accident include being 60 or older, speeding, and riding while impaired. Riders should always remain alert and drive defensively. Be aware that many drivers simply do not see motorcycles.
If a driver who was not paying attention to motorcycles on the road caused an accident that left you injured, you need skilled legal counsel. These claims can be complicated and the process can seem overwhelming, especially when you are injured. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia has the determination, skill, and experience handling motorcycle accident claims to help you recover fair compensation for your injuries after an accident.
Finding a bike that’s right for your skill level is an important factor to take into consideration when choosing a bike. Consumer Reports shares some tips on how to make the safest choice:
If you’re new to riding or haven’t been on a bike in a while, you may be surprised to experience the power that new models—even those with smaller engines—can pack. The bikes of today are decidedly faster and more powerful than bikes of yesteryear. When it comes to choosing a bike that’s right for you, make sure that you’re not purchasing more bike than you can safely handle.
Fit is an important factor when choosing a motorcycle. When you’re seated atop a bike that’s a good fit, both your feet should rest comfortably flat on the ground. If you’re on your tiptoes, the bike’s too big. The handlebars and controls should be comfortably within your reach. Test drive and get a good feel for how the bikes you’re considering handle, and choose one that you can easily mount and dismount from the center stand. A good point to remember is that a bike that feels too heavy probably is too heavy.
Engine size also matters. A smaller 250-cc to 300-cc engine can be a great place to start. These bikes are convenient for commuters and easier—and thus safer—to handle. If you’re looking to rack up a lot of highway miles, however, you may want to consider a bike with an engine in the 500-cc to 750-cc range that allows you to safely keep up with highway traffic.
Antilock brakes are available on many motorcycle models and are proven to save lives. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reports that the fatality rate for motorcycles that are equipped with optional antilock brakes is 31 percent lower than for the same motorcycle models that aren’t equipped with the option. The Institute explains that braking a motorcycle is more complex than braking a car. On a motorcycle, braking too hard can cause your bike’s wheels to lock up and send you into to skid. Braking inadequately is likewise obviously dangerous.
An antilock braking system allows you to apply full pressure to the brakes without risking a lockup. This safety mechanism automatically decreases pressure when a lockup is imminent and reapplies the pressure when traction is restored and it’s safe to do so.
The Institute also reports that some types of motorcycles are simply more dangerous than others. So-called supersport bikes are associated with a fatality rate that’s four times that of standard motorcycles and cruisers. Supersport motorcycles mimic racing bikes, with lightweight engines and amped-up horsepower. Remember those features may make a bike more dangerous when you choose a bike that’s right for you. Stick to a model that’s built for fun and safety—not just for speed.
Getting the training that you need to operate your bike safely is perhaps even more important than choosing the right bike. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which is sponsored by motorcycle manufacturers and distributors, partners with NHTSA, state governments, and other organizations to help improve motorcycle safety through training, education, and licensing. The emphasis of this training is riding within your skill limitations; wearing appropriate safety gear; and riding sober. While these courses focus on safety basics, they can also help you learn advanced techniques, such as how to perform emergency evasion maneuvers.
Finally, never ride without a helmet. Helmets save lives and reduce the incidence of brain injuries. Choose a helmet that provides full protection. Consumer Reports relays that full-faced helmets approved by the Department of Transportation are the safest option.
Motorcycle accidents are extremely dangerous and often cause serious injuries. Always be on the lookout for distracted drivers and drivers who just don’t see motorcycles. If another driver’s negligence causes a motorcycle accident and you are injured, make sure you get the right legal team on your side. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, we are dedicated to helping people who have been injured in accidents recover. Our lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience working to help Philadelphia accident victims. We have the skill, knowledge, and commitment to fight for your rights and fair compensation. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today.
Nearly any kind of storm can cause the roads to become treacherous and slippery – or even to become impassible. Dangerous accidents become more likely when temperatures drop and roads ice over. When winds are high, and snow, ice, or rain is coming down, drivers may also be unable to see a safe distance ahead of them, making driving in slick conditions that much more dangerous. When drivers fail to accommodate for these adverse conditions by slowing down, they endanger everyone on the road.
The National Weather Service (NWS) advises drivers to slow down for bad weather. Even if the road only looks wet, it can still be slippery and dangerous. The NWS shares that there are more than 6,000 weather-related fatalities on U.S. roadways every year. When drivers fail to take this most-basic driving advice seriously and refuse to slow down when roads are affected by inclement weather, they endanger themselves and others.
If another driver fails to slow down in stormy weather and causes an accident that leaves you injured, you need skilled legal counsel. The experienced legal team at The Levin Firm has the skill, knowledge, and commitment to help navigate your claim toward its most positive resolution, so please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today. Our dedicated car accident attorneys are here to help.
Even in the best conditions, speed kills. Drivers who speed increase the distance necessary for their cars to brake safely and decrease the amount of time they have to react safely to dangerous conditions. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2015, drivers who were speeding in the U.S. killed over 9,500 people. Additionally, speed has played a significant role in about a third of traffic fatalities for more than 20 years.
Failing to slow down during inclement weather is even more dangerous. When a driver fails to slow down on icy roads, the danger associated with speeding grows exponentially. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that stormy weather can impair visibility, affect a driver’s capacity to drive, reduce vehicle performance (with decreased traction, stability, and maneuverability), decrease pavement friction, increase crash risks, and alter traffic flow. The DOT shares these startling statistics regarding weather-related accidents:
Because weather-related accidents represent a serious threat to everyone on the road, it is incumbent on all drivers to regulate their speed accordingly during stormy conditions.
If you’re involved in a car accident during a winter storm with frigid temperatures, the NWA provides several tips to help you remain safe while you wait for help to arrive:
Bad weather can crop up unexpectedly, and it’s important to be prepared when it does. Steps that you can take to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe when you’re driving in dangerous conditions include:
When the weather turns, it’s important to remember that it’s going to take you longer to get where you’re going. Allow yourself plenty of time, and take all the necessary precautions. Always make traveling safely your top priority.
Bad weather demands reduced speeds. If another driver’s failure to abide by this safety rule causes an accident and you were injured, you need a skilled car accident attorney. These accident claims are often complicated. Your rights and fair compensation for your injuries are too important not to aggressively advocate for the best possible outcome. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, our dedicated car accident attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and commitment to help guide your claim toward just resolution and help ensure you are fairly compensated for your injuries, while you focus on your recovery. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today.
Car accidents are dangerous and frightening. If another driver’s negligence has left you injured, it can be devastating. It’s important to remember, however, that no matter how difficult your situation seems, you have rights. Knowing your rights after a car accident can help you better navigate the often-complicated claim process and you should have an experienced car accident attorney who can help.
Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault car insurance state, which means that you can choose the type of car insurance coverage you want to purchase. While a no-fault policy is less expensive, it means that your own insurance company will cover a claim no matter who is at fault, but you can only collect financial damages unless you’ve incurred an extremely serious injury. A more traditional policy, on the other hand, requires you to seek recovery from the at-fault party’s insurance company and allows recovery for pain and suffering. These insurance claims may be complicated, but a skilled car accident attorney can help ensure that you recover fair compensation for your damages.
If a negligent driver has left you injured, consult with an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your rights today. Your claim is too important to leave to either chance or the insurance company. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia is here to help guide your car accident claim toward the compensation to which you’re entitled.
You purchased car insurance to cover you in case you were ever in an accident. Now, you’ve been in an accident, and it’s your right to recover compensation for your injuries. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that insurance companies are in the business of making profits, which can mean making lowball offers, cutting corners, dropping claims, and minimizing payouts. Don’t take the path of least resistance by accepting the first settlement offer the insurance company makes. You have the right to be compensated in full for your injuries, so don’t accept anything less. A skilled car accident attorney can help aggressively advocate for your rights negotiating with the insurance company to help ensure a fair settlement.
If another driver’s negligence has left you injured, you should know how to protect your claim. If the insurance company is not forthcoming with a fair settlement, you can take certain steps to help protect your claim. The first step is to collect comprehensive evidence at the scene of the accident (or have a bystander do it for you). Ways to collect evidence include:
While there are several things you can do to protect your rights, there are also things you should avoid:
Being injured in a car accident may be extremely upsetting and overwhelming, but you have rights. Having skilled legal counsel will help you protect those rights and navigate through the complicated process of recovering at trial or through settlement. Meeting with a car accident attorney does not necessarily mean that your claim will eventually end up in court; your attorney may be able to negotiate and expedite a rapid settlement with an insurance company instead. Your car accident lawyer will discuss the unique circumstances of your claim with you and will help effectively and efficiently guide your case toward equitable resolution of your claims. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia is committed to helping ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries, while you focus on your recovery. Our experienced car accident attorneys are here to help, so please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today.
Trucks swarm our highways and byways for one very important reason – increasing consumer demand. We want things, and trucks deliver them. Meanwhile, truck accidents are some of the most deadly and violent accidents on our roads. Because of their massive size, weight, and limited maneuverability, semi trucks are particularly dangerous when it comes to accident risks. If a trucker makes even a minor miscalculation or driving error, it can be very difficult to correct and lead to a lethal accident.
This is why safely operating a tractor-trailer requires experience and professional driving skills. The people who drive these behemoths are professionals, held to more stringent standards and restrictions than ordinary drivers. If a trucker chooses to drive while distracted from the considerable task of handing a semi task safely and causes an accident, the consequences are all too often lethal.
If you drive, you may have allowed your eyes to wander from the road a time or two. Distractions can vary from quite minor, such as turning up the heat or changing the radio station, to incredibly dangerous, such as reading and texting messages on your smartphone.
Distracted driving has become such a significant safety hazard that the U.S. government has dedicated a website to the issue, distraction.gov. The site clarifies that distracted driving is categorized as any driving whereby the driver’s attention is focused on anything other than safe driving. Types of distractions fall in three categories:
Smartphone usage is particularly dangerous because it comprises all three types of distraction. For example, texting means the driver is looking away from the road at a cell phone (visual distraction), using at least one hand to navigate screens and enter text (manual distraction), and thinking about that task instead of driving (cognitive distraction). Other types of distracted driving include:
Distracted drivers are dangerous, no matter what kind of vehicle they drive. But distracted truck drivers are even more dangerous. Trucks are massive, and truckers take on a massive responsibility when they drive them. A fully loaded big rig can tip the scales at 80,000 pounds. When a vehicle of this size crashes with a much smaller car, it places all the occupants of that car in grave danger.
Truckers may be even more likely to engage in distractions while driving to avoid lost time on the road and prevent boredom. Truckers may use at least one ordinary distraction at any given time simply out of habit—such as listening to the radio or nearby trucker radio conversations—and may often engage in several distractions at once, such as using a mapping system while also eating lunch. These types of habits can make distracted truckers particularly dangerous.
In addition, truckers often drive under strict deadlines that push them to multi-task while driving. They may be tempted to complete administerial and organizational tasks while behind the wheel just to stay on schedule. These additional distractions include:
While these are all tasks necessary to the job, truck drivers who perform them behind the wheel are not paying full attention to the task of driving a semi truck in a safe manner.
When a trucker texts – or otherwise engages with a smartphone – that trucker engages his or her hands, vision, and thoughts on the phone rather than on the critical task of driving safely. Truckers who text are, in fact, so dangerous that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibits truckers from texting behind the wheel.
The FMCSA puts emphasis on this prohibition by going so far as to classify texting within this regulation as “manually entering alphanumeric text into, or reading text from, an electronic device. This includes, but is not limited to, short message services, e-mailing, instant messaging, or pressing more than a single button to start or end a voice communication using a mobile phone.” Put more simply, the FMCSA demands that truckers put their smartphones away—and leave them put away—when they drive.
The FMCSA enforces those texting regulations with hefty fines up to $2,750 along with potential revocation of a driver’s commercial trucking license. Because driving is a trucker’s livelihood, these consequences are significant. The ban on texting by the FMCSA is supported by research that finds that truckers who text are over 23 times more likely to cause an accident. The research also finds that drivers who text are essentially driving blind for an average of almost five seconds at a time. Five seconds is more critical for truckers than drivers of other vehicles, because trucks require a much greater distance—and more time—to reach a safe stop. In addition, a trucker who rear-ends a car is much more likely to plow that car forward into another vehicle, causing a multi-car accident with cars crushed between the truck and other vehicles in front. That factor makes texting while trucking even more lethal.
Truck accidents, if not deadly, often leave victims with devastating permanent injuries. Injuries commonly associated with these accidents include debilitating brain injuries and paralyzing spinal cord injuries. The physical, emotional, and future effects make quantifying a dollar amount to compensate for these injuries extremely difficult. While no amount of financial compensation can ever return you to your pre-accident self, just compensation can help you better navigate the path toward recovery.
If you or someone you care about has been injured by a distracted trucker, you need an attorney with experience in trucking accident cases who can protect your rights and help ensure just recovery for your injuries. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, our dedicated legal team has the experience, skill, and compassion to fight for your legal rights, including bring suit against the trucking company if necessary, while you focus on your recovery. We are here to help. Please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today.
When facing piles of medical bills for injuries after a car accident, you may be tempted to accept the first settlement offer you receive from the insurance company. However, fair compensation that will cover all of your medical bills—not just now, but in the future—is critical to your recovery. Deciding how much you will need is simply too important to leave up to the discretion of insurance company adjusters whose objective is to pay you as little as possible. Instead, you need an experienced car accident attorney to protect your interests. You should discuss your case with an attorney who can evaluate your entitlement to damages and review any insurance settlement offer before accepting it. Because the legal team at The Levin Firm specializes in dealing with car accident cases, we can help ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries.
Car insurance law in Pennsylvania is unique to Pennsylvania, and can be complicated. Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault car insurance state, which means that you can choose the type of coverage you want to purchase. If you carry a traditional policy, which requires the driver at fault to pay all losses, your car accident claim will process through the negligent driver’s insurance company. This type of policy may allow recovery of damages for your pain and suffering. A traditional policy, while more expensive than a no-fault policy, covers your losses no matter who caused the accident. However, these policies typically pay only for financial losses, not for damages for pain and suffering, unless the accident involved extremely serious and traumatic injuries.
Regardless of which kind of coverage you carry, you should consult with a dedicated car accident lawyer to make sure the insurance company offers to pay for everything your policy entitles you to recover. When you’ve been hurt, you shouldn’t have to face the insurance company alone. Even minor car accidents can be costly and it can take a long time to fully recover both physically and financially. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can fight for your rights and handle negotiations with the insurance company to maximize your settlement, while you can focus on your recovery. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, our committed car accident lawyers have the experience, skill, and determination to carefully assess your unique claim and recover the compensation to which you’re entitled.
While you’re naturally overwhelmed after a car accident, don’t be lulled into accepting whatever the insurance company offers you. That’s rarely the best choice. Insurance companies are in business to make profit, just like other businesses. Often insurance companies use less than scrupulous methods, like making low-ball offers when you desperately need money to pay rapidly mounting medical bills. Insurance companies may also unreasonably delay processing your claim; deny your claim outright and argue you failed to provide adequate documentation or meet deadlines; or send you minimal payouts to induce you to accept without realizing it can cut off your right to a fair settlement. Don’t let an insurance company take advantage of you when you’ve been hurt. Have an experienced car accident attorney carefully analyze your situation and evaluate any insurance settlement offer under your particular circumstances.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’ve most likely accrued significant medical expenses. Although these may vary with the nature of your injuries, your recoverable costs may include:
While your medical expenses may well be extensive, they are likely not your only losses. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’ve probably also lost wages and may even experience diminished earning potential. A change in your ability to work can cause especially difficult consequences if you invested your whole life in a career that you are no longer able to do. Having the right attorney who understands these devastating impacts can help you recover and move on with your life despite these challenges.
Although car accidents cause significant financial losses, the pain and suffering you’ve endured should never be discounted. The trauma of being hurt by someone else’s negligence in the blink of an eye is almost impossible to quantify. While no dollar amount can ever return you to your pre-accident self, full and just compensation including amounts for your pain and suffering can help you better navigate toward complete recovery.
When an insurance company has made a settlement offer, it may seem simplest just to take the offer and try to put your accident behind you. It’s important to remember, however, that the damages emanating from a car accident may be complex and difficult to assess. Several types of documentation may help support your claim for full compensation:
By compiling all relevant data and records related to your injuries, you’ll provide support that your experienced car accident attorney can use quantify how much you deserve to recover and ensure that your insurance settlement is both comprehensive and just.
If the insurance company has offered you a settlement, don’t let them rush you into accepting it before you’ve even had time to fully recognize the extent of your damages. A car accident attorney will help you better assess your total damages now, as well as those you may experience in the future. With a car accident lawyer’s guidance, you’ll feel more confident and better prepared throughout this often-stressful process. An attorney will help ensure that you avoid the all-too-common mistake of accepting an inadequate settlement offer.
The aftermath of a car accident is stressful and complicated. Remember not to jump at the first offer the insurance company makes. While this impulse is understandable, you need a skilled attorney to protect you and fight for your rights. The experienced car accident attorneys at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia have the knowledge and perseverance to aggressively advocate for the compensation you deserve. Our dedicated legal team is here to help you recover from being hurt in an accident. Please contact or call us at 215-825-5183 today.
Car accidents can upset and overwhelm anyone—and always leave massively expensive medical bills behind. If an accident injured you, you may feel at a loss for how best to move your case forward—and when to expect it to conclude. An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer will help ensure the fair compensation for your damages in a timely manner. Car insurance laws in Pennsylvania are somewhat unique to this state, so it may help to develop a basic understanding of how the process works.
When it comes to car insurance, Pennsylvania implements a no-fault insurance system with a twist—called “Choice.” As such, you, as an insured driver, have the choice of whether to purchase a less-expensive no-fault car insurance policy or a traditional car insurance policy that’s based on driver liability. Under no-fault insurance coverage, your car insurance company is responsible for covering your damages in a car accident, but your policy will only cover economic damages and will not factor in pain and suffering. There are, however, exceptions built into this system to accommodate for what the law considers a “serious injury.”
It goes against your best interest to assume that your car insurance company’s top priority is your fair compensation. On the contrary, insurance companies are in the business of turning a profit, which means minimizing their payouts by whatever means they can get away with—including denying or delaying your settlement. If a car accident injured you—regardless of the kind of car insurance you carry—you need experienced legal counsel. The dedicated car accident attorneys at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia have the experience, skill, and commitment to effectively and efficiently guide your claim toward its best possible resolution.
First, consider Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations. In Pennsylvania, you have exactly two years from the date of your accident to file a suit for personal injury and property damage. Consult an experienced car accident attorney as soon you can after your accident to better protect your claim. Two years may seem like a long time, but a lot of work needs to go into a successful claim, and that time can slip by before you know it.
Every car accident case is unique, which means that it’s nearly impossible to predict how long your car accident case will take to fully conclude. Some claims settle relatively quickly—within a few months or even weeks—while others can take much longer. Your car accident lawyer will endeavor to move your claim forward as efficiently as possible while also protecting your best interests. Furthermore, specific elements of a car accident claim can prolong the process.
One of the most significant elements of any car accident claim is the kind and severity of injury you’ve endured. While some injuries follow a fairly obvious path (such as fractured bones typically do), other common, if less predictable, injuries require careful assessments before you can calculate just compensation. Such injuries include whiplash and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
If you suffered such injuries, your health should reach your “maximum medical improvement” (MMI), which refers to your fullest recovery, before you consider negotiating your claim.
Because whiplash injuries and TBIs are so closely related to lengthier car-accident timelines, it’s worth taking a closer look at them.
Whiplash. When your head whips back and forth on your neck (much like the cracking of a whip), it can cause whiplash, a soft-tissue injury of the neck. Rear-end car accidents often lead to whiplash, but any kind of car accident will do—even accidents that occur at slower speeds. Whiplash can present instantaneous symptoms, or its symptoms can develop with time. The pain and diminished range-of-neck-motion associated with a whiplash injury can vary from mild to severe, and these injuries resolve quickly or remain for years (or even the rest of your life). In other words, never minimize or discount whiplash. Your health and your rights are too important to leave to chance—or to an insurance company.
Traumatic brain injuries. A TBI is caused by brain damage, such as commonly happens in car accidents. Your brain is your central command center, and even a seemingly minor injury can leave long-lasting, highly unpredictable physical and emotional consequences. Where a TBI will lead is anyone’s guess, so it’s critical that a doctor fully and accurately assesses the consequences of your injury before your attorney proceeds with your car accident claim.
A TBI can cause immense physical damage, altered mental functioning, chronic seizures, altered language abilities, and defective sensory perception—including to your senses of hearing and smell. This all significantly contributes to what makes you uniquely you, and a TBI that changes these things can exacerbate the psychological and emotional effects of such an injury. The damages associated with traumatic brain injuries are difficult to overstate.
If you’re injured in a car accident—regardless of the type of injury— you’re likely to face a range of medical expenses:
The expenses associated with a car accident can add up quickly. Obtaining compensation for the injuries that someone else’s negligence caused can at least help pay for those costs.
If a car accident injured you, you’re likely to ask many questions—not the least of which is, “How long until you can resolve my claim?”
While every car accident claim is unique and no lawyer can provide an exact answer, an experienced car accident lawyer will help you better understand your case’s probable timeline and will help efficiently guide your claim toward just resolution. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, we have the experience, commitment, and compassion to help you obtain the compensation to which you’re entitled. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at (215) 825-5183 today.
The massive size and heft of semi-trucks make them especially dangerous when they’re involved in accidents on our highways and byways. In fact, big rigs are responsible for some of the deadliest motor-vehicle accidents. These behemoths of our roadways seem to multiply right in front our eyes, all in response to our ever-increasing consumer demands. With more semis come more accidents, and these include jackknife accidents, which truck driver error can often cause.
Tractor-trailer accidents are frequently deadly. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found several significant statistics related to commercial truck crashes:
These sobering statistics serve to highlight the dangers associated with commercial truck accidents. When you get behind the wheel of your car, remember that you share the road with semi-trucks and always make safety your top priority.
If a truck jackknife accident injured you, consult an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Your rights and your rightful compensation are far too important to leave to chance. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia is committed to helping truck-accident victims like you get the compensation to which Pennsylvania law entitles you.
A moveable joint connects a semi-truck’s cab and trailer, which is why people call them articulated vehicles. This joint gives these massive vehicles increased maneuverability, but it also leaves semis more vulnerable to specific kinds of accidents that include jackknifes.
When a semi jackknifes, its trailer folds back in on its own cab in a terrifying motion that resembles the action of a jackknife closing. Several variables may cause a tractor-trailer to jackknife (or contribute to its jackknifing)—and many of them are closely associated with truck driver negligence or error:
As professional drivers, the law holds truck drivers to more stringent safety standards than the rest of us. Any one of the factors listed above can lead to a dangerous jackknife accident, and each of them is directly attributable to truck driver negligence—although the trucker, the trucking company, the loading crew, or all three may bear or share the responsibility for a poorly or improperly loaded trailer.
Let’s take a closer look at the most closely connected factors in jackknife accidents:
Semis, because of their massive sizes and articulations, are more likely to jackknife when the road is even slightly slippery. Truck drivers face responsibility for accommodating poor driving conditions such as inclement weather.
Semis represent a significant threat on our roadways, and as such their drivers must adhere to strict safety practices—or endanger everyone with whom they share the road.
Distracted driving has become so prevalent and plays such a role in truck accidents, including jackknife accidents, that it necessitates further attention. The U.S. government has identified distracted driving as such a significant danger that it devotes a website to the topic. This site identifies distracted driving as any driving in which the driver’s attention focuses on anything other than the vital task at hand—safe driving. The website divides distractions into three categories:
When it comes to distractions, smartphone usage—because it engages all three categories—hits a home run. When truck drivers engage in distracted driving, they are far more likely to jackknife their massive vehicles.
Truck jackknife accidents are terrifying and extremely dangerous. If a truck jackknife accident injured you, you know all of the difficulties your face. Hire a skilled truck accident attorney to help deal with the legal issues so you can focus on physical and psychological healing. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia has the experience and commitment to aggressively advocate for your claim’s best possible resolution. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at (215) 825-5183 today.
Bicycle collisions with motor vehicles can result in exceedingly dangerous injuries. When you’re on your bike, there’s absolutely nothing but your helmet to protect you from the impact of an accident, so when you head out on your bike, always make riding safely your top priority. If a motorist injures you in a bike accident then drives off, first seek medical attention and then consult an experienced Philadelphia bike accident attorney.
Bike accidents are difficult enough, but if you’re injured in a hit and run accident, it’s that much more difficult—and devastating. After all, someone has harmed you and hasn’t exhibited the humanity to stop and help you—and is hiding from the responsibility of compensating you for your injuries. That can prove hard to wrap your thoughts around. These phantom drivers are responsible for vast damages on our roadways every year. In Pennsylvania, your auto insurance policy automatically covers you for accidents caused by uninsured drivers (which is how insurance companies typically classify hit and run drivers).
If a hit and run driver injured you in a bike accident, you need experienced legal counsel. Your rights and your rightful compensation are too important to leave to chance (or to the insurance company’s discretion). At The Levin Law Firm in Philadelphia, we understand how upsetting and difficult these claims are, and we have the experience, dedication, and compassion to fight for your just compensation.
When you’re on your bike, you share the road with vehicles many, many times your size, and that puts you at a decided safety disadvantage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published several sobering statistics as they relate to bike accidents:
Take heed of these startling statistics, and always make arriving alive your primary concern.
If you’re injured in a bike accident that a hit and run driver caused, you know all about the resulting trauma. While you’re likely covered by your car insurance policy in Pennsylvania, this does not mean that you will face an easy claim. Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit by any means possible—and that this includes doing whatever they can get away with to deny claims. Your hit and run case deserves better; consult an experienced Philadelphia bike accident lawyer today.
In Pennsylvania, bicyclists enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as motorists—with certain exceptions:
Motorists, meanwhile, have their own responsibilities to cyclists:
Hit and run bike accidents can upset you more than other dangerous bike accidents. If you’re injured in a bike accident that a hit and run driver caused, you need a skilled bike accident attorney. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, our experienced bike accident lawyers have the skill, knowledge, and commitment to guide your bike accident claim toward just compensation. Your claim matters, and we’re here to help—so please contact or call us at (215) 825-5183 today.
Truck accidents are among the deadliest and most devastating on our roads. You might imagine that professional truck drivers are less likely to engage in risky behavior, but truck drivers often experience extremely tight schedules that directly affect their livelihoods. This can push some truckers to drive outside the parameters set by laws that restrict hours of service. These truckers are dangerous truckers. But the complicated laws that govern hours of service, and the careful investigations needed to prove violations, call for experienced legal counsel. If a fatigued—and thus negligent—trucker injured you in the Philadelphia area, contact The Levin Firm today.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict hours of service (HOS) regulations for truckers. These HOS regulations incorporate hefty fines and penalties for truckers who fail to abide by them.
If you or someone you love was injured—or if someone you love died—in a truck accident, you know exactly how harrowing that feels, and you need experienced legal counsel to help you work through it. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia will aggressively advocate for your rights and for your rightful compensation.
The FMCSA’s hours of service regulations limit truckers’ driving to 14 hours within any period of duty. Truckers may only engage in 11 hours of uninterrupted driving—which must incorporate a 30-minute break for every eight hours of driving time. This 14-hour maximum must include the time expended on all driving breaks and gas stops. (Drivers cannot subtract the time spent on these driving breaks from the total allotment of 14 hours of driving time.)
Additional regulations relate to a driver’s weekly HOS:
When drivers deviate from these important HOS restrictions, they can face harsh penalties and fines. This also applies to the trucking companies themselves. In fact, truckers or trucking companies that knowingly and willfully commit violations may face federal criminal penalties.
Exceptions to the HOS rules may alter a trucker’s legal driving hours:
Truckers face strict HOS regulations for good reason: Fatigued truck drivers are dangerous truck drivers. Due to their massive size, big rigs are the most dangerous vehicles on our roadways. The rigors of the trucking industry, however, can push some truck drivers to make the incredibly unsafe decision to drive with too little rest. Tired truckers face the following functional impairments:
When drowsy truckers get behind the wheel, they are far more likely to cause serious accidents and they endanger everyone with whom they share the road.
More semis travel our roads because we need ever-more semis to fulfill our growing consumer demands. As the trucking industry rushes to keep pace, trucking companies sometimes bypass the regulations to which they’re supposed to abide. These lapses can cause and exacerbate trucking accidents. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shares some sobering statistics related to these accidents:
These statistics represent an important reminder that we share the road with massive, dangerous commercial trucks and that, as such, we should always proceed with caution.
Truck accidents are extremely dangerous, and the federal government, therefore, holds truckers to strict hour-of-service rules and regulations. If a driver injures you in an accident, however, you may find proof of fatigue hard to uncover. Some truckers, for example, aren’t above falsifying their duty logs. Furthermore, trucking companies and their insurance carriers are in the business of turning a profit, which includes fighting not to pay out on accident claims. If you were injured in a truck accident, you need an experienced truck accident attorney to help overcome these obstacles.
Truck accidents are always harrowing. If a fatigued trucker injured you or your loved one, consult an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as you can. The dedicated legal team at The Levin Firm in Philadelphia is committed to fighting for your just compensation, and we have the experience and compassion to help you. Please contact or call us at (215) 825-5183 today.
Whether you commute to work by bike or just like to ride around a bit on the weekend, biking is a great, affordable way to way to fit some exercise into your day and to go green. If you are into biking, though, know the rules of the road in Pennsylvania. These laws are in place for one reason—to help keep everyone safer. Since bicycle accidents are among the deadliest on our roads, put safety first every time you head out on your bike.
Bicycling can put lives at risk. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that, while bikes account for only about 1 percent of all traffic in the United States, bicyclists are much more likely suffer injuries or death in an accident than motorists. Furthermore, the CDC reports the following significant risks associated with bike accidents:
If a bike accident injured you, you need an experienced Philadelphia bike accident attorney. The skilled legal team at The Levin Firm has the experience, knowledge, and dedication to guide your bike accident claim toward its most positive resolution, and we’re here to help.
Pennsylvania grants bike riders the same rights and responsibilities as motorists—with a few exceptions:
Unless the roadway is set aside for bicyclists’ exclusive use, bikes may not ride more than two abreast (side-by-side).
Exercise prudence when you share a roadway with much larger and faster vehicles. Lane control will help keep you safe out there. As a bicyclist, it’s your right to travel on either the shoulder or in the center of the right lane, and you protect your own safety when you confidently assert these rights—you’re most visible when you are in the center of your lane. Furthermore, when you’re on your bike, ride predictably—just as you would behind the wheel of your car. Finally, the law requires motor vehicles to fully change lanes when they overtake you on your bike—you aren’t required to move over so they can pass.
If you ride between sundown and sunup, Pennsylvania requires that you equip your bike with a front lamp and with reflectors on its rear and side—all visible from at least 500 feet. This will help motorists see you and illuminate your path. In addition, you must install good working brakes on your bike. Finally, everyone younger than 12 must wear a helmet whenever they ride or are a passenger on a bike (including riding in an attached child seat or trailer). While it’s not a law, Pennsylvania strongly encourages all bicyclists to don a helmet every time they ride.
Bike accidents are dangerous, and if you were injured in a bike accident that another driver’s negligence caused, you need a skilled bike accident attorney. At The Levin Firm in Philadelphia, we’re committed to helping you obtain the compensation to which you’re entitled. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at (215) 825-5183 today.
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