Many assume that working as a police officer is one of the most dangerous professions. But safety efforts to protect officers throughout the United States have apparently paid off, according to numbers of police fatalities that occurred this year.
Pennsylvania woman dies in fiery chain-reaction crash
Fatal car accidents are always tragic events, but they're especially difficult for families to handle when they occur just before the holidays. Instead of celebrating, the family and friends of one Pennsylvania woman have been forced to make plans to put her to rest after she was killed in a chain-reaction crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Medical malpractice study finds 'never events' happen frequently
If the idea of surgery makes you nervous, you certainly aren't alone. Friends, relatives and doctors may try to allay your fears by telling you that surgical errors are very rare and that the chances of them happening to you are slim to none. Unfortunately, some of those errors are quite frequent, according to a study out of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Pennsylvania man charged after hitting man in wheelchair with car
A man who already used a wheelchair to get around will now need skilled nursing care for the rest of his life after he was struck by a car last month. The driver who hit him, a 53-year-old man from Rostraver, Pennsylvania, is set to go to trial for the Nov. 6 car accident.
Speedy movements can make the medical workplace dangerous
A heightened sense of urgency coupled with an innate desire to treat needy patients puts medical facility staff in constant physical jeopardy. Healthcare venues typically possess extremely hard floors constructed with materials designed to decrease any allowance for infectious diseases to take hold. Yet, these very same surfaces cause many attentive medical personnel to slip and fall when moving about quickly to help the sick and hurt.
Driver in fatal motorcycle crash convicted of manslaughter, DUI
Earlier this year we told you about the case of a retired police officer who caused a motorcycle crash that killed two people and injured several others. The 50-year-old was convicted in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, this week on charges of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. But he was acquitted of the more serious charges of homicide by vehicle. Although the prosecutor in the case was happy with the verdict, the same can't be said of the surviving members of the motorcycle group that was hit with the former officer's vehicle.
Distractions cause inexperienced doctors to make surgical errors
Inexperienced doctors performing surgery can all too easily become distracted by a variety of things, resulting in dangerous and even deadly errors. A new study found that such distractions included questions, noises and a variety of other commonplace occurrences. Medical malpractice in the form of significant surgical errors occurred among a full 44 percent of distracted young doctors between the ages of 27 and 35.
Family man falls to his death in Pennsylvania work accident
This holiday, a Pennsylvania family and community will mourn the loss of a loved one. Last week, a 31-year-old man was working in a water tower when terror ensued. Somehow, the worker fell a significant distance and sustained fatal injuries in the workplace accident.
Pennsylvania school bus crash leads to charges against bus driver
If you have school-aged children who rely on bus transportation to get to and from their classes each day, you have a reasonable expectation that they'll be transported safely and on time. The job of a school bus driver isn't always easy, but those who take it on know that children, parents and school administrators are counting on them to be responsible. When they shirk that responsibility, there are usually negative consequences.
Better workplace injury protection proposed for flight attendants
In a draft agreement, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have agreed to expand the workplace protections for flight attendants. Under current law, the FAA has jurisdiction to enforce workplace health and safety protections for flight attendants, but airline unions have been fighting to change that since 1975.
Car accident in western Pennsylvania kills 2, injures 1
Often in this blog we discuss some of the most egregious causes of traffic accidents. Drunk driving, for example, takes countless lives across Pennsylvania and injures many more. Distracted driving is another common cause of car accidents causing injury or death. But sometimes there's no obvious cause to point to when investigators are determining what led to a fatal accident. In those cases, victims or their families may have a more difficult time seeking compensation for their pain and suffering.
Medical malpractice suit filed against Pennsylvania pathologist
One of the great benefits of modern medicine is the ability to detect many types of cancer at an early stage. Although some cancer screenings can be uncomfortable, they often prevent patients from finding out too late that they have a life-threatening illness. But for the screenings to be effective, they must be properly analyzed. A test that reveals the presence of cancer cells doesn't do a patient any good if a medical professional doesn't recognize the problem.
Pennsylvania driver convicted for car accident that killed friend
A 27-year-old western Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for his role in the death of his best friend. The Mercer County resident caused a drunk-driving car crash in 2011 that killed his friend. The crash occurred just miles from a fatal 2002 wreck that also involved the driver.
