Drivers need to share the roads with bicyclists and pedestrians
For pedestrians and bicyclists, sharing the roads with cars can be a scary undertaking. A driver’s attention may be averted from the road by talking on the phone, changing the radio station, looking at a text, talking to a passenger or any number of other distractions. When a driver fails...
Injured while driving a company vehicle? You likely have a workers’ comp claim.
Whether you drive a delivery van, are frequently on the road making sales calls, operate a taxi, drive a large commercial vehicle or are otherwise behind the wheel due to the demands of your job, you need to be aware of your options should you be involved in a motor...
How does the Social Security Administration define disability? P.2
Last time, we began looking at the definition of disability in the context of Social Security disability claims. As we noted, the term disability in this context is related to a claimant’s ability to engage in substantial gainful activity. Generally speaking, then, it is fairly straightforward to determine whether individual...
How does the Social Security Administration define disability? P.1
Disability can mean different things in different contexts. In everyday speech, of course, it generally refers to a mental or physical condition that impairs an individual’s ability to engage in normal activity. For purposes of Social Security disability benefits qualification, though, disability has a more precise definition. The definition of...
Did a drunk driver cause your car accident?
Perhaps you’ve been to a bar or restaurant in Pennsylvania and noticed a bartender or server refuse to provide a visibly intoxicated patron another drink. Not only was the bartender looking out for that individual’s well-being, he or she was complying with the state’s dram shop laws. You may be...
PA Amtrak crash a reminder of safety risks to railroad workers, passengers, P.2
In our previous post, we briefly discussed a recent fatal Amtrak crash here in Pennsylvania. As we noted, investigation of the crash is ongoing and it remains to be seen what will be found in terms of the causes of the crash. When railroad crashes occur, a lot of harm...
PA Amtrak crash a reminder of safety risks to railroad workers, passengers, P.1
Pennsylvania readers may have heard about a train crash earlier this month in Pennsylvania. That crash, which occurred when an Amtrak train headed from New York for Savannah, Georgia, crashed into a maintenance crew, resulted in the death of two Amtrak workers and injury to at least 30 passengers. Fortunately,...
Looking at the medical board complaint process, P.2
In our last post, we looked briefly at the complaint process overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of State for medical board discipline of physicians. We briefly mentioned the various aspects of the complaint itself, which include basic information about the parties involved, the facts, witnesses, and any available related documents....
Looking at the medical board complaint process, P.1
In recent posts, we’ve mentioned the physician discipline process as something that can be taken advantage of by patients who have been harmed by a negligent provider but who are unable to pursue medical malpractice litigation. As we noted, an attorney is not needed to file a complaint, but it...
Is your teen a safe driver?
If you’re like most parents in Pennsylvania and across the country, watching your teenage son or daughter get his or her driver’s license and climb behind the wheel of a car can be a moment filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, you may be proud and a bit...
Study looks at variations in disciplinary action taken by state medical boards
According to a recent study from the University of Michigan, there is significant variation in how state medical boards regulate physicians. Differences in things like reporting procedures, disciplinary methods and standards for determining appropriate discipline all make a difference–sometimes significant–in how physicians accused of misconduct are handled. The study looked,...