Ask your neighbors, friends and family members - what is the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1 to 44? Cancer? Heart disease? Suicide?
Nope. For that age group, the leading cause of death is unintentional injury. Car accidents, overdoses, slips and falls, pianos falling from fifth-floor apartments - in 2016, they accounted for nearly 62,000 deaths for those 44 and younger.
If you are injured in a car accident, your first order of business is to get medical attention. That may seem like a common-sense reaction, but too many people sustain injuries yet believe that "it's no big deal" or that seeking treatment is a sign of weakness.
Semi-truck accidents are on the rise as trucking companies expand business operations to the Lehigh Valley. A fully-loaded big rig can weigh over 80,000 pounds. Most passenger vehicles weigh under 4,000 pounds. The disparity between a large, heavy truck and a standard auto is bad news in an accident. Semi-truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries to those in passenger vehicles.
There are laws preventing tractor-trailer drivers from speeding or driving too long without sleep; however, drivers know that their jobs depend on getting freight delivered. The drivers may speed, skip sleep, break traffic laws or take other risks to make up lost time. Some companies put profit before safety. They turn a blind eye to danger.
When the roads are icy, the amount of crashes increase dramatically. At times, it is hard to tell if the roads are even slick with ice, as glare ice, or black ice, is especially common. It is difficult to maintain control when your tires cannot keep traction on the ice beneath them. This leads to an excess of crashes.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, Icy roadways cause over 40,000 car accident injuries each year, with over 150,000 crashes. What are the worst things you can do when you are driving on icy roads?
It is no surprise that driving in the winter is hazardous. The morning after a snowfall can be dangerous, due to slushy or icy pavement. Other drivers have a hard time controlling their cars, which can make one apprehensive to set out on the road. In the unfortunate event of a blizzard, it can be almost impossible to see where you are going, or where the road is.
Which poses the question: which weather condition is more hazardous for driving: slick roads due to ice or slush, or a blizzard?
During cold weather months, don't risk hypothermia in order to keep your heating bill down.
In mid-December, a deadly accident cost Tsegai Gebremichael his life when Danae Marie Swartz hit his car on Route 113 in Hilltown Township.
Gebremichael died at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident, police said. Officials charged Swartz with homicide by vehicle and homicide by DUI, police said.
Winter weather has arrived in Pennsylvania, which means that it is time to start preparing for the coming snowfall. Getting around the city in the winter can be difficult, so it is important to know the possible hazards you may face.
You live in Pennsylvania. You drive a car. That means you need auto insurance. The question is - how much is the minimum amount required by law and how are you vulnerable in case of an accident?
Automobile insurance minimums are determined by each state so if you're new to Pennsylvania, the laws might be different than the laws in the state you came from.
A "slip and fall" is the term applied to an incident when you slip and fall on someone's property and the owner may be held legally responsible.
Lots of conditions can be considered dangerous - loose carpet, poor lighting, a wet floor. Perhaps one of the most dangerous condition is also one of the most common: an icy sidewalk.
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Scherline & Associates
512 W. Walnut Street
Allentown,
PA
18101
Toll Free:
888-514-1100
Phone:
484-268-1175
Fax:
610-437-1572
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