Blog: Firm News
- Truck Accident Injuries
Nov 14, 2018
Commercial trucks can be seen everywhere on our nation’s roads and highways, and it appears they are getting bigger than ever. The maximum weight for a commercial vehicle is 80,000 pounds. This is one reason why truck accidents are more fatal than those involving two cars. In fact, the National Institute of Traffic and Highway Safety reports that 73 percent of truck accident fatalities and injuries are experienced by the victims hit by the truck...Read More - Personal Injury vs. Workers’ Compensation
Nov 7, 2018
Personal injury and Workers’ Compensation claims are not at all similar and require different kinds of expertise. However, in certain situations, such as a car accident that happens in the course of work, the employee may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits and also have grounds for a personal injury claim based on negligence. Legal options may also include an FMLA claim, a disability claim, a medical malpractice claim should complications from treatment arise, and...Read More - AlpernSchubert P.C. Law Firm Recognized by Best Lawyers®
Nov 1, 2018
The legal team at AlpernSchubert P.C. is pleased and proud to announce that the firm has again been named as a Best Law Firm by The Best Lawyers in America©, a respected organization that highlights the top 5 percent of practicing lawyers in the United States as organized by state, city, and practice areas. The firm received the honor for excellence in the Pittsburgh area in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation for Plaintiffs...Read More - Subrogation in Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation System
Oct 24, 2018
Most people’s eyes glaze over at the legal term subrogation, but it can be important when you have been injured on the job and are awarded financial compensation to pay for medical bills and time away from work. Subrogation may become problematic. For example, if you are injured by a power saw at work, Workers’ Compensation will compensate you for your losses. The problem arises when you arrive at a settlement with the company. When...Read More - Apps Prevent Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Oct 17, 2018
Apple’s Do Not Disturb While Driving feature seems to be encouraging some drivers to put down the phone behind the wheel. According to the creators of EverDrive, (an iOS and Android app that monitors users driving habits) 80 percent of EverDrive users utilized the feature, decreasing their overall cell phone use while driving by eight percent. Even with these results, experts believe more needs to be done to curb distracted driving. Cell phone use is...Read More - Workplace Construction Injuries Related to Opioid Abuse
Oct 10, 2018
Recent reports suggest that construction workers are more susceptible to substance abuse because of the physical nature of the work. Injury rates for construction workers are 77 percent higher than other occupations. Workers return to work before their bodies are completely healed because of the need for income. They are either forced to return to work or lose their jobs. Unfortunately, this has led to opioid abuse. According to the National Safety Council’s 2017 Survey...Read More - Red Light Accidents
Oct 3, 2018
Red light accidents were the cause of 673 fatalities and 122,000 injuries in 2010, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, despite efforts to reduce drivers running red lights, those numbers continue to increase. The IIHS reports that approximately 137,000 people were injured in 2015 and 811 people were fatally injured in 2016 in red light running crashes. Do Cameras Reduce Red Light Running Accidents? Government-installed cameras snap photos of drivers who...Read More - Fatal Four Construction Site Injuries
Sep 26, 2018
Some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others. Construction is one of those jobs. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly one in five workplace fatalities occurred in the construction industry. Of the more than 990 workers who died in construction site accidents, more than half were involved in what OSHA calls the “Fatal Four.” Safety experts estimate that if the construction industry could eliminate the Fatal Four, more than 600 lives...Read More - Have I Been Sexually Harassed?
Sep 19, 2018
With the #MeToo movement currently at the forefront of national news, many men and women find themselves reflecting on their own encounters with employers and other authority figures. They may wonder if some of the behavior they have been exposed to constitutes sexual harassment. When do suggestive jokes or playful flirting cross the line and become illegal? Here is a closer look at sexual harassment, and how it is defined by the laws in Pennsylvania...Read More - Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Bill
Sep 12, 2018
The Pennsylvania Legislature is considering a bill that would change Workers’ Compensation law and benefits. The bill, H.B. 1840, would allow an insurer to request a review of a worker’s status after they have received permanent disability benefits for two years. The bill would authorize an insurance carrier to require an employee to submit to a medical examination, for an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). It would authorize use of the latest version of the American...Read More