Blog: Firm News
- April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Apr 11, 2018
For the second consecutive year, more than 40,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents. Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council (NSC) reveal that the number of deaths in 2017 is six percent higher than in 2015. Many of these fatal accidents are caused by distracted driving, a behavior that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says was responsible for 3,477 deaths in 2105 alone. April is distracted driving awareness month, and many...Read More - Fatal Gas Leak Spurs OSHA Fines
Apr 4, 2018
The largest power plant in Pennsylvania and an Ohio-based engineering company have been issued fines by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for their roles in an industrial accident that led to the deaths of two workers and injury of four others. The workers were exposed to a toxic gas, hydrogen sulfide, while inside a confined area of the plant. According to OSHA, the workers were part of a maintenance crew that was working on...Read More - Bill Weakens ADA
Mar 28, 2018
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to prevent workplace discrimination based on disabilities. It also guarantees the civil rights of people with disabilities to participate in state and local government programs and services, and in everyday life as consumers. Now a bill has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that will protect business owners from “frivolous” lawsuits by making it harder for disabled employees to sue their employers for...Read More - Fatal Work Injuries Spike
Mar 21, 2018
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released a report for 2016 that shows double-digit increases in workplace violence and overdose fatalities. Fatal work injuries increased by seven percent over 2015 numbers to the highest level seen since 2008. A total of 5,190 people died in the U.S. in 2016 from work injuries vs. 4,836 in 2015. Overall the fatal injury rate increased to the highest level seen since 2010. In 2016, it reached 3.6...Read More - Operation Safe Driver Week Results
Mar 12, 2018
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance holds an annual event in October geared toward driver safety. This year during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement throughout the United States and Canada increased their enforcement of traffic safety rules and educational efforts with the goal of raising awareness of dangerous driving behaviors. Over the course of a week there were a total of 59,193 warnings and citations issued to commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and passenger vehicle...Read More - Daylight Saving Associated with Spike in Accidents
Mar 8, 2018
Many people do not enjoy changing the clocks for daylight saving time, especially in the spring when moving the clocks forward means losing an hour of sleep. Research shows that losing this hour of sleep is linked to a spike in the accident rate during the week that follows daylight saving time. Daylight Saving Time and Drowsy Driving Daylight saving time was introduced during World Wars I and II to help conserve the energy used...Read More - Snow and Ice Accidents
Feb 20, 2018
In winter months the weather can wreak havoc for commuters. Snow and ice can make highways slick resulting in multi-car pileups. In cities, slippery roads and side streets can cause fender benders and increase the risk of pedestrian accidents. The injuries from snow and ice accidents can vary widely including: Soft tissue injuries like whiplash Head and neck injuries Lacerations Broken bones or fractures Back injuries Spinal cord injuries Who is at Fault in a...Read More - Allegheny County Has the Most Crashes
Feb 13, 2018
Although it is not the most populous county in Pennsylvania, Allegheny County has the most motor vehicle collisions. In fact, 10 percent of all crashes in the state happen there. Philadelphia County has more people per square mile, but 700 fewer crashes. A new study examined Allegheny County’s crash data to determine exactly where these accidents are happening and why. Using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the years 2014-2016, the study found...Read More - House to Vote Again on Drug Formulary Bill
Feb 12, 2018
Votes on Senate Bill 936 were split 98-98 in the House last week, creating an urgent need for opponents to the drug formulary bill to make their voice heard before the next vote takes place in March. To learn more about this bill, read our earlier post. Offering his view on the matter, Pittsburgh Workers’ Compensation lawyer Lawrence R. Chaban was recently quoted in an article published on Workcompcentral.com. The Allegheny County Workers’ Compensation lawyers at...Read More - How the Insurance Industry is Trying to Take Control of Your Health Care
Feb 6, 2018
A decision will soon be made on a bill that could jeopardize the care you would need and deserve after a workplace injury. The bill – SB 936 – proposes a “drug formulary” that could take decisions out of your doctor’s hands and give the power to a system that is commanded by the insurance industry. A drug formulary is a pre-approved list of prescription drugs. Medical insurers often use formularies to control prescription costs...Read More