Pennsylvania Injury Law Blog

What do you know about college kids and drunk driving?

On behalf of McDonald At Law on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Summer is drawing to a close, which means that thousands of teenagers and young adults will be heading to college. College can offer important opportunities for young people to become independent and expand their horizons. For some students, however, this means experimenting with drugs and alcohol—even if they are underage, and even if they will get behind the wheel of a car.

Drinking and driving is a major concern for colleges and universities. When students choose to drink and drive, they put other motorists and pedestrians—many of whom may be college students themselves—at risk. Data from the National Institute of Health (NIH) show just how prevalent drunk driving can be among college kids.

Trucker shortage increases risks for all drivers and passengers

On behalf of McDonald At Law on Monday, July 23, 2018.

Commercial trucks are everywhere. On local streets and highways here in Lancaster and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They play a crucial role in the local, state and national economies, helping all types of businesses move products and supplies.

And while it still may look to the naked eye like these 18-wheelers are everywhere, the country is grappling with a growing number of unfilled truck driver job openings. Estimates range from 63,000 to as many as 100,000 unfilled job postings across the country, and large pay hikes and generous bonuses don’t seem to do the trick. A quick internet search reveals a number of listings here in the Lancaster area alone.

What does your insurance company know about you?

On behalf of McDonald At Law on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

After an accident, do you ever wonder how insurance companies come up with the amounts that they offer for settlements?

This blog previously discussed why you should avoid talking about your accident on social media, because insurance adjusters will be scrutinizing those posts to reduce their costs. While this is sound advice, there is something else you should think about if you think your insurance provider or the negligent party’s insurance company is really “on your side.”

What makes a car safe?

On behalf of McDonald At Law on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

While some people care more about looks and speed, for many people, their top priority by far when buying a new car is safety. You want peace of mind that you are not actively endangering yourself or your loved ones when you are on the roads.

With both distracted driving and drunk driving continuing to be a serious problem, and with more cars on the roads as the summer driving season gets ready to kick off, it’s essential to think about safety when making a new purchase. But with so many options available and so many different places to check out safety ratings, how do you choose?

Report: Pedestrian fatalities at 25-year high

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Thursday, March 29, 2018.

There is no doubt that distracted driving continues to be a huge problem in the U.S. Whether it's on city streets, rural highways or interstates, drivers continue to fail to put down their phones. A new report out shows that our addiction to screen time continues to have deadly consequences for pedestrians.

According to the report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed across the United States in 2017. While that's not much different from 2016's numbers, the last two years represent a 25-year high in pedestrian deaths across the country.

How social media can harm your personal injury claim

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

If you have a hard time staying off social media, you are not alone. Whether you’re a baby boomer or millennial, you are most likely surrounded by friends and family members who are always looking at their phones. Many of those people are also “over-sharers,” who feel the need to document every trivial moment of the day.

If you do that too, you should realize that this behavior could have serious, negative repercussions on a personal injury case, either yours or a loved one’s. If the time comes when you are ever seriously injured and want to seek compensation, you can use your injuries as an opportunity to take a lengthy break from Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

Takata airbag recall expanded…again

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Monday, February 5, 2018.

At this point, it may seem like there are no more vehicles that can take part in the Takata airbag recall, the largest recall in automotive history. However, in January the company announced that it is adding 3.3 million vehicles to the mammoth undertaking.

Overall, the recall covers 19 automakers and 42 million vehicles. It concerns faulty inflators in the vehicle’s airbag, which can cause a metal canister inside to heat up and explode through the airbag when it deploys, shooting pieces of metal shrapnel toward the driver and passengers. So far, the faulty inflators have killed 20 people.

Stay safe on the roads this holiday season

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

Is it Christmas yet? Almost! Most of us look forward to the holiday season with great anticipation. Seeing family members, enjoying Christmas movies, shopping and attending parties is a great way to close out the year.

For some people, however, the holiday season can be quite stressful because of the planning and travel involved. For others, it can end in sadness because of an avoidable car accident that caused serious injuries or the death of a loved one.

Study: ‘Infotainment’ systems contributing to distracted driving

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

In-car technology has come so far in just a short time that it seems like we can do almost anything in our cars while we’re driving. According to a new study, however, this “convenient” new technology comes with the increased risk of distracted driving.

The study, conducted by AAA, examined the amount of time it takes drivers to perform tasks using new voice, touch screen and other new technologies. These tasks include features that auto makers like to highlight like sending text messages, programming navigation and accessing social media.

Why you shouldn’t talk to the insurance company alone

On behalf of McDonald At Law posted in blog on Friday, October 13, 2017.

If it’s clear after a car accident, or any type of accident, that you were not at fault, you can expect the insurance company for the negligent driver or party to contact you and offer you a settlement.

You should be wary of this offer. This settlement offer will often be far lower than what you deserve. This is why it is so important that you do not talk to the insurance company alone.