A jury awarded $1.05 million to a woman who sustained cervical herniations in a three-car rear-ender. Carol Hewett sustained three disc bulges, two of which herniated, in the low-speed crash.
Her biomechanics expert testified that the rigid chassis of Hewett's pickup truck caused all of the force of the collisions to transfer into Hewett's cab. Although the speed of the vehicle that caused the initial crash was low, the change in velocity that Hewett's neck experienced was significant.
Hewett, who's an attorney, was awarded $113,000 for her past and future lost earnings.
Practice Areas
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Personal Injury
- New York state man recovers $200K for fingers lost to lawn mower
- Eight Powerful Reasons to Hire a Local Attorney
- Court Allows Claims For Emotional Distress After Alleged Breach Of Contract To Continue
- Wal-Mart Limits Subrogation Rights Against Workers
- Pennsylvania Worker recovers for fall from ladder bought at Home Depot
Premises Liability: The Slip and Fall
- NYC to pay $2.75M for softball accident in school gym class
- New case law on slilp and fall on icey sidewalks owned by a City
- Worker who lost leg in construction accident receives $13M
- Boy blinded in ATV rollover gets $6M settlement
- ELMIRA ATTORNEY CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE OUTBREAK OF LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE AT THE FLANNERY TOWERS
Workers' Compensation
- New York Times article on biased "Independant" Medical Examiners
- No Work Jobs
- Prison Guard receives settlement in MRSA case
- New blog post at the Pa Injury Law blog about the effect Bush had on OSHA
- New post on the Pa Work Injury Law Blog about what to do when you're laid off
Vehicle and Automobile Accidents
- Pennsylvania Car Accident Plaintiff's award of $400,000 Upheld On Appeal
- An unsafe intersection in Athens Township?
- Pennsylvania Superior Court Case Quashing Underinsured Motorist Carrier Appeal
- Pa. Superior Court Allows UIM And Bad Faith To Proceed At Same Time
- People injured in Springfield Township, Bradford County automobile crash
General
- Insurance company denials of benefits in Pennsylvania and New York
- CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND URGE SUPPORT FOR THE ARBITRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 2009
- Another ATV Death
- Bradford County, Pennsylvania has a new website
- No conflict of interest between Bradford County, Pennsylvania's new Judge and new District Attorney, despite them cousins
Legal News
Judge campaign candidates speak at dinner in Towanda
Judge Beirne unopposed in local race
Attorney General Tom Corbett to visit Bradford County
Beirne will run for full term as judge
Bradford County Employers Laying Off Workers
Death Benefits Not Mandatory for PA Car Insurance
Bradford County: Judge Beirne presiding
Pennsylvania Senate confirms Beirne as Bradford County judge
Legal Library
Personal Injury
- Questions for Your Doctor In Personal Injury Cases
- Traumatic Brain Injury: By The [Staggering] Numbers
- What is an Independent Medical Examination?
- Common Questions About the Legal Process
- The Wrongful Death Of A Child - Part Two
Premises Liability: The Slip and Fall
- Cracked, Broken or Irregular Sidewalks Causing a Fall
- Dog Bites
- If You Have Been Bitten or Attacked by a Dog, Then You Need to Read This Article
- New Pennsylvania Superior Court Case on Dog Attack
- Lead Poisoning Threatens Pregnant Women
Workers' Compensation
- New York Times article on Independent Medical Exams
- Response to Time Magazine Article: "Doctor's View: Can Health Coverage Cause Pain?"
- Specific Loss Benefits
- Reimbursement for Travel Expenes in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Cases
- Flow of Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Claim Documents Prior To Litigation
Vehicle and Automobile Accidents
- Reducing The Impact of A Whiplash Injury
- Car Accident Injuries: Neck Pain
- Multi-Truck Accident in Susquehanna County Results in Hospitalization
- Repeat Offender Facing DUI Charges After Accident Lands Passenger in Hospital
- Driver Strikes Mother and Daughter in School Crossing Zone
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General
Vehicle and Automobile Accidents
Two injured in two-car accident in Sayre
From the Daily Review:SAYRE — A two-car accident in Sayre injured two and blocked traffic on Spring Street in front of Alliger’s House of Wings for around 20 minutes on Tuesday.
The accident occurred around 3:55 p.m. when Andrea Dauberman stopped on Spring Street to turn left and was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Allen Wise, said Sergeant Steven Burlingame of the Sayre Police Department.
Both Dauberman and Wise were the only occupants of the vehicles at the time, police said.
Wise was treated for injuries on the scene and released, police said.
Dauberman was taken to Robert Packer Hospital where the extent of her injuries were unknown as of Tuesday afternoon.
Sayre Police, Greater Valley EMS, and the Sayre Fire Department responded to the scene, police said.
SUV's Not Safer for Kids
Researchers writing in the current issue of Pediatrics--(click for link to this research) say they have found little difference in injuries looking at crashes involving passenger cars and S.U.V.'s. The lead author of the study was Dr. Lauren Daly of the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del.
Many parents believe that S.U.V.'s are safer and buy them to protect their children.
This belief, however, was not the case when the researchers looked at data from crashes in which almost 4,000 children were traveling in either S.U.V.'s or cars.
Rollovers occurred twice as often in S.U.V.'s, the study found, and children were three times as likely to be injured in rollovers than in other kinds of accidents. Use of proper restraining devices is important in all cars and especially important in S.U.V.'s because of the greater incidence of rollovers.
The study does suggest that pediatricians should advise S.U.V.-owning parents to make sure their children are properly restrained.
With S.U.V.'s, the new study reports, whatever benefits come with the added weight are erased by the higher risk of rolling over.Driver awarded for neck injuries in low speed rear-end accident
Although this is a Florida case, I've blogged about it to demonstrate that minor or low speed impact cases can be successful if you have the right set of facts, a good trial lawyer and good experts. Also, this case demonstrates that people can actually be seriously injured in low speed car accidents.
To see the full report of this case, go to VerdictSearch.com at Hewett v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
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FAQs
Personal Injury
- How long is all this going to take?
- The insurance company offered me a settlement almost immediately after my serious accident. Should I accept it?
- The insurance company says that I don’t need a lawyer to settle this. What do you think?
- What is my case worth?
- What factors determine who is at fault in a car accident?
Workers' Compensation
- What happens if I return to a modified duty job and then I am laid off?
- If I am unable to return to the type of work I did before I was injured, what happens?
- If I am injured on the job can I choose the doctor who treats me?
- Should an injured worker apply for unemployment benefits?
- What medical benefits does the Act provide to a worker after they have sustained an on-the-job injury?
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