Cooper & Schaffer, LLC Blog

New AAP Car Seat Recommendations Can Save Lives in Philadelphia Car Accidents

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:00:00 GMT

You never know when a Philadelphia car accident is going to leave you or a loved one with a serious injury. Many car accidents injur young children, especially when car seats are not properly used.

AAP announces new recommendations on car seats
In the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced a new policy concerning car seats for children.

Toddlers in rear-facing car seats
The AAP recommends that toddlers should be kept in rear-facing car seats until they reach two-years-old, or until they are the maximum height and weight for the car seat.

Belt-positioning booster seats
The AAP also suggests that most children should be kept in a belt-positioning booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

Leading cause of death among children
Car accidents still remain the leading cause of death among children ages 4 and older. There are approximately 5000 deaths each year in American car accidents for people 21-years-old and younger.

A car accident involving a child can be devastating, and not all car accident cases are the same. Contact us today to order your free copy of our book, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, contact one of our experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey car accident attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving in Philadelphia

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Drivers who share the Philadelphia roadways underestimate the dangers of distracted driving. As a matter of fact, the use of cell phones and texting while driving increases your risk of being injured in a Philadelphia car accident.

According to recent data, distracted driving led to approximately 5,500 deaths and left another half a million people injured in 2009 across America.

"Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America's roads," said Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood.

To combat the dangers of distracted driving, the federal government has made April Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The move is designed to bring awareness to the dangers that distracted driving, such as texting and making phone calls on handheld mobile devices, create on America's roadways.

A Philadelphia car or truck accident resulting from a distracted driver can leave you or a loved one seriously injured. You might be able to hold the negligent party liable. Contact us today to learn more about your Philadelphia car accident case and to order your free copy of our book, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case.

Will the Insurer Pay Scar Treatments after a Pennsylvania Accident?

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

There are many types of injuries that people suffer each day. Whether it’s a Philadelphia car accident, New Jersey slip and fall accident or fire, an injury can leave you with a serious scar.

Treatments for Scars
There are various treatment options available for scar victims. Many over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments and gels can be used to treat scars. Other victims may have scars surgically removed or treated. Doctors may also use steroid injections, as a form of treatment.

Will the Insurance Company Pay?
No matter the treatment, you may be wondering if the insurance company will cover the expenses associated with treating your scars. The answer will depend on the impact that the scarring has had on your life.

If your accident has left you with a scar that has physically impaired you in any way, such as a burn scar, the insurance company may cover your treatment. However, you might be required to provide a letter from your doctor detailing your case.

Where to Get the Help You Need
Proving that your scar has left you physically impaired can be difficult. If your scar is the result of someone else’s negligence, an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney can help advise you on whether you can hold the negligent party liable.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident that resulted in scars, you should contact the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case.

Defective Pennsylvania Sidewalks: Watch Your Step

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We take sidewalks for granted each day in our city. We assume that all sidewalks are properly constructed and well maintained. However, that is not always the case.

A defective sidewalk, whether it’s from poor construction or a lack of maintenance, can lead to an accident resulting in a serious injury. You might find yourself unable to perform your duties at work, and consequently, unable to earn a living. You may consider filing a lawsuit, but left wondering who is responsible for the defective sidewalk, roadway or parking lot.

Liability for a Defective Sidewalk
Determining who is responsible is one thing, but holding that party liable is another, especially if you plan on filing a lawsuit against that person or entity. Your case might require the services of an Arborist, architect, engineer and/or a highway designer.

When to Contact an Attorney
That is why you should speak to an experienced Philadelphia slip and fall attorney. He or she can help assemble your witnesses to prove that the defective sidewalk failed to comply with codes and ordinances governing construction and maintenance of sidewalks and roads and ultimately led to your injury.

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a defective sidewalk, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey personal injury attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case.

The Role Drugs Play in Philadelphia Car Accidents

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The Philadelphia roadways can be dangerous enough. Now take into account that many of the drivers that you and your family share the roadways with may be under the influence of drugs. That’s what a recent U.S. government study implies.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 1 in 5 drivers, who were killed in car accidents in 2009, tested positive for drugs. That means, of the approximate 22,000 drivers who lost their lives in 2009, about 4,000, or 18 percent, had drugs in their systems.

What’s even more alarming about those statistics is the fact that only about 3 in 5 drivers who were killed in car crashes were tested for drugs, meaning the amount of drug-related car accidents deaths could actually be higher.

How a Philadelphia car accident attorney Can Help
Proving that your Philadelphia car accident was the result of another driver being under the influence of drugs can be very difficult. That is why you should speak to an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney. He or she should be knowledgeable in these types of cases and should be able to help you hold the negligent driver liable for your damages.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our informative books, Seven Ways to Destroy your New Jersey Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case.

Philadelphia Car Accidents from Snow and Ice: Know to Avoid Them

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

As Mother Nature continues to unleash her fury on the Northeast, drivers are left to navigate the Philadelphia roadways in snow and ice. Snowy and icy road conditions can result in a Philadelphia car accident leaving you or a loved one with a serious injury.

Though, you can’t control how other drivers operate their vehicles, there are many driving safety tips that you can follow to help avoid a Philadelphia auto accident, including the following three:

First, travel slower than normal when driving on snow and ice covered roads. Make sure that you leave yourself plenty of room to stop in case the vehicle in front of you comes to a sudden halt. This will also help you to avoid colliding with road dangers.
Second, in the event that you have to stop suddenly, make sure the brake gently. This will help avoid skidding. In the event that your brakes do lock up, ease off the brake.
Third, keep your lights on at all times. Not only will this help you increase your visibility, it will also make it easier for other motorists to see your vehicle. Make sure that your lights and windshield are clean at all times.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our informative books, Seven Ways to Destroy your New Jersey Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case.

Causes of Pennsylvania & New Jersey Truck Accidents

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Being involved in a Philadelphia truck accident can lead to a serious injury especially due to the fact that trucks are some of the largest vehicles on the road. Large trucks are bigger and have a harder time slowing down and responding to dangers on the road, which could leave you and your loved ones at risk.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study into the causes of large truck crashes, there were approximately 120,000 fatal and injury crashes in the United States involving at least one large truck between April 2001 and December 2003. Understanding critical events that can lead to a Philadelphia or a New Jersey truck accident can help keep you and your passengers safe.

Three major types of critical events that can lead to a truck accident include:

When a truck leaves the travel lane, whether it’s running off the road or into another lane
When the driver of a large truck loses control of his or her vehicle due to high speeds, road conditions, poorly maintained roads, cargo shift or vehicle systems failure
When the truck driver rear ends another vehicle while in the truck’s travel lane

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia truck accident attorneys at the law firm of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our informative books, Seven Ways to Destroy your New Jersey Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case.

When a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident Was Someone Else’s Fault

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

A Philadelphia slip and fall accident can happen at anytime and just about anywhere. Common places that slip and fall accidents occur include grocery stores, office buildings, apartment complexes and other people’s homes.

A common mistake that slip and fall victims make, is assuming that they automatically have a case and that they can sue the owner for the injury that they have sustained. That is not always the case.

Just because you fell on someone else’s property doesn’t make them responsible.
Though, owners have a “duty of care” to ensure that their property is safe, they are not required to guarantee your safety.

You will first need to establish that there was a dangerous and defective condition that led to your slip and fall accident. You will also need to show that the owner knew or should have known about the condition, but may have failed to remedy the situation.

Proving fault isn’t easy.
As you can imagine, proving that your slip and fall accident was due to someone else’s negligence can be a difficult task. That is why you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you evaluate the merits of your case.

If you or someone you know has been injured a slip and fall accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Order our FREE book.
Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!

Hospital Safety in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Researchers indicate, following a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, that nearly 18 percent of patients sustain injuries as a result of medical errors committed by health care professionals. Many of these injuries prove fatal.

The study included ten North Carolina hospitals between 2002 and 2007. North Carolina was targeted since the state is considered an industry leader when it comes to improving patient safety.

A serious medical error can lead to a lengthy hospital stay, a serious injury and in some cases, death. A mistake committed by your doctor can leave you with a mountain of extra medical bills you can’t pay, as well as render you unable to work.

Need Help?
An experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney can help you answer tough questions and hold the responsible party liable for any damages that you suffer as a result of the medical error.

If you or someone you love has been injured from a medical error, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!

What Exactly Are Medical Errors and Do They Affect Pennsylvania Patients?

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Are you or someone you love scheduled for a procedure in a local hospital? If so, you should become familiar with the dangers of medical errors.

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine shows that as many as 98,000 people become fatally injured annually as a result of medical errors in American hospitals. That is more than the amount of fatalities resulting from car accidents, breast cancer and AIDS.

Medical errors can involve:

Being prescribed the wrong type and dosage of medicine. Not being prescribed the right medicine can leave you essentially untreated. Your illness can continue to ravage your body with nothing to fight it. The wrong dosage can leave you addicted unnecessarily to a painkiller.
When a surgery goes bad you can be left in worst shape than when you went into surgery. In some cases, victims have had the wrong procedure performed on them as well as had body parts mistakenly removed.
The wrong diagnosis can be disastrous. Perhaps the doctor failed to diagnose that you have cancer. The cancer will continue to take your life while you are untreated.
Other medical errors can occur when faulty equipment is being used and or with mistakes with lab reports.

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a medical error, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

How Serious are Scaffolding Accidents?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Construction workers understand the inherent risks associated with working in the construction injury. A construction accident can happen at any time leading to a serious or deadly accident.

Of the many dangers that exist in the construction industry, scaffolding accidents hover at the top of the list. The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reports that in 2008, there were 88 deaths associated with scaffolding accidents.

As a construction worker, you should be familiar with some of the most common factors involving scaffolding accidents. They include:

Slip and falls
Poor maintenance
Collapses
Defective parts
Improper assembly
Falling objects

In many instances, the accident was a result of the negligence on the part of another person on the worksite or perhaps the manufacturer. Imagine finding yourself unable to work and experiencing a loss of wages due to the mistake of another person.

You may not know where to turn or how to hold the negligent party liable. You may not even know where to go for the compensation that you deserve. An experienced Philadelphia construction accident attorney can help you build a solid case and obtain the compensation to secure your financial future.

If you or someone you know has been injured while working as a construction worker, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey construction accident attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

More Technology Means More Distractions

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:00:00 GMT

As motorists, we all enjoy the conveniences of technological advancements, such as smart phones, navigation systems, iPods and PDAs. They increase our consumer experience whether it’s by helping us get to where we need to go, allowing us to enjoy our favorite music or helping us keep in contact with those who are important to us.

Debate is Heated
However, there is a debate raging as to whether technology is helping or hindering drivers. Many experts consider these devices to be dangerous, since they often advert our eyes from the road. As you can imagine, taking your eyes off the road for just a split second can lead to a car accident causing a serious injury.

As these devices become more complex, so does the effort it takes to operate them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims that the majority of research studies indicate that the more complex the task, the more impact it will have on your ability to operate your vehicle.

As a result, you might find yourself dealing with an injury from a car accident caused by a distracted driver. An experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney can help you hold the distracted driver liable for damages that the accident may have inflicted upon you.

Need Help?
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia or New Jersey car accident attorneys at the law office of Cooper & Schaffer at (888) 545-4755.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!

Fatal Truck Crashes in 2009 May Be Down, But More Work Still to Do

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Most drivers understand the risks that large trucks pose. An accident with a truck can be more serious than a crash with another type of vehicle due to a truck’s size and the heavy loads it carries.

Fortunately, in 2009, fatalities involving trucks were down. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), there was a 20% reduction in fatal truck crashes. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported that in 2009 there were 3,380 people killed in accidents involving large trucks. This number went down from 4,245 people in 2008.

“While we are encouraged by the improvement, there were still 3,380 families who suffered the life-shattering loss of a loved one last year,” said Daphne Izer, co-founder of P.A.T.T.

Though the statistics are encouraging, they are serving as motivation for the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) to continue and enhance its national and statewide campaign to see more improvements and safety regulations concerning large trucks implemented.

However, no matter how many improvements are made, not all truck accidents can be avoided. An experienced Philadelphia truck accident attorney can help you and your family if you become a victim of a truck accident.

For answers to your questions, contact us today by calling 888-545-4755 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!

What You Need to Know About Distracted Driving

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:00:00 GMT

The roadways are dangerous enough. Now, you have to take into account that many drivers are operating their vehicles while distracted. Distracted driving is an ever growing problem and can lead to a serious accident.

Distracted driving is when a driver’s attention is diverted from the road and from performing the actions necessary to operate a vehicle in a safe manner. There are three main types of driver distractions.

The first involves visual distractions. Visual distractions occur when you take your eyes off the road. This can occur when you turn your head to talk with a passenger or your kids in the backseat. It can also happen when you drop your head to read a map, use a cell phone or send and receive a text message.

The second is a manual distraction, meaning that you take your hands off the wheel. As you can imagine, this is incredibly dangerous and can occur when eating, drinking or grooming.

The last main distraction is a cognitive distraction. This occurs when you take your mind off what you are doing. A driver can become so engrossed in his or her phone conversation that this person is unable to recognize dangers on the road, such as stopped cars or pedestrians.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident attorneys by calling 888-545-4755 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!