Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

This past week had more than its share of school bus accidents in the US: in Indiana, the driver of a bus hit an overpass without braking; in Washington, a bus rolled over after it went off the road; in Ohio, a bus rolled over onto its right side into a ditch. Here in Schuylkill County we had our own bus accident when a driver failed to follow a right curve and went off the road, striking an embankment. According to the RepublicanHerald.com, the driver will receive a citation for failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.We’re happy to report that there were no students on the bus at the time of the accident that happened in Butler Township. Also, the driver was not injured. The bus was on its way to pick up students when the driver said she swerved to miss an animal. Staff from our law offices have children who travel by bus to schools within the North Schuylkill School District, so this story especially hit home for us.

These accidents have also raised concerns about school bus safety, according to an article on the Huffington Post. Federal law requires seat belts on school buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds, but 80 percent of the nation’s school buses don’t fall into that category. Only six states (New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana) have laws that require seat belts on school buses.

The article also notes that seat belts aren’t the only safety issues on school buses. It can be difficult for bus drivers to steer the bus and monitor children’s behavior. But it is the driver’s responsibility to report misbehavior to the school. The article said when school districts own a fleet of buses and the drivers are district employees, they are usually better screened, supervised, and monitored than if the district contracts with a private company for buses and drivers. If you believe a bus driver is engaging in dangerous or suspicious behavior, report it to the school district immediately. Or, if your child tells you about misbehavior on the bus, report it to the principal, as it can be a potentially dangerous situation for all those riding on the bus.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed House Bill 934 into law Wednesday, requiring all Pennsylvania residents to produce photo identification when they vote.

Gov. Corbett said in a news release he signed the bill because it protects the principal of one person, one vote and sets a standard to protect the integrity of elections.

The law goes into effect immediately, but the photo ID will not be required for next month’s primary election. It will be required for November’s general election.

A law passed by the State Legislature in the fall went into effect Thursday, making Pennsylvania one of 30 states to ban texting while driving.

The law makes texting while driving a primary offense, meaning police can pull people over for texting alone, and includes a $50 fine. The offense also includes sending or reading emails and web browsing while driving but allows using smartphones for GPS.

Talking on the phone while driving is still legal in Pennsylvania.

An additional $52.3 million is available to those who qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program through Mach 31.

According to a Department of Public Welfare news release, the extra funds bring the total of this year’s assistance to $209.5 million.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that provides assistance for heating bills and income guidelines must be met.

If you are involved in a child custody dispute and you are a smoker, the chances of getting full or even joint custody are getting slim.

According to a recent article in the Washington Times, at least 18 states are now factoring in smoking when making decisions regarding custody of minor children.

According to a survey conducted by Action on Smoking Health, an anti-tobacco advocacy group, no judge or court has ever ruled that subjecting a child to tobacco smoke should be ignored when deciding custody and in thousands of cases, courts have prohibited smoking in the presence of a child, especially in vehicles. In some cases, court orders prohibit smoking in a home 24 or 48 hours before the child arrives and in some cases, parents have lost their custody rights or has visitations reduced because they subjected a child to tobacco smoke.

On Feb. 14, Gov. Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1950, the Marcellus Shale Bill, which is designed to enhance protection of the state’s natural resources through stronger environmental standards, as well as authorizing counties to adopt an impact fee, and move Pennsylvania toward energy independence.

According to a news release, the new law enhances environmental standards by:

• Increasing well-setback distance from 100 feet to 300 feet for streams,

Last week, WGAL reported that a tractor trailer spilled 150 gallons of a hazardous chemical on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lancaster County. The spill happened in the westbound lanes in Brecknock Township.

The chemical that was spilled was ethanolamine, a toxic, flammable, and corrosive liquid. Crews had to remove contaminated soil from the area. The right lane of the turnpike was closed for about six and a half hours for the cleanup. No evacuation was required because there are no homes in the area.

We were glad to hear that no one was injured or needed to be evacuated in the area due to this spill. In addition no waterways were affected by this toxic chemical. But the ramifications of this accident could have been catastrophic. If you are involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the big truck accident attorneys of O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is advising people who purchased raw milk from The

Family Cow in Chambersburg, Franklin County, that recent illnesses indicate the milk may contain harmful bacteria.

According to a Food Safety News report released Friday, the agency has confirmed 51 cases of Campylobacter in Pennsylvania, three cases of Campylobacter infection in Pennsylvania, four in Maryland, three in West Virginia, and two in New Jersey. All those affected drank milk from this farm.

In Part 1 of Personal Safety for Adults, we looked at things to consider if you are walking or driving. Today in Part 2, we’ll examine what to do to keep yourself safe at home, while doing outdoor activites, and when on a bus or elevator. But first, here’s a refresher of the 3 basic rules to follow to ensure your personal safety.

3 BASIC RULES

DO stay alert. Keep your mind on your surroundings, who’s in front of you and who’s behind you. Don’t get distracted.

It may not be something that’s in the front of our minds everyday, but knowing how to protect yourself can reduce the opportunity of becoming a victim of crime. In Part 1 of Personal Safety for Adults, we’ll look at things to consider if you are walking or driving. Remember, street safety can reduce the opportunity for muggers and purse-snatchers.

3 BASIC RULES

There are 3 basic rules to follow to try and ensure your personal safety: