On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, May 18, 2012
When a fatal motor vehicle crash occurs, other individuals besides the driver at fault could be held liable in a wrongful death lawsuit. The owner of the vehicle may also be liable if they negligently lent the vehicle out to someone that they knew could be a risk on the road.
Recently a tow truck driver slammed head on into another vehicle in the Pittsburgh area, and this resulted in the death of a 45-year old woman and critically injured the woman's son. Upon investigation it was found that the tow truck driver did not have a valid driver's license. Search is underway to locate the owner of the tow truck to discover what he did and did not know concerning the tow truck driver's past.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, May 14, 2012
Safety incentive programs are often put in place with the asserted goal of decreasing the number of workplace accidents, but what such programs too often do cause workers to underreport accidents or injuries. Pennsylvania workers' compensation laws are designed to compensate workers injured on the jobs, but such laws can have no impact if such injuries or dangerous conditions remain unreported.
Before 15 workers were killed 180 injured during the BP refinery explosion, so-called safety incentive actually prevented employees from reporting unsafe conditions and injuries out of fear of reprisals. OHSA is currently investigating such incentive programs as OSHA would like accurate reporting to take place at workplaces to accurately assess workplace risks.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Products Liability on Thursday, May 10, 2012
A product that has for some reason or another failed to be recalled does not mean that the product is safe. Too often defects concerning particular products are not found until attorneys have filed a products liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.
It has come to light that a number of medical implants that probably have been marketed in Pennsylvania have not been recalled by the FDA and probably have been too quickly approved. Such products would include hip implants, surgical mesh, heart valve rings and defibrillator wire leads.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Asbestos Injuries on Monday, May 7, 2012
Alcoa, an aluminum manufacturer headquartered in Pittsburgh, had asbestos show up in one of its manufacturing facilities. This discovery was made after a fire at the facility led to asbestos being found in the ceiling of the plant.
OSHA is investigating how the fire began and as to why asbestos happened to be present at the building. A representative of Alcoa admitted to the discovery of the asbestos and added that every safety precaution would be taken to make sure that no employees were injured.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, May 3, 2012
In a neighboring state of Pennsylvania there were 29 coal miners killed during the Massey Energy Company coal mining accident. One of the families that has brought a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the matter claims that intentional actions of the company may ultimately have resulted in the accident occurring.
This 2010 incident turned out to be the worst United States coal mining disaster in approximately 40 years. A small methane ignition may have resulted in an explosion at the site, and it is alleged that such an ignition would not have occurred if the company had implemented a number of safety practices.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Work-Related Deaths on Monday, April 30, 2012
Events were recently held commemorating Pittsburgh area employees killed during work-related accidents. It was referred to as "Workers' Memorial Day" that is held annually and organized by the local AFL-CIO. The event was organized both as a remembrance of workers killed and as a call to action to bring attention upon the needs for improvement in worker safety.
The workplace safety has improved from say 50-years ago there is still a great deal that can be done to eliminate many workplace injuries and fatalities. A large number of hazardous conditions at the workplace remain unregulated. This is especially true in the construction industry where a majority of workplace fatalities occur.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Products Liability on Thursday, April 26, 2012
For a Pittsburgh patient fitted with a defibrillator, probably nothing could be more disconcerting than to discover the defibrillator contained fatal flaws. What would be worse - and what eventually led to products liability claims - is that the manufacturer probably knew of the flaws but never warned doctors or patients about the product defects.
Though problems with defibrillators arose back in 2005, it appears that manufacturers of such products have done little to nothing to eliminate such problems. And since the flaws in the original defibrillators have not been corrected, individuals continue to be fitted with defective defibrillators.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Asbestos Injuries on Monday, April 23, 2012
Whatever residents of Pittsburgh may think about lawsuits, companies that are being sued will go to great lengths to not have to pay off claimants for injuries that they have caused. Yet when it comes to mesothelioma, such conduct can sometimes seem particularly egregious.
Recently a former marine died of mesothelioma after he had sued a number of companies that may have been responsible for his exposure to the substance. His lawyers are now alleging that defendants hastened his death by making the injured man endure hours and hours of deposition testimony. His doctors were even concerned that he would not be able to survive the ordeal - which unfortunately turned out to be the case.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Work-Related Deaths on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A wastewater treatment plant explosion in nearby Struthers resulted in two deaths. One worker died on March 29. The second worker, who was holding on despite serious burns, succumbed to his injuries and died April 16 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The explosion was on March 1.
According to a news report, the men were conducting routine maintenance work at the plant when the explosion occurred. They suffered severe burn injuries in the industrial accident.
On behalf of Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy, L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Monday, April 16, 2012
A 46-year old Pittsburgh area man died after a fatal hit-and-run car accident. A 29-year old man is accused of leaving the scene of the accident and thus leaving the victim to lie in the road and die.
There's very little to the story. The body of the victim was found at 9:15 p.m. in the evening and this individual died the following morning. There is no information reported concerning how long the victim of this accident was lying in the road or whether his life could have been saved had he received immediate medical attention.
