The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so many facets of our lives. Unfortunately, staying at home orders has kept many people from being able to go to work or enjoy their daily activities. While these measures have been necessary to slow the spread of the virus, they have also negatively impacted our economy. However, most major automotive insurance carriers have offered automatic rebates to policyholders. With so many people not driving, the risk to insurance carriers has gone down. While this may seem like a kind gesture on the part of the insurance carriers, there may be some negative drawbacks in the event you do get into an accident.

Settlement negotiations may have gotten harder

It is important to always remember that automotive insurance carriers are “for-profit” companies. Insurance carriers do not like to pay out large settlements. Even individuals who are clearly not at fault for an accident often struggle to recover the compensation they need from an insurance carrier.

Major insurance carriers employ aggressive insurance adjusters who thoroughly investigate each incident and regularly work to ensure the company pays as little as possible for a claim.

Now, with less money coming in through premiums, at least temporarily, the insurance carriers may be even more reluctant to payout fair settlements for claims. This could be a major problem, particularly as the economy begins to open up in and around the Pittsburgh area. Traffic will slowly begin to rise back to normal levels, and we can expect traffic collision incidents to rise as well.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 128,420 total car accidents during the latest reporting year in the Commonwealth. Out of these incidents, there were more than 78,000 injuries and 1,190 total fatalities. While the statistics for 2020 may not be as dire because there has been less driving for months, we can still expect that plenty of people in the Pittsburgh area will require assistance from insurance carriers. This is especially true as we move into the summer travel months and through the holidays towards the end of the year.

You can be sure that insurance carriers will be using various tactics to recoup any losses to their bottom line, and these tactics will often hurt car accident victims.

Our team is ready to handle your claim

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, you can count on our team to thoroughly investigate your claim and work to secure the compensation you are entitled to.

Our Pittsburgh car accident attorneys have no problem standing up to aggressive insurance carriers. We will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident and gather all evidence necessary to prove liability. Our goal is to secure compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and more. Let our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers get to work on your case today. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-988-9467.

When word of Kevin Hart’s horrific crash began to spread in September, residents here watched closely. Although his accident happened in California, Kevin Hart is originally from Philadelphia. The actor and comedian have charmed Americans for years, but this crash nearly took his life. 

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we want to discuss the Kevin Hart crash and how it relates to vehicle safety. Our car accident attorneys are here to help if you are injured in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence. 

What Happened In Kevin Hart’s Crash?

In September, Kevin Hart was one of three people injured in a car crash in Calabasas, CA. According to the California Highway Patrol, Kevin Hart was the passenger and owner of the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital. Driver Jared Black was also taken to the hospital for a back injury. Another person in the vehicle, Black’s fiancée Rebecca Broxterman, did not suffer any major injuries. 

The three were traveling down the highway in a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda owned by Hart. The California Highway Patrol said that Black was driving at the time and was turning onto Mulholland Highway when he accelerated in lost control of the vehicle. The Plymouth ended up careening down an embankment and slammed into a tree. 

As of this writing, Kevin Hart is still recovering from major back injuries as a result of the crash. In an Instagram post, he said that “I was involved in an accident. My world was forever changed.”

Car Accidents Are Common In And Around Philadelphia

Car accidents can happen to anybody. When we look at the latest reporting year of data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, we can see that there were more than 128,000 total car accidents. Out of those incidents, 1,190 people died, and 78,219 sustained injuries. 

The car accident attorneys at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman regularly help clients who have suffered severe injuries caused by other drivers’ negligence, including:

• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or amputations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Compensation for all medical bills related to the crash 
• Coverage of lost wages if you cannot work 
• Mental anguish damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages against a negligent party 

You probably take all the steps necessary to stay safe on the roadways, but driving can still be unpredictable. There are times when the careless or negligent actions of other drivers can cause serious harm. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we are ready to help in these cases. Today, our Pittsburgh car accident attorneys want to talk about a recent crash that happened on the Liberty Bridge.

What happened in this accident?

In the early morning hours of Sept. 2, a collision occurred on the Liberty Bridge that sent four people to the hospital. Police have said that one car crossed the median and struck another vehicle head-on. They said a third car was also involved in the crash.

Two people were taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital and were listed in critical condition. One woman had a possible broken leg, and one man was taken for observation.

Police have said that one of the people who were in critical condition has died.

These collisions can be detrimental

Police have not said what caused this accident. One thing we do know is that head-on collisions tend to be much worse than other vehicle crashes. Often, as happened in this case, both vehicles are traveling at high rates of speed. The injuries can be catastrophic. It is not uncommon for us to see the following injuries in survivors of these crashes:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Bone fractures and dislocations
• Loss of or damage to a bodily organ
• Dismemberment or amputation
• Other injuries that inhibit a person’s daily activities
• Significant disfigurement

When we turn to the latest reporting year of data available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, we see that there were more than 128,000 total crashes across the commonwealth. Out of those crashes, there were:

• 1,137 fatalities
• 80,612 injuries

Head-on collisions, along with other severe crashes, can happen due to a variety of factors. This can include drivers:

• Impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Failing to obey traffic lights or signs
• Distracted by their cell phones or something else in the vehicle

These crashes can lead to tremendous medical expenses for victims. Those seriously injured may be unable to work and earn an income while they recover.

Let us get to work on your case today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. The team at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman understands these cases and will get to work investigating your crash so we can secure the compensation you need. This can include:

• Coverage of medical expenses related to the crash
• Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
• Coverage of physical therapy
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

If you need a Pittsburgh car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 888-98-TWINS(89467).

You know that there are risks when you are in and around the roadway. Whether you are behind the wheel of your vehicle or walking through a parking lot, you could potentially be harmed by negligent drivers. Today, we want to discuss the various ways car crashes occur, beginning by highlighting a recent pedestrian crash.

At the Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our knowledgeable and experienced team is ready to help when you need a Pittsburgh car crash attorney. Let us get to work on securing the compensation you deserve.

This Was A Tragic Case

Today, we want to bring you a story from a bit out of our coverage area because it highlights some of the dangers that careless and negligent drivers pose on the roadways. Jonathan A. McElroy, a 42-year-old man from Mount Pleasant, was charged with the death of Clarence Wolff.

The incident occurred last month when McElroy, a Westmoreland County car salesman, struck 86-year-old Wolff in a company car and then fled the scene. According to Wolff’s family, they had just finished dinner at a restaurant and were returning to their vehicle when McElroy slammed into Wolff.

Wolff’s granddaughter said of McElroy: “He stopped. He got out of his vehicle. He looked back. He asked if he was OK and then he must have seen the results of what happened, and he got right back in and was gone.”

Mr. Wolff died from his injuries at the hospital.

McElroy tried to cover up evidence of the crime at the time and then returned the vehicle to his dealership. Police have now arrested him and charged him with accidents involving death or personal injury, tampering with evidence, unsworn falsification to authorities, and theft.

Vehicle crashes are an unfortunate reality in Pennsylvania. For the latest reporting year, there were more than 128,000 total crashes. Out of those, there were over 1,100 fatalities and over 80,000 injuries.

We also know that there were over 4,000 pedestrian crash injuries and 150 pedestrian crash fatalities.

• Nearly all pedestrian crashes result in injuries or a fatality.

Far too many vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania occur due to driver negligence. This can include drivers who are operating while impaired by drugs or alcohol, those who are distracted by their electronic devices, and those who disregard traffic laws.

• Vehicle crash victims and their families should not be left holding the bills in a crash that was caused by someone else.

What Happens Now?

Vehicle crashes can affect anyone. Whether you are a passenger in a vehicle, a motorcyclist, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, you can be severely injured in a crash caused by a careless or reckless driver. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, our team is ready to get to work on your behalf. We know that you need compensation for the following:

• Coverage of your medical bills
• Compensation for lost income if you cannot work
• Mental anguish damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages

When you need a Pittsburgh car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 888-98-TWINS(89467).

Having your own car makes a big social statement. It tells people that you can afford a car and insurance, which means you have a job that pays you enough to have a car. People can tell a lot about a person from the car they have. For example, if you drive Toyota Prius then you are probably environmentally conscious. If you drive a Hummer then you probably care more about your reputation then you do the Earth. If you drive an SUV or minivan you probably have a family with kids to fill up all the seats. We make a lot of assumptions about the drivers on the road. One big assumption is that they are all paying attention.

Our car accident attorney at Shenderovich, Shenderovich, and Fishman have heard many iterations of a similar story: distracted driving. People reach out to our offices telling the story of how some distracted driver hit them causing an injury. Cars are such an American concept. We love our cars. We love our cars so much that we have shows, clubs, and organizations about the cars we love. Vehicles have status and are symbolic of where we are in life. Rarely are cars just a means to get from place to place. People don’t just drive in their cars. People also eat, talk, put on makeup, argue, cry, jam out to music, etc. All these activities take place in cars and sometimes while the driving is driving.

All About Distracted Driving

Distracted driving happens when drivers pay too much attention elsewhere instead of the road. Distracted driving results in about 9 people’s death every day and more than 1,000 injuries. The most common kind of distracted driving is caused by cell phones. So much so that as of June 2017, 14 states including DC have banned hand-held cell phone use in the car completely and 46 states have banned texting and driving. Looking at your phone can take up to 5 seconds. It only takes 3 seconds for a distracted driver to cause a crash. Yet no matter what the research says about distracted driving, 77 % of adults and 55% of teenagers believe that they have the ability to text and drive without any concern for themselves or others.

Clearly, this is not true. No one can successfully drive while distracted. Distracted driving is really about feeling too comfortable in your car and engaging in negligent behavior. This negligent behavior results in car accidents. Whether it be a rear end, head on, sideswipe or any other kind of accident, the statistics are real and an accident is bound to cause injury.

What To Do

If you or someone you love is suffering from injury resulting from a car accident then our Pittsburgh Car Accident Attorneys are ready to work for you. We believe that people should be held accountable for their negligent behavior. Call 888-98-TWINS(89467) or click here to schedule a free consultation with our professional attorneys at Shenderovich, Shenderovich, and Fishman today.

Family members of David Bianco, Kaylie Meininger, and their daughter Annika may finally get some closure after last week’s trial against defendant Demetrius Coleman for the car accident that he caused in 2016 while being chased by a police officer.

Coleman was charged with almost two dozen crimes including three counts of criminal homicide stemming from the crash that instantly killed the three victims on their way to a family Thanksgiving dinner.

Car accidents with tragic consequences are familiar to Pittsburgh car accident attorneys who are aggressive advocates for car accident victims and their families who have sustained serious injuries or death caused by someone else’s fault. While these cases are very difficult and emotional, successful outcomes often bring much-needed closure and financial recovery for victims and their family members.

Events leading up to the accident

Prior to the accident, Coleman was pulled over by the police for making an illegal turn. When the police officer ran Coleman’s information he discovered that Coleman had an outstanding drug warrant for his arrest and called for police backup. As back up arrived, Coleman fled the scene in his vehicle and after less than one minute, he t-boned the family of three, killing them instantly.

Questionable police procedures

Coleman was the obvious cause of the accident that took three innocent lives, but an Allegheny County District Attorney questioned police training and procedures related to this accident. According to DA Stephen Zappala Jr., a police chase should only be initiated when a deadly felony, hostage situation, or kidnapping is involved. He said in this situation, a police chase should not have been initiated because Coleman was wanted on a non-violent drug warrant.

He also questioned why the officer who pulled Coleman over for the illegal turn did not immediately secure Coleman upon learning that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He also suggested that every police car should be equipped with a stop stick for officers to place by the wheel of vehicles that they pull over. Should the vehicle decide to flee the scene, the stop stick would flatten one of the tires.

Wrongful death and survival actions

In fatal car accident cases, the person who caused the accident may sometimes be criminally charged and a criminal conviction may punish the defendant, but it does not compensate the surviving family members who have tragically lost their loved ones. Depending on the circumstances of the case, sometimes surviving family members and the decedent’s estate may be compensated for accident fatalities.

When close family members lose a loved one, they may sometimes be permitted to recover compensation for losing their loved one under a wrongful death claim. Additionally, a survival action may sometimes be appropriate to compensate for the deceased’s estate for injuries and damages that the deceased sustained prior to his or her death.

If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one in a car accident caused by someone else’s fault, contact a Pittsburgh car accident attorney at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman for a free consultation.