Recent Posts in Personal Injury Category
| January 30, 2010 |
| Attorney Bompiani Comments on Tragic Case Against School |
| Posted By Bompiani Law Group LLC |
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The parents of a Valley High School student who died in a
car wreck have sued the New Kensington-Arnold School District, alleging that school officials did nothing to stop their son from leaving early on the day of the crash.
Scott and Brenda Grau filed a federal
lawsuit asking for unspecified damages for the district's alleged failure to enforce rules and prevent their 17-year-old son, Colin, from walking out of school.
Colin Grau died when the car he was in collided with a pickup truck near Memorial Park on Route 366 on Jan. 21, 2009.
The driver of the car, Nicholas Masi, 18, and the driver of the truck, Paul Luzik, 41, were injured in the crash.
Classmates told Channel 4 Action News at the time of the crash that Grau and Masi left school early because their last class of the day was a study hall.
Attorney Charles Steele says Colin Grau could be alive today if the district had enforced a campus policy which forbade students to leave during the school day without permission.
The district was advised by legal counsel not to comment on the lawsuit Wednesday.
Channel 4 Action News asked
Anthony Bompiani, an independent attorney, about a possible defense.
"The first thing that came to my mind is governmental immunity, and what that is is a law that protects the school district and other governmental entities from liability,"
Bompiani said. "There are exceptions to the governmental immunity general rule."
Grau's family attorney says the federal lawsuit will prove what's called a state-created danger -- a school next to a highway that some consider to be dangerous with, according to the lawsuit, an estimated 88 vehicle collisions along Route 366 in a four-year period.
There is specific mention in the lawsuit of the district not providing busing next to the so-called "dangerous highway." Busing was started eight months after Colin Grau's death.
Valley Principal Jon Banko, Vice Principal Jeffrey Thimons and school directors are named in the lawsuit, which does not specify any damages being sought.
The Grau family attorney says the lawsuit isn't just about money, but also justice for their son and prevention of another student's death. |
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| January 15, 2010 |
| Steps To Take If You Are Hurt In An Auto Accident |
| Posted By Bompiani Law Group LLC |
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1. Stay Calm and Protect Yourself. Stop to protect your passengers and car. Call an ambulance for any injured party, if required. Set flares if you carry them, and do not leave the scene of the accident.
2. Exchange Information. Do not discuss the accident
with anyone or blame anyone, including yourself. Exchange only your
license, registration and motor vehicle identification card.
3. Get the Facts. Take
down the name, address, operator's license number, date of birth, sex,
state of license and the phone number of the other driver. Also, write
down the name, address, and the insurance company of the owner and
driver of the other car involved. The driver may not be the owner of
the car.
4. Injured Parties. Seek
information from police for all injured parties involved including
passengers. Take down the names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, and
extent of injuries.
5. Witnesses. Be sure to write down the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any people who saw the accident but were not involved in it.
6. Damages. Note
the make, body type, year, and license number of all other vehicles
involved. Also make note of the other vehicle. Be sure to get
photographs of any damage to your vehicle, and any injuries sustained that are visible.
7. Draw a Diagram. Make
a note below the diagram of the date and time of the accident. Write
down the location including the street, intersection, or any landmarks.
8. Report the Accident. It is extremely important to report the accident to your insurance broker or agent immediately. If the accident involves a death or injury, report it without delay to the police department. (Click here for an explanation of wrongful death and survival damages) Obtain a copy of their report within 24 hours.
Should you have any further questions regarding auto accidents, contact L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire at (724) 925-9600.
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| January 12, 2010 |
| Homeowners Can Be Liable For Slips, Falls on Snow |
| Posted By Bompiani Law Group LLC |
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How much time do Pennsylvanians have to clear their sidewalks of snow
before someone who slips and falls can hold them responsible?
"Generally in Pennsylvania, as a homeowner, you are responsible to keep
your property safe, but you are afforded a reasonable amount of time to
clear the snow and ice," lawyer Anthony Bompiani said.
Video:  Homeowners Can Be Liable For Slips, Falls On Snow
"If it wasn't like that in Pennsylvania, you'd be expected every time a
snowflake drops to run out and shovel and salt. That's not the case."
Pittsburgh
attorneys told Channel 4 Action News that each community has its own
ordinance, but in most cases, it's 24 hours after the last flake falls.
"If
it gets to the point where the snow has the opportunity to melt and
then refreeze, that's where you are going to be looking at some
damage," Bompiani said.
Businesses are held to a higher standard because they invite people on their property.
That's a sensitive subject for lawyer Mike Stewart, who owns several rental properties and the building where he practices law.
"The
people who are coming to see us -- they're business invitees, we've
invited them to come on to our property, so we do have the higher
standard," Stewart said. "I've got some individuals out there very
early in the morning, making sure we stay ahead of any accumulation of
snow and make sure we address things like ice as best we can."
Injuries
from slipping and falling are sometimes covered by insurance, but
Stewart and Bompiani said that if something does occur, you should
never just rely on insurance to pay for damages because there is
usually an out-of-pocket deductible and your premium could go up.
"If you don't want to be sued, you need to be proactive," Bompiani said. "You need to stay ahead of the game."
If you have been injured due to a slip and fall, contact L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire for help at (724) 925-9600. |
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| October 09, 2009 |
| Damages for Wrongful Death and Survival Claims |
| Posted By L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire |
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When an individual dies as a result of the conduct of another, the
estate and/or beneficiaries can file two actions -- Wrongful Death and
Survival. These actions have some significant differences. For example,
a survival action is subject to the Pennsylvania inheritance tax but a
wrongful death claim is not. Also, the statute of limitations for a
survival action begins to run, as a general rule, from the date of the
incident while the statute for the wrongful death claim runs from the
date of death. Of particular importance here is the distinction between
the proof of damages for wrongful death versus survival actions.
The appellate courts in Pennsylvania have had occasion to discuss the
elements of damage in death cases on numerous occasions. Specifically,
the Superior Court has outlined the following elements involved in a
wrongful death action:
1. The purpose of the Wrongful Death
Statute is to compensate "the decedent's survivors for the pecuniary
losses they have sustained as a result of the decedent's death...This
includes the value of the services the victim would have rendered to
his family if he had lived. A wrongful death action does not compensate
the decedent; it compensates the survivors."
2. Under the
wrongful death act the widow or family is entitled, in addition to
costs, to compensation for the loss of the contributions decedent would
have made for such items as shelter, food, clothing, medical care,
education, entertainment, gifts and recreation.
Costs incurred by the death of the decedent are also recoverable under the Wrongful Death Statute.
It is clear that wrongful death beneficiaries are not entitled to
recover non-economic losses associated with the decedent's death. There
is no support in the law "for the proposition that a parent may recover
for the non-economic loss of guidance, support, comfort, maintenance,
companionship and society of a child under the Wrongful Death Act," but
damages do include "the present value of services the deceased would
have rendered to the family, plus funeral and medical expenses."
In contrast to a wrongful death action, a survival claim belongs
exclusively to the decedent and must be brought by the court-appointed
representative. Specifically, the Superior Court has held:
1. A survival action is brought by the administrator of the decedent's
estate to recover the loss to the estate resulting from the tort. The
measure of damages under such an action includes the decedent's pain
and suffering, the loss of gross earning power from the date of injury
until death, and the loss of earning power, reduced to reflect personal
maintenance expenses, from the time of death through the decedent's
projected working life.
As noted above, these losses are
considered elements of the estate and, consequently, unless there is an
exclusion in the intestacy laws, taxes will be due on the recovery of
survival act damages.
The issue of personal maintenance expenses has been addressed by the Superior Court. Specifically, the Court has held:
1. In a survival action, the cause of action arises out of the injury,
not out of the death. The estate is substituted for the decedent, and
its recovery is based upon the rights of action which were possessed by
the decedent at his death. The estate may recover for the loss of
decedent's past and future earning power, for the decedent's pain and
suffering prior to death, and for the cost of medical services,
nursing, and hospital care provided to decedent. The estate may not,
however, recover funeral expenses, since, obviously, the decedent could
not have brought an action for these expenses at the time of his death.
2. In addition, in order to avoid duplication of damages for loss of
future earning power, survival action damages must be diminished by any
amounts recoverable under the Wrongful Death Act.
Should
you have any further questions regarding the calculation of damages in
wrongful death and survival actions in Pennsylvania, contact L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire at (724) 925-9600.
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| October 02, 2009 |
| Limited Tort vs. Full Tort |
| Posted By L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire |
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Limited Tort Protection, Limited Rights for Drivers
Article provided by Mikus Law Associates, P.C.
In
Pennsylvania, drivers may have a limited tort auto insurance policy or
a full tort auto insurance policy. It is not uncommon for policyholders
to be unsure of which type of policy they have, even though they have
to sign a waiver to decline full tort coverage. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND
PURCHASING FULL TORT COVERAGE.
In
a limited tort policy, your rights to bring a claim for compensation
for your losses following a car accident may be limited to monetary
losses. If you have limited tort coverage you usually cannot bring a
claim for compensation for your non-monetary losses - such as pain and
suffering - unless the injury is "serious." Pennsylvania law defines a
serious injury as one that "results in death, serious impairment of a
bodily function or permanent serious disfigurement."
The
tort selection (full versus limited) that you make applies to you and
to those members of your family that live with you. When you select
limited tort coverage you are not just restricting your rights, you are
restricting the rights of your spouse and children - even if they do
not have driver's licenses.
Recoverable
monetary losses may include medical bills, lost wages and repair costs
to your vehicle. There are some exceptions to the prohibition from
recovering for pain and suffering if you have limited tort coverage.
One of the most commonly applicable exceptions is if the accident was
caused by an intoxicated driver. Even if you have limited tort coverage
you should still have your potential claim reviewed by a personal injury attorney.
The
law does not define what constitutes a serious impairment of a bodily
function or a permanent serious disfigurement, which can make it
difficult to establish that you have suffered a "serious" injury and,
therefore, difficult to recover compensation for pain and suffering
even if you think your injury is serious.
A
full tort policy does not have these limitations. If you have full tort
coverage you have the right to bring a claim for compensation for all
of your losses - including recovery for pain and suffering with no
artificially imposed limit.
Do Not Waive Your Rights to Full Tort Protection
Since
a limited tort policy impairs your ability to recover compensation for
all of your injuries, why does anyone choose this type of policy?
People usually choose limited tort coverage because they do not fully
understand the scope of the restriction on their rights and because
doing so will reduce their insurance premiums by a marginal amount. As
discussed below, the "savings" from choosing the limited tort option
can usually be achieved by increasing the deductibles on collision
and/or comprehensive coverage on your car. WE BELIEVE THAT, IF PREMIUM
DOLLARS ARE A SUBSTANTIAL ISSUE FOR YOU, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE BETTER
OFF IF THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT PROTECTING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES THAN
IF THEY ARE SPENT REDUCING THE DEDUCTIBLE ON COVERAGE FOR YOUR CAR.
You
may be inclined to choose the limited tort policy because you have
never been in an accident and don't believe you will ever need to
recover non-monetary losses. All it takes is one car accident, however,
to negate the relatively minor savings of a limited tort policy. Those
who have never been in an accident before may not appreciate that even
minor injuries can result in serious pain and suffering.
Saving on Car Insurance with Full Tort Protection
There
are other ways to save on your auto insurance premiums without
sacrificing your legal rights and your family's safety. These include:
Choosing
a higher deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay before your
insurance benefits kick-in. Raising your deductible to a higher amount
can reduce the overall cost of your insurance. Just be sure to choose
an amount you still can comfortably pay.
Combine
insurance coverage. Insurance companies offer a discount if you have
more than one policy with them. For example, you could bundle your
homeowner's and auto policies all with the same insurer. You also can
insure more than one car with the same company to get a discount on
your rates.
Seek
out discounts. Insurance companies give a variety of discounts for
things such as having a clean driving record, staying with the same
insurance company and having certain safety features on your car, like
anti-lock brakes, anti-theft features and daytime running lamps.
Discounts may be given for belonging to certain organizations (like
Triple A), having a low-risk occupation and taking a defensive driving
course. Insurers do not always advertise these discounts, so be sure to
ask.
Conclusion
Selecting
limited tort coverage will save a few dollars on insurance premiums at
the expense of a severe restriction of your rights and the rights of
you loved ones. Ask your insurance adjuster about other ways to save
money on your insurance. As a public service, for no charge and with no
obligation, our office is willing to review your insurance coverages
with you to make sure that you understand the coverages you have and
the options that are available to you.
Attorney L. Anthony Bompiani handles a variety of auto accident claims. Contact him at (724) 925-9600 for help.
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| August 19, 2009 |
| Derry Man Charged in Fatal Crash |
| Posted By |
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By Paul Pierce
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
A Derry Township man has been charged
with homicide by vehicle and driving drunk in connection with the July
25, 2008, crash in Mt. Pleasant Township that killed his female
passenger.
State police in Greensburg have charged John R. Mehalic Jr., 44, of
1359 Route 981, with driving on the wrong side of the highway, driving
at an unsafe speed and failing to wear a seat belt in the crash near
the Westmoreland Fairgrounds.
Sonya Lynn Purcell, 40, was a passenger Mehalic's 1998 Dodge Aries
that was traveling south on Greensburg-Mt. Pleasant Road. Police said
Mehalic was driving at a high rate of speed about 1:10 a.m. and lost
control of the car, skidded across the road and struck a utility pole.
Police said the passenger side of the car struck the pole in front
of 2045 Mt. Pleasant Road. Purcell and Mehalic were trapped in the
vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters.
Purcell and Mehalic lived together, according to police.
Deputy Coroner Dennis Johns pronounced Purcell dead at the scene.
Find the entire article here.
If you are the victim of an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, contact L. Anthony Bompiani for help by dialing (724) 925-9600.
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| May 29, 2009 |
| Subrogation in Pennsylvania - A Complicated Issue |
| Posted By L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire |
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In the context of personal
injury cases, subrogation generally involves the reimbursement rights
of a party who has made payment to, or on behalf of, individuals
injured in both automobile and non-automobile accident cases. Where the
injured individual obtains recovery for their injuries, they are often
legally obligated to reimburse parties who have provided medical
expenses or income benefits to the injured individual during the
pendency of the claim.
Recent changes in the law have expanded the subrogation rights of
parties providing benefits to injured claimants. Also, additional
obligations to reimburse parties from personal injury settlement
proceeds have been imposed even where the injured party has not
received any form of benefits during the pendency of the action. The
most significant change in this area involves the right of Domestic
Relations agencies to be reimbursed directly from an individual's
personal injury settlement proceeds where that individual has child
support arrearages owing.
For more information regarding subrogation contact Attorney L. Anthony Bompiani, at (724) 925-9600.
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