Automobile Accidents

We all know that driving is dangerous. Our primary concern while driving is the safety of us, our families, and our friends. Daniel Monahan understands all the circumstances surrounding automobile, trucking, boating, or other transportation related accidents and injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile, trucking, or boating accident, call Daniel Monahan today. A solo practitioner personal injury and automobile accident lawyer in Exton, Pennsylvania, he offers his dedicated attention to your automobile accident claim representing the good people of Pennsylvania in the Chester County and Greater Philadelphia area, including Great Valley, Birmingham, Caln, Charlestown, Coatesville, Downingtown, Honeybrook, Kennet Square, Malvern, Parkesburg, Phoenixville, Pocopson, Thornbury, Tredyffrin, Uwchlan, and West Chester. Daniel Monahan is ready, willing, and able to get you fair compensation for your injury, helping hurt Pennsylvanians one case at a time in their automobile, vehicle, motorcycle, trucking, boating, pedestrian, or plane accident claim.

What are your two biggest fears about automobiles? Accidents and insurance companies. To many people, these are the two largest, fear-provoking, thought-cringing subjects that involve driving automobiles. Almost all of us rely on our transportation to earn a living in some form or another. Whether we drive a truck for a living or drive our vehicle to and from work, our vehicles are an integral part of our daily lives. Unfortunately, the fact is most of us will get into an accident at some point in our life. If it is expected that we will get into an accident at some point, that means an integral part of our life will certainly be affected. However, what if you suffer a severe injury while driving because of the negligence of another?

Our family and friends’ safety, along with our own, is at the forefront of our concerns while driving. You can do every thing right, take all the necessary precautions, and still be involved in an automobile, trucking, or boating accident. When someone else’s careless, reckless, or negligent actions cause you to be involved in a vehicle accident, contact Daniel Monahan. Daniel Monahan has over thirty years of litigation experience and concentrates his practice in automobile and vehicle accident litigation. A member of the Academy of Advocacy, Daniel will analyze your case and sift through the facts to determine whether you deserve compensation for your injury. Together, we can bring your vehicle injury claim in front of a jury, look them in the eyes, and persuade them to award you fair compensation.

Automobile and trucking accidents come in all shapes and sizes. You may be on your way to work one day, everything seeming right in the world. Then . . . someone smashes you from behind! It may have been someone not paying attention or someone speeding on their way to work. Nonetheless, their negligent actions have resulted in your significant physical injury. Your life comes to a halt in mere seconds. Reality is broken for a moment until the pain you experience lets you know that what has happened is real. Daniel Monahan’s dedication to helping victims of automobile, trucking and boating accidents is also real. He is an attorney with real experience, helping the people of Pennsylvania with real problems.

In 2003, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were 4,746,307 total highway crashes involving passenger cars. There was another 79, 081 involving motorcycles and 59,672 involving buses. Trucking accidents are also extremely common. For highway accidents involving light trucks there were 3,345, 165 accidents and another 436,082 involving large trucks. These statistics are very revealing.

What these numbers show you is that you are not alone. There are two types of traditional trucking accidents. Either you have been injured by a truck driver’s negligent actions or you are the truck driver and have been injured been injured through no fault of your own. Sharing the roads with large trucks seems to be a part of life. This doesn’t make it any less scary. We all drive on our greater Philadelphia highways and sooner or later, we are next to or behind a large truck. We’ll do anything we can to distance ourselves from these monstrous vehicles. It is a hard job driving these large trucks but commonly, large truck drivers make mistakes. Their mistakes can cause severe injury and death. If you or someone you know has been involved in a trucking accident in Chester County or the greater Philadelphia area and would like to speak to an experienced trial lawyer, contact Daniel Monahan. Being a solo practitioner, Daniel can devote his personal attention to you and your family to help you get through this difficult time. He understands the affect that an automobile, vehicle, or trucking accident can have on you, your family, your friends, and your finances. When you hire Daniel Monahan you get Daniel Monahan. No red tape. No bureaucracy. At Daniel’s office it is only him and his paralegal. You have access to their full resources. There will NOT be an “associate” working on your case. Daniel and his thirty years of experience are at your disposal because you are the boss.

The law allows compensation for individuals who have suffered injuries at the hands of another and Daniel would like to offer his expertise and experience to assist you in your automobile, vehicle, or trucking injury claim. Daniel Monahan is a personal injury and automobile accident lawyer that represents the injured people of Chester County and the surrounding areas in matters involving automobile, vehicle, trucking, boating, motorcycle, pedestrian, car, and train and plane accidents. His office is located in Exton, Pennsylvania, conveniently located in Chester County.

Library for Automobile Accidents:

• Stacking Insurance coverage waivers, if already signed,not necessary when acquiring new car   
  Description: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the case of Sackett II v. Nationwide Insurance Company holds that when car is added to pre-existing multi-vehicle policy, new stacking waivers are not necessary.
• Language of a release applicable to any wrongdoer prevents suits against other defendants   
  Description: The Court agreed and the Superior Court upheld the finding that the language of the release was unambiguous and applicable to all the tortfeasors including Ford. The releases signed discharged the driver and "all other persons, firms, or corporations."
• In auto accident involving two separate injuries, GEICO denied exclusion for coverage   
  Description: coverage for the first accident on the theory that "coverage does not apply to bodily injury while occupying...a vehicle owned...by you."
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to consider whether deceased son can recover under two different insurance policies even though he lived with one parent   
  Description: Question of whether deceased child's estate and parents can collect under separate auto insurance policies when parents are separated and living apart, undecided by Pennsylvania Courts. Supreme Court to consider issue.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Electronic Device Use Study   
  Description: This survey showed that hand-held cell phone use by drivers increased to 6 percent in 2007 compared to 5 percent in 2006. The 2007 rate translates into 1,005,000 vehicles on the road at any given daylight moment being driven by someone using a hand-held phone.
• Smile You're On Candid Camera: Speed cameras reduce speeding   
  Description: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compiled data on the effectiveness of speed cameras in reducing speeding. The results were very impressive.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents Cause More Deaths than any other Injury   
  Description: Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are the number one type of accident, accounting for 44.3% of the deaths resulting from an accident. Falls come in a very distant second with only 17.8%.
• Hands Free Phone devices not as safe as you may think   
  Description: A study from the NHTSA conducted in September 2004 found drivers using hand held cell phones had to redial calls 18% of time whereas drivers using hands free devices had to redial more than twice as many times – 40% of the time. Researchers suggested hands free devices “may provide drivers with a false sense of ease.”
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810968.PDF   
  Description: This report was published in June 2008 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It uses data from 1997 - 2006 with regard to pedestrian/motor vehicle collisions.
• Obtaining Underinsured Motorist Coverage for policy you did not pay for, disallowed by Superior Court   
  Description: When injured while driving a cab home, you cannot bring an uninsured motorist insurance claim against your personal auto insurance carrier
• Pennsylvania's Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law does not apply to fleet policies   
  Description: Although the insured never signed a waiver of stacking form, the Supreme Court agreed with PMA which denied the claim holding that Pennsylvania's MVFRL does not apply to fleet policies and that the decedent Everhart was not a class one insured.
• Snowmobile All Terrain Vehicle is a Recreational Vehicle and not an Uninsured motor Vehicle   
  Description: Court held that the insurance policy exclusion of ATV's from the definition of "uninsured motor vehicle" was permitted under the laws of Pennsylvania.
• Dirt Bikes that collide with Insured Vehicles are uninsured motor vehicles   
• Risk of Eye Injury due to air bags is less than without them   
  Description: Of all occupants who were exposed to an air bag deployment, 3% sustained an eye injury as compared to 2% of occupants not exposed to an air bag deployment sustained an eye injury.
• Teaching Children to wear seat belts and other safe driving habits reduces risks of injury   
  Description: Studies found that after children completed the program their use of safety seat and/or seat belts increased approximately 22 percent. If children are taught these safety tips at an early age, it is hoped they will continue those habits throughout their lives and even help influence older family members to buckle up.
• Left Unattended in a car, children can die in less than a Minute   
  Description: In 2006, more than 205 children died as a result of being left unattended in a vehicle.
• Sleep before driving Just as important as Driving while Sober   
  Description: One study showed that driving drowsy can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.
• Slowing down while driving in wet weather may be the safest thing a driver can do   
  Description: many drivers underestimate the dangers that rain can pose. For this reason, more people are apt to venture out in wet weather and do not realize the need to reduce speeds when traveling on wet roads
• A Complete List by Category of the Safest Cars on the Road for 2009   
  Description: Every year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety releases its list of the safest cars on the road today. Below are the cars the Institute rated as the safest cars of 2008.
• If You Think it's Safe to Driver While Using Your Blue Tooth, Think Again   
  Description: The study found that using a hands free cell phone can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. The study showed “motorists who talked on hands-free cell phones were 18% slower in braking and took 17% longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked.”
• How tall you are may be a factor in automobile air bags providing safety in accidents   
  Description: One of the most important factors affecting air bag safety is the weight and, especially, the height of the vehicle’s occupants. Since height and weight are closely linked to gender, the effectiveness of air bags differs greatly for men and women.
• Vehicle Back Up Accidents Leading Cause of Fatalities Among Children   
  Description: One of the leading causes of non-traffic child fatalities occurs from back over accidents. Between the years of 2001 and 2006, these types of accident accounted for almost half of all non-traffic fatalities involving children.
• The Cost of Crashes and Congestion on Society   
  Description: The study found that both crashes and congestion take a toll in terms of costs to society; however, the cost of human life is always found to be higher. AAA concluded that if Federal, state and local leaders committed themselves to prioritizing safety on all future transportation planning, they would not only save lives and prevent injuries, but they would also reduce congestion.
• Snow tires are still recommended when driving in snow   
  Description: If you're driving in winter climes with lots of snow, all season tires might not be enough. Those who know recommend that you use traditional snow tires
• Male Drivers More Agressive, Causing greater number of accidents   
  Description: Males account for 75% of all road traffic fatalities among those under 25 years of age and are more likely to drive at excessive speeds. Teenage male drivers are at least five times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers aged 30 years and older. In addition, young male drivers have been found to use seat-belts less frequently than other groups. There are many psychological factors that may explain the above statistics.
• The danger of accident while driving and text messaging demands action according to the American Medical Association   
  Description: (AMA) agreed to “lobby for more state legislation banning text-messaging while driving or operating machinery.” Numerous cities and states have already passed legislation making texting while driving illegal.
• Side impact protection system for automobiles that dramatically reduces risk of injury developed by German scientists   
  Description: Research scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed an intelligent side-impact protection system that dramatically reduces the risk of injury. This emerging technology utilizes radar sensors and cameras in the doors which can predict a lateral collision just milliseconds before the crash.
• Mandatory Seat belt use and studies for use reducing fatalities   
  Description: A study performed by researchers of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Granada and the Department of Statistics in Spain shows that rear seat safety belt use reduces the risk of death by 44%.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Study Shows Proper Use of Child Seat Restraints Reduces Injuries   
  Description: Use of child seat restraints in autos demonstrates reduced injuries to children according to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Study. Guide to purchasing car seats and child safety available from CHOP website.
• Mixture of rain and oil on the road creates dangerously slippery conditions   
  Description: Rainy weather does have an adverse effect on driving conditions; however, the risks actually decrease if it had rained the previous day
• Insurance Institute Study shows Electronic Stability Program safety feature would reduce fatalities   
  Description: Electronic Stability Program (EPS) as a standard feature on automobiles would decrease fatal accidents by 43% according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Study by preventing or reducing skidding.
• Top 6 Tips On Avoiding Road Ragers, according to PA State Police   
  Description: The Pennsylvania State Police Butler Barracks want to educate everyone who uses Pennsylvania roads about aggressive drivers or “Road-Rage Warriors.” Some of their behavior include: running stop signs and red lights, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, making hand and facial gestures, screaming, honking their horns and flashing their lights.
• Quiet Cars such as the Toyota Prius pose real danger to pedestrians in accidents   
  Description: vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and other hybrids, known as quiet cars, pose a very real danger to pedestrians. Accidents involving quiet cars and pedestrians are on the increase across the country. This is causing many organizations to push for car makers and others involved in the automotive industry to begin looking at safety issues.
• Injuries to the spine and abdomen in motor vehicle accidents increase with ill fitting seat belts on children   
  Description: As a result of research conducted by Dr. Grewal and some of his colleagues, they determined that children who were secured with ill-fitting seatbelts were at a higher incidence of “seat belt syndrome.” Seat belt syndrome is the term used to describe injuries to the spine and abdomen suffered in a motor vehicle accident when a seat belt is used.
• The Psychology Behind Why Cell Phone Use is So Dangerous While Driving   
  Description: Accidents in Pennsylvania involving cell phone use increased by 36% in the past two years despite restrictions mandated in several jurisdictions on cell phone use while driving. Research confirms that multi-tasking in the form of talking and driving is not advisable.
• Consumers Need to Read Auto Insurance Policies Carefully-Court Again Restricts Coverage   
  Description: Police Officer denied underinsured motorist benefits because accident involved non-used vehicle.
• Requiring Drivers older than 80 Reduces Automobile Deaths   
  Description: A Florida law requiring drivers 80 years and older to have their vision tested appears to have reduced the number of driving deaths among older people according to an article in the November 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
• Discover the Reason Why Driving While Using a Cell Phone is So Dangerous   
  Description: With the use of cell phones while driving has increased dramatically in Pennsylvania, research shows that this type of multi-tasking is dangerous because preparing to talk and actually speaking put far more demands on the brain than just listening
• Car Accident Fatalities Will Decrease 43 percent If Cars Have Electronic Stability Program as Standard Feature   
  Description: A 2006 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded that fatal accidents would decrease by 43 percent if all vehicles were equipped with Electronic Stability Program (EPS) as a standard feature. As a result of this study and many others worldwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandated that all vehicles come equipped with EPS as a standard feature by the year 2012.
• Why the number of pedestrian and bicycle injuries has remained steady   
  Description: In States like New Jersey where residents love their cars, officials have been trying for years to reduce the high number of pedestrian and bicylist deaths. John Boyle, advocacy director for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia believes that municipalities need to implement state guide lines in order to effect a decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities
• Deer Season in Pennsylvania Increases Risks of Auto Accidents   
  Description: As the fall breeding season commences, the number of automobile/deer collisions increase which causes Pennsylvania to have the third highest number of deaths in the nation from these types of accidents.
• Where Wife Witnesses Her Husband's Fatal Auto Accident, She is Not Entitled to Payment of Medical bills   
  Description: Where the wife witnesses her husband's fatal accident and then is treated for post traumatic stress disorder, the insurance company who insured their auto is not responsible for paying her medical bills because the injuries were not the result of a bodily injury.
• If you own a car without the required auto insurance, you won't be able to collect medical and wage loss benefits even if the car you were driving is insured   
  Description: The Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act clearly makes the owner of a registered motor vehicle ineligible to recover first party benefits when the owner fails to meet the requirements of financial responsibility
• If Nobody Tells You that You Can drive the Car, You may not be covered by insurance   
  Description: Because the person who caused an accident had neither expressed nor implied permission from the owner to operate the vehicle, the insurance company had no duty to provide liability coverage for the injuries sustained.
• Does Zero Mean Zero Or an you get a New Trial When the Jury Awards Nothing   
  Description: If a jury awards no damages for pain and suffering when the evidence clearly shows that the injured party sustained damages that cause pain and suffering and the responsible party admits that he caused the accident, you are permitted to get a new trial on appeal
• Accident Involving Motorcycle and Car in Warrington, Pennsylvania   
  Description: An accident in Warrington, PA involving a motorcycle and car was reported on August 29th, 2007. One party was hospitalized.
• Woman Charged After Multi-Victim Accident in West Philadelphia   
  Description: A driver in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was charged after colliding with a police van. She was reported to have had open containers of alcohol in her vehicle. Four people involved in the accident were taken to the hospital.
• UPS Truck and Cyclist Involved in Accident August, 2007   
  Description: On August 11, 2007 a UPS truck and bicyclist were involved in an accident. The cyclist was hospitalized due to a head injury.
• You Can't Have it Both Ways: By Waiving Your Comp Lien, You may be Shortchanging Your Third Party Auto Claim   
  Description: In an auto accident case where an injured worker settled his workers' compensation case and agreed to the insurance carrier's right to collect its past payments, the worker may not be able to seek additional wage loss and medical benefits in the underinsured/uninsured motorist case.
• Supreme Court Reverses Favorable Decision for Consumers of Auto Insurance   
  Description: Pennsylvania rules that require insurance companies to obtain "written waiver" on newly obtained vehicles in order to avoid stacking of underinsured and uninsured motorist insurance coverage.
• Pennsylvania Courts Have Now Defined Motor Vehicles To Include "Dirt Bikes"   
  Description: After years of court cases arguing about the definition of motor vehicle, the Pennsylvania Courts have defined "dirt bikes" as not being recreational vehicles, and therefore, entitling injured riders to insurance coverage.
• If Your Insurance Agent Won't Take the Time, I Will   
  Description: Pennsylvania laws only require individuals to have minimal insurance coverage of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. The best advice any owner of a motor vehicle can receive is to increase their insurance coverage for underinsured and uninsured drivers who inflict serious and permanent injuries on you and your family. Plus, no matter what anyone tells you, always select Full Tort.
• Consumers Win Two Important Battles for Underinsured Motorist Benefits in recent PA Supreme Court and Federal Court Cases   
• Full Tort versus Limited Tort, Is it Really an Option?   
  Description: The decision to select the limited tort or full tort option when purchasing Pennsylvania automobile liability insurance is one of the most important decisions a consumer will make. All Pennsylvania requires minimal insurance coverage, there are many considerations to be made when deciding to give up a consumer's right to bring a lawsuit or claim against a negligent driver for non-economic damages or what is commonly known as pain and suffering.
• Riding without a Motorcycle Helmet, Are You Crazy?   
  Description: Pennsylvania recently passed a law allowing motorcycle drivers to ride without a helmet. Before you do so, you should read this interesting article about some of the statistics for injuries involving motorcycles.

Frequent Questions for Automobile Accidents:

• I was in a small fender-bender when my car crashed into another car.  The damage was significant and everyone in the other car said they were okay.  I am afraid if I report the accident, my insurance rates will go up.  What should I do in this situation?

• What is my Insurance Company Required to Pay?

• Is the Insurance Company Required to Offer Any Additional Insurance Coverage if I Want It?

• What if the Person Who Caused the Accident Doesn’t have any Insurance or Doesn’t have enough Insurance?

• Is Anyone Else Responsible for my Medical Bills or Wage Loss?

• If I Am in an Accident, Should I Seek Medical Treatment?

• Should I Take Photographs of the Autos Involved in an Accident?

• Should I Agree to Give a Statement, written or oral, to the Insurance Company?

• What are Pennsylvania’s minimum insurance requirements?

Case Results for Automobile Accidents:

• $850,000 Settlement for Worker Injured in Truck Accident - $850,000 Underinsured motorist settlement plus $100,000 workers' compensation claim
• Policy Limits Award by Philadelphia Judge in Contested Auto Case - $100,000 Policy Limits Award
• $225,000 Policy Limits for Pedestrian with Broken Leg - Quick $225,000 policy Limits settlement
• Assistant Store Manager Paid $305,000 for negligence of parking lot owner and co-employee driver - $305,000 settlement against Property owner and co-employee
• Injured Driver Awarded Policy Limits Against Drunk Driver and Tavern Owner - Policy Limits against Drunk Driver and Tavern Owner
• Investigation Reveals Coverage Denied in Error - Policy Limits Awarded after Denial of Coverage
• Multiple Underinsured Claims Settled - Underinsured Motorist Settlement after Policy Limits Awarded

Web Resources for Automobile Accidents:

• Product Recall

  Description: Products Liability, Product Recall and Tire Defects. Consumer Personal Injury Lawyers selected as "Best Lawyers in America". Contact us now.

The Monahan Law Practice
300 North Pottstown Pike
Suite 210
Exton, PA 19341-2233

Phone: (610) 363-3888
Fax: (610) 363-2429