Penalties Now Higher in N.J. for Distracted Drivers Involved in Crashes While Using Hand-Held Cell Phones
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on July 18th, 2012
Drivers in New Jersey should be forewarned – a new rule just signed into law adds operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held cell phone to the list of contributing factors that can lead to criminal charges of reckless driving if you are involved in a vehicle accident. The new legislation "toughens penalties against drivers who kill or injure someone while the driver is using a hand-held cell phone," according to a story in...
On Court Radio – What You Need to Know As Tenants and Landlords – Listen in Sunday at 7 a.m.
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on July 14th, 2012
Disputes between landlords and tenants are among the most common legal situations that can occur in people’s lives. From a landlord who isn’t concerned about properly caring for their rental properties to tenants who fail to pay their rent on time, there’s a myriad of issues that can arise and cause tensions for both sides. These kinds of issues will be the topic on “Court Radio” at 7 a.m. this Sunday as Court Radio host...
Deaths of Three Children on Capsized Long Island Yacht a Grim Reminder for Vigilant Boating Safety
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on July 13th, 2012
The July 4 holiday was tragically marred on Long Island's Oyster Bay in New York when a 34-foot-long private yacht capsized following a holiday fireworks show, trapping and killing three children who were inside the boat's cabin. Since the disaster, investigators have pored over the wreckage of the yacht, which had to be pulled from a depth of about 60 feet after it sank in the bay, according to an Associated Press story in the...
What Drivers need to Know About Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on July 6th, 2012
A 28-year-old Delaware County man was critically injured earlier this week when he was struck by a vehicle that fled after hitting him as he walked alone on a road in the darkness. The victim, Thomas Quercetti, of Boothwyn, was unconscious when he was found in the wee hours lying in the roadway by a passing motorist who alerted police," according to a story in The Delaware County News Network. "Quercetti was taken to Crozer-Chester...
Emergency Room Treatment Delay Leads to $55 Million Verdict in Birth Defect Case
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 28th, 2012
With the birth of her son imminent after several hours of labor at her home, a Waverly, Maryland, woman was rushed to a Baltimore hospital by ambulance for an emergency Caesarean section in March of 2010. But instead of being instantly taken into an emergency room for immediate surgery, she had to wait for more than two hours until the procedure was started. That delay, according to a lawsuit she filed against Johns Hopkins Hospital,...
Court Radio: What to Do When Prescription or Over-The-Counter Drugs Make You Sicker
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 23rd, 2012
Medicines, whether they're available by prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), are supposed to make sick people feel better. But that's not what always happens. Sometimes, taking medicines can make sick people feel worse, causing serious medical complications or even death. Those issues will be the topic on “Court Radio” at 7 a.m. this Sunday with special guest Michelle L. Tiger, an attorney who specializes in pharmaceutical mass tort litigation. Tiger will join MyPhillyLawyer managing partner Dean...
Some New Jersey Red Light Cameras May Be Inaccurate: What Drivers Need to Know
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 21st, 2012
As questions mount over the accuracy of a majority of red-light cameras used throughout intersections across New Jersey, the state has suspended the use of those devices that are under investigation, according to a story in The (Newark) Star-Ledger newspaper. The red-light cameras "have frustrated motorists while generating millions of dollars for towns," the paper reported. "Officials from the state Department of Transportation said 63 of the 85 red-light cameras in New Jersey — including...
Innocent Illinois Motorcyclist Killed During Road Rage Incident Involving 2 Other Drivers
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 19th, 2012
A Chicago-area motorcyclist was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was killed last week by another driver who was embroiled in a road rage argument with another motorist. The motorcyclist, Gerald W. Puglise, 63, was heading home to his wife on his 2005 Triumph Rocket III cruiser after having lunch with a longtime friend when he was struck by a 2006 Infiniti M45 car being driven by 31-year-old Michael Moreno, according...
Court Radio: Talking About Father’s Rights on Father’s Day, 7 a.m. Sunday
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 16th, 2012
Helping men become better fathers to their children is the goal of Philadelphia's Daddy UniverseCity program, which also aims to help dads know their legal rights when it comes to their offspring. Joel Austin, the president and founder of the six-year-old non-profit organization, will be the featured guest on “Court Radio” at 7 a.m. this Sunday with MyPhillyLawyer managing partner Dean Weitzman and his co-host David Rapoport. The trio will talk about father's rights and...