Thursday, May 12 marked the one-year anniversary of the Amtrak 188 derailment that took place in Frankfort. Sadly, on that day, eight people suffered fatal injuries while over 200 others suffered serious harms. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Amtrak train reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour before derailing on a curve near Frankford Junction.

Still, a mystery remains. Even now, researchers cannot identify the exact cause of the accident or any circumstances leading up to the tragic event. The engineer of Amtrak 188 states that his memory of that evening remains foggy. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed. However, cameras have been installed throughout the cabs of locomotives so that the performance of engineers can be monitored.

Managing Partner Rob Sachs is serving as the course planner and as speaker at the Pennsylvania Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Seminar scheduled to take place on Monday May 2, 2016. The panel will include other lawyers from around the country who are experts in a variety of nursing home subjects, including nursing home abuse and neglect.

During the seminar, Attorney Sachs will be discussing case selection and intake. Other subjects will include how to take the most effective corporate designee deposition, corporate negligence in Pennsylvania, subrogation and reimbursement in light of McCutchen v. U.S. Airways, and other timely topics which anybody handling a nursing home case should know.

We are pleased to announce that Robert Sachs has been included in the 2016 Super Lawyers List for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession. This accomplishment is a truly a testament to his experience, professionalism, and unparalleled client advocacy.

As managing partner of Shrager & Sachs, Robert’s practice focuses on plaintiff’s complex personal injury claims, including those involving mass torts, product liability, truck accidents, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse. A seasoned attorney with significant experience and a solid history of success in the courtroom, Robert is also a frequent lecturer and blogger on personal injury topics. He is also active member of the Board of Directors for SeniorLaw Center in Philadelphia and the Public Justice Foundation.

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most highly respected peer review guide to the legal profession in the world. For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has earned a reputation as the most unbiased and reliable source of legal referrals. Individuals seeking legal services can trust that when they search the Best Lawyers online database, they will find only the most outstanding attorneys in every location and practice area.

To view the 2016 Best Lawyers list online, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.

Shrager & Sachs is passionate about the pursuit of justice. If you’ve been hurt and are looking for outstanding legal representation, please contact us today to talk about your rights as an accident victim.Free consultations with a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer are available when you call (888) 899-0652.

Shrager & Sachs is excited to announce that our very own Attorney Robert L. Sachs, Jr. has earned a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating as a top medical malpractice lawyer. From the beginning, Attorney Sachs has worked hard to protect the rights and futures of those affected by birth injuries, spinal injuries, misdiagnoses, medication errors, and other malpractice issues. Because he is passionate about securing positive results for his clients, Attorney Sachs does everything in his power to streamline each case for each client.

In every medical malpractice case he accepts, he works hard to recover financial compensation for the following expenses his clients may face:

• Medical expenses
• Costs of physical therapy
• Emotional distresses
• Lost wages

What is a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating?

Avvo, which is considered one of the most respected lawyer rating services in the United States, bases their ratings on numerous factors, including those listed below:

• Attorney qualifications
• Experience
• Professional achievements
• Disciplinary sanctions

Because lawyers do not have the ability to change their scores, Avvo ratings are considered one of the most unbiased of all rating systems. Therefore, these ratings provide an assessment of a lawyer’s professional and legal backgrounds that can be considered alongside peer endorsements and client reviews.

When the weather is nice, it can be enjoyable to put on your running shoes and go for a brisk jog. While this can be a great form of exercise and a great mental break from a stressful day, jogging can be extremely dangerous if you do not pay close attention to your surroundings.

To help you avoid a pedestrian accident while going for a run, consider the 3 helpful tips our Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyers have listed below:

1. Run Against the Flow Traffic

It is important to jog against the flow of traffic for a number of reasons. For one, you will be able to see when cars make certain maneuvers so you can adjust your path if necessary. Secondly, you will be able to see motorists’ signals, which can help you avoid a collision. Being able to see where motorists go or plan to go can provide you with a larger window of reaction time.

One of the most common ways for a child to be injured during birth is by an intracranial hemorrhage, or “brain bleed.” This type of trauma can occur during labor and delivery complications, often caused by the negligence of doctors or nurses during or near the time of birth. While some brain bleeds are minor and heal in a short amount of time, others can be very serious and result in permanent brain damage or other lifelong disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, seizures, or developmental and intellectual disabilities.

A large pileup involving more than 50 vehicles near Harrisburg resulted in numerous injuries and several deaths on Saturday morning. Authorities from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that the Lebanon County accident occurred shortly before 10:00 am as a result of strong winds and poor visibility. Officials have confirmed at least 3 fatalities, more than 40 people transported to local hospitals, and numerous other non-critical injuries.

The pileup resulted in a full shutdown of I-78 while numerous emergency crews worked to treat victims. Over 50 vehicles were involved in the wreckage, including multiple tractor-trailers, commercial box trucks, numerous passenger cars, and a bus carrying members of the Penn State Lehigh Valley men’s basketball team. Due to poor weather, as many as 70 people involved in the incident took temporary shelter at the Jonestown Fire Department. At the time of the crash, winds were recorded at over 30 mph and visibility at less than 2 miles.

Medical malpractice cases often involve serious and life-altering injuries, and can be very complex and expensive to try. Because the burden of proof rests entirely on the plaintiff, it is very important that medical malpractice cases be handled by a law firm with substantial experience and a history of positive outcomes. At Shrager & Sachs, we have handled countless malpractice cases and know what it takes to help our clients obtain the money they deserve after a doctor or health care provider’s mistake left them injured.

The holidays are here and for many that means celebrations, parties, and time with family. Although this time of year brings enjoyment for many, it unfortunately also brings an increase in accidents, injuries, and deaths – many of which are preventable. In fact, statistics and studies show that the winter holidays account for some of the highest rates of accidents in America:

• Crash data shows a significant spike in traffic accidents during the holidays, especially alcohol-involved auto accidents.
• Dangerous weather conditions during the holidays and an increase in holiday traffic often contribute to a rise in traffic accidents.
• Researchers from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital have found that child injuries – many of which are caused by toys and children’s products – commonly occur during the holiday season.

Because the holiday season does pose risks for injury, it’s important for everyone to make safety a priority. At Shrager & Sachs, we’ve worked with many victims and families injured during this time of year, including numerous clients injured in common winter and holiday accidents. We hope to help others throughout Philadelphia and Pennsylvania stay safe this holiday season with the following safety tips.

You may recall from our previous blog that an outbreak of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) a few weeks ago at WellSpan York Hospital in Pennsylvania resulted in the deaths of four patients. Now, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has announced that more cases have been confirmed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Approximately 2,300 patients who received open-heart surgery at this hospital have been alerted of the possibility that they may have been exposed to the bacteria.

In light of this information, the Health Department is urging healthcare facilities to follow new guidelines related to the use and care of the heater-cooler devices believed to be the culprit behind the recent onslaught of patient infections. So far, all of the heater-cooler devices at both hospitals have been replaced.

The heater-cooler devices, used to monitor the body temperature of patients undergoing open-heart surgery, has been linked to the spread of the harmful bacteria. Because the device blows air onto the patient, any contaminants on or inside of the device due to contaminated water or improper cleaning methods could make contact with an open wound. While NTM bacteria is usually not harmful, it can be very dangerous to an individual whose health is already compromised.