Pittsburgh Personal Injury Blog

In 2018, ABC27 News reported that Pennsylvania adopted Act 153 to tackle drunk driving problems within the state. The bill allowed the state to charge drunk drivers with a felony under the following conditions:

•          It was the fourth arrest or higher.
•          It was the third DUI offense or higher.
•          Blood-alcohol content was 0.16% or higher.

The bill also increased incarceration time for intoxicated drivers if it resulted in the unintentional death of someone else. The minimum sentence was originally three years, but it was raised to five. Repeat offenders who were caught driving on a suspended or revoked license could also face prison time of up to six months and fines up to $2,500.

As a Pennsylvania resident, you likely know the potential charges and penalties you may face for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. However, distracted driving is becoming a frequent problem as more smartphones and other personal electronic devices become essential for daily life. It is important to understand that there are state regulations that prohibit you from using a cellphone or tablet while you are behind the wheel. The penalties also change slightly if you are a truck driver.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation provides information on the state's distracted driving laws. According to the DOT, using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device while driving is a primary offense. The DOT specifically lists several actions: sending, reading and writing texts, emails and instant messages. Essentially, if you use your device to engage in written communication while your vehicle is moving, you may face a $50 fine. You may also have to pay additional expenses for court costs.

Drowsy driving is a serious problem in Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States. According to CNN, drowsy driving accounts for 20% of motor vehicle accidents, 25% of fatal crashes, 1,500 deaths and 40,000 injuries. In fact, staying awake for 20 hours or more may cause impairment similar to having a blood alcohol content level of 0.08%. One doctor explained that at this point, data processing and reflex speeds slow tremendously, just as when a person becomes drunk.

Drivers tend to become drowsy at the wheel if they get less than six hours of sleep per night, or if they snore. People who unintentionally doze off at their desk or during other activities during the day are also more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. One of the common misconceptions is that truck drivers tend to be sleepier at the wheel than anyone else, but CNN says this is false. Still, truck accidents tend to cause the most damage to property and person when they drive drowsy.

The NovoTTF-100L System, combined with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy had recently been approved by the FDA for a front-line treatment option for patients who have unresectable, metastatic or locally advance malignant pleural mesothelioma. This marks the first treatment in 15 years for those who suffer from this condition. The FDA made its decision based on the findings from the single-arm STELLAR trial, which increased the median survival rate to just over 18 months when the treatment was combined with physical therapy.