WHAT IS NEW AT THE TULLY LAW FIRM
Welcome 2023! We truly hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and a Happy New Year! We feel blessed to help you with your legal issues. New Year Resolutions often focus on giving up some vice or bad habit. But it can also mean having a more positive outlook or volunteering your time to worthy causes. Big Brothers/Big Sisters would be a great place to start! There is so much we can do for each other if we work together. God bless all of you and have an amazing year!
NEW CASE DECISION
A Pa. Appellate Court ruling this week affirmed the right of police officers to stop drivers if ANY part of their license plate is obscured. This doesn’t just include your license plate letters and numbers! Police officers can also pull you over if any lettering, including the visit.pa.com URL or the paint around it is covered. What do you think of this ruling?
SERIOUS INJURY ALERT
Have you or any family member been exposed to excessive asbestos or been injured by the use of Zantac, CPAP machines (the Phillips machines with their headquarters in Murrysville, PA) or Camp Lejune Water Contamination? You could be entitled to substantial $$ damages for your injuries. These claims qualify as something legally called Mass Tort Claims. Please call us at 412-281-8700 for a FREE consultation.
DEFENDANT’S CRIMINAL CASE AND YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
If you have limited tort, you cannot recover for your accident-related pain and suffering unless you incur serious injuries. However, if the person that hit you was driving drunk, this is an exception to the limited tort rule. What if you find out the Defendant was accepted into the ARD (accelerated rehabilitation disposition) program – which if the wrongdoer successfully completes, means there is no DUI conviction on their record? Will I still be able to recover for my pain and suffering? Yes! Acceptance into ARD is the same as a guilty plea for purpose of the DUI exception to the limited tort rule! Whew!
NEWSLETTER ALERT – REMOVE THE SNOW ON YOUR CAR
We mentioned this before. Pennsylvania recently passed Christine’s Law. The law requires any highway driver to remove all snow and ice from the hood/trunk/roof of their vehicle before getting on the road! This law is now in effect. The law stems from a tragic accident when Christine was killed after a large piece of ice crashed through her windshield after falling off the roof of a passing truck. Please be sure any snow or ice is removed from your car before getting on the roadways!
HEAD, NECK AND FACIAL SCARRING WITH YOUR WORKERS COMP CASE
With workers compensation injuries, did you know you can receive $$ if you had scarring to your head, neck or face? If you were injured/scarred at work to any of those body parts you are entitled to $$. HOWEVER, in Pennsylvania any scarring to your body below the neck is NOT considered compensable! In a recent Pennsylvania court case, a person had severe scarring to his right leg and unsuccessfully sought workers comp $$. Head, neck and facial injuries are the key terms to remember when dealing with scarring. Yes we do workers compensation claims: 412-281-8700.
BEWARE OF TOW COMPANIES AND OUTRAGEOUS STORAGE FEES
If your vehicle is disabled in an auto accident, it will often be towed to a tow company lot. Some tow companies charge outrageous rates per day, just for keeping your car parked on their lot. Make sure you inform the tow company of your insurance company so they can charge them, not you.
STEELERS FUTURE LOOKS PROMISING
The Steelers turned it around during the second half of the season, winning 7 of their last 9 games! You have to love their no quit attitude and Coach Tomlin who kept the team together.
PIRATE NEWS
What do you think of “Cutch” being back as a Buc? We love it.
PENGUINS
Will we keep our playoff streak alive this year?
LEGAL WORD OF THE MONTH
En Banc – A legal hearing in which a case is heard by all of the Judges of the Court, rather than just by one Judge. En Banc hearings are usually limited to complex unique legal matters!
CONGRATULATIONS TO Donna M. who won our $50.00 prize for successfully answering the November-December Newsletter question. Great job Donna!
NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $50.00: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence that was signed on July 4, 1776?
Hint: He was our 3rd President! Yes we try to keep it simple when we can. LOL
Your friends and attorneys,
Bernard M. Tully and Michael J. Tully
Summer is on its way!