Driverless cars have been a staple of sci-fi movies for years, with Tom Cruise being flown around by futuristic pods in Minority Report or Arnold Schwarzenegger dealing with a creepy automated cab in Total Recall. Until recently, it seemed as though human drivers would always be pushing pedals and turning wheels to perform the act of driving a vehicle. Now, though, many companies have had amazing breakthroughs in driverless technology. It could mean more relaxation for drivers, but more headaches for your legal rights.
     Earlier this year, Google reported that it planned to deploy a fleet of driverless cars which would have no brakes or steering wheels. Although no one can say for sure when the project will be ready to hit the streets for consumers, the results so far have been fairly impressive. 
    Drivers could gain hours of productivity, and probably put years on their lives, by avoiding the time and frustration of driving themselves to work each day. But when an accident occurs and someone is injured, who will be responsible?
       If driverless cars share the road with traditional vehicles, there are bound to be plenty of accidents. Will we presume that the driverless car is not at fault, because it is computer driven? When there is an inevitable glitch in the system, what happens then? Lastly, since most automated vehicles currently have a manual system, who bears responsibility if the accident occurs due to a switch from automatic to manual? It is possible that driverless vehicle manufacturers may become directly liable to injured accident victims.
      These vehicles won't be allowed onto the road unless insurance companies will provide auto insurance on them. These questions are being pondered by the insurance companies, who want to see how the vehicles perform "in real life" before they take on the risks. Insurance companies will also likely add new coverages to auto insurance, such as "cyber coverage" to protect vital computer systems within the car. 
     So, although there are obvious benefits for the average driver, don't expect a smooth or painless transition. Instead, it is likely to be a very awkward time for drivers and injured accident victims. 

    Icy road conditions snarled Philadelphia area traffic this morning, causing a massive wreck on the PA Turnpike which involved between 50 and 100 vehicles.

    The Eastbound Turnpike is closed between Willow Grove and Bensalem. All traffic is being diverted onto the Willow Grove exit.

    Everyone knows that snowy conditions create many more accidents than usual (more than 1.5 million crashes a year are due to adverse weather). What most people don't realize is that their normal good driving skills on dry roads may be a big part of the problem.  The answer is so simple, many people never even think of it.

    You see, in normal conditions a good driver needs to be ready to brake quickly, turn quickly, and possibly even accelerate quickly to avoid dangers from other drivers. Many drivers have mastered these skills and are confident driving the roadways of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in clear weather.

    So when it snows, why do we suddenly see crazy accidents?

    The reason, of course, is that all of our usual good driving skills on dry roads turn into very bad driving skills on slippery roads. Take a look at a list of driving tips for snowy roads, by AAA:

- Accelerate and decelerate slowly
- Take turns very slowly and take as wide a turn as possible
- Maintain a steady, slow speed (downshift if needed)
- Keep a very large following distance from cars in front of you

    As you can see, the ability to stop or turn quickly doesn't help a driver on a slippery road. The driver is best served by doing all those things slowly. In fact, a good snow driver is one who pretends that they have fewer skills and therefore applies the highest amount of caution and safety techniques. The slightest turn or braking will leave drivers skidding out of control. Even the best drivers can't steer a car through a turn while it is sliding out of control on snow.

    Always be sure to prepare your winter car survival kit and clear the snow properly from your vehicle before heading out. If you can, try to avoid travel entirely. Our office has handled many injury claims from car accidents caused by drivers who do not drive safely in wintry weather. If you have been injured in such an accident, be sure to contact us right away.

    Everyone knows that snow causes headaches, but did you know there is a time limit for property owners to clear their property safely or they may face city fines? There's even the possibility of civil lawsuits. When winter hits, homeowners and landlords should grab their shovel, stock up on salt and get the job done right to avoid these complications. Read more for details on Philadelphia sidewalk snow removal and the time limit to clear the snow before fines are given.

City Fines*

    Under the Philadelphia Code, all property owners must meet the following requirements for snow removal:

          - Clear the sidewalk with a 3 foot wide path through the snow and ice
             (A one foot path may be cleared if the sidewalk is less than 3 feet wide)
          - Avoid clearing any snow or ice into the street
          - Multifamily houses must be cleared by the property owner or their contractor
          - Must be completed within 6 hours after snowfall ends

    Any property owner who does not comply with these requirements faces up to $300 in fines. However, there is an even bigger threat to a property owner who fails their duty to clear the ice and snow:

Civil Lawsuits

    Every year, thousands of lawsuits are filed from people slipping on snow or ice and injuring themselves. If the falls occurs on private property, the owner of that property may be found legally responsible and be required to pay for the damages. 

    A property owner who fails to clear snow or ice from their property, or who clears it poorly and unsafely, is running the risk of being hauled into court and facing responsibility for the injuries. 

    If you are a renter, it is very important that you look at your lease to see if you are responsible for snow and ice removal. You may be required to perform these duties instead of the landlord. Any failure to do so could result in a personal lawsuit against you if someone is injured on the snow or ice. 

If You Fall On Property That Was Not Safely Cleared

    If you are injured as a result of an unsafe condition involving snow or ice, be sure to contact us immediately. There are many important details in snow and ice cases, and timing is crucial. 

*  This analysis takes the law as it stands on November 8, 2013. Keep in mind that laws can change.

    As Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents brace for another round of snow and ice, area motorists are dreading the driving headaches that come with winter weather. But it pays to be prepared. For example, did you know you can be fined up to $1,000 for failing to clear your car of ice and snow in New Jersey and Pennsylvania? Read more to learn about the small steps you can take to make a huge difference in winter safety while driving.

      Recently, Google's new wearable glasses technology, Google Glass, has been in the news when a California driver was ticketed for wearing Glass while driving. Each state deals with driver distraction differently, so what is the verdict in Pennsylvania and New Jersey? Read more below for the current status of the law and Google Glass.

    This weekend, Philadelphia is set for a vibrant celebration of culture and fitness. However, the activities will cause major headaches for drivers in the city. Anyone heading in or around Philadelphia this weekend should keep a close eye on traffic closures and congestion. Read more below for further information on specific closures.

    The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that more than 1/3 of the children killed in car accidents in 2011 were not in car seats or wearing seatbelts. Based on the data, more than 260 children were saved due to the use of seatbelts and child seats. Continue reading to find out the surprising statistics about children's safety in larger vehicles.

    Police are asking for help identifying the driver of a white or silver pickup truck which fled the scene of an accident in King of Prussia, PA on September 18, 2013. The driver of the white pickup had rear-ended another car and pulled over. However, when the other driver stepped out of his car to exchange information, the unidentified driver of the white pickup truck sped away. In the process, the white pickup truck struck the other driver and dragged him for a distance, causing very serious injuries. The photo to the left shows a stillframe photo of the white pickup truck from a nearby surveillance camera. Click below for all the details on how to help, and how you can protect yourself against hit-and-run drivers.

Note: This analysis takes the law as it stands on September 8, 2013. Keep in mind that laws and judicial interpretation can change. Always operate your vehicle in a safe manner.

    With the rise of in-car technology in the last decade, Pennsylvania courts have struggled to draw a fair line between convenience and safety. In a recent ruling in Lackawanna County, the court has now affirmed that, in certain specific situations, GPS use can be considered reckless conduct and punished with additional, punitive, money owed by the defendant.

    A recent study shows that BMW drivers are jerks when it comes to the rules of the road. When it comes to yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk, road raging, and "cheating" at a 4-way stop, BMW drivers rank among the worst according to recent studies.

    Overall, the studies showed that drivers of more expensive cars tended to ignore the rules of the road much more often than drivers of less expensive cars. Read more details below.

In a groundbreaking New Jersey appeals court decision, it has been ruled that a person can be sued for texting the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident. In essence, a person nowhere near the vehicle, with no involvement in the operation of the vehicle, can be held liable for an accident caused by that vehicle. Read more below for more details.*

A New Jersey woman has been charged by police for allegedly renting cars to immigrants without providing any valid auto insurance coverage on the vehicles. Further, the woman apparently provided invalid insurance cards to the immigrants, so they were never aware that the vehicles did not have auto insurance coverage. Read more about the scheme below.

A federal judge has ruled that SEPTA cannot be held legally responsible for an elderly passenger who died on the bus. The decision states that SEPTA was not negligent in failing to call medical professionals to help the passenger. Read more below about the shocking details of the passenger's physical condition.