In addition to our commercials, we are involved in a number of community service projects aimed at combating underage drinking and drunk driving. In fact, Road Radio USA, a multimedia program that we sponsor about the dangers of underage drinking, will be presented at Erie-area middle schools and high schools this week.

With the prom season fast approaching, we are proud to partner with Hot 100 in Central PA to offer the Prom Pledge, an opportunity to talk to hundreds of high school students about not drinking on prom night. We have also partnered with WPXI in Pittsburgh to present "Prom Tips" for having a safe, fun, and alcohol-free prom night. High school seniors also have the opportunity to contribute to our efforts through our "Words to be Heard" scholarship contest. Graduating seniors are encouraged to submit essays with ideas on how to prevent drunk driving among their peers.

These events and campaigns are not limited to the spring and summer months. We promote our "Don't Drink and Drive" message year-round, especially around the holidays when people drink more frequently. Additionally, our attorneys are always available to speak to organizations and schools about the tragic impact of drinking and driving.

Thanks again for your comment, Becky. I hope that our "Don't Drink and Drive" message rings true for everyone. Our law firm feels that it is our responsibility to fight the unnecessary pain and devastation caused by alcohol-related accidents.

A couple of years ago I was sitting down to have breakfast with my wife, the chair broke, and I fell to the floor. My neck was hurt and I couldn't move. I remember that when the ambulance was called and the paramedics immobilized me, I was extremely scared and did not know what to expect. The good news for me was that I was okay, but the experience made me understand the apprehension and anxiety that people who have been seriously injured in an accident must feel.

More recently I was running, and I fell and lacerated my knee down to the bone. I had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance and once again I was very, very frightened. I have been extremely lucky because I could have been more seriously injured in both instances, but because of those experiences, I realize how frightening it is to be injured in an accident.

There are so many emotional, physical, and practical concerns that come with being injured, and I'm very proud to say that we have a caring and compassionate legal team that works hard to remove as many of these stresses as possible. The only thing we want our clients to focus on after an injury is what is most important – getting better.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be posting about what to do if you're hurt on the job. We'll address questions about the workers comp claims process. For those who are already receiving PA work comp, we'll discuss what to do if you've been denied benefits of if you're in danger of losing workers comp. We'll talk about lump sum settlements and dealing with the insurance company, including watching out for tricks that could cause you to lose your work comp benefits.

To help me discuss the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation system and everything that goes along with it, Attorney Dennis Liotta will join me as a guest blogger. A member of Edgar Snyder & Associates for 18 years, Attorney Liotta is a partner at my law firm and the manager of our Workers Compensation Department. So keep on the lookout for upcoming posts that will help you navigate the issues of dealing with the workers comp system in Pennsylvania.

After you check out my new ads, stop by my page detailing The Truth About the Insurance Industry. You'll find in depth material and important tips about dealing with the insurance company if you've been injured in an accident.

As always, we want to know what you think of our new ads. Leave a comment here on my blog or check out my new commercials on YouTube and leave a comment there.

Keep checking my blog for the official announcement of our "Make Your Own Edgar Snyder & Associates TV Commercial" Contest. It's your chance to point and say "there's never a fee unless we get money for you!"

Berm drop-offs are just one of many ways that bad road conditions can increase the risk of getting in a car crash. A one-car accident is any type of crash that doesn't involve another vehicle. Most often, these one-car accidents are caused by poorly maintained roads, nasty weather, and other roadway hazards unrelated to traffic.

The way certain roads are constructed, they can cause water to pool. This amplifies the danger of hydroplaning, which is when a car slips out of the driver's control and slides through water. If your car begins to hydroplane or slip on an ice patch, a steep berm drop-off could send your out-of-control vehicle into a severe collision with a tree, rock, or any manner of hazard on the side of the road.

With a law firm that handles car accident cases, I’ve seen first-hand the type of serious injuries that result from bad Pennsylvania roads. Please stay safe and avoid one-car accidents by driving cautiously on any roads in poor or questionable condition.

Even the efforts to fix up bad roads can be risky as well. There are dangerous construction zones popping up everywhere causing traffic nightmares and safety hazards. The irony is that these work zones are there to fix poor road conditions, but sometimes the work sites are just as dangerous as the bad streets.

One-car accidents – crashes due to a loss of vehicle control caused by bad roads, weather conditions, car defects, and much more – can be just as dangerous as traffic collisions. With over a quarter of Pittsburgh roads rated in poor condition, it’s no wonder that people continue to get injured in one-car accidents.

Parents or grandparents should beware the plastic eggs typically filled with candy and used in Easter egg hunts. Researchers have discovered toxic levels of lead may be contained in the popular plastic eggs. For more on this serious risk, read all about children’s Easter products tainted with lead.

Just over the past few months, I had a slip and fall injury, and one of my partners slipped and fell and got hurt. I fell while jogging on bad pavement and ended up in the emergency room with a lacerated knee. Even a beautiful day isn’t without its dangers. Poorly maintained and uneven sidewalks can trip you up.

The icy and snowy Pittsburgh weather was to blame for my partner's slip and fall accident. She fractured a bone in her arm, and needed to wear a sling for many weeks.

Too often, people don't call us for help if they've been injured due to a slip and fall. Don't be embarrassed or assume the accident was your fault. These are some of the most serious injuries we see here at our law firm. Experts all seem to agree that slip and fall accidents are a growing concern, especially for the elderly.

We know from personal experience how a serious injury can cause a major upheaval in your life. I recommend that anyone injured in a slip and fall accident call us immediately. It's critical that we investigate the scene as soon as possible to preserve evidence.

These are some of the worst accidents we see here at our law firm. Unlike car crashes, there is nothing between your body and the surface of the accident when you fall. This time of the year, varying temperatures ensure that slip and fall accidents are no laughing matter.

The transition to spring can mean melting ice and freezing rain – two types of weather that make outdoor surfaces very slippery. Steps, pavement, and sidewalks can become coated and slick with moisture that’s halfway between water and ice.

As ice melts, pavement and sidewalks can chip. Sometimes rain and snow become lodged under surfaces during the cold months, and the melting process can causing erosion and cracking.

The weather may be getting friendlier as it gets warmer, but walking surfaces may not. Stay safe over the next month and watch where you take your steps.

Although statistics are still fairly new, it seems that texting while driving has its dangers. This is especially true for younger drivers who are less experienced on the roads but more comfortable sending texts than making phone calls. Nearly half of all drivers under 18 admit to text messaging behind the wheel.

Pennsylvania is one of 21 states in America that have no legal restrictions on cell phone use while driving. Regardless of whether PA does decide to pass cell phone driving laws, one thing is clear – driver distraction is a major cause of car accidents. If you’re talking on the cell or having a conversation with a passenger, drive safely and pay attention to the road.

This accident falls under the category of one of the leading causes of death in the United States – unintentional injury. More than half of all fatal unintentional injuries, also called accidental deaths, occur in the home.

Could the accident in Plum have been prevented? It’s not clear. The remaining parts of a gas pipe believed to have a leak that caused the explosion are being analyzed in labs right now.

I think the important lesson to take away from this tragic event is that accidents happen fast and they can happen anywhere – even in the places we believe to be completely safe.

By now it’s well known that public schools across Western Pennsylvania – in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties – have confirmed their possession of this tainted beef. Some of this recalled meat has even made it onto the lunch trays of our children.

The recall was prompted by animal abuse of sick cows. Despite having full time inspectors on working on-site, the abuse wasn’t exposed until the Humane Society had an employee of the processing plant take a video of the cows being abused.

The government believes that a good portion of the 143 million pounds of recalled Westland/Hallmark Meat Company beef has already been consumed. Although the health risk of eating this meat has been labeled at “negligible,” that doesn’t mean it’s without risk. Stay safe and know about the beef you’re serving before you take a bite.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI, for short) can occur when the head strikes a hard surface or when material damages the brain tissue. In the case of Bob Woodruff, his skull and brain were peppered by shrapnel from the roadside bomb blast.

It’s estimated that 20,000 American war veterans have suffered brain trauma while in the military during the Iraq War. The effects of a TBI may vary, from Bob Woodruff’s frustrating language impairment to coma or paralysis if the brain is injured more severely.

Everyday people experience brain injuries in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and work-related accidents. The results of can be life-changing. Bob Woodruff is now working hard to educate Americans about this serious form of injury. I applaud his work and encourage everyone to better understand the devastating effects of TBIs.

At the beginning of this month, the Food and Drug Administration warned patients about nearly 40 reported suicides and over 400 cases of suicidal behavior linked to Chantix. Shortly after, New York Magazine printed an account of one man’s struggle with the deadly side effects of Chantix as they entered his mind. With no previous history of depression or mental illness, this man experienced some heavy side effects from the stop-smoking drug:

"I began to wonder how I had succeeded in fooling myself that my life had any sort of value at all… Maybe I should just go downstairs and leap in front of a tour bus. Or launch my head through the computer screen…"

According to the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, and the FDA, this man isn’t the only one who has felt suicidal after taking this antismoking drug. If you are trying to stop smoking, make sure you talk to your doctor about the side effects of Chantix. If you are already taking the drug, make sure to consult with your physician and find out if you may be at serious risk for suicidality.

Let’s say that you’ve been in a car accident in Pennsylvania caused by a pothole. Who’s responsible for the damages to your vehicle and any injuries you may have suffered?

The answer depends on the type of road where you crashed. You can’t recover property damages on PA state roads, but you may be able to receive compensation from PennDOT for your injuries. For roads in local municipalities, you may be able to collect both property damages and compensation for personal injuries from local governments.

To find out more about pothole accidents in Pennsylvania, check out my hazardous roads pothole Q&A on my law firm’s website. Not only will you find more information about car accidents caused by bad roads – you’ll also find the phone number to report a pothole in Pennsylvania and potentially prevent a dangerous car crash.