Weekly Philadelphia Accident & Legal News Report: January 17, 2018

In this week's Philadelphia accident and legal news report, we look at two tragic fatal car accidents, along with a city lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, and discussion over a controversial device which could retrieve data on smartphone use from the time of an accident.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident you believe was caused by the negligence of someone else, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers want to help. You can learn more about your legal options today by speaking with us in a free consultation.

Woman Fatally Struck By Multiple Vehicles In Bucks County

A 30-year-old Philadelphia woman was killed after being struck by multiple cars in Bensalem, Bucks County on January 17. The accident happened at around 5:45 a.m. on the 3100 block of Bristol Pike.

According to police, the woman walked into the northbound lane of the street when she was struck by multiple vehicles. The drivers all remained at the scene and are cooperating with the investigation.

Bensalem Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them at (215) 633-3719.

The City Of Philadelphia Sues Prescription Opioid Companies

The city of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against multiple prescription opioid manufacturers under allegations that their sales and marketing methods have a direct link to the city's opioid epidemic.

The lawsuit intends to end questionable marketing tactics, along with forcing the manufacturers to pay for treatment for opioid addiction among city residents. It also seeks to recover the financial losses the city has suffered in response to dealing with the epidemic over the past several years, such as funding first responders, public health and human service programs, and the increased resources needed for funding the city's criminal justice and prison systems.

Companies named in the lawsuit include Allergan/Actavis, Cephalon and Teva, Endo, Janssen and Johnson & Johnson, and Purdue.

Man Crashes Car Into Delaware River, Leaves Girlfriend To Die

A woman was left to die after her boyfriend plunged their vehicle into the icy Delaware River on Sunday, January 14. The accident happened around 1 p.m. in Burlington County, New Jersey. The police were called to the scene and found a vehicle partially submerged in the water after it had crashed through the ice.

The driver fled the scene on foot while leaving his female passenger trapped inside the vehicle. Emergency responders removed her from the vehicle and brought her to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, where she was pronounced dead.

Officers eventually located the driver and brought him to Lourdes for evaluation. On Monday, he was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, causing death while driving with a suspended license, and endangering an injured victim.

Police Considering 'Textalyzer' Device For Reducing Distracted Driving

Police in New Jersey and several other states are considering implementing the use of a "textalyzer" device, which could measure smartphone use following a car accident. Law enforcement hopes that the use of such a device could act as a deterrent for distracted driving, which is a major cause of car accidents.

The device looks like an iPad and plugs directly into smartphones to monitor whether the driver was using the phone at the time of the accident.

The device has been met with controversy. Advocates believe it could make roads safer by encouraging people to stay off their phones while behind the wheel, while critics claim the device is a violation of privacy.