Representative Cases

Jeep Struck by Tractor/Trailer

One early summer morning, our client was driving to work on Route 78 near Easton, Northampton County, in his Jeep Wrangler. A 47 year old, married, father of two, he was returning to work as an arborist after a two week vacation. A very physically fit individual, he enjoyed boating and water skiing on his recent trip.

He had left his home in Bangor, Pennsylvania very early to report to his job in New Jersey. The trip usually took him about an hour. It was almost 5:00 a.m. and the sun was just rising. It was clear and dry. There was no sun glare or anything else hindering drivers' views. The Jeep had a soft top that was not on that day as the weather was so nice.

Up ahead, a road crew was re-paving the highway. The three lane eastbound lanes of the highway were narrowing to two lanes in the construction zone. As drivers approached the area, there were warnings to slow and move to the right. It was evident that the traffic was slowing as brake lights were coming on.

An over the road operator was driving a tractor/trailer rig in the center lane some distance behind our client. Our client slowed down but had not stopped when his Jeep was struck from behind by the 18 wheeler. The impact pushed him toward the median. The Ford van was coming up on his left and he was pushed into the side of it. He was then hit again from the rear by the tractor/trailer.

Despite wearing his seat and shoulder harness, our client's body was violently thrown around the inside of the Jeep. The bucket seat broke; he hit the steering wheel, the windshield, and the dashboard; something struck and punctured the back of his head.

Our client sustained serious injuries to his right shoulder, knee and low back. He had repeated surgeries to his knee. He underwent a lumbar fusion followed by months of physical therapy. He will never return to his pre-accident employment as an arborist. Nor will he enjoy activities such as boating, skiing and hunting as he did before he was injured.

The law firm of Naftulin and Shick, P.C. was hired to obtain compensation for our client and his family. Suit was filed in Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. After lengthy litigation, both sides agreed to submit the case to a mediation where it was successfully resolved. The settlement provides compensation to our client for the injuries he suffered as a result of the negligence of the trucking company and their driver.

Falldown on Ice on Job Site

At the time of the incident, our client was a plumbing and heating repair technician. As such, he was responsible for driving to customers' homes, and repairing and installing plumbing and heating systems. He had already been out on a service call and had returned to the shop to get supplies for a job. When our client arrived back at the property after his first service call on the morning of the incident, there was a covering, or dusting of snow on the parking lot surface. While walking in the parking lot, he slipped on an old, thick patch of ice.

Our client suffered very serious injuries to his right ankle, right foot, right elbow, and right shoulder. He underwent a number of surgeries to his right ankle and was out of work for a three year period of time. He received benefits from his employer's workman's compensation carrier.

Attorney Linda Shick filed a lawsuit in Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. After the start of trial, the case was settled. Our client was compensated for the negligence of the landowner for failing to clear his property of ice and snow.

Motorcycle Struck by Car

Our client, a 36 year old married father of 4, was the operator of a Yamaha motorcycle which was traveling southbound, in the left hand lane of Rt. 611 in Warrington Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was on his way to work at the Willow Grove Naval Air Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania. A driver was attempting to make a left hand turn from a stop sign. In making the left turn onto northbound Rt. 611, the driver encroached the motorcycle's path. Our client was ejected from his motorcycle and thrown 45 feet. Upon impact the face shield of his helmet exploded shattering glass into his face and eyes.

Our client was transported to Abington Hospital where he was admitted to the trauma unit. He suffered injuries to his right wrist, left shoulder, and left elbow. He was restricted from performing all of his duties and he was not able to workout as he had before the accident.

Our client was looking forward to retiring after 20 years in the Navy. He had always been physically active, enjoyed working out and outdoor activities such as hiking and long walks with his wife and children. Because of the injuries to his wrist, he was unable to fulfill the physical fitness requirements of his job with the Navy.

Our law firm was hired to obtain compensation for the injuries our client suffered. The driver of the vehicle did not have sufficient insurance coverage. A claim was made for Uninsured Motorist Benefits from our client's policy of motor vehicle insurance. The case was arbitrated and an award obtained to compensate our client for his injuries.


Dog Attack

On a winter day, our clients, a husband and wife were removing snow and ice from their driveway in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Their nine year old daughter asked if she could play with her friend. The parents gave her permission to go to the neighbor's property to play. As they shoveled their driveway, they heard their daughter's screams. They saw the neighbors 65 pound Akita jumping on their daughter's body. They immediately ran to their daughter's aid. They saw that their daughter had been bitten all over her body. The child was crying and terrified.

As the parents carried their daughter back to their house, the Akita came tearing into their yard, barking and running out of control. Their other young children were outside in their yard. Fearing for his family, the husband chased the Akita to keep it away from his children. While the father tried to keep the Akita away from his children, it lunged for his throat. The father put his arm up to block it. He sustained large open wounds on his arm.

The daughter sustained multiple puncture wounds, bites and scratches on her right arm, right shoulder, right leg and back. In addition to the physical injuries she suffered, the child was understandably terrified of dogs. She suffers from asthma attacks when she sees a dog running loose.

The father suffered several large deep puncture wounds to his left arm. He sustained two noticeable and sizeable scars on his arm from the dog attack.

Our firm represented the family in obtaining compensation for their injuries. As an alternative to a trial in Carbon County, the parties agreed to a binding hi/lo arbitration. The case was tried to a mutually agreeable arbitrator. An award was received to compensate our clients for their pain and suffering in addition to their medical expenses.

Wrongful Death - Motor Vehicle Passenger

The collision occurred at the intersection in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Our client's teenage son was a rear seat passenger in a Jeep Wrangler. The driver of the Jeep failed to stop and yield the right of way and was struck by a minivan. Three of the four teenagers were ejected from the Jeep. Our client's son, died at the scene as a result of the injuries he received in this crash.

The mother hired our law firm to obtain compensation for the wrongful death or her only child. Suit was filed in Monroe County against the drivers of the Jeep and minivan for their negligence in operating their vehicles. Suit was also filed against the owner of the corner property for obstructing the view of the intersection. Claims were also made against PennDot and the Township for their negligent design of the intersection and placement of the stop sign. Additionally, suit was brought against a local business for the placement of an advertising sign that blocked the view at the intersection.

The case was quite complex and involved uninsured and underinsured motorist claims in addition to the lawsuit filed in Monroe County. Prior to trial, the parties agreed to attend a mediation with a mutually agreeable mediator. At the mediation, the parties came to a resolution that compensated our client.

Dismemberment case
Client was a 26 year old married, father of three small children who worked at a production company in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania that mixed different grains for bird and animal feed.  The different grains were fed into a hopper and funneled down through a very large grain mixer.  It was necessary to clean out the bottom of the mixer between different batches as certain grains cannot be tolerated by certain birds and animals.

The mixer was controlled by a computer system that was located several floors away.  The operator in the control room could not view the mixer from his station.  Additionally, the door utilized for the clean out did not have an interlock that prevented the operator from starting the mixer.  Nor was there any indicator on the computer that advised the operator that the clean out door was open.

In between runs, Client opened the clean out door and was sweeping the residual grain out with his hand.  Meanwhile, in the control room, the operator received a computer message that the next batch was ready to run.  The operator started the mixer and the blades began to turn, cutting off the majority of the Client’s dominant hand and causing serious injury to his wrist and arm.

Client and his wife hired our law firm to represent them against a number of companies including the manufacturer and installer of the mixer and the control system.  We also represented them in their claim with their workman’s compensation carrier to assure the medical bills were paid and the wages were received timely.

A negligence and product liability suit was filed, numerous depositions were taken and expert opinions obtained.  The case settled at a mediation prior to the first day of trial.

Hurt at work
Client in his mid 30s from Lehighton, Pennsylvania worked as a maintenance person at an industrial center in Allentown. As a part of his job duties, he was directed to change the settings on a timer that regulated outside lighting. Unbeknownst to him, an electrical technician from an outside contractor had worked on the system shortly before and failed to replace the insulating cover.

When the client opened the panel to set the timer, he received a large electrical shock that entered his right hand and traveled up his right arm causing significant injury and nerve damage. After the accident, he was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown. He suffered horrible pain and lost a portion of the use of his dominant hand and arm. He was unable to return to his job as a maintenance worker.

The client and his wife hired our law firm to represent them in a negligence claim against the electrical company that negligently failed to replace the protective cover. We also represented him in his workman’s compensation claim to make sure that his medical bills were paid and he received his wage loss benefits for the time that he was out of work. We began a lawsuit against the company who failed to properly replace the insulated cover thus causing the client a very serious and permanent injury.

The case was satisfactorily settled for a confidential amount prior to trial.

Drunk Driver case
Client was a 41 year old waitress in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, PA. She was on her way home from work when a drunk driver in a pick up truck crossed the center line and hit her automobile almost head on. She was seriously injured in the automobile accident which occurred on Route 611 outside Stroudsburg, Monroe County. Emergency personnel from Stroudsburg, Monroe County arrived on the automobile accident scene and tended to her injuries.

The main injury was to her hand. She was taken from the automobile accident scene to Pocono Hospital in Stroudsburg, Monroe County. The injury from the automobile accident prevented her from performing her duties as a waitress. She had to see a hand specialist at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Lehigh County. She was out of work from the automobile accident for six months due to the severity of her injuries.

She used our firm as her lawyers to recover her loss of wages. We also made sure all her medical bills were paid and we recovered for her a significant sum of money for her pain and suffering and for the permanent injury to her hand. Even though we were her personal injury lawyer we also assisted her with the criminal case against the drunk driver in Stroudsburg Monroe County.

Truck Accident
On a fall evening, 25 year old Client and his girlfriend were traveling from her family’s home in Bucks County to Client’s home in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County. They were driving east on Route 80 in the right hand lane. At that same time, a Canadian over the road trucker, was operating a tractor/trailer rig for a Canadian transport company from Ontario in the left hand lane of Route 80 in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County. The trucker turned on his signal to move into the right hand lane without regard for the Client’s car that was right beside him.

The trucker began to change lanes and struck the Client’s vehicle with the tractor of his rig, causing the Client to lose control. The Client’s car then ran into the trailer tires. After hitting the trailer tires, the Client’s vehicle spun across the right hand lane and off the side of the road.

The Client was flown from the scene to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania by MedEvac. He was treated for multiple injuries. After a stay in the trauma unit, the Client was discharged and continued to receive treatment for his injuries with doctors associated with Lehigh Valley Hospital Center.

The Client suffered injury to his arm, knee and back along with a closed head injury that affected his personality and memory. At the time of the accident, he worked as a sheet metal worker. Because of the serious injury he suffered, he has been unable to return to his job.

Our law firm was hired to represent the Client in a negligence case against the Canadian trucking company and their driver. The case was resolved prior to trial through a mediation.

Slip and Fall
Client, 43 year old, married mother of five children had just finished filling out a job application as a part-time clerk. She stopped on her way home to pick up dinner at a fast food restaurant. As she was descending a set of exterior railroad tie stairs leading to the restaurant, she tripped on a broken stair edge. Her weight shifted, she lost her balance and her right knee went out.

Client was taken to the Emergency Department at Lehighton Hospital, Carbon County and was diagnosed with a serious injury to her left knee and ankle. Because of the serious nature of her injury, she was transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for surgery and casting. After months of treatment and physical therapy with her local doctors in Carbon County, Client returned to Philadelphia for a second surgery.

Since this injury, Client’s leg swells daily. She has difficulty on steps, cannot run or kneel and has a continuous sensation of her knee going out. She can no longer play tennis or ski as she did pre-injury. Due to the injury, Client was unable to accept the part-time job she was offered.

Client and her husband hired our law firm to bring a claim against the owner of the property for their negligence in maintaining their property. The case was resolved prior to the filing of a lawsuit.

Falldown - Wet Grocery Store Floor
A young mother of four from Easton, Northampton County, was injured when she slipped and fell on a wet floor in a grocery store. The floor in front of the deli counter was wet with water that was running out from under the counter. The client had purchased lunch meat and had turned to place it into her shopping cart when she slipped on the wet floor and fell onto her right side.

A store employee testified that there were a number of ceiling leaks in the area of the deli counter. She also testified that there was a problem with a seal on one of the refrigeration units that allowed water to run out from underneath the unit onto the floor where patrons walked.

The client was seriously injured when she fell. She suffered a badly fractured right wrist which required three surgeries and many courses of physical therapy to heal.

A lawsuit was brought in Northampton County. Literally on the Northampton County Courthouse steps, Attorney Linda Shick resolved the claim for a substantial amount of money to compensate the client and her husband for their losses as a result of the negligence of the grocery store.

Motorcycle Struck by Tractor/Trailer
Our client, a motorcycle mechanic in his mid 40's was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Route 22 near Route 309 in Whitehall Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The defendant was operating a tractor/trailer owned by a large trucking company and was engaged in interstate and intrastate commerce. The driver was in the course of his employment with the trucking company. The tractor/trailer was also traveling eastbound on Route 22 when he failed to observe stopped traffic and proceeded to strike the stopped vehicles including our client. The tractor/trailer crashed into the back of the motorcycle, forcing it into the vehicle in front of it and causing serious, permanent and disabling damages and injuries to our client.

Our client sustained very serious injuries including head injuries; leg fractures; dislocated knees; dislocated shoulders; torn shoulder ligaments; blurred vision; headaches; and cognitive defects. He was unable to return to work as a motorcycle mechanic and was determined by the Social Security Administration to be permanently and totally disabled.

Our client underwent numerous surgeries and courses of physical and cognitive therapy.

A federal lawsuit was brought in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to trial, Attorney Linda Shick obtained a structured settlement for our client which provides for periodic payments to him for the rest of his life. We fought to achieve just compensation for our client who was injured by a negligent trucking company.

Nurse Falls on Wet Hospital Floor
Our client was a 53 year old female traveling nurse who was injured while leaving work at a local hospital. She slipped and fell on a wet floor very shortly after she exited the nurses' locker room. This fall occurred at the end of her shift. Our client was domiciled in just outside New Orleans. She was licensed in at least five other states. She worked for a staffing company who sent her to locales for periods of 3 months or more.

At the end of her shift she entered the nurses' locker room to use the rest room, tidy herself up, and gather her belongings. As she left the nurses' locker room, her feet went out from under her and she fell onto her back. It was not until she fell that she knew the floor was wet. There were no wet floor signs or cones to warn our client about the wet floor.

Our client was in severe pain. She was approved to receive workers' compensation benefits from her employer from the time she became totally disabled to perform her nursing duties.

She suffered severe headaches and neck and back pain; impairment of sleep; muscle spasms in both arms; ringing in both ears; dizziness; blurred vision; fatigue; and depression.

Suit was filed in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. After lengthy litigation, both sides agreed to submit the case to a mediation where it was successfully resolved. The settlement provides adequate compensation to our client for the injuries she suffered as a result of the negligence of the hospital and their janitorial contractor.

Dog Attack
Our client, a young woman living in Hellertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, sustained an unprovoked dog bite injury to her face and right arm. At the time of the attack, our client was pregnant with a very high risk pregnancy.

The dog, a blue heeler or Australian Cattle dog named Bear, had broken out of his yard and came to our client's house. Australian Cattle dogs are known to be very high energy and demanding. Our client called the dog's owner, who asked that she bring the dog home. She brought the dog back to it's owner and came into the house. While talking to the owner, the dog viciously jumped up on her and attacked her face and arm.

Our client sustained an unprovoked dog bite injury to her face and right arm. The facial injury was extensive. Her lip was lacerated in numerous places and required suturing. There were also numerous abrasions and contusions on her face and arm.
She received initial treatment of her wounds at Easton Hospital in Northampton County. She was referred to a plastic surgeon who debrided and repaired the wounds and who continued to follow her through the healing process.
Prior to the filing of a lawsuit, Attorney Linda Shick negotiated a settlement with the insurance company for the owner of the vicious dog that attacked our client. The settlement provided a substantial amount of money to compensate our client and her husband for their injuries.

Ice and Snow Falldown
The incident occurred in Mount Pocono, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Our client fell when she slipped on ice. The gutter and down spout diverted water onto the sidewalk where it froze near the entrance to a super market.

As our client exited the grocery store, she slipped and fell to the sidewalk. She suffered a bad fracture of her fibula, extending to the joint of her ankle along with strain and sprain injuries to her back.

She was taken to Pocono Medical Center in Stroudsburg, Monroe County. She continued to receive treatment from Monroe County medical providers which included long courses of physical therapy.

Attorney Linda Shick filed a lawsuit in Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. Prior to trial, the case was settled. Our client was compensated for the negligence of the super market in causing her injuries.