Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

On our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, we recently told you about the top 200 most dangerous areas in the state for pedestrians. Throughout this blog entry we will be discussing the most dangerous areas for bicycling accidents in Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), areas near Hampshire Street, Beacon Street, Kirkland Street and Cambridge Street made up the most dangerous cluster for bicyclists in the state.

Our Cambridge pedestrian accident attorneys understand that this area has seen more than 100 bicycling accidents from 2002 to 2009, resulting in injuries to more than 70 bicyclists. The second most dangerous cluster for these types of accidents was the area of Cambridge Street between Lansdowne Street and Hancock Street. In this area, nearly 80 bicycling accidents injured nearly 50 bicyclists during the same time period.

Officials are most worried about child bicyclists since the school year has recently begun. Officers ask that parents talk with their bicycling students to help ensure they are commuting safely to and from school. We urge you to teach them of the importance of making eye contact with drivers as they're approaching and crossing intersections. They should also understand the need to continually examine their surroundings as they're crossing the street. Children need to be as predictable and as visible as possible. Make motorists aware of their presence.

"Make sure your child is age-appropriate to walk to school by themself," said Cambridge Deputy Police Superintendent Jack Albert, according to a recent ABC5 report.

It is important for parents to help their child to figure out the safest route to school. Parents are urged to locate the intersections that have crossing guards to help ensure your little bicyclist's safety. Young travelers are always safest using the instruction of a crossing guard.

The state compiled a list of the most dangerous intersections in terms of frequency of accidents and the number of people injured and killed in accidents. Many of these intersection "clusters" have been the site of a number of accidents.

The third most dangerous bicycle cluster from 2002 to 2009:

-Massachusetts Avenue, between Hudson Street and Milton Street.

-More than 60 bicycling accidents.

-Nearly 50 injured bicyclists.

The fourth most dangerous bicycle cluster from 2002 to 2009:

-Massachusetts Avenue, between Vassar Street and Blanche Street

-Nearly 50 bicycling accidents.

-Nearly 30 bicycling injuries.

The fifth most dangerous bicycle cluster from 2002 to 2009:

-Massachusetts Avenue, between Bow Street and Sellers Street.

-30 bicycling accidents.

-20 bicycling injuries.

Many of these accidents can be avoided if everyone does their part to take notice of one another. Bicyclists are required to follow the rules of the road as well and should be treated as equal travelers. As we continue to promote the eco-friendly, active way to commute through the area, we also have to promote safe driving habits and ask motorists to keep an eye out for our two-wheeled travelers.

Continue reading "Top Dangerous 'Clusters' for Bicycle Accidents in Massachusetts" »

A fatal accident between the Amtrak Downeaster and a tractor-trailer is being blamed on a distracted truck driver. Officials believe that the driver was operating a mobile communication device when the collision happened just south of Portland as he was heading to Boston, according to Bangor Daily News. In the fiery collision, the truck driver was killed and several others were injured.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand just how dangerous using a cell phone or a text messaging device while driving can be. Unfortunately, there are many motorists who are unaware of these dangers, or fail to recognize them, and continue to put innocent residents in serious danger. To help combat this problem, the state of Massachusetts has enacted a law prohibiting drivers from texting at the wheel. As for talking on a cell phone, only drivers under the age of 18 and bus drivers have been banned, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

According to distraction.gov, there were about 5,500 people killed in 2009 in the United States because of car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere that involved a distracted driver. Another 500,000 people were injured. These accidents accounted for about 20 percent of all of the accidents that were reported to have resulted in injury. Of distracted driving-related accidents, nearly 1,000 reports concluded that the use of a cell phone was the driver's distraction. These types of accidents are becoming more and more frequent as technology continues to advance.

Officials looked into the truck driver's GPS records, phone records and the records of other electronic equipment after the fatal Maine accident. They believe that a distraction was the most plausible reason as to why the truck, which was carrying about 20 tons of trash, was unable to stop for the passing train in time.

"The cause of this crash is driver inattention/distraction," said North Berwick Police Lt. James Moulton, according to a press release.

According to accident reports, the garbage truck skidded for about 200 feet before colliding with the passing train, which burst into flames. Four train passengers and two Amtrak employees were injured. Police reports also indicate that the crossing's gates and lights were working properly when the accident occurred.

The Downeaster was traveling with more than 100 passengers at about 70 mph when the accident happened.

Distracted driving habits are typically caused by three characteristics: visual, cognitive and manual. All three are required to safely navigate your way through congested city streets. Cell phone, text messaging devices and other hand-held devices all take a driver's attention on our roadway. All of these activities greatly increase your risks of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. These risks can also be greatly reduced by simply putting down the phone. Help to make our roads a safer place.

Continue reading "Distracted Trucker Heading to Boston Slams into Amtrak Train Causing Fiery Accident" »

Getting to and from your destination in Massachusetts often only warrants a short bike ride or a quick walk down the street. But some residents are thinking twice before making these journeys by bicycle or on foot after the release of a new study that found the top 200 most dangerous intersections for car, bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Massachusetts.

Some of the most vulnerable people in these pedestrian accidents are children heading to and from school. In an attempt to help keep these children safe, the report comes with a list of the areas that have the most dangerous crosswalks, according to ABC5.

Our Boston child injury attorneys recommend that parents review these maps and choose a walking route to school that has crossing guards at the dangerous intersections that your child may have to cross. We also want you to make sure that your child is of the proper age to walk to school. Cambridge Deputy Police Superintendent Jack Albert says that you should never let your child walk to or from school without you if there is the slightest possibility that he or she could get lost or unable to gauge traffic dangers. Make sure your child never makes the journey alone. If they're under the age of 10, walk to school with them.

Albert says that a bulk of the responsibility lies in the hands of drivers.

"Slow down. Make sure your head is on a swivel. You're always looking. You always want to see where the kids are," Albert told ABC5.

These dangerous areas are calculated from a variety of factors, including the number of accidents and the number of people who were injured and killed.

Most Dangerous Boston Intersections from 2007 to 2009:

-Gallivan Boulevard and Granite Avenue: 43 accidents.

-Columbia Road and Dorchester Avenue: 43 accidents.

-Blue Hill Avenue and Morton Street: 36 accidents.

Most Dangerous Lowell Intersections from 2007 to 2009:

-Veterans of Foreign Wars Highway and Varnum Avenue: 137 accidents.

-Plain Street and Chelmsford Street: 125 accidents.

-Middlesex Street and Wood Street: 121 accidents.

-Bridge Street and Veterans of Foreign Wars Highway: 93 accidents.

Most Dangerous Brockton Intersections from 2007 to 2009:

-Pleasant Street and West Street: 90 accidents.

-Belmont Street: 58 accidents.

-East Main Street and Curtis Avenue: 101 accidents.

-Ash Street and West Elm Street: 59 accidents.

Massachusetts Avenue, specifically between Sydney Street and Pleasant Avenue in Cambridge, experienced nearly 95 pedestrian accidents in a two-year period. Two pedestrians were killed and nearly 45 were injured.

Chelsea reportedly had the most dangerous crosswalks in the state. Washington and Park Streets are commonly referred to as a "pedestrian crash cluster." This area got this name because of all of the accidents there -- nearly 130 reported in the two-year time frame. There were 95 people hurt and one pedestrian killed.

Continue reading "Top 200 Most Dangerous Intersections in Massachusetts Illustrate Risks of Pedestrian Accidents in Boston and Elsewhere" »

A recent Somerville trucking accident on Interstate 93 near Exit 29 took the life of a 27-year-old man from Lynn. According to state police, the accident happened as a flatbed truck was traveling southbound when one of the heavy-duty tires snapped the lone strap that was holding it to the bed of the truck.

Once the tire was launched into the highway, it bounced across the median into northbound traffic and smashed into the vehicle driven by the 27-year-old man, according to The Boston Globe. The incident caused the man's car to roll on its side. The driver was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead from injuries sustained during impact.

Our Massachusetts injury attorneys understand that truck cargo can kill when improperly secured. The tires that were being transported on the flatbed weighed approximately 400 pounds each. This is yet another example of the importance of ensuring a truck's load is secured properly.

Highway officials shut down the interstate for about an hour and a half to conduct an investigation. Criminal charges are pending.

Unstable loads can happen to you, too. Inexperienced individuals can often over-pack and neglect to secure cargo when moving furniture, appliances and other household items. But most often, you'll witness an unstable load on the bed of a commercial truck. These conditions can produce serious, costly and potentially fatal results.

Commercial truck drivers are required by law to make sure that the goods they're transporting are properly restrained. There are a number of federal regulations in place to monitor the cargo of these truckers, including the requirement that limits the truck's cargo weight. This is why you're likely to see weigh stations along interstate roads, a clear effort to help enforce these limits.

These drivers are also required to ensure that their loads are secure. A truck's contents must be restrained so that cargo does not slide around or fall off the truck. The proper restraint of these items helps to prevent rollover accidents and can prevent accidents. Neglecting to ensure that materials are secure can result in liability for damages to the trucker or trucking company.

According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 3,400 deaths that were the result of traffic accidents that involved a large truck in the U.S. in 2009. Nearly 75,000 people were injured in these accidents. It was estimated that there were nearly 300,000 large trucks, with the gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more, on our roadways that year.

It is important to remember that if you experience an accident because of an unstable truckload, there are a number of parties that may share liability. All involved parties are responsible for following federal regulations to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable for providing you with the proper compensation.

Continue reading "Loose Cargo Kills Man in Somerville Trucking Accident" »

Officials are looking for a way to make Interstate 93 a little bit safer. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) recently made a proposal to keep hazardous materials off of Boston's waterfront and North End routes to I-93, according to The Boston Globe. Commercial vehicles with dangerous cargo can easily cause fatal accidents if not properly regulated, like in the Somerville car accident we recently told you about on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog.

Our Boston injury attorneys understand that this proposal makes sense as it could potentially help to prevent fatal accidents on the interstate, but does it make sense to reroute these hazardous trucks through our neighborhoods? Everyone knows that both Routes 93 and 128 frequently experience heavy congestion. With more and more trucks on our roadways, the dangers are increasing. It's not uncommon for motorists to hop off the interstate to continue their journey through nearby neighborhoods, but what happens when trucks are taking these alternative routes?

State Senator Katherine Clark is working to find a solution for this matter. She's working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to help relieve the stress of overcrowded highways while maintaining neighborhood roadways. She's looking to help reroute traffic through areas that are able to handle the traffic and the potential dangers that may come along with it.

Transportation department officials already have taken notice to the congestion problems at the Routes 128 and 93 interchanges. As a matter of fact, through recent investigation, that area was named as the most dangerous area for trucking accidents in Massachusetts, as hundreds of trucks navigate through these roadways carrying dangerous materials.

The Battelle Memorial Institute recently conducted a study and concluded that Cambridge and Boston are the only two cities in the area that have dedicated Hazardous Materials Teams. Many communities are dependent on the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Regional Hazardous Materials Teams. The problem with this is that while the Boston team is able to respond to a call with 15 minutes on average, a regional team takes much longer. Smaller, residential fire units are not properly staffed to guarantee an efficient response time to a roadway disaster. Boston and Cambridge on the other hand have sufficient staff. That's why traffic has been proposed to be rerouted through areas that are better equipped to take on the heavy traffic and to handle the potential dangers from certain trucks.

The state senator has been working alongside legislators in a number of communities in an attempt to sway transportation department officials to adopt a new route that can help relieve overburdened highways and maintain all safety standards.

Our Boston roadways can be extremely dangerous at times. Officials have enacted a number of road laws to help reduce the risks we often face while traveling along our congested interstates and highways. While some conditions may seem completely unavoidable, officials will continue to search for ways to eliminate these dangers, even if it means completely rerouting traffic.

Continue reading "State Senator Plans to Reroute Traffic to Help Prevent Massachusetts Car Accidents" »

An 82-year-old driver has been sentenced to serve six months on house arrest after submitting a guilty plea to motor-vehicle homicide in a Newton car accident that took the life of a female scooter driver. The retired Harvard Law School professor also had his driving privileges revoked for life and a three-year sentence of probation, according to ABC 5.

The elderly driver hit a 54-year-old female driving a Vespa brand scooter on Ward Street. Reports indicate that the elderly driver's vehicle was traveling partially in the wrong lane. The woman on the Vespa was thrown approximately 80 feet upon impact. She was taken to a Boston hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys understand that as we get older, driving may become more difficult. It's an unfortunate and unavoidable part of life. It is important for us to recognize when our senses are deteriorating and when we're no longer able to safely operate a motor vehicle. It is also important for us to keep an eye out for these kinds of symptoms in our loved ones to help ensure that they're not endangering themselves or other motorists on our roadways.

Here are some signs that may help you to determine whether your driving abilities are safe:

-Stiffness or pain in your neck. This can make it difficult for you to look over your shoulder to check for oncoming cars before making a turn or switching lanes in traffic.

-Are other vehicles honking at you regularly?

-The feeling of leg pain. Pain in your leg can make it hard to move your foot to and from the gas and brake pedals.

-Losing strength in your arms. Weakening arm muscles make it difficult to make quick and hard turns effectively.

-Are you getting lost in places that were once familiar to you?

-Significantly slowed reaction time. Delayed reaction can make it difficult for a driver to see oncoming vehicles, whether they're changing lanes, making turns or heading straight on. This can also make it difficult to judge when vehicles have slowed or stopped completely.

-Overwhelming feeling to traffic signals, road signs and other roadway markings. Often, elderly drivers will have a more difficult time paying attention to multiple activities at once.

-Have you been experiencing frequent "fender benders?"

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were about 40 million residents in the United States over the age of 64 in 2009. These residents made up approximately 13 percent of the entire country's population.

During the same year, there were nearly 5,300 elderly people killed in motor vehicle accidents on U.S. roadways. Another 187,000 elderly residents were injured in traffic accidents. Although this population makes up only 13 percent of the entire population in the U.S., they accounted for nearly 20 percent of all traffic fatalities and nearly 10 percent of all traffic accident injuries during the year. There were nearly 100 elderly residents killed in Massachusetts because of motor vehicle accidents in 2009.

A significant number of injuries and fatalities can be prevented if we keep an eye on our elderly loved ones. Elderly residents may not be able to spot any of the symptoms listed above. It is important to keep these factors in mind and to speak with them if you feel they're putting themselves and other motorists in danger when they're behind the wheel.

Continue reading "82-Year-Old Faces Stiff Sentences after Fatal Newton Car Accident" »

We recently discussed on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog the 7th annual Hub On Wheels 2011 event.

This all-day event is put on by the Governor of Boston to help raise awareness about the presence of riders in our area to help decrease their risks of a bicycling accident in Boston and elsewhere throughout the state.

The event will be held on Sunday, September 25th. The main focus of the event is the bike ride, which starts and finishes on City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston. Riders can choose the 10-, the 30- or the 50-mile route. During the ride, bicyclists will be able to enjoy the Boston Harbor, a number of historic neighborhoods and a vehicle-free Storrow Drive. A complete map of the racing route can be found on the event's website.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers urge all residents to come out and enjoy the festivities for the Hub On Wheels event. We also ask everyone, both riders and motorists, to be cautious of one another on our roadways. Safe and alert driving/bicycling skills are one of the most effective ways to prevent a fatal accident on our roadways.

Participants are urged to head on over to the Hub on Wheels registration website to sign up now for the riding event.

During the same weekend, Boston residents will have a chance to watch the third annual TD Bank Mayor's Cup Professional Criterium race as well. National bicycling champions, a number of Olympic cyclists and more than 200 other profession bike racers will be participating in this event. This race will take place at Government Center and racers will be competing for $40,000 in cash prizes. In this race, residents will be able to watch hundreds of professional bikers speed around the course at high speeds.

The fun doesn't end there. The event will also host the Boloco Block Party, which will be going on all day.

Residents are urged to come down to City Hall Plaza on the 25th to enjoy music, food and informational displays and demonstrations. Parents can bring along children as the event will also host the second annual mascot race and the kids' race. This race is open to all bicyclists age 2- to 9-years-old.

Residents are also asked to volunteer for the Hub On Wheels event. It's a great opportunity to give back to the community and help to raise awareness about the number of bicyclists on our roadways.

We look forward to seeing everyone out at this year's event and ask that you invite your friends. Remember that bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road as motorists, therefore should be treated as equal travelers. With cautious and alert driving habits, we can all do our part to help reduce the risks of these oftentimes fatal accidents.

Continue reading "Hub On Wheels 2011 Aims to Raise Awareness and Decrease Risks of Bicycle in Massachusetts" »

A recent motorcycle accident in Danvers took the life of a Gloucester man, according to Massachusetts State Police. The accident happened just before 7:00 p.m. on Route 1 when the rider lost control of his bike, and was thrown into a guardrail right by the Route 114 exit. The accident ejected him from his bike and set him through the air about 70 feet. He was transported to the Beverly Hospital and was later pronounced dead, according to the Boston Globe.

Officers were at the scene of the accident within two minutes. Lifesaving efforts were attempted, but failed. They were forced to close some of the northbound lanes on Route 1 to investigate the accident. Traffic was backed up in the area for about an hour. Officers are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Our Boston motorcycle accident attorneys ask all motorcyclists to be extremely cautious on our roadways as riding season comes to a close. Passenger vehicles are the biggest threat to motorcycle riders.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that there are more than 7 million motorcycles on the road in the U.S. Every year there are at least a million new motorcycles and dirt bikes purchased.

Recent motorcycle statistics:

-There were nearly 5,500 people killed because of motorcycle accidents in the U.S. in 2008. This illustrates the highest number of motorcyclist fatalities on record.

-Over the last 10 years, the number of motorcycle accidents and deaths has increased every single year.

-More and more motorcyclists 40-years-old and older are dying in motorcycle accidents every day, which directly reflects the number of aging baby boomers.

-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a motorcyclist is nearly 40 times more likely to be killed in a motorcycle accident than someone in a passenger vehicle.

-A motorcyclist is nearly 10 times more likely to be injured while driving a motorcycle than while driving a car.

-In 2008, motorcycle accidents represented nearly 15 percent of all traffic accident fatalities.

-Nearly 115,000 motorcycle accidents in 2008 resulted in serious injury of significant property damage.

-According to the NHTSA, nearly 2,000 motorcyclists were saved because they were wearing a helmet at the time of an accident in 2008.

A great many of these accidents can be prevented if we can educate and raise awareness in passenger-vehicle drivers about the dangers that motorcyclists are faced with. More cautious, alert and focused driving habits can help to save riders' lives. It is important to keep a watchful eye out for motorcyclists while driving on our busy Massachusetts roadways. Many riders will be out as the summer riding season comes to a close.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident in Danvers" »

"This year, I wanted to mark the one-year anniversary of me getting hit, with something, and it was all too convenient that Hub on Wheels was just five days after that anniversary. It made perfect sense," said South Boston resident Jodi Sperber.

Sperber was involved in a Massachusetts bicycle accident last year on Route 20 and to celebrate her recovery and to help support our local riders, she'll be participating in this year's "Hub on Wheels" event. The 50-mile ride will take place on September 25th in Boston as a part of the mayor's daylong celebration of bicycling, according to the Boston Globe.

Our Boston bicycling accident attorneys understand the risks that bicyclists face on our roadways statewide, which is why we see the importance in events such as the Hub on Wheels. During this event, riders and residents are invited to come out and enjoy the all-day celebration, with kid's races, sport professionals, entertainment and educational programs to help beginner riders to learn about a bicyclist's rules of the road. Professional riders will be on site to perform demonstrations showcasing their skills.

During Sperber's bicycling accident, she was making her routine commute to Brandeis University, where she was attending classes in pursuit of her doctorate. The accident happened when she was blindsided by a car that was making a turn at an intersection.

It took her nearly a year to recover from the injuries she sustained in the accident, including broken toes and a broken wrist. The accident hasn't stopped her, but she has gained more awareness. She says that she was always the safest rider, always wearing a helmet, stopping at all traffic lights and obey all road rules, but now she'll be wearing brighter clothing, equipping her bike with more lights and will be riding more aggressively.

Sperber's bike is her main form of transportation to and from her home in South Boston. She begs both bikers and motorists to be more aware of one another on our roadways.

"I think it's just bikers not understanding the rules, just as much as drivers not understanding the rules," says Sperber.

We would like to invite you to come out and participate in the 7th annual Hub On Wheels event. The main focus of this event is the citywide bike ride that will be taking place on Sunday, September 25th. Riders will be able to enjoy a car-free Storrow Drive, bike through the scenic Boston Harbor and explore hidden pathways and historic neighborhoods in our area.

The ride will both begin and end on City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston. There are three different bicycling routes that riders can choose from. There are 10-mile, 30-mile and 50- mile routes available to riders. Riders are urged to sign up now.

Continue reading "Rider Plans to Bike during Hub On Wheels Event after Massachusetts Bicycling Accident " »

A recent all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident left a 23- and a 24-year-old in the hospital. Both men involved in the ATV accident were from Massachusetts. The accident happened when their ATV struck an embankment on Greenwood Brook Road in Maine and flipped over, according to the Morning Sentinel.

Unfortunately, young and inexperienced riders are more likely to be involved in an ATV accident in Massachusetts and elsewhere through the summer and fall months.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand how serious these types of accidents can be. In this particular accident, one of the Massachusetts riders was trapped underneath the ATV as it flipped. The rider was transported by Northstar EMS to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. We're thankful that both riders were wearing their helmets at the time of the accident otherwise injuries could surely have been fatal.

According to AVTSafety.gov, there were more than 615 reported deaths resulting from ATV accidents in 2008. Officials believe that number to be much higher as they predict that not all accidents were reported. Officials believe that number to be much closer to 800 than 600. There were also more than 135,000 injuries reported as a result of accidents involving ATVs.

"As nurses who initiate immediate care to patients admitted for ATV injuries, the sorrow and pain of parents and family members of ATV victims is heart wrenching. If stronger regulation of ATV safety would save the life of one young child, it would be worth it all" said Linda Altizer, RN, from the National Organization of Orthopedic Nurse's Board of Directors.

Follow these safety tips to help prevent injuries resulting from an ATV accident:

-Enroll in a safety course. Many hands-on courses are offered and can teach drivers about a number of situations a rider can expect to encounter. Drivers who complete a safety course are less likely to be involved in an accident.

-Make sure you're wearing your gear. Riders are urged to wear a helmet when riding. The more gear your wear, including gloves, a jacket, goggles, proper pants and above-the-ankle shoes can significantly reduce your risk of being injured.

-Don't ride with passengers. More than one rider on an ATV greatly increases your risk of being involved in an accident. Most ATVs are made to only carry one person anyway. Drivers must be able to shift their weight in any direction at any time, passengers make this much more difficult.

-Don't drive on paved roads. Because of the design of ATV, most of them are difficult to handle on paved roadways. A great number of fatalities occur in this area. Collisions with cars oftentimes turn deadly.

-Don't allow children to drive. Children represent a third of all ATV-related deaths. Most of these fatalities occur when a child is driving an adult ATV. Riders under the age of 16 are twice as likely to be injured as those in any other age group on an ATV.

Continue reading "Two Young Massachusetts Men Injured in ATV Accident" »

Every year, there are more than 5,100 children in the United States that are sent to the hospital because of child injuries in Massachusetts and elsewhere as a result of a child falling out of a window. While many of them are treated and released from the emergency room, about a fourth of these kids have to be admitted to the hospital.

A nationwide study of the problem, conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, noted that the occurrence of these accidents has only decreased slightly over the last 19 years.

Our Boston child injury attorneys understand that most child injuries can be prevented with proper adult supervision and by following just a few simple safety steps. It's estimated that about 7 injuries occur for every 100,000 children, according to MSN Today.

Studies released from the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio reveal that from 1990 to 2008, there were more than 98,400 kids under the age of 18 who were treated in hospitals for injuries as a result of these accidents.

"We continue to see this problem, especially in younger kids, despite the fact that we know how to prevent it," said Dr. Gary Smith, head of the Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Certain age groups are more at risk than others. Toddlers are the most vulnerable. Researchers believe that this age group is more likely to fall from an open window because they're typically more curious that older children, they are unable to comprehend the possible dangers, and they have a higher center of gravity. Toddlers represent about 70 percent of all of these accidents.

"As they lean over, their high center of gravity will make them topple," said Smith. "They almost invariably land head-first."

About half of all the children who sustain injuries from falling from a window experience injury to either their head or their face. There are only about two out of every 1,000 accidents that result in a fatality.

A majority of falls from windows occur from the second floor of a building.

There are ways to prevent these types of accidents and it only takes a few simple steps. First and foremost, it is important to make sure that no young child has access to a window. It's a good idea to remove furniture from a window area. Furniture makes it much easier for child to climb up near windows.

It's also an excellent idea to install window stops or window guards to the windows in your home. Some places have already mandated the use of these guards, like New York and other big-city areas. But there are a number of places that have no window regulations to keep children safe.

"Parents need to remember that window screens simply won't be enough," Smith says.

Continue reading "Children Falling from Windows Causes 5,000 Child Injuries in Massachusetts and Elsewhere Yearly " »

A senior citizen from Taunton was recently involved in a serious single-car accident in Massachusetts. The vehicle flipped as the elderly driver plowed into the Reed and Barton silver company building. She landed right-side up and had to wait for emergency personnel to come and pry her from the vehicle, according to the Taunton Daily Gazette.

The accident happened when the vehicle's tire popped when she was driving along West Brittania Street. Her car was thrown down a hill about the length of a football field. The vehicle struck a brick wall before coming to a stop. Emergency responders used the Jaws of Life to cut the driver's side door off to retrieve the elderly driver.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that with age comes an increased risk of being involved in a car accident. Elderly drivers may not be able to react as quickly to dangerous situations on the road as younger drivers can. Residents are urged to keep an eye on their elderly family member's motor skills to help ensure that they're safe on our roadways. If you feel that an elderly loved one's driving ability may be drifting away, you're urged to talk with them about hanging up their keys -- for their safety.

The elderly driver was taken to the Morton Hospital and Medical Center and was later transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Hospital staff has yet to release information regarding the driver's condition.

Losing the ability to drive safely is a part of life as it comes with age. It doesn't mean that everyone needs to stop driving at a specific age. It just means that we need to keep an eye on our driving skills to be able to determine when it's best for us to stop. It's important to remember that giving up the keys doesn't mean handing over our independence. Elderly residents who stop driving find a need for alternative forms of transportation which oftentimes can come with a number of social and health benefits.

If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms listed from HelpGuide, you could be at an extremely high risk for being involved in potentially fatal accident:

-Are you having trouble looking over your should for surrounding traffic? This is oftentimes caused by stiffness in the neck or aching joints.

-Pain in your legs is another symptom that can affect your ability to drive. Leg and foot pain can stop you from pressing the right pedals, whether it's the brake or the gas pedal, when needed.

-Are your arms feeling weak? This pain can make it difficult for your move the steering wheel quick enough to avoid an accident.

-Unfortunately, reaction time slows with age. With a slower reaction time, you're less likely to able to spot a vehicle entering your path in time to avoid crashing into it.

-Road signs and signals may start to seem overwhelming. Elderly drivers can also become overwhelmed with traffic and pedestrians. Unfortunately for aging seniors, keeping track of multiple tasks can become more and more difficult.

Aging residents are urged to keep an eye on their driving abilities and to understand that there may come a time when you're better of finding another mode of transportation besides driving. Family members are also asked to keep an eye on the elderly drivers in their life to make sure that they're not putting themselves in danger on our roadways.

Continue reading "When Should an Elderly Driver Hang up the Keys to Avoid a Car Accident in Boston?" »

Dwindling social services budgets and for-profit nursing homes are leaving nursing home residents in Massachusetts without a bed, according to boston.com. Elderly residents who may be hospitalized for a short while or those who leave to make a visit to family member risk losing their spot in their nursing home. More and more budget cuts are worsening the risks. Beds are not be held for much longer.

As those living in nursing homes relying on Medicaid continue to experience budget cuts, more and more are facing risks of losing a bed -- overcrowding and short staffing also increase the risk of nursing home neglect in Boston and elsewhere throughout the state. We expect our elderly family members to be taken care of and to be provided for while they're living in these homes. Sadly, that's often not the case.

Our Massachusetts nursing home abuse attorneys understand that many of our local nursing homes are in fact run by large corporations and are for-profit companies. When a resident temporarily leaves the home, there is sometimes no guarantee that they'll have a place to return to.

Advocates made attempts to influence government to reevaluate their cuts, but there efforts have largely been ineffective.

A new rule will take effect on the first of November. The new rule cuts state Medicaid and could potentially force nursing home facilities to readmit elderly residents once they've left the facility. By readmitting them they're likely to be placed in a new room.

Advocates worry that this procedure with confuse a number of residents that are diagnosed with dementia.

"Imagine the stress this will put on families, heading into the winter holiday season, and they're thinking, 'I will have to tell my loved one that I won't be able to bring them home...because they'll risk losing their bed,' '' said Debbie Banda, director of the Massachusetts office of AARP.

Approximately 1,600 signatures were collected by the Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform in an effort to get lawmakers to find other areas to make their budget cuts. The Medicaid budget only consisted of about $10 million before cuts. The program offers compensation to nursing homes for holding on to beds for residents for 10 days if they had to temporarily leave the facility. Facilities will no longer receive this compensation and could give the beds to new residents in an effort to bring in the most revenue.

Back in 2010, there were nearly 29,000 instances in which resident's beds were held for then through Medicaid funding. Medicaid reported that there were as many as 5,000 empty beds at any given time under the old provisions.

Advocates will continue fighting Congress in an attempt to help ensure that these elderly residents have a place they can call home without the fear of losing it.

Continue reading "Medicaid Budget Cuts Taking Beds from Nursing Home Residents in Massachusetts" »

Massachusetts state law says that dangerous sexual offenders are no longer allowed to live in nursing homes. Recently, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that law to be unconstitutional, according to boston.com.

The unanimous vote concluded that the rights of one specific sexual offender were violated after a local nursing home asked him to leave because of his offender status. The state law that banned these individuals was initially invoked back in 2010.

Advocates for the rights of these sex offenders believe that they too need long-care living facilities. They're hoping that nursing home administrations will start allowing Level 3 offenders into their facilities, since the previous law had been proven unconstitutional. Opposing parties believe that by allowing these sexual offenders into the homes that they are increasing the risks of sexual-related nursing home injury in Boston and elsewhere. They believe that residents should be protected from these individuals while living in these facilities.

Our Massachusetts nursing home neglect lawyers understand the risks of allowing offenders to live in these homes. The law stated that these people lost certain protections, like right to privacy, when they were labeled as offenders. Level 3 represents a group of offenders that the government has concluded is likely to reoffend in the future.

"Those who have been released from incarceration...are free to live where they choose and to move freely within and without the Commonwealth,'' said Justice Fernande R.V. Duffly.

The State Constitutions clearly protects a person's decision on where to live.

Some believe that this specific ruling only applies to the sexual offender that was up for discussion in this particular case and not for our society as a whole. Advocates are hoping that local nursing homes won't start acting as if the law doesn't exist anymore. Others argue that this change will in fact apply to everyone from here on out. If it's unconstitutional to ban one person from living in a chosen assisted living center for being a Level 3 offender then it's unconstitutional to ban anyone else that meets the same criteria.

Previously, many nursing homes would gladly deny residency to Level 3 offenders and used the previous law as they're defense. They argued that the banning of these individuals helped to protect residents, visiting family members and employees.

The recent ruling only focused on the ban of Level 3 offenders. No other individuals were taken into account in this decision. The ruling also did not take into account the locations of these areas and their location in reference to local schools.

Continue reading "Nursing Homes Accept Sexual Offenders in Massachusetts " »

A bicyclist ran right into the side of an SUV that was traveling on Route 20 about to turn left on Glen Road, according to Wayland Police. The Massachusetts bicycle accident left the biker at the Boston Medical Center in critical condition. Officers report that they found a bicycle helmet at the scene of the accident, which they assume the bike was wearing when the accident occurred.

Officials are still investigating the accident. No charges have been filed, according to the Sadbury Patch.

Our Boston bicycling accident attorneys understand just how dangerous it can be to ride a bicycle through the Greater Boston area. Luckily, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is working alongside MassBike to create new designs for bike racks that would make parking at the Pedal & Park areas more convenient for our two-wheeled travelers. Pedal & Park is a feature that will be coming to a number of MBTA stations in the area, including Oak Grove, Davis Square, Malden Center, Ashmont and Braintree. Installation of the Pedal & Park feature has already begun at the South Station and should be completed soon.

The Pedal & Park racks will encourage bike riders to ride to the station to park their bike before traveling to the next area. This system will help to keep our local bicyclists away from congested and dangerous areas of traffic in the city.

The new program also aims to get more people out of their car and on to their bikes, which would also help to decrease traffic in crowded areas. The additional and more convenient parking facilities will offer bike owners confidence in finding a spot when they arrive and to have a safe place to park while they're away.

After receiving feedback from users regarding the racks, a final decision will be made.

For new bikers that may be thinking about using the Pedal & Park feature, you're urged to register for one of the upcoming bike education courses. These classes help you to improve you bike maneuvering skills and bike safety knowledge.

A majority of bike-related fatalities are a result of head injury. Children between the ages of 5 and 18 account for more than 50 percent of the bicycle accident victims that sustain injury. Male riders are three times more likely to be injured on a bike than female rider. Regardless, everyone is urged to bike safely and to remain cautious in our area. As more and more residents take advantage of the eco-friendly form of transportation, we all still have to worry about the dangers. Please bike safe and take advantage of the safe biking features we have in our area while the weather still permits.

Continue reading "MBTA Works to Decrease Risks of Bicycling Accidents in Boston" »