Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

A summertime accident on Cold Storage Beach in Dennis left a frequent visitor seriously injured after a beach accident in Massachusetts. The beach's strong winds took an umbrella right out of the sand and caused it to fly directly toward a man, striking him in his left eye, according to the Cape Cod Times.

Lifeguards and a nearby physician rushed over to the man and provided him with first-air care. He was transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis and was later rushed to Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston for urgent eye surgery. It was there that doctors spent roughly five hours attempting to fix his ruptured eyeball. Unfortunately, the accident left his retina detached from the optic nerve. This is the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. Just a week later, doctors informed him that he would never be able to see out of his left eye again.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys would like to give credit to the man's wife who says that she holds no anger against the unidentified owners of that lethal umbrella and agree with her in saying that this accident could very well have been prevented. While it should be the responsibility of umbrella owners to properly secure their equipment in the sand, it is also the lifeguards and beach official's responsibility to warn fellow beachgoers to shut their umbrellas on windy days and help to ensure that they're properly set up in the sand.

The town of Dennis has a policy in place to help prevent these types of accidents and was reportedly enforcing it at the time of the accident, but the wife of the victim claims she witnessed no such enforcement.

According to beach statistics, about 6 accidents happen on Dennis beaches each summer with most accidents being less severe than this.

Accidents on the beach are not uncommon. Beachgoers oftentimes will see and/or experience accidents involving boats, jet skis, umbrellas, parasailing injuries, drownings, lacerations from debris in the sand and all-terrain vehicle injuries. Many of these accidents can be prevented with the proper preventative safety measures. Rented umbrellas need to be properly secured by rental companies, jet skis need to meet all equipment rules and regulations, other beach rental companies need to be certified and trained in their operations and lifeguards need to be trained and alert when on the clock.

It is critical for you to contact an attorney if you or a loved one has recently experienced a beach-related accident. An attorney can help you to determine who may be at fault whether it is a company, the designer of a product or another beachgoer.

Here are some simple steps to help you place your beach umbrella securely in the sand the next time you hit the beach:

-First make sure that you choose a beach spot that will allow you and your buddies to have as much personal space as possible. Make sure you leave enough room to walk around and play.

-Before placing your umbrella into the sand, measure and mark the umbrella at least 18 inches from the bottom of the pole, measuring up towards the canopy.

-Put the umbrella into the sand and shift the pole back and forth while pushing down on it.

-Continue doing this until the sand is up to that 18 mark you previously made.

-Adjust the canopy of your umbrella so that the top is slanted towards the oncoming wind. This will help to prevent your umbrella from blowing away.

We hope that everyone gets out there and enjoys the beautiful weather that the summer months provide, but remember to be safe and consider the safety of others as well when you're out enjoying our public beaches.

Continue reading "Man Loses Sight in Left Eye after Massachusetts Beach Accident" »

A Boston car accident injured five people and involved seven vehicles and a duck boat on Friday afternoon, the Boston Herald reported.

It was second duck boat accident in Boston last week. A boat and two cars were involved in an accident near Government Center on Tuesday when three women on their way to a wedding tried to drive around a duck boat.

Friday's accident occurred shortly after noon on the ramp to Charles Street Circle from Embankment Road westbound, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

Police said seven vehicles were towed from the scene and the injured were transported to area hospitals. A manager of Boston Duck Tours said a piece of radio equipment on the boat dislodged and blocked the brake pedal.

The boat was taken to the Boston State Police barracks for inspection by the commercial vehicle enforcement team. Mechanical error and operator error will both be investigated as possible causes.

This incident is the latest in a recent string of mishaps involving the tourism industry. As we reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, a tour boat ran aground in Boston Harbor over the Fourth of July weekend, resulting in the evacuation of all 174 passengers and crew members on board.

Continue reading "Boston car accident involving Duck Boat latest in a series of crashes involving the tourism industry" »

A Boston boating accident involved a tour boat on Saturday and resulted in the evacuation of all 174 passengers and crew members from the ferry, which ran aground in Boston Harbor, NECN reported.

A Boston injury lawyer should always be consulted when someone is injured in a mass transportation accident, whether on a subway, bus or ferry boat or on a tour bus, cruise or other tourist attraction. Companies that provide mass transportation have an obligation to ensure the safety of passengers. A ferry boat that inexplicably runs aground can cause serious or fatal injuries.

The ship ran aground Saturday at 10 a.m., about a mile and a half off the coast of Deer Island. The boat began taking on water and the crew was forced to evacuate everyone on board.

The 168 passengers were taking part in a whale watch and four were injured by the sudden impact. Passengers walking off the rescue vessel described the accident as chaotic, scary and frightening.

Many of the passengers were visitors to Boston for the holiday weekend and had hoped to get a nice tour of Massachusetts Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the accident, according to the Patriot-Ledger.

The boat apparently veered out of well-marked channel and ran aground on a rocky shoal. The shallow area is a known hazard and well-marked on navigation maps.

The crew of the M/V Massachusetts were tested for drug and alcohol use as part of the investigation. The 87-foot vessel is often used for commuter-boat service from Hingham and is owned by Massachusetts Bay Lines.

Several Coast Guard officials said they have never seen an accident in that location, as it is one that experienced boaters steer clear of.

Continue reading "Boston boating accident grounds ferry on Fourth of July weekend; 174 people evacuated" »

Authorities urge boaters to stay safe on the water as the Fourth of July holiday ushers in the height of the summer boating season.

We have reported on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog that it has been a particularly deadly season for Massachusetts boating accidents. By the first week of June, six fatal Massachusetts boating accidents had been reported this year, compared to 10 during all of last year. So far, 21 people have died in accidents off the coast of Massachusetts in 2010.

The National Safe Boating Council is encouraging boaters to wear life jackets and stay safe on the water during the upcoming holiday weekend.

"Boating is a big part of Independence Day celebrations," said Virgil Chambers, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. "The Fourth of July weekend may be one of the only days some people get on a boat the entire summer, and it's even more important that every boat operator remembers to share the 'Wear It!' message."

Drowning is the cause of death in about 90 percent of all recreational boating accidents.

ABC40 reports that Massachusetts Environmental Police will be teaming up with state police and local law enforcement to crack down on drunk boating over the holiday. The effort is part of "Operation Dry Water Weekend," which is occurring along coastal areas nationwide.

"We are out conducting patrols looking for people that are under the influence," said Sergeant Scott Amati of the Mass. Environmental Police.

The enforcement effort will also be a chance for authorities to conduct safety checks and help boaters better understand what they need to know to stay safe on the water.

Boat Massachusetts provides additional information on boating laws and boater responsibilities.

Continue reading "Enforcement aimed at reducing Massachusetts boating accidents over Fourth of July weekend " »

Authorities were on the water in force over the Memorial Day weekend, a trend law enforcement promises will continue through the summer months as safety advocates vow to reduce the dangers of serious and fatal Massachusetts boating accidents.

As we reported recently on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, a total of 21 people have already died this year in boating accidents off the coast of Massachusetts.

The Boston Globe reported there have already been 6 fatal boating accidents in Massachusetts this year, compared to 10 in all of 2009. The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities cite boating while intoxicated as the leading contributor to serious and fatal boating accidents.

This summer, authorities in Massachusetts will participate in Operation Dry Water, an aggressive campaign to increase checkpoints for drunk captains and to educate boaters about the dangers of drinking and boating. Part of the challenge facing efforts to combat drunk boating is that alcohol is permitted on boats, with the exception of some areas like Massachusetts state parks. However, boat operators can be held to the same standards as the driver of an automobile. In both cases, operation of a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level over .08 is illegal.

A first BUI offense in Massachusetts is punishable by up to 30 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. An offender may also have his or her driver's license suspended even though a motor vehicle was not involved.

Another challenge for law enforcement is that drinking and boating does not carry the same stigma as drinking and driving. While driving a car while intoxicated has become less acceptable, many people remain more tolerable about drinking and boating.

Meanwhile, authorities are convinced that better education and the use of life vests can help prevent Massachusetts boating accidents. The Coast Guard reports that two-thirds of boating fatalities result from drowning while only 1 in 10 boating accidents involve a driver who has received boating safety instruction.

Continue reading "Drunken boating targeted in effort to reduce Massachusetts boating accidents" »

This week is National Boating Safety week and an unusually high number of serious and fatal Massachusetts boating accidents have safety advocates preaching caution as the boating season begins in earnest with the Memorial Day weekend.

The Daily Item reports the area has already seen a record number of boating deaths so far in 2010 -- a total of 21 people have already died in boating accidents off the coast of Massachusetts.

"Sadly, during the last decade on the waters of the Northeast, we've averaged 50-53 boating and paddling fatalities per year," said Al Johnson, a recreational boating safety specialist for the First Coast Guard District in Boston.

As we reported recently on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, two Boston women were killed last week in a boating accident in Narragansett Bay.

A total of 55 fatal Massachusetts boating accidents occurred in 2008, while 58 occurred in 2007, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Safe Boating Council offers the following safety tips:

-Boat Responsibly and Wear It: Always remain alert and careful while boating and always wear your life jacket. About 90 percent of those who drown were not wearing a life vest.

-Know the Navigation Rules: You wouldn't drive a car without understanding the rules of the road. So don't drive a boat without learning the rules that can help keep you safe on the water. Understanding the rules for meeting, crossing or overtaking another boat can help keep you and your passengers safe. Maintain a proper lookout and a safe speed.

-Boat Sober: The same rules for driving a car while intoxicated, apply to piloting a boat. Operating a boat while intoxicated is illegal in all 50 states and is also a violation of federal law. An intoxicated boater is 10 times more likely to die in a boating accident.

-Be Aware of Carbon Monoxide: Engines produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. Proper cabin ventilation and well-maintained equipment is critical.

-Take a Boater Safety Course: Seventy percent of boating accidents are caused by operator errors, including inattention, carelessness, recklessness, inexperience, speeding and failure to watch for hazards. A boater safety course is essential to learning the rules on the water that can help keep you safe.

-Get Your Boat Checked: A well-maintained and properly equipped vessel is a safer boat for all who board.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police's Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau offers answers to frequently asked boating safety questions.

Continue reading "Massachusetts boating accidents near record highs as Memorial Day signals start of boating season" »

Two Massachusetts women are being remembered by friends and family after a fatal boating accident in Narragansett Bay, South Coast Today reported.

The women, both 23, were residents of Dighton and Assonet. They were killed last weekend when their boat crashed into Despair Island off the coast of Rhode Island. Relatives said the two women were thrown from the 22-foot recreational vessel when it crashed. Three other boat occupants were treated at local hospitals.

Rescue workers from the Warwick Fire Department found the overturned boat about 2:45 a.m. Cause of the accident is under investigation by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office.

Relatives and authorities believe the vessel hit the small 20-foot by 40-foot rock island at full speed. The vessel's owner told authorities two men employed as mechanics had taken the boat out without permission.

Boat Massachusetts offers a wealth of safety information and officials are encouraging everyone to review safe boating practices and to practice safe and responsible boating as the summer boating season gets underway.

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association reports about 5 million Massachusetts residents -- or three-quarters of the state's population -- live within 10 miles of the ocean. More than 186,000 boats are registered with the Coast Guard in Massachusetts.