Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

February 1, 2014

Massachusetts Rank as Nation’s Worst Drivers?

Distracted driving, careless maneuvers and road rage — they’re all common characteristics of drivers in the area. We face these dangers on a daily basis. And we often think “Massachusetts has some of the worst drivers!”

Now, we can see just who has the worst drivers, thanks to a recent study from Car Insurance Comparison. Not only do these dangerous drivers aggravate your daily commute and make it a lot more dangerous, but they’re also contributing to the increase in auto insurance premiums.

Our car accident lawyers in Massachusetts note officials with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Motorists Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) looked at drivers in each state and based a rating off of information regarding deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, drivers’ neglect to obey seat belt and traffic signal laws, drunk driving numbers, the number of tickets issued and trends regarding careless driving. With all of this information, officials calculated a total score, to determine which states are the worst.
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January 30, 2014

Massachusetts Fall Injuries a Growing Risk

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Trauma centers across the county are reporting an increase in the number of fall-related accidents. According to Pain Medicine News, if the trend continues, these kinds of accidents could account for more injuries and fatalities than either firearms or traffic collisions.

According to the study, the number of car crashes has dropped more than 25 percent since 2002 because of the increase in car safety features, medical care and public awareness. That decrease has been offset by an increase in the number of deaths resulting from fall accidents, which are up more than 45 percent in an eight-year period.

Our Somerville personal injury lawyers understand that the total trauma-related mortality decreased by about 5 percent from 2002 to 2010. The decline happened even though we saw an increase in the number of miles driven by Americans and a 10 percent increase in the number of firearm injuries. The number of fatalities from firearms remained relatively the same, although the number of injuries resulting from firearms increased slightly.
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January 30, 2014

Elderly Pedestrian Killed in Chicopee

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The elderly victim of a recent Chicopee pedestrian accident has been identified as a retired city firefighter. According to The Republic, the 77-year-old man was hit by an SUV as he attempted to cross Grattan Street just before 7:00 p.m.

The victim was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where he was later pronounced dead. Officers say that they’re still investigating, but believe that the heavy rain at the time of the accident may be a factor in the collision. No charges have been filed.

With the baby boom generation aging, we’re seeing a record number of U.S. elderly residents. With more than 77 million people born between 1946 and 1964, we’ve got serious issues regarding the lack of affordable and safe travel options for aging individuals. With more and more giving up their driving privileges, we’ve got to make sure that there are safe and convenient ways for them to get around, because no one wants to lose their independence. By 2015, more than 15.5 million Americans 65 and older will live in communities where public transportation service is poor or non-existent. That number is expected to continue to grow rapidly as the baby boom generation “ages in place” in suburbs and exurbs with few mobility options for those who do not drive.
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January 27, 2014

Protecting Your New England Home From Fire This Winter

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan and members of the Massachusetts fire service are concerned that the winter months will lead to an increase in fires from heating, open flames and other risks. Heating is the second leading cause of home fires in Massachusetts. It is important to Keep Warm, Keep Safe this winter.

During this time of the year, officials with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety remind residents to check their chimneys, furnaces, space heaters, and fire-prevention resources.

Our personal injury attorneys in Quincy understand that there are more than 900 people who are killed in winter home fires in the U.S. each and every year. These accidents cause more than $2 billion in property loss. More than 65 percent of these accidents happen in one- and two-family homes between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. If you’re in an apartment or condo, do you know who will be responsible for the damages? Typically, your lease is signed by an officer of the cooperative corporation, as Lessor, and the shareholder, as Lessee, and contains, among other things, provisions regarding the responsibility for the repairs of both parties. A lease will generally provide that the lessee is responsible for maintaining and repairing the interior of the apartment, while the cooperative corporation will be obligated to maintain and repair all other parts of the building. A typical lease contains four paragraphs dealing directly with repairs: Lessor’s Repairs, Lessee’s Repairs, Damage to Apartment or Building, and the Right of Entry paragraph.
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January 25, 2014

Quincy Discusses 23 New Miles of Bicycle Lanes

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

More than 20 miles of bike lanes should be added in Quincy, suggests the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Before last year, the city had absolutely no bicycle lanes, according to Enterprise News.

The council recently proposed a set of recommendations to the city’s planning board, and the main goal was to make the area more bike-friendly. Included in these recommendations is a plan to paint bike likes on a number of major roadways in the area by the end of this year.

Our Quincy bicycle accident attorneys understand that bike lanes are critical to encouraging sustainable commuting in our area. With these bike lanes, we will be able to encourage more bicycle traffic while creating very little impact on the city’s public works budget. Although the county already identified the 23 miles targeted to get these bicycle lanes, there are some streets that are “high priority” and should get these lanes as soon as possible. Included in these “high priority” areas are Washington Street, Hancock Street and Adams Street.
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January 23, 2014

Massachusetts Schools Have The Upper Hand in Liability Cases?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

It’s no secret that school liability and litigation has increased over the last few years. Bullying, sexual harassment, serious injury and wrongful death all present opportunities for large settlements or jury verdicts. At the same time, the number of negligence cases brought against schools in the U.S. has indicated that the frequency of these kinds of lawsuits has not changed much in the last 20 years. It seems also that the number of cases that were decided in the favor of the schools has taken majority.

Typically, our government protects schools from most cases of liability, but there are some exceptions that vary from state to state.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that there are close to 55 million children in the U.S. who spend about a fourth of their waking hours on school property or in class. Most of the injuries that occur are in fact accidents, despite the wide range of media coverage which tends to show more of the school violence and other relevant issues. As a matter of fact, children who are in school are about 9 times more likely to be affected by an unintentional injury than to be the victim of an intentional injury while on campus. With that being said, close to 15 million unintentional injuries happen each year to children under the age of 15. Close to a fourth of those happen in and around schools. About 1 out of every 14 of these students will visit the hospital with a disabling injury.
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January 21, 2014

Gaines v. K-Five Constr. Corp. – Truck Safety Must Be Priority for Companies

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As federal authorities continue their efforts to bolster the safety of big trucks through the MAP-21 initiative, it’s imperative that owners of these vehicles also incorporate leadership on this issue.

Reducing incidents of Boston truck accidents will mean an investment of time, money and commitment on the part of these companies. It’s going to mean ensuring that the updated hours of service rules are honored. It’s going to take the careful implementation of policies that will guarantee drivers are properly-trained and trucks aren’t overloaded. And finally, it means making sure the trucks are in good working order.

Unfortunately, as the case of Gaines v. K-Five Constr. Corp. would suggest, we can’t expect that kind of commitment from all truck companies.
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January 20, 2014

High-End Bicycle Recalls Highlight Risks of Defective Products in Cycling

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When looking for a new bicycle, most of us want one that fits our needs. Whether that’s our color preference, the size or the way it rides, we all want a bike that will work for us. But how many of us think about safety when purchasing a new bike? We kind of just assume that it’s made properly and default free upon purchase.

But often we’re wrong.

Officials with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have recalled a number of bikes in recent weeks. These recalls have been because of faulty brakes, fall hazards and serious injury risks.

Our Boston defective products attorneys understand that consumers were deluged with 2,363 recalls last year, or about 6.5 recalls each day, covering consumer products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food, according to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Many of these recalls involve expense bikes aimed at serious riders.
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January 18, 2014

CPSC Strengthens Bedside Sleepers Standards

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

To help protect our youngest family members, officials with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal standard to make bedside sleepers a whole lot safer.

The standard was passed unanimously, with a 3-0 vote earlier this month.

When we talk about bedside sleepers, we’re talking about bassinet-like products that connect to adult beds. They’re the ones that can have a lower side that’s adjacent to the full-sized adult mattress. These sleepers are meant to provide infants under the age of 5 months with a safe and comfortable sleeping environment. Typically, parents stop using these devices when the child is able to push up on hands and knees.

Our Boston child injury lawyers understand the new standard is incorporating the Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bedside Sleepers, which requires these kinds of sleepers to comply with modifications make under the 16 C.F.R. part 1218 federal standard. Also, the new standard includes new modifications to eliminate entrapment hazards from the fabric-sided enclosed opening and to help to stop consumers from improperly assembling these sleepers when materials are missing.
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January 15, 2014

Staying Safe After a Winter Car Break Down

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Whether your vehicle has mechanical difficulties, you blow a tire, or get stuck in the snow, it is important to stay safe when your car breaks down on the side of the road. Throughout the year, but especially during the winter months, drivers in Boston and nationwide face the potential dangers of a winter break down. In addition to inclement weather, the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite, drivers and their passengers have to stay clear of oncoming traffic and other road hazards. One of the most terrifying events can be a car break down on the interstate–do you know what to do?

While you have seen driver stranded on the side of the road, have you considered your own action plan in the event of a roadside emergency? Our Boston personal injury attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients and to preventing future injuries. We will investigate accidents or injuries on behalf of our clients and work to recover maximum compensation for victims and their families. In addition to our advocacy, we are committed to raising awareness to prevent future collisions, injury and wrongful death.
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