Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog

October 31, 2013

Pedestrian Seriously Injured in 3-Car Accident on Sidewalk

In a recent downtown Boston accident, a pedestrian was seriously injured. According to 7NEWS, it happened at the intersection of Stuart and Berkeley Streets. The pedestrian was on the sidewalk when the accident happened. Officials report that it was the result of a chain reaction-type accident involving three vehicles. The pedestrian was transported to Mass General Hospital.

Though the number of pedestrian fatalities fell from 5,585 in 1995 to 4,280 in 2010, there were an estimated 70,000 reported pedestrian injuries in 2010. While the decline is uplifting, it may be an illusion. Officials believe that hospital records aren’t even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities as many are never even reported to the police.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers understand that there are roughly 2 million pedestrians each and every day in the city of Boston. Less than 1 million call our city home, but when you factor in all of the workers and tourists to the area that number swells. With such a high number of people walking throughout our area, pedestrian safety is an issue of critical importance, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.
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October 28, 2013

Hopeful Spinal Cord Stem-Cell Trials Move to U.S.

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Spinal cord injuries can be the most devastating and permanent for victims and their families. While physical therapy and some treatments can improve the quality of life for accident victims, some must suffer a lifetime of incapacity and countless other adversities. New spinal cord research trials may offer hope to accident victims and their loved ones.

For decades, stem-cell research and other treatment trials have focused on improving conditions for spinal cord victims. Our Massachusetts spinal cord injury attorneys are dedicated to helping accident victims recover compensation after a life-altering injury. We understand the gravity of circumstances faced by our clients and will work strategically to protect their rights and financial security after an accident.

A neuroscience professor at Rutgers has focused his life’s work on finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. He is teaming up with an Army captain and West Point graduate who is dedicated his boxing prize money to finding a cure. The men have teamed up for personal reasons and scientific passions in hopes that spinal cord accident victims may one day be able to walk.
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October 25, 2013

Halloween Safety for Homeowners – Premises Liability on America’s Spookiest Holiday

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The month of October is an exciting time for house decorations, carving pumpkins, costumes, Halloween parties, haunted houses, and enjoying the season. Throughout the chaos and festivities of Halloween, it is important for homeowners and enthusiasts to remember safety. From pedestrian and traffic safety to preventing encounters with strangers, parents and party-goers throughout Massachusetts can plan ahead to prevent potential Halloween accidents and injuries.

Trick-or-treating and other Halloween traditions have long been a safety concern. Our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping you prevent injury. From understanding the importance of traffic safety to remaining aware of other property dangers, here are some Halloween safety tips for you and your family.

Street safety for drivers and pedestrians. Halloween means crowded streets, costumes with low visibility, and endless distractions. Whether you are trick-or-treating with your children or driving in a car, remember to pay attention and avoid cell phone use, especially when in neighborhoods where there may be a lot of children.
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October 22, 2013

Studies Reveal Transvaginal Mesh Both Unsafe and Ineffective

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Transvaginal mesh has been used as a primary treatment in repairing vaginal damage after childbirth and in treating incontinence. While the number of lawsuits involving transvaginal mesh is on the rise, new research indicates that the use of mesh product offers no variation in cure rates. The study suggests that many women who were injured by transvaginal mesh also didn’t see any remedial medical benefit.

Injuries caused by transvaginal mesh are known to be severe. Our Massachusetts transvaginal mesh attorneys are dedicated to helping the victims of dangerous medical products. We are also committed to staying abreast of topical issues in this area, including research surrounding the benefits and dangers of medical devices. According to the Georgetown University study (published in the September issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology), there were no variation in cure rates between those who did and did not have transvaginal mesh.
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October 20, 2013

Will Your Pet Restraint Protect Your Dog in an Accident?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Boston car accident lawyers know that responsible pet owners typically use restraints to secure their dog when driving with their animal in the car. Most manufacturers of pet restraints claim to test their products to ensure safety in a car accident and to help put pet owner’s minds at ease. New research, however, suggests that most pet car restraints aren’t actually safe at all.

Pet owners need to understand the safety protocols in place for pet restraints and should do research carefully to ensure that the restraint they choose will provide the best protection for their beloved animal companion.
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October 20, 2013

Many Parents Don’t Know What Their Teen Drivers Are Doing

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Graduated drivers license programs exist to prevent teen driving accidents by slowly giving young people more privileges and more responsibilities behind the wheel. Graduated driving license laws, however, work only when they are enforced and when teens obey them. Law enforcement cannot be everywhere at all times, so parents are usually in the best position to make sure their young teen drivers are following the letter of the law and making smart driving decisions.

Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that parents may not really be aware of what their kids are doing. There are major disconnects in parental attitudes towards graduated driving license restrictions and teen views on these restrictions, and teens are obeying the law way less often than their parents think they are. Our Boston car accident lawyers know that this means many young people are in danger and many parents need to take a different approach that provides more protection for their kids and other motorists on the road.
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October 18, 2013

National Hockey League Players and Head Injury Lawsuits

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The reality of head injuries is in the public spotlight, especially since professional athletes have come forward acknowledging the long-term and debilitating reality of high contact sports. The NFL has settled hundreds of lawsuits and now it seems as though players in the NHL may also be coming forward with their injuries and disabilities stemming from long-term exposure to high-impact head traumas.

While black eyes, lost teeth, bruising, even broken bones are common on the ice, they may not have a permanent affect. Long-term professional hockey players are realizing the devastating toll that a career can take on the body, especially brain function. Our Massachusetts brain injury attorneys are experienced in complicated cases involving acute brain trauma and long-term exposure to high-impact sports. Our legal team is abreast of all legal developments and cases against entities, including professional sports organizations.

Professional hockey players have acknowledged that the game and the culture of the sport has changed. There seems to be more aggressive elbowing, body checks, and cheap shots, even to the head. Many of these players have been involved in the heavy-contact, high-impact sports since they were young children. Doctors and sports professionals have increasingly found that this brutality on the ice can take a toll in the long-run for professional hockey players.
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October 16, 2013

Is Your SmartPhone Habit Tempting You To Drive While Distracted?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Massachusetts and 41 other states have banned texting and driving, and our Boston car accident lawyers know that as many as 94 percent of respondents to a federal survey have said that they support laws prohibiting texting. Yet, even as police issue citations and drivers express concern that cell phone use is dangerous, motorists continue to use their cell phones in the car every day.

The Boston Globe has recently taken a close look at why so many drivers continue to text even when they know it is risky. The answer that many experts have come up with: checking your phone is a powerful habit for many and checking the phone has become almost automatic.
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October 14, 2013

Does Cruise Control Help to Reduce Car Accident Risks?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Cruise control is one of the most popular features on cars and can make long trips much more pleasant for drivers. One key question, though, is whether cruise control makes driving safer or whether it increases the risk of accidents. A French study attempted to answer this question, but as the Boston Herald reports, the results showed that the impact of cruise control on an accident risk is not clear-cut.

Our Boston car accident lawyers know that the NHTSA has listed adaptive cruise control as an important emerging crash avoidance technology that could mitigate the effects of poor driver performance. Unfortunately, adaptive cruise control technologies are still costly and out of reach for most motorists, so motorists using their standard cruise control need to understand how its use can both make driving safer and how using cruise control can create accident risks.
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October 12, 2013

Safety Must Be Top Priority As Two Boston Bus Carriers Try to Get Back on the Road

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Two Boston bus carriers shut down by federal authorities earlier this year are now trying to get back up and running. The bus carriers, Lucky Star and Fung Wah, ran regular bus trips between South Station and New York’s Chinatown.

Our Boston bus accident attorneys know that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data shows 283 people were killed in bus crashes in 2011 alone. Since bus crashes can be serious and even fatal for passengers, motorists should be cautious about riding on bus carriers with a history of federal violations.
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